Cuisine Scene: Mocktails

There are few things as pleasant as enjoying a warm day in the company of good friends and a cool drink at one of Long Beach’s great bars, lounges or restaurants. Who could ask for anything more? Well, when it comes to alcohol, sometimes less is more. Check out these local spots that feature not only great views and vibes, but seriously good mocktails.

SHIRLEY’S TEMPLE DELI & MOCKTAILS

Shirley’s Temple Deli & Mocktails (2420 E 28th St) in Signal Hill specializes in non-alcoholic craft cocktails paired with a menu of sandwiches, flatbreads, and wraps. The vibe is vintage, with Art Deco design features and artwork celebrating stars like Ms. Temple, herself. With ingredients like lemon verbena, soursop, and fresh saffron, the drinks don’t need alcohol to make for excellent sipping. Try La Spicy Shirley, a blood orange chili pepper margarita with nonalcoholic tequila and smoked ancho chilies.

EL BARRIO CANTINA

Known for its modern yet always authentic take on Mexican dishes and tapas, El Barrio Cantina (1731 E. Fourth St.) applies the same creative method of using fresh seasonal ingredients in their cocktail program. That means that their mocktails pop with flavor, whether it’s the pomegranate, ginger and mint of the La Penelope or the cranberry, orange and pineapple in the La Esmeralda. Not surprisingly, the drinks and dishes pair spectacularly well.

AULD DUBLINER

This pub oozes authenticity, from its bangers and mash to the bar, floor and walls that were constructed in Ireland, broken down, shipped and reconstructed across from the Long Beach Convention Center. Perhaps the most authentic thing, of course, is the Guinness Auld Dubliner (71 S. Pine Ave.) serves. Fortunately, you can still experience that bit of authenticity even if you’d like to do it sans alcohol. Auld Dubliner serves Guinness Zero, described as having zero alcohol with all the iconic taste.

WICKED WOLF

This new addition to the Wrigley neighborhood is described by its founders as a “romantic living room in the forest.” Loungey cool mixed with fairy tale charm, The Wicked Wolf (2332 Pacific Ave.) takes mocktails seriously. Its menu is extensive, with many mocktails playing on the fairy tale vibe. The Better To See you has zero proof tequila and fresh basil, The Huntsman zero proof bourbon and prickly pear syrup while The Nightingale starts with zero proof rum and adds coconut and pineapple juices.

BAMBOO CLUB

Since many of their drinks are of the tasty, punch variety, tiki bars mix very well with mocktails. Bamboo Club (3522 E Anaheim St.), one of the city’s most popular destinations for good food and good times, offers some of its signature drinks sans alcohol without skimping a bit on the flavor. Get a Virgin Painkiller–a Bamboo favorite–with pineapple, orange and coconut juices, a Virgin Pina Colada–pineapple, coconut and lemon–or a Virgin Lava Flow with pineapple, coconut and lemon with a strawberry float.

About the Author

Claire Atkinson

Claire Atkinson is a Southern California native who has lived in Long Beach for nearly 20 years. She spends her free time visiting local parks, farmers markets, and museums, and loves learning about Long Beach history and culture.