I closed out 2021 in a bar a couple of blocks from Bourbon Street, drinking a ginger beer. When I ordered it, the bartender looked at the can and said, “I’ve never sold one of these before.” Well, after 8 days in New Orleans, I am not surprised. Being a non-drinker married to someone who enjoys an afternoon in the pub, some vacations are trickier than others when it comes to the evening winding down hours.

At this point, I have some old standbys in my back pocket (ginger beer, soda water with bitters) for the times when I find that literally no effort has been made at all to have at least 1 AF option. I am so spoiled here in Portland with most places having AF beer(s), kombucha, CBD drinks, canned sparkling water or hop water to choose from, so it wasn’t exactly shocking but still disappointing to be presented with zero options. Even when I didn’t see anything, I still made a point to ask if they had anything without alcohol, because I think it’s important to get the message out that there truly is a demand for this!

And there were a few places we visited that really made the effort and I want to call them out for being awesome: 

• The Will and the Way (LOVE the staff here!)
• Bar Tonique (check out their Temperance Menu)
• Mister Mao (homemade tamarind soda, yes please)
• Cafe Amelie (fancy floral mocktails, perfect for drinking under the lights in their courtyard)
• NOLA Brewing (A brewery! With multiple AF options!! And that pizza…)

All that being said, I had a lovely time in NOLA, which was made better by the fact that I woke up every day feeling fresh as a daisy, instead of the person responsible for the puke smell on Bourbon Street!