The Vintage-Style Sober Bar In Southern California Serving Up Alcohol-Free Fun For All
By Natasha Kayes|Published January 26, 2024
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
While, for many, going out for a great meal or a night of fun almost always involves wine, beer, or cocktails, there are also many who choose not to imbibe – whether for the increasingly-popular “dry January,” because of health and weight concerns, pregnancy, an effort to maintain sobriety, or other reasons. There are not a lot of places that cater to the non-drinking community but who still want to enjoy the kind of atmosphere that often centers around alcohol. Not a lot, but they are out there, and Shirley’s Temple in Signal Hill, CA, is one of them that is quickly earning accolades.
Shirley’s Temple, which opened in September 2023, is the first and only sober bar in the Long Beach area. The owner is a bartender by trade and knows what makes a great drink, alcohol or not.
Named for the famous Hollywood starlet herself, the vintage 1940s-style bar and cafe has an Art Deco portrait of Shirley Temple on the wall. There is also a collection of photos of sober Hollywood stars.
Most people have had, or are at least familiar with, one of the most famous mocktails - the Shirley Temple. The story goes that as a child, the young actress felt a bit left out and wanted a fancy drink like the ones her parents were enjoying at a restaurant, so the bartender created the sweet, rosy, sparkling drink just for her, later naming it after her.
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Mocktails and zero-proof options have begun to appear on the menus of many institutions, but they are often limited, and less than exciting. Not so in this cozy 100 percent alcohol-free lounge where the focus is on fun, high-quality, complex drinks that have all the appeal of their alcoholic counterparts - not just juice and soda. You can find creative versions of mules, margaritas, etc., and several variations of the famous Shirley Temple.
Shirley’s Temple is a laid-back cafe during the day, with appetizers, soup, charcuterie boards, flatbreads, sandwiches, and salads. There are even board games available to up the fun factor.
In the evening, the place takes on more of a hidden speakeasy atmosphere, with lower lighting and live entertainment, including music, poetry and open mic nights, and stand-up comedy.
The sober bar opened to a very positive response from the community and went on to top Yelp’s list of the best mocktails in the entire country! I love the quote on the website: “0% alcohol, 100% good times. Is alcohol the fun, or are YOU the fun?”
Now everyone can enjoy going out for drinks, regardless of whether or not they are refraining from alcohol. Have you heard of this sober bar in Signal Hill? What do you think? Visit the Shirley’s Temple website for hours, menus, and upcoming events, or follow Shirley’s Temple on Facebook. Looking for more fun and unique things to do in Long Beach (sans alcohol)? Check out this incredible helicopter tour!
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