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    where to drink now

    20 Houston restaurants and bars serving spirit-free sips for Dry January

    Brianna McClane
    Jan 6, 2026 | 1:30 pm

    January may be a time to resist a tipple for many, but that doesn’t mean skipping Houston’s bar scene. For those embracing Dry January, local hot spots are pouring everything from non-alcoholic (NA) spirits to refreshing juices — proof that a night out can mean skipping the booze without missing out on flavor.

    Barcelona Wine Bar
    The Montrose wine bar has two non-alcoholic cocktails on hand. The Bees and Bays is a layered sip of lime, salted honey syrup, and cardamom, topped with sparkling water and finished with torched smoky bay leaves. Meanwhile, hibiscus, blue flower, Earl Grey tea, blueberry shrub, salted honey syrup, lemon, aquafaba, and mint are blended for Tea Time.

    Berg Hospitality Group
    Benjamin Berg’s restaurants are January resolution–friendly with Reset menus at Annabelle Brasserie, B&B Butchers, B.B. Italia, Prime 131, The Annie Café & Bar, Trattoria Sofia, and Turner’s. Alongside the prix-fixe, protein- and calorie-conscious menu are zero-proof beverages, including the Lemoncell-No Martini (NA lemon liqueur, triple chamomile tea, and lemon juice) and the Proteiña Colada, a creamy concoction that provides 10 grams of protein.

    The Board Room
    The recently-opened CityCentre spot dedicated to charcuterie has six mocktails on its drink list for January. Highlights include the Lavender Spritz Mocktail, a pairing of sparkling NA wine, lavender syrup, lemon, and Topo Chico, and the NA Morada, a zesty combination of NA tequila, fresh blackberries, and ginger beer.

    Brasserie 19
    Three classic cocktails get the NA treatment at this French brasserie. The No-jito, Spicy Paloma, and French “O”-75 deliver the familiar flavors with Ritual NA spirits.

    Brennan’s of Houston
    Snag a spot in the iconic restaurant’s newly renovated Courtyard Bar to savor sips such as the Ginger Pear (pear nectar, ginger beer, lemon juice, cinnamon sugar), the Nogroni (NA gin, NA aperitif, orange), and the Sparkling Cranberry Apple (cranberry juice, sparkling apple cider, lemon, cinnamon syrup).

    Coltivare
    Pair a pizza or cacio e pepe with this Heights eatery’s zero-proof cocktails or non-alcoholic beers and wines. Creative selections include the Madame Pamplemousse with grapefruit, bay leaf, apple cider vinegar, and Topo Chico, and the Il Rosmarino, a combination of cranberry, rosemary, black pepper, apple cider vinegar, and Topo Chico.

    Good God, Nadine’s
    Cold-pressed juices from local juicery ZoZo Fresh star in Good God, Nadine’s mocktail lineup. With anti-inflammatory benefits, offerings range from the Obsidian, a charcoal-activated juice with strawberry and lemon, to the Nightcap, a cacao nut milk drink with cold brew and cardamom, finished with shaved chocolate.

    Guard and Grace
    The upscale steakhouse continues its attention to detail with its spirit-free selections. Find the Zero Mule and Italia-No (a riff on a negroni) listed with the fruit-forward Tropical Tango and Blackberry Sparkler. The Desert Oasis stands out with assam black tea, pomegranate, orgeat, and za’atar.

    Hamsa
    Hamsa leans into inventive flavor combinations with its zero-proof options. Choose between four unique drinks, including the Yerba Mate-plum-ginger beer creation Tea Time and the Put Your Cukes Up, a mixture of basil, shishito, cucumber, pink peppercorns, lime, and Topo Chico.

    Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge
    Dry January doesn’t mean skipping this Midtown lounge. Jethro’s four booze-free beverages include a Watermelon Fresca (Cut Above Agave, lime, agave, and watermelon juice) and 9 out of 10 (strawberry purée, orgeat, and lime).

