Dry July: The Best Bars in Melbourne For Alcohol-Free Drinks

Dry July is back for another year, with an increasing number of Aussies joining the cause, cutting out booze and raising funds for those affected by cancer. While the absence of hangovers will certainly have you looking and feeling your best, after a couple of buzz-free Fridays, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t find ourselves itching to pull up a stool and raise a glass with your nearest and dearest after a long working week.

To stop the inevitable FOMO, why not get creative with your mocktail order? Melbourne’s bartenders and mixologists are getting more inventive by the day, coming up with drinks so delicious, you won’t even realise they’re virgin.

To help you along, we’ve rounded up Melbourne’s best bars serving delicious alcohol-free drinks to get you through Dry July and beyond.

Hotel Nacional

A little treat to end Dry July on a delicious and alcohol-free note, Hotel Nacional, Melbourne’s 100% gluten-free Mexican rooftop bar, is serving up a free Nah-Garita mocktail to every diner booked in! Shaken with Lyre’s Agave Blanco Spirit, fresh lime and agave syrup, it’s got all the zest of the real deal—minus the booze. With rooftop vibes (yes, the rooftop is Melbourne weather-proof), modern Mexican eats, and an inclusive drinks list, it’s the perfect spot to finish Dry July with your mates. Book in, sip up, and say ‘cheers’ to a job well done.

23-25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

Lyre’s x Dry July

This July, Lyre’s – the world’s most awarded non-alcoholic brand – is partnering with some of Melbourne’s top venues for Cocktails for a Cause, supporting the Dry July Foundation with every pour. For every Lyre’s cocktail sold at participating venues, $1 will be donated to support those affected by cancer. Make your way to Arbory, HER, 400 Gradi (Crown only), Waterslide, Studio Amaro, Stokehouse, and Rossi, where you’ll find creative zero-alc options like the Non Spritz (Lyre’s Italian Spritz with lemon and rosemary) and Non Garibaldi (Lyre’s Italian Orange topped with OJ).

Putting the fun in Dry July, Funlab venues (Strike, Holey Moley, Hijinx Hotel, La Di Darts and more) are slinging $10 Lyre’s cocktails all month, including 0% espresso martinis, a pink gin spritz, Tommy’s Margs and strawberry mojitos.

With bespoke alcohol-free cocktails on offer throughout the city, it’s a feel-good reason to head out, sip mindfully, support local hospitality and a great cause.

Running all July

Fable

At 14 storeys high, Fable is Melbourne’s lofty jewel, offering panoramic skyline views from its chic rooftop perch. A retractable roof and heaters ensure comfort, whether you’re chasing sunsets or embracing winter chill. The space blends New York glamour with Melbourne cool—intimate booths and a laid-back yet sophisticated atmosphere. Pair inventive Mediterranean small plates with mocktails crafted for the adventurous, from a sweet Sancho Panza Vol 2 with watermelon syrup, lime, grapefruit, aquafaba and soda, to a considered Northstar made with ginger, lime, mint and cucumber.

13/168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Goldilock’s Rooftop Bar

You know when you rock up to a bar with your friends, only to find their non-alcoholic drinks list is strictly limited to one measly mocktail and some soft drinks? That isn’t the case at all at Goldilock’s Rooftop Bar. This rooftop cocktail bar has made an effort to accommodate non-drinkers, too, crafting a tempting mocktail list that tastes as good as it looks.

For one of the most refreshing mocky’s on the market, try the Mando Cool, made with fresh mandarin juice, passionfruit, white chocolate syrup, lime and cream. Yum.

Level 5, 264 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Vue de Monde

Under a canopy of sky and city lights, Vue de Monde offers an experience that feels plucked from a dream. Soaring above Melbourne on the 55th floor of the Rialto, guests are swept into a world where the skyline meets sculptural plates and native flavours are elevated to pure artistry. Each course arrives with quiet drama — delicate, daring, and deeply thoughtful. The best part for our non-alc friends? The alcohol-free pairing. Enjoy your exquisite meal with a selection of sans-alcohol cocktails, prestige teas, and custom-made beverages.

Rialto Towers, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne 

The Local Taphouse

If you’re a beer lover but have committed to avoiding an alcoholic brew this July, The Local Taphouse is the place to go. They’re proud to pour a couple of non-alcoholic beers that possess the same delicious, refreshing taste as a regular beer, minus the hangover! Plus, with its vibrant atmosphere and cosy setting, you’ll be feeling the vibes all around.

