After the merriment and indulgence of the holiday season, January has long been a traditional time for resolutions—whether it’s picking up a new hobby, signing up for that gym membership, or temporarily abstaining from alcohol for Dry January. 

Dry January in Asheville

While our city has previously held the moniker of Beer City USA, you might be surprised to find that it’s also quite accommodating for those who do not partake in alcoholic libations. Home to a handful of non alcoholic bars and non alcoholic spots in general, Asheville also offers spaces designed for sober-curious folks that are worth visiting.

Sober Bars in Asheville

Embracing that small January phenomenon has created a new wave, where more and more people are opting for a totally non-alcoholic lifestyle year-round, posing a big question for our craft-beer-loving city: What are the best places to go in Asheville if you don’t drink? Allow us to be your guide to NA Asheville, where we’ll explore Asheville nightlife without alcohol and sober-friendly things to do in Asheville. 

NØLO - Non Alcoholic Bottle Shop

• Hours: 10 AM- 6 PM (5 PM on Sunday) 
• Location: Inside Atomic Furnishing (178 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801)

Created to bring more diversity in choice and inclusion for all in how we socialize, this local Asheville bottle shop inside Atomic Furnishing offers the newest, most delicious, and downright hard-to-find non-alcoholic products in the world to support the teetotaler community of WNC. Their mission, “to enjoy more mountains and less hangovers,” certainly rings true, and their selection is beyond impressive. We especially love their Bling Tiger collection of ready-to-drink NA cocktails and 0.0% Prima Pavé wines. You can also opt for their Saint Viviana Cabernet and Les Marées Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, both of which have less than 0.5% ABV. 

For intentional effects, try their NA functional beverages that deliver the enhanced focus or deep relaxation you’ve come to enjoy from alcohol without the downsides—the Curious Elixirs and Aplós series have our heart. While designed for buying and trying at home, the shop also hosts an in-shop tasting just about every week with a rotating selection. Typically, it’s updated on Thursdays to let you know what they’re sampling so you can get a group together and find your new favorite drink. 

Haywood Famous

• Hours: 8 AM-1 PM + 7-10 PM Thursday-Saturday (closed Wednesday) 
• Location: 508 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

A stop along West Asheville’s electric and always colorful Haywood Road, Haywood Famous is a neighborhood coffee shop where art, music, and ideas come alive. Serving up Cuban coffee (the café con leche is the stuff of dreams), this inviting, alcohol-free environment is the place to revel in sober nightlife and connect with a creative cohort. Hosting everything from fabric-mending clubs to holiday potlucks to poetry circles to live music & paint-alongs, this beloved spot has endeared itself to this little corner of WNC. 

The owner Eva’s definition of Haywood Famous is (1): A local celebrity; a person who works at and/or is famous in the iconic restaurants, bars, venues, and shops on Haywood Road and around Asheville. (2): The “come as you are” attitude we all know and love on Haywood Road and around Asheville. This bestowment is perfectly aligned with the overall energy of the shop, as you’ll feel right at home and known even after just one visit. Oh, and did we mention that they have a sweet Corgi shop dog? Prepare to melt. 

Nightshade.

• Hours: 5 PM- 11 PM; 5 PM-1 AM on Saturday (closed Monday + Tuesday) 
• Location: 32 Banks Ave #105, Asheville, NC 28801

Nightshade social lounge opened in September 2025 on the South Slope as a premier non alcoholic bar downtown Asheville. This zero-proof bar specializes in botanical elixirs, non-alcoholic infused mixed drinks, and THC-infused cocktails. Focusing on high-quality sound (with its standout BASSBOSS sound system) and immaculate speakeasy vibes, an unforgettable, alcohol free nightlife experience in Asheville awaits.

Swing by to catch a local DJ set or Cayla Clark’s side-splitting stand-up comedy, Smoke Show, with a signature zero-proof cocktail in hand. Some of our fave libations include Real ‘Spro Martini (with single-origin espresso infused with vegan maple butter, coconut milk, aquafaba, vanilla), and Mountains to Sea Trail (with kava, coconut milk, berry preserves, calamansi, basil, and rosehip). For a little buzz in your cup, opt for an Asheville Dispensary Seltzer like Social Fly, Mellow, or Elevation D9. 

Speaking of plants…be sure to check out Plant Bar + Lounge in the daytime—an intentional space for connection with plants and people serving up coffee, tea & zero-proof cocktails using NOHM Collective’s Mertail line. 

