Best Mocktails in the Boston Area for Date Night While Pregnant

Pregnancy has a funny way of changing date night. You may be skipping the wine list for a while, but that doesn’t mean you should be stuck ordering sparkling water with lime while everyone else gets something fun.

Thankfully, restaurants around Boston have gotten really good at mocktails. I’m not talking about juice poured into a cocktail glass. There are some genuinely thoughtful non-alcoholic drinks out there that still make dinner feel like an occasion.

So, whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, sneaking in a date night before baby arrives, or simply want an excuse to put on a cute dress and eat a meal without doing the dishes afterward, here are a few places around Boston worth adding to your list.

Dryft is an easy choice for a date night that feels elevated without being overly formal. The Wellesley location has a beautiful, modern atmosphere and works equally well for an actual celebration or a random Thursday night when you both desperately need to get out of the house. Their drink menu includes non-alcoholic options that feel like an actual cocktail rather than an afterthought, making it a great option during pregnancy.

And honestly, Wellesley is an especially good date-night destination because you can make a little evening out of it, dinner, a walk around town, and maybe dessert afterward.

Another Wellesley favorite, Bocado is perfect if your ideal date night involves sharing a bunch of things instead of committing to one entrée. The Spanish-inspired menu and tapas-style dining make dinner feel a little more leisurely, which is exactly what you want when the point is actually spending time together. They also offer zero-proof drinks, so you can still order something interesting while working your way through approximately seventeen small plates. Which feels entirely reasonable when you're pregnant.

Union Straw has that cozy neighborhood-restaurant feeling that works particularly well for fall and winter date nights. The cocktail program here is creative, and there are alcohol-free options for anyone skipping the traditional drinks. Pair one with dinner and you still get the whole date-night experience without feeling like you ordered the consolation beverage. It’s also a nice option if you're southwest of Boston and don't necessarily want to drive all the way into the city for dinner.

Elsie's Table is a cozy Canton spot that feels particularly good for a quieter date night. The menu leans into seasonal ingredients and comforting dishes, and the atmosphere feels intimate without being stuffy. Their beverage offerings change, so it's worth asking what non-alcoholic drinks are currently available. Restaurants are increasingly creating off-menu mocktails too, so don't be afraid to ask the bartender what they can make!

If you want the mocktail itself to be part of the destination, Beyond Proof is worth knowing about. Rather than treating non-alcoholic drinks as the backup option, the concept puts zero-proof drinking front and center. It's a fun choice when you want something different from the standard dinner and drinks date night, particularly when you're pregnant and suddenly paying much more attention to the non-alcoholic side of the menu.

If Italian food is your idea of the perfect date night, Il Massimo at Legacy Place is an easy one to add to the list. It feels polished enough for a special night out without being overly formal, and the menu is full of the kind of comforting Italian dishes that sound especially good during pregnancy. Even better, they have a dedicated selection of alcohol-free cocktails that feel like something you’d actually want to order. Current options include the Pear Spritz, Spiced Orchard, Blackberry No-Jito, and Rosso Italiano. Add pasta, dessert, and a mocktail that isn’t just club soda with a lime, and this one checks pretty much every box for an easy date night before baby arrives.

Cappella is one of those neighborhood restaurants that still feels special enough for a real date night. The space is intimate and cozy, with a menu centered around Italian favorites and house-made pasta, perfect when you want a nice dinner without heading all the way into Boston. They also offer thoughtfully made alcohol-free cocktails, so you can still order something fun alongside dinner while skipping the wine. Current options include the Ginger Spice and Posh, plus a few 0.0% beer choices. This is a great pick for a slower, cozy dinner out, order the pasta, get the mocktail, and absolutely stay for dessert.

If you're looking for an excuse to get dressed up and head into the city, Faccia a Faccia on Newbury Street makes for a perfect pregnancy date night. The coastal Italian menu, lively atmosphere, and Back Bay location make it feel like a proper night out without being overly formal. They also have a dedicated selection of zero-proof cocktails, so skipping the traditional cocktail list definitely doesn't mean settling for sparkling water. Their alcohol-free drinks are thoughtfully made and change with the menu, giving you something that still feels special alongside dinner. Since you're already on Newbury Street, make a night of it. Have dinner, order dessert, and take a walk through Back Bay before heading home. Sometimes getting out of the suburbs for a few hours is exactly the date night you need.

A Little Reminder Before Ordering

One quick pregnancy note: "non-alcoholic" and "zero-proof" don't always mean exactly the same thing. Some non-alcoholic spirits, wines, beers and cocktail ingredients can contain trace amounts of alcohol, and certain botanical ingredients may also be worth asking about during pregnancy. If you're avoiding alcohol completely, let your server or bartender know that you're pregnant and would like a truly alcohol-free drink. They can usually tell you exactly what's in it or make something specifically for you.

Enjoy the Date Night

There is so much preparation that happens while you're waiting for a baby. The nursery. The appointments. The lists. The tiny clothes. The conversations about names, childcare, sleep and approximately a thousand other things. It can be nice to have an evening that isn't about preparing for anything at all. Put on something you feel good in, order the fancy mocktail, share dessert, and enjoy being the two of you for the night.

When you're ready to document this season, Three Peonies Photography offers relaxed, timeless maternity and newborn photography throughout Boston and the surrounding suburbs. Because this part deserves to be remembered, too.