    Latuli
    Chef Bryan Caswell’s Memorial-area hotspot nods to Texas roots with its mocktails. The zero-proof tequila drinks are the Ginger Spur with ginger simple syrup, orange juice, and ginger beer, and the Spring Saddle, blending strawberry chamomile with lemon, lime, and soda.

    Lyric Market
    The downtown food hall is serving spirit-free blueberry, strawberry, mango, and classic margaritas throughout January. Non-alcoholic brews from Athletic Brewing Co. are also on the menu.

    The Marigold Club
    The mocktails match the elegance of the interior at the Marigold Club. Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits serve as the base, with additional notes of olive in the Secret Garden, cranberry and lime in the Chelsea Bloom, and grapefruit and lemon in the Windsor Fire.

    Monkey’s Tail
    The neighborhood bar has crafted a list of spirit-free drinks to entice those imbibing or not. The six NA items include twists on a carajillo, gin and tonic, and penicillin. The Pick-Piña is flavor-packed with fresh pineapple, chamoy, giffard grenadine, dill pickle brine, and tajin. The Viva Maracuya, a passionfruit-mango-tiki spices beverage, and the Chango House Soda, with green apple, lime leaf, and lemongrass, round out the menu.

    Morton’s Steakhouse
    For those who want to skip any and all spirits, Morton’s Steakhouse has the Orchard Season (apple, pineapple, cranberry, lemon, and Fever-Tree Ginger Ale) and the Lavender Field (lavender, pineapple, and Fever-Tree Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade). The Margarita Zero and Strawberry Nogroni deliver the full cocktail experience using NA spirits.

    Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
    The Faux-Paloma (traditional or spicy) with ruby red grapefruit soda, and the Moscow Mule-inspired Clean Kick are two new additions to Perry’s Steakhouse for Dry January, along with the restaurant’s signature shaken sodas, the Raspberry Cucu-Cooler and the Pineapple Ginger Ale.

    Postino
    The wine cafe’s alcohol free list includes a Naked Ranch Water and Espresso Flirtini, along with non-alcoholic beer. There are three new additions for 2026: Airplane Mode with Italian orange and NA Amaro, the Ginger Drift with NA Amaro, lemon juice, ginger beer, and mint, and Best Day Brewing Kolsch.

    Snooze A.M. Eatery
    Feel like an insider by ordering one of the three new dirty sodas to slip onto Snooze’s secret menu. Pineapple Upside Down pairs Coke with pineapple juice, vanilla syrup, and vanilla cream, while the Strawberry Shortcake has Sprite and house-made strawberry purée, and the Orange Dreamsicle features Fanta.

    Traveler’s Table
    Why settle for one NA beverage when there’s an entire flight at Traveler’s Table. The Free-Spirited Flight features the Freelance Journalist with NA gin, tonic, lime juice, simple syrup, cucumber, and rosemary; A Shady Place for Sunny People with NA rum, guava, pineapple, coconut, and cinnamon; and The Quiet Life, a NA tequila drink with pineapple purée and chili salt. The hibiscus-forward La Vida Tranquila and the fruity To Have and Have Not mocktails can be ordered separately.

    Uchi
    The restaurant’s three Ritual zero-proof cocktails pair seamlessly with its Japanese-inspired menu: the Mitsu Mitsu with NA gin, rosemary, and yuzu honey; the Akabanaa with hibiscus, lime, and agave; and the Shokuzen, made with NA aperitif, zero-proof wine, and citrus oleo.

    berg hospitality january reset

    Photo by Brian Kennedy

    Berg Hospitality's concepts, including Turner's and Annabelle Brasserie, have a January Reset menu featuring spirit-free beverages like the Lemoncell-No Martini.

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    family friendly pies

    Delivery-focused pizzeria with affordable wine coming soon to the Heights

    Eric Sandler
    Jan 5, 2026 | 12:59 pm
    Shredders pizza
    Courtesy of Shredders Pizza
    Shredders will serve a New York-style pizza with affordable wines.