Honorable mention: Sovereign Kava Bar—proclaimed NC's first and finest kava bar, Sovereign serves the drink from the South Pacific plant that has helped generations of native islanders relax. Aside from traditional kava, they also serve Mitra tea, CBD edibles and tinctures, and Buchi Kombucha. Don’t miss their award-winning poetry open mic night every Wednesday. 

Sober-Friendly Bars in Asheville

Outside of these buzz-worthy social hangouts, most bars, breweries, and restaurants are beginning to offer a robust menu of zero-proof beer, wine, and liquor, so everyone can raise a glass and enjoy a spirited night out. 

Potential New Boyfriend

• Hours: 2 PM- 10 PM (closed Monday) 
• Location: 647 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

Named one of the Best New Restaurants in America in 2025 by Eater, this hi-fi listening bar and dessert lounge lives up to its name, born from the Dolly Parton classic, “Potential New Boyfriend.” Opened after Hurricane Helene, this West Asheville gem entered the scene as a new source of hope and possibility. Serving up small plates, sundaes, and a selection of zero-proof drinks ranging from mocktails to espresso to sodas, this is the perfect pre- or post-dinner hangout. 

As the words painted on the building suggest, “Love to the Rhythm,” this intimate joint is as much a spot for appreciating good music as it is for good times.  Home to vintage Klipsch speakers, patrons are invited to bring their own vinyl every Tuesday and enjoy Long Form full album listening every Sunday.

DayTrip

• Hours: 4 PM- 12 AM; 3 PM-1 AM Friday + Saturday 
• Location: 174 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801

Retro and kitsch lovers, you have just hit the jackpot! Step inside Day Trip and be transported to your ever-so-cool Meemaw’s living room, teeming with vintage treasures, velvet sofas, MCM tchotchkes, ceramic cats, and the perfect amount of wood paneling. Pattern, color, and whimsy come to play at this 70s-themed bar, where your eyes will be as full as your glass. Enjoy an ashtray full of stuffed olives alongside a refreshing chastity belt, or opt for a crisp Unititled Art IPA, NA wine, or THC drink.  

Originally opened a month before Hurricane Helene, Day Trip version 1 was lost in the flood, but the Day Trip you see today was reborn and has flourished to be bigger than ever, thanks to the community banding together to save it. You might come for the drinks and quirky atmosphere, but you’ll stay for the entertainment and close-knit feel. Hosting drag shows, dance parties, vintage/handmade markets, movie nights, and more throughout the year, this queer-owned and operated bar is a go-to spot for celebrating or just having great conversations with your people. 

The Mule at Devil's Foot Beverage

• Hours: 3 PM-9 PM Wednesday-Friday; 12 PM-9 PM Saturday; 12-7 PM Sunday (closed Monday + Tuesday) 
• Location: 131 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

This spacious tasting room in Sweeten Creek functions as a popular full-service bar and event space with capacity for up to 305 people. Known for its extensive selection of craft cocktails, local beers, and house-made non-alcoholic sodas and mocktails, it offers plenty of free on-site parking (perfect for those with parking anxiety) and features bar games like ping pong and cornhole, a stage and projector screen for live music and performances, and rotating food trucks and pop-ups available most days. 

This local beverage company prides itself on “working with organic roots & fruits to create a healthier, more flavorful non-alcoholic experience for everyone,” and it’s something you can taste in every drink. From their sparkling lemonade to spicy ginger beer to their zero-proof series collabs, every sip is as fresh as the next. The best part about The Mule? It’s pet-friendly, so you can bring your pup along while you enjoy the unmatched vibes and real farm-to-can flavors. 

Honorable mentions: Little Jumbo + Character Study—this pair of sister cocktail bars offers two distinct experiences with the same cozy feel. The latter is a literary-themed bar in West Asheville, featuring carefully curated libations (our fave NA drinks here are the sneaky gardener and falsetto amaretto), while the former is a local hub for the Montford and Five Points neighborhoods serving up a bold menu of spirit-filled and spirit-free sippers like whiskey-less sours and cos-no-politans. 

Raise a Glass to Sober Curious Asheville

Whether you’re indulging in a delicious mocktail, local craft soda, or zero-proof cocktail, Asheville proves it’s a destination that caters to everyone, and there are plenty of NA bars, mocktail bars, and places to go in Asheville if you don’t drink. With its mix of innovation, inclusivity, and unmistakable mountain charm, our “Land of Sky” shows that the sky’s the limit, and beer lovers and non-beer drinkers alike can savor something memorable during their travels here. So, cheers to finding your perfect pour in Asheville—no matter what’s in your glass!