Okay, Angelenos, let’s be honest: December in LA is a blur of rosé spritzes on rooftop patios, spiked eggnog parties, and champagne toasts under twinkling lights. It’s enough to make your liver sing the holiday blues. But before you reach for another mimosa on New Year’s Day, consider this: what if we switched the spiked punch for sparkling self-discovery with a little something called Dry January?
Dry January is more than giving your body and mind a 4-week mini vacation from alcohol. Think of it as a spa day for your soul, a reboot for your system, a chance to say “namaste” to your inner glow.
Why should you embrace the dry life with us LA sunshine seekers? Here are a few reasons that’ll make you sparkle brighter than the Hollywood sign.
Detox and Shine
Let’s face it, holiday libations wreak havoc on our skin. Think dullness, puffiness, and dehydration. Dry January gives your body a chance to flush out those toxins, leaving you with a complexion that’s radiant and ready for red carpet close-ups (or at least, stunning selfies from Runyon Canyon).
Sleep Like a Star
Ever feel like you hit the snooze button on life after one too many bubbly nights? Dry January can be your ticket to dreamland paradise. Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns, leaving you tossing and turning instead of counting sheep. Give up the booze, and you’ll be drifting off into sweet slumber. Can you say sweet dreams?!
Boost Your Energy
Feeling sluggish after a December filled with sugar cookies and champagne cocktails? Ditch the hangover for a natural energy boost with Dry January. You’ll be surprised how much more pep you have when you’re not dealing with alcohol’s energy drain. Think brisk morning hikes, rooftop yoga sessions, and spontaneous dance parties at your favorite speakeasy (minus the speakeasy part), this month it’s mocktails all the way!
Spark Your Creativity
Ever wonder where Beyoncé gets those killer dance moves? Turns out, it’s not just gallons of kale juice, it’s also about giving your brain some space to breathe. Alcohol dulls cognitive function, making it harder to tap into your creative flow. Dry January? Think clearer thinking, sharper focus, and maybe even a new masterpiece waiting to be unleashed (whether it’s a novel, a dance routine, or the ultimate Instagram caption, who knows?).
Save Some Green
Let’s be real, LA isn’t cheap. Those fancy cocktails add up faster than you can say “bon appétit.” Dry January is your chance to give your bank account a little spa day too. Think about all the extra avocado toast you can afford with the moolah you’re saving on boozy brunches.
Mocktails Near Me
Looking for mocktails near me? Check out some of these delicious zero-proof cocktails at your favorite LA restaurants, bars, and lounges.
- Ardor’s Mocktails: On the ground floor of The West Hollywood EDITION, sits the signature restaurant, Ardor. Beverage Director, Amy Racine, takes great care in crafting innovative drinks, with just as much thought poured into the non-alcoholic beverages. Enjoy exciting, produce-driven beverages including ROSE, crafted with seedlip citrus, calpico, and raspberry, and YELLOW, made with Lyre’s white cane, passion fruit, and mint. $14; Mondays – Sundays, Various hours; The West Hollywood EDITION – 9040 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069; 310.953.9899
- Aguas Frescas at Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Co.: Sip booze-free libations at Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Co. Angelenos can sip on the following delicious and innovative mocktails all month long: Aguas Frescas like Guava-Jamaica Habanero, Pineapple Cucumber Mint, and Horchata; $8; Tuesdays – Sundays, Various hours; 2706 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, California 90033; 323.968.1106
- New Non-Alcoholic Cocktails at Gran Blanco: Venice bar/restaurant Gran Blanco has a newly expanded non alcoholic craft cocktail menu. In addition to offering the Optimist Margarita, this January, Beverage Director Andy Miller (formerly of Tabula Rasa) has added two new creations to the menu – the Sunrise Spritz – again featuring local brand Optimist, this time their “Cali Amaro” as a base with Elderflower and Citrus and the Free Spirits Negroni showcasing Free Spirits alcohol free Gin and Vermouth Rosso with Bitters and Grapefruit. $12; Wednesdays – Sundays, Various hours; 80 Windward Ave., Venice, CA 90291; 424.433.8095
