A modern benchmark of a proper bar is a worthy selection of booze-free beverages. Long gone are the uninspired Shirley Temple and sickly sweet sodas; instead, NA wine, beer, and mocktails are crafted with the discerning palate in mind. Taking the inclusive spirit one step further, non-alcoholic venues in Salt Lake are emerging as third spaces for folks who want to enjoy the warmth and social energy of a bar, without the presence of alcohol.
Siblings Kelly and Matthew LaPlante opened 1833 Craft in 2025. The swanky joint serves non-alcoholic creations with all the theatrics you’d find at a high-end cocktail bar— smoking cases, foam layers, and infused ice cubes among them.
Photos courtesy of 1833 Craft.
“I was looking to replicate the experience of your neighborhood speakeasy,” says Kelly, an interior designer by trade. “There’s vinyl playing, the bartender knows your name, the lighting is really dialed in.” The drinks at 1833 Craft occupy a category of their own making. “We don’t even use the word mocktails here,” Kelly says. “We’re not trying to mock anything.” Instead bartenders experiment with zero-proof spirits that don’t masquerade as 1:1 replacements for alcohol, like those from local company Dromme, which utilizes botanicals and adaptogens.
The 1833 team incorporates culinary and molecular techniques to add even more nuance; you’ll often find Matthew smoking beverages with cherry wood or stirring down drinks with black pepper infused ice. “You’ll never be handed some basic ginger beer,” Kelly jests.
The presence of zero-proof spaces that meet guests where they are underscores an industry that puts the human experience before all else. Because at their core, bars are places for connection and curiosity, regardless of the strength of your beverage. 1833craft.com
This article was published in our September/October issue, Drink Local. Click here for more nightlife trends and bartender highlights.
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