    Two Houston hospitality veterans are teaming up to open a family friendly, delivery-focused pizzeria in the Heights. Set to open in late January, Shredders Pizza will New York-style pies and affordable wines for dine, delivery, and to-go.

    Located in the former Chicago Italian Beef & Pizza space at 1777 Airline Drive, Shredders unites Benjy Mason (Johnny’s Gold Brick, Winnie’s, Starduster) with chef Jason Kerr, who operates Jersey Village eatery Little Kitchen. Houston food obsessives may recall Kerr’s time as the owner of the Zilla Eats food truck or as Monica Pope’s sous chef at pioneering Houston restaurant Boulevard Bistro. Kerr and Mason formed a friendship when they worked together in the kitchen at Down House.

    Mason tells CultureMap that, as a parent, he needs a reliable delivery pizza that’s better than a national chain but isn’t as sophisticated as what’s being produced by Houston's artisan pizzerias, which don’t always travel well or have flavors that appeal to kids. When Kerr told Mason he was already developing a casual pizzeria, Mason says he agreed to partner with him if they opened in the Heights and used the name “Shredders” (more on that below).

    Since its focused on delivery and to-go, Shredders will only have seating for about 15 people. Easy mobile ordering will appeal to busy parents, a group that Mason considers himself part of.

    “Where my needs lie is that delivery pizza option,” Mason tells CultureMap. “I wanted to focus on nailing that first. I want the delivery to be as smooth as possible. That’s why we’re doing it in house. I want it to be a hospitality-focused delivery experience.”

    The Pizza

    Kerr’s pizza dough uses a mix of King Arthur flour and whole wheat flour from Texas’ Barton Springs Mill. Fermented for 24-36 hours and baked in a traditional pizza oven, a Shredders pizza is intended to be light and crispy with “enough structure to eat around the table or on the couch,” according to a release.

    “It’s not exactly New York. Maybe closer to New Haven,” Kerr said in a statement. “Honestly, it’s just the pizza I like to make and my family likes to eat.”

    All pizzas use Grande Mozzarella and an uncooked tomato sauce. Shredders will serve familiar favorites such as cheese and pepperoni pizzas as well as house specials such as:

    • Sausage and Pepa: Cooked-from-raw Italian sausage, green peppers, and pickled tear-drop peppers
    • Jason the Dragon: Hot honey, arugula, whipped ricotta, and parmesan
    • That’s A Spicy Pepperoni: Cup ’n’ char pepperonis, Calabrian chile sauce, and roasted and pickled jalapeños.

    In addition, proceeds from one specialty pie — sometimes created in collaboration with a guest chef — will benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation, while proceeds from another seasonal pizza will rotate between local PTOs and kids’ arts programs.

    “It’s crispy and will fold,” Mason adds. “When you fold it, you get a crack, but it won’t crack all the way through.”

    The menu will also include wings, a couple of salads, garlic knots, and a dessert sourced from Little Kitchen and its companion dessert shop, Eat My Pastry.

    The Wine

    One other aspect of Shredders that will appeal to parents is its affordable wines. Mason has created a list of approximately 20 bottles of Italian wine that will be priced between $20 and $25.

    “We’re going for an absurdly low markup. We’re not working on the same math as a sit down restaurant. Wines that would be $30-40 on someone else’s menu will be $20-25,” Mason says.

    “Being able to drink an affordable bottle of wine on a Tuesday or Wednesday is personally appealing to me,” he adds.

    Turning to the name, it hints at the sort of 90s nostalgia that Shredders is conjuring. Obviously, cooks shred cheese before it goes on pizza. “Shredding” is also something a skateboarder or guitar play might do. Of course, fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will immediately think of Shredder, the pizza-obsessed group’s nemesis, when they hear the word.

    In the ultimate test, Mason served served Shredders’ pizza to his children at a recent preview event. “My daughter said, ‘it’s pretty good,’” Mason says with a laugh. He assures everyone that’s high praise coming from her.

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