With the non-alcoholic cocktail trend on the upswing, BOA Steakhouse is featuring high-end zero-proof cocktails and mocktails that rival their alcoholic counterparts.

What are zero-proof cocktails and mocktails? Zero-proof cocktails generally aim to replicate the taste and flavors of a cocktail, often with a zero-proof liquor (such as from the brand Ritual). Mocktails are creative cocktails that aim to showcase a new and unique taste without alcohol.

At BOA Steakhouse in Manhattan Beach, the non-alcoholic options on the cocktail menu include:

Coco Loco - Coconut water, lime, pineapple, and Liquid Alchemist coconut

Margarita - Smokin’ yuzu or classic with Ritual zero-proof tequila

Paper Crane - Ritual zero-proof gin, blueberry rosemary shrub, yuzu, and ginger

Sunkiss - Pomegranate, lime juice, mint, serrano pepper, honey, and Giffard’s orgeat syrup (an almond syrup)

Zen Garden - Cucumber, mint, pineapple, and Fever-Tree sparkling cucumber

MB News had a chance to sample the nonalcoholic drinks with friends (thank you, BOA) and each person walked away for a new appreciation for the genre. 

The Zen Garden was an immediate favorite for its cool and refreshing cucumber flavor. (Our guest enjoyed the non-alcoholic Zen Garden so much she ordered a second one - with an added shot of gin. Still, she said she would have been equally happy with another round of the nonalcoholic version.)

The Paper Crane was another favorite for its complex taste profile with just a hint of ginger. The zero-proof gin is virtually indistinguishable from regular gin, flavor-wise. You could enjoy this drink for cocktail hour and not even realize you were skipping the alcohol. 

The Sunkiss was a bright and spicy drink with a sugared rim. As a mocktail, it was not meant to imitate the flavors of any particular alcohol, but as a purely fancy and fun drink, it hit all the right notes. The serrano pepper gave it an extra "kick."

With this expanded portion of its drink menu, BOA is tapping into the large and growing trend away from alcohol. According to one survey, nearly one in every two American adults (49%) said they are trying to drink less alcohol in 2025, a 44% increase since 2023. In the same survey, 58% said they would be interested in trying a non-alcoholic drink this year. The total no-alcohol market in the US is expected to be worth close to $5 billion by 2028. Meanwhile, restaurant trends show that "premium" mocktails are hot in the high-end market.

However, if you prefer to stick with traditional cocktails, BOA is offering new items on its drink menu:

The Elit - Stoli elit vodka and caviar-stuffed olives 

Golden Hour - Pendleton original bourbon, orange blossom honey, egg white, and a honey ice pop

Espresso Martini “Bandero Style” - Bandero Cafe and Blanco tequila and French pressed espresso 

And if you've been interested in checking out BOA, but need an extra push, consider this: From now through Memorial Day, BOA is offering 20% off to diners who arrive before 6:30 p.m.