Dry January, Palm Springs Edition: Five Local Spots Doing Non-Alcoholic Drinks Right

Don’t let the exterior fool you! This intimate, wood-paneled watering hole tucked behind an unassuming strip mall storefront is one of the best spots in town — whether you’re talking food, cocktails, ormocktails. With its warm, Manhattan-y feel, PaulBar serves up genuinely excellent fare alongside cocktails expertly poured by a talented team of mixologists who take their craft veryseriously. While there isn’t a dedicated mocktail menu, it’s the kind of place where you can tell the bartender what you’re in the mood for and they’ll create a thoughtfully dry libation on the spot — something my mom and I love to do and the results never miss!

This perfectly pink bar inside the Trixie Motel — famously featured on the Discovery+ reality TV series of the same name — is best known for its over-the-top ambiance, but the food, drinks, and non-alcoholic offerings are just as notable. Along with a solid lineup of signature mocktails, the menu includes a handful of ready-to-drink NA options, like a Busty Lush Paloma and Kölsch from Best Day Brewing. If you’re ordering a mocktail, the Dry Cactus — a mix of prickly pear, lemon juice, elderflower tonic, and soda — is my personal favorite. But honestly, you’ll be sitting pretty (in pink!) no matter what’s in your glass. (Reservations required.)

Designed by Christopher Kennedy, Canopy is as stunning as it is welcoming — one of my favorite local spots to linger. The servers here are genuinely passionate about wine and the lounge’s many offerings, including NOOH Sparkling Rosé, a standout dealcoholized option that tastes remarkably close to the real thing. You’ll also find other well-curated NA choices, like ginger beer and a zero-proof Firestone Walker 805. For those looking for something lower-proof rather than fully alcohol-free, the menu features cocktails made with Ola Sol agave wine in lieu of tequila — a great middle ground for celebrating without going all in.

This speakeasy, hidden behind an unmarked door in downtown Indio, is celebrated for its immersive culinary experiences, with dishes and drinks smoked, flambéed, seared and foamed tableside. The non-alcoholic offerings are just as inventive, with five elegantly curated mocktails on the menu. I’m especially fond of the Sicilian Sunset, a vibrant mix of Ghia Apéritif, Roots Divino Rosso NA Vermouth, Pizzolato NA Sparkling White, blood orange purée, and pineapple and lemon juices, topped with a flambéed orange wheel. Drinks, food, flair and ambiance — Italica literally has it all.

Looking for mocktails to enjoy at home? This bustling bottle shop, located inside the sprawling Market Market emporium (with a sister location just up the road at Mojave Flea Trading Post), is packed with zero-proof and non-alcoholic offerings and mixers that extend Dry January well beyond a night out. Bonus — the fridge aisle is teeming with a wide array of chilled, grab-and-go choices, making it especially easy to stock up. Owner David Marks — whom I spotlighted back in November — recommends the canned mocktails from Aplós and Parch. Be sure not to miss the whimsical gifts and specialty foods while there — PSBS is just as fun to browse as it is to shop.