Free Spirited

I don't even know where to start because everything was amazing. Alcohol not necessary for a good time here! The food. The drinks. The vibes. The owners. The things they support. Their selflessness. Their creativity. The hope and life force that they provide for those who need it. They deserve your support. As a celiac, and someone who cannot handle alcohol very well.. this is it. This is what I'm talking about when I say I want atmosphere. This is what I want to give my money to. I got the black garlic pasta and it was incredible. My partner got chicken adobo and it was also amazing. We played chess and chat the owners up for a long while. They do mahjong nights on Thursdays apparently, so if you need socializing in a safe place with good food made by people who care deeply about others - go here.

This restaurant/non-alcoholic bar is run by only a couple. The wife cooks and serves, the husband mixes drinks, takes orders, and cashiers. So service might be a little slow. The atmosphere is dim but warm with individual lights on the booth tables. They have board games you can borrow, mah jong nights, and on the night I went, live jazz band. The food tasted good but portions were a little small. The calamari is made of mushrooms and a little too salty. So, read the menu thoroughly. I had the chicken Adobo which was tasty. They do add 20%tip into the cost of the food and drinks already but he will tell you that when you pay. There's a good sized parking lot and street parking as well.

A small hole-in-the-wall place I would have never knew about if it weren’t for an event publicly posted not too long ago. It has a very creative approach on bar drinks using plant based ingredients for non-alcoholic stuff. The drinks still had that alcoholic taste in them too.

Came on New Year's Eve with friends. Time flew by with the interesting food and drink and plenty of board games to keep entertained. Very helpful and engaged staff (bonus: their cute baby to help ring in the new year). Incredibly grateful that the music was energetic without blasting my ears out, and to know that I don't have to worry about alcohol when leaving the area. Very unique spot.

I appreciate that there's a sober bar/lounge like Free Spirited close to where I currently live, since I don't drink alcohol. The service is always personable, and you'll need to be patient if it's busy because the husband and wife are currently the only employees working there. I've been there a few times for events, including the weekly mahjong events organized by Common Ground, and there are events going on other days of the week as well. I also think it's great that the lounge accommodates those with dietary restrictions such as gluten free and vegan (even if I don't have any.) One thing I also love is the fact that tax and tip are already included in the prices, so you know what the final bill is going to be. Come and support this unique small business!

Such a cool hangout place! The owners are so welcoming and friendly to everyone! They're also very accommodating with any dietary restrictions! The drinks and food are delicious, my favorite was the very magical cat! The drink menu has such a nice and organized infographic of all the ingredients in the drink and has a cute little picture too! An amazing place to hang out without having to drink any alcohol! 😀

Late twenties. For me, someone who’s been done with school for (more than) a couple years now, this is a hard time to meet new people. In my quest to find new "third spaces," I happened upon Common Ground, a mahjong group hosting events around the 626 area. One of these events, "Free Spirited Mahjong," has been recurring on Thursdays at Free Spirited, a sober and (mostly) vegan craft cocktail lounge. The inside is quaint and cozy. Plush booths and tables with swanky armchairs were each stationed with a mahjong set. The bar was especially magical, and, in contrast to the lounge’s warm, ambient lighting, was illuminated by a faint otherworldly glow. Our bartender, Arleo, was very nice. I liked listening to him explain the drinks and the virgin spirits that he brewed himself. As a fledgling mixologist, one of the reasons I wanted to come was to learn more about mocktails, and listening to Arleo was enlightening, productive, and fun. 

My first drink of the night was the Very Magical Cat, which caught my attention online because of its eye-catching colors. The flavor profile was delicious - sweet and floral. I love anything with passionfruit, and I can never resist a butterfly peaflower moment. Next, I had The Initiative, a very creative and nerdy cocktail with a Dungeons and Dragons concept. The base of this mocktail is a bitter red cordial, used to substitute aperitifs such as Aperol or Campari. Citrus is added from calamansi and bubbles from hopwater. The most interesting part of this drink, however, is the sweetener, or more specifically, the method by which you choose your sweetener. Arleo will hand you a D20 dice. It lit up when it touched my hands! Your roll will determine what kind of sweetener is used in your drink. I rolled a 2, which got me aquafaba (not very sweet, but anything under 10 will get you something not very sweet). Arleo whipped up my drink and served it to me in a copper mug. Refreshing and hoppy. I’m tempted to revisit just so that I can roll again. My friends really enjoyed their drinks as well. Our collective favorite drink was the Butterbeer. It was sweet like honey, and almost tasted like cider to me. I had a lovely time at Free Spirited, and would definitely come back. The drinks were delicious, and everyone got to enjoy them without having to worry about having a designated driver. The craftsmanship put into these drinks was just as, if not more, exquisite as that of a cocktail. And, they’re very affordable. If anything, I feel like they could charge even more for their drinks. Tax and tip are already built into the price, but even then, I was surprised at how low the tab was. I’ll be sure to return.