- Irie Serves Zero-Proof Cocktails: PleasureMed is West Hollywood’s new cannabis destination with an innovative dispensary, California-inspired restaurant, and al-fresco cocktail lounge. Irie, its lush oasis within the space and Hind, behind the dispensary, offer zero-proof cocktails all year long. Yellow Brick Road is a hydrating drink made of coconut water, lemon, ginger and turmeric. If you’re feeling something sweeter, Secret Garden is the right one for you; made of pineapple, celery, lemon, pandan and tonic. Last but not least, Souls Embrace is a revitalizing concoction of watermelon juice, seed lip garden, lime, agave, and fire water. Various prices; Tuesdays – Saturdays, 5 – 11:00 pm; 7717 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046; 323.300.6621
- Kamp Silver Lake is Saying Yes To “Dry-ish” January: Kamp, a gorgeous mom-and-pop shop in the heart of Silver Lake is serving up a Dry-ish January. Kamp is one of the best natural wine shops on LA’s eastside, and this new year they are exploring a “dry-ish January”. While this is not a new concept, Kelly Johnson (founder of the shop) and her team at Kamp are hoping that their expertise and year-round encouragement of conscious consumption will be helpful to those curious about exploring this option! Rather than putting pressure on yourself to remain completely sober throughout the month, to then inevitably slip back into your old ways of over-consumption, Kamp is presenting the option to consume in moderation all year round. Practicing conscious consumption and substituting some drinks for non-alcoholic options, Dry-ish January is an approachable alternative to the restrictive and counterproductive message of Dry January. Various prices; Mondays – Sundays, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm; 3333 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026; 323.522.3555
- (1/25) The OPTIMIST and 1 Hotel Mindful Mixology Class: The OPTIMIST Los Angeles-based non-alcoholic beverage company, has teamed up with 1 Hotels for a nationwide event series that will make its way to the 1/25. The 1-hour mindful mixology class invites hotel guests and visitors alike to the Juniper Lounge + Garden to indulge with intention and kick off the new year by slowing down, savoring each ingredient, and using it to its full potential. $60; 1/25, 6 – 7:00 pm; 8490 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069; 310.424.1600
- Mocktails at The Roof: The Roof at The West Hollywood EDITION offers intriguing zero-proof cocktails and breathtaking views from 14 floors above Sunset Blvd. Enjoy the LEARNER’S PERMIT, crafted with Seedlip Garden 108, Cucumber Tonic, and Lime, or SECOND TO NONE, Ghia Le Spritz, Grapefruit, Bergamont Tea, and Rosemary. These non-alcoholic beverages are the perfect pairs to The Roof’s south-of-the-border inspired menu, with dishes like the Baja Tofu Tacos, Sea Bass Ceviche, or Crab Nachos. $14; Mondays – Sundays, Various hours; The West Hollywood EDITION – 9040 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069; 310.953.9899
Mocktail Recipe Book
Ready to trade in the hangovers for the #DryJanuaryGlow? I’m with you! But don’t worry, ditching the booze doesn’t mean ditching the fun. LA is buzzing with incredible cafés, and events that’ll keep your social calendar sparkling. And for those evenings when you crave a fancy sipper, fear not! Grab my favorite mocktail recipe book, Artisanal Mocktail Recipes. Packed with delicious (and Instagram-worthy) Dry January drinks (mocktails) like the Rosemary Grapefruit Refresher and the Cucumber Mint Cooler, you’ll be the life of the party, sans the hangover.
So, Angelenos, what are you waiting for? Let’s ditch the December drama and embrace a Dry January full of self-discovery, glowing skin, and vibrant energy. Join me as we turn LA into a city that shines from the inside out! Remember, it’s not about deprivation, it’s about celebration – a celebration of your amazing self, one sparkling moment at a time.
Cheers to your #DryJanuaryGlow! (Just make sure it’s a mocktail cheer!)
P.S. Share your Dry January journey with me on Instagram! Post pictures of your mocktails, and tag me @hoopLAblog using the hashtag #DryJanuaryLA. Let’s inspire each other to make this month the most sparkling one yet!