184 Carlisle St, East St Kilda

Polly Bar

Polly Lane doesn’t neglect the non-drinkers who stumble into their cosy, Art Deco cocktail bar. Despite a rather impressive cocktail list, they also have an entire section dedicated to some delicious mocktails. Love to see it! On the menu? An orange Margarita with no-alcohol tequila, an Espresso Mocktini, and our personal favourite, the refreshing Elderflower Delight, with elderflower syrup, lime juice and syrup.

401 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Brunswick Aces

If there is one spot to add to your hitlist this Dry July, it’s Brunswick Aces, a premium cocktail bar that initially opened as Australia’s first permanent non-alcoholic bar. Things have changed a little, with Aces Bar re-opening to cater to all clientele, drinking or not. Stocking over 100 beers, wines, spirits and cocktails from producers across the country, including well-known players like McGuigan, Non and Heaps Normal, there is no mocktail the talented team can’t whip up.

Try Sapiir, a botanical-rich alcohol-free spirit, with a splash of tonic, or go for the refreshing Goodness Grace, in which Ovant Grace (a zero alc gin) is paired with lemon, watermelon and coconut rosewater. The place looks just like a classic cocktail bar too, full of dark plush velvet and moody ambience.

124 Weston Street, Brunswick East

Bomba

Dry July won’t seem so bad while you’re snuggled up at this cosy rooftop bar, (non-alcoholic) beverage in hand. Perched over Lonsdale Street, Bomba’s moreish tapas plates and heavenly sips promise to keep you well fed and watered all month long. Plating up Spanish favourites like patatas bravas and spicy chorizo alongside a couple of winning alcohol-free mocktails, it’s a winner for post-work hangs or pre-dinner drinks.

103 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Trinket

Sipping on mocktails in a cellar might not be the first thing that springs to mind when planning a night out, but hear us out. From the outside, Trinket is one of those unassuming CBD bars that could easily be missed, but once inside, it’s all about stunning old-world charm. Far from an afterthought, the lengthy list of 0% pours quenches every kind of thirst, from zesty mocktails to pale ales.

From the selection of old and new favourites, we’re ordering up the Berry Tiki, a refreshing mix of Falernum, lime, mixed berry and Mabel London Dry spirit.  

87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Yarra Botanica

Taking up prime real estate in Southbank on the Yarra River, Yarra Botanica is an expansive bar proudly serving a 100% Victorian beverage menu that includes an alluring assortment of non-alcoholic options. Expect beers from the likes of Hop Nation, sober-friendly spirits from Four Pillars and fizzy drinks, alongside dishes such as 90-hour sourdough pizzas, hand-stretched burrata, and crispy halloumi.

Sandridge Bridge, Southbank

Culter & Co

In a sleek and industrial setting within an old factory, it’s a dream to settle in for the evening at the elegant Cutler and Co., and there are plenty of low-alcohol and booze-free options on the menu, including beer and wine. The level of skill and creativity that goes into each non-alcoholic cocktail boosts their value ten-fold. With a focus on top-quality produce and a great fine dining experience, creative concoctions such as the Sweet Iron Goddess (oolong tea, shiso and agave) and the Italian Orange Spritz (Lyre’s Italian Orange, verjus and tonic) pair perfectly with simple and seasonal modern Australian dishes. Who said you can’t wine and dine in Dry July?

55/57 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Rooftop Bar

Whether you decide to wait (and wait) for the sluggish elevator or awaken your thirst with a marathon sprint up the stairs, the reward atop Curtin House is well worth your troubles – even if you’re off the booze for the minute. One of Melbourne’s most iconic venues, Rooftop Bar is home to some of the best alcohol-free cocktails in town, as well as panoramic views across the city.

A perennial post-work favourite, kick back with a shaken Bandwagon Sour, made with Four Pillars Bandwagon shiraz, lemon, sugar and aquafaba.

Curtin House, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Daughter-in-law

With its bold décor and flavour-packed dishes, a trip to Daughter-in-Law never disappoints. The proudly “inauthentic” Australian Indian eatery is helping diners stick to their sober resolutions with a selection of non-alcoholic mocktails. Standouts include the Maharajas Punch, made with iced hibiscus and rose tea, and the tropical Himalaya Burst, a mix of Seedlip Spice 94, fresh watermelon juice and citrus.

37-41 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Loving our list of the best bars in Melbourne for alcohol-free drinks and looking for more wholesome activities to keep you busy? Make the most of your hangover-free weekends and check out the best walking tracks around the city before hitting up one of our favourite new cafes for a tasty post-hike feast.