It’s a phenomenon, or rather, a necessity. An event created in the United Kingdom in 2013, Dry January consists of totally skipping alcohol for the entire month of January. You said detox? While France is among the world’s largest consumers of alcohol, this year a record number of motivated participants have chosen to give up thirty days of their couch-side aperitifs with friends.
Give up, really? The effort would turn out to be simpler than it seems, thanks to the initiative of clever brands and cool Parisian spots taking up the challenge. Ready to get started?
Why and how to get into it?
Hard to say ciao to your bottle of Chablis? By registering your participation on dryjanuary.fr, you’ll receive tips and advice throughout January to stay on track. And it must be said that the arguments for taking part are convincing: in one month, you’ll find, according to the site, “fresher and more beautiful skin, improved sleep and thus more energy, better health as one month off does a world of good to the body,” not to mention obvious savings, a slimming benefit, and a certain sense of self-victory.
The right shop to trust
In the Buttes Chaumont area, a spot 100% dedicated to alcohol-free options has sprung up, a kind of wine cellar for sober epicureans. In this turquoise shop, you’ll find no fewer than 500 references of soft drinks, from 0% beers by La Débauche, Thrive, or Brooklyn Brewery, to alcohol-free rums, whiskies, gins, or Spritzes, as well as 0% wines and sparkling drinks. Additionally, there’s a beautiful selection of “soft” drinks, including ginger beers, kefirs, kombuchas, matés, fruit schorles, and other CBD-infused beverages. Among our favorites: the floral waters Ô de Fleurs - Œnologie Florale created by Stéphanie Cohen, delicate and fragrant. The plus? For Dry January, Le Paon qui Boit hosts daily alcohol-free cocktail tastings, open to the public and, most importantly, free!
Le Paon qui Boit, 61 rue de Meaux, Paris 19e, 01 40 05 19 03. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
© Le Paon qui Boit
These cool spots jumping on the trend
No need to lock yourself away at home. Our favorite addresses are embracing Dry January with mocktail pairings and other ingenious creations. Start with Hôtel Le Cinq Codet (5 rue Louis Codet, Paris 7e), where the warm Chiquette restaurant-lounge unveils 3 cocktails (€12 each) created for the occasion, alongside an eclectic menu of 0% wines and sparkling drinks. From the Speakeasy with Spritz-inspired notes, to the Take Pink in the style of a Cosmopolitan, and the indulgent Swing Blush with exotic hints of pineapple, lime, and orgeat, this post-party detox promises no compromise on pleasure.
Equally fabulous is the floral and aromatic mocktail Suenos at Vesper (81 avenue Bosquet, Paris 7e): a short drink made with alcohol-free Martini Floreale (chamomile-based), rooibos, verjus, and agave syrup (€12), perfect to pair with the divine sushi at this trendy Left Bank cocktail bar.
Meanwhile, until January 31, 2025, Coya (83 rue du Bac, Paris 7e), the most Peruvian of Parisian restaurants, debuts a desirable collaboration with collagen-based drinks Apnée. On offer are 3 high-end mocktails (€15 each): the Noche de Tonka featuring marine collagen, salted coconut kiss, coffee, cane sugar, and Tonka bean; the Brisa Verde with marine collagen, yuzu, basil, organic apple juice, fresh lime juice, liquid sugar, and basil leaves.
Also, explore 3 palace-worthy spots to experience Dry January in our January to-do list.
The perfect recipe
Apple juice isn’t the only option! To keep things exciting, the Big Mamma team (Pizzeria Popolare, East Mamma, Liberto, No Entry) has whipped up ultra-sexy alcohol-free cocktails from January 2 to February 1 that guarantee a hiccup-free next day.
For a Piña Turner mocktail, inspired by the classic Piña Colada, grab 60 ml of pineapple juice and pour it into a shaker with 30 ml of coconut cream. Once shaken, strain the mixture with a fine sieve. The most satisfying moment is here: pull out your most beautiful balloon glass, fill it with ice cubes, pour in your precious elixir, garnish with fresh basil, and voilà—it’s ready to savor!
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