BEST STUDENT MOCKTAILS:

For some of the best student mocktails in Dublin, there’s a surprising amount of availability in places you probably already know. 

The Porterhouse on Nassau Street (and the busier sister branch in Templebar, which I’ve never personally been able to find a seat in) offers delicious and surprisingly high quality mocktails for only €4.70. This is my personal favourite spot for a fancy, non-alcoholic beverage – I’d recommend the ‘Turkish Delight’, which blends rose lemonade, a dash of cranberry juice, rose syrup, a lime wheel and fresh strawberries, all over crushed ice. 

Next up is Captain America’s, a well-travelled student hotspot. They offer frozen cocktails, pitchers and an array of other alcoholic treats to accompany dinner (or to be enjoyed alone), but also provide a very affordable collection of mocktails which cap – no pun intended – at €3.85 each. If you’re stopping here for a while, both the ‘Woo Woo’ and ‘Little Engineer’ are also available in pitchers for just €12.50.

Bow Lane is at the high-end of the student list, offering non-alcoholic cocktails for €6. Certainly the pricier option, it’s better suited to those enjoying a meal out or a cocktail night with friends – the relative luxuriousness of the drinks and venue means anyone can be included in cocktail festivities. Most appetising to me is the ‘Tropical Smash’, which combines passionfruit, ruby grapefruit, orange, lime, apple and lemonade.

 

IRELAND’S ONLY NO-ALCOHOL BAR:

If you don’t mind splashing the cash for a quieter and slightly more opulent experience, the place for you is The Virgin Mary. Lauded upon opening for introducing Ireland’s first non-alcoholic bar, it offers a range of sophisticated drinks for any teetotaler, or anyone fancying a day off from the lash. Extending beyond the purview of faux cocktails, it offers an expansive range of non-alcoholic drinks. Its website explains the source of selection and that all the available “beers, wines and cocktails are 0.5% ABV (the same as a ripe banana) or below.” For fancy mocktails look no further than their blend of self-titled “interesting ingredients”, such as the ‘Caleno Spritz’ for €8.50, which mixes Caleno (a tropical, distilled no-alcohol spirit), Chamomile, Mandarin, Cardamom, Sparkling Wine and “bright fruity bubbles”.

This is probably not the ideal locale for regular student bevving, its prices for mocktails starting at around €8 and beers ranging from €4.50 upwards. An interesting alternative to prosecco is also available – though perhaps not of interest to the average student – in the form of ‘Copenhagen Sparkling Tea’, which is fine if you’re happy forking out €35 for a bottle. Despite the price, the complete dedication to a venue not centred on alcoholic socialisation provides a much more normalised milieu for teetotalers of all ages. For any with more unconventional tastes, treats such as non-alcoholic absinthe are also on the menu.

 

NON-BAR LOCALES:

For any teatotalers who aren’t looking for faux beverages, there are several cute spots for late night tea and coffee.

In the same vein, there’s Accents Cafe. Nestled in at the end of Stephen Street Lower, Accents is one of my favourite places to hike to for hot chocolate, which is served as hot milk with a box of chocolate drops for stirring in (to your taste). It’s open every night of the week (except Sunday, when it closes at 10pm) until 11pm, providing a cosy venue for late night coffee and chats, no alcohol required. 

Also on offer is “fine tea and coffee” venue Clement and Pekoe, which sits at 50 South William Street. Offering very tasty tea, coffee and pastries until late, this spot is perfect for coffee till 7pm on weekdays, 6.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm on Sundays.

 

HONOURABLE MENTION:

Another sweet spot for drinks with non-abstaining friends is Coppinger Row. The bar offers three flavours of homemade lemonade to be enjoyed – elderflower, mint and raspberry.

 

OUTSIDE THE CITY:

Finally, Nick’s Coffee and Copán, situated in the cosy boroughs of Ranelagh and Rathmines respectively. Nick’s Coffee Company, at 22 Ranelagh, is open till 8pm every night of the week, except Sunday when it doesn’t shut for another hour! As an added bonus, the prices are student friendly.

Copán in Rathmines offers €5 mocktails and in line with its celebrity-motif menu has humourously coined a ‘Safe Sex on the Beach’. Any low-cost, low ABV drink which promotes good sexual health is always a win in my eyes!