REMIX AUDIO BAR, SANTA FE 

The Guadalupe Street cafe and late-night gathering spot is fueled by coffee drinks, teas, Urban Mama kombuchas, and other buzz-free beverages, plus a nighttime menu of Japanese cuisine, including ramen. Co-owners and DJs Justin Ray and Julie Grace stay true to their mission of keeping Santa Fe’s dance scene alive with DJ tutoring and a steady rotation of turntablists spinning every genre. The concept centers music over alcohol. “The music in combination with human interaction and community has not been given much room,” Ray says. “It opens up a whole new avenue for people to experience this place, older and younger, and especially those who do not want to participate in the traditional alcohol type of environment.”  

Lost Cultures Tea Bar’s Paloma

LOST CULTURES, ALBUQUERQUE 

Founder Ryan Brown mixes ancient traditions with hip beverage culture at this Albuquerque hot spot. Ceremonial teas, house-made tonics and elixirs, and experiments in fermentation bring a mixologist’s sensibility to the entirely alcohol-free menu. The relaxed space pairs a sleek wooden bar with brightly colored works by local artists. Don’t miss the seasonally rotating Ceremonial Cocktail, which incorporates house ferments, umami flavors, and ingredients like miso and botanical hydrosols. The 90 Day Pear shrub gets a lift from cucumber, lime, and fresh botanicals. “Mocktails can be really fun, and they can have a lot of technique-driven and beautiful things behind them,” Brown says. “It takes months to develop some of these flavors and to really bring everything together.” 

Person pouring a beverage into a shot glass at a tasting counter with a menu in the foreground.

ROOTS AND LEAVES: CASA DE KAVA, SANTA FE 

Since opening in 2022, Roots and Leaves’ Casa de Kava has offered a mellower alternative to Santa Fe’s typical bar scene with house-brewed kava, served in traditional drinking vessels known as “shells.” Knowledgeable staff help newcomers navigate the Pacific Island beverage and its rituals. Drink the earthy brew straight or try it in nostalgic flavors like Rocket Pop and horchata. Pinball and weekly open mics add to the laid-back neon-lit atmosphere. “[People] still want to meet friends, have a drink in their hand, play pool, attend events, and be part of a community,” says Nicole Carbone, vice president of business development. “They just don’t always want alcohol to be at the center of that experience.”