Athletic Brewing in Chicago, IL

Billy Sunday is an award-winning craft cocktail bar that opened in 2013 in Chicago's Logan Square, part of chef Matthias Merges' Folkart Management group. The bar is best known for one of North America's largest collections of vintage fernet and amaro — bartender Alex Bachman's deeply researched back bar earned a place in James Beard Award-winning author Brad Thomas Parsons' book on amaro. While the cocktail list is spirit-forward, the menu also carries a dedicated "Spirit Free" section. Named zero-proof options include the Lupine Lady (lavender- and thyme-infused verjus, lime, mint, basil, and sparkling water) and an Italian Cream Soda (cola reduction, stewed cherries, cream, nutmeg, and Perrier). The bar also pours a rotating Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beer alongside house-fermented sodas (note: the house sodas contain trace amounts of alcohol).

The Loyalist is a chef-driven restaurant and bar that opened in summer 2016 at 177 N Ada Street in Chicago's West Loop, occupying the garden level beneath Smyth, its three-Michelin-starred sibling. Both are run by husband-and-wife chefs and co-owners John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, who met at Charlie Trotter's; Karen Urie Shields earned a James Beard "Outstanding Chef" nomination in 2024. The Loyalist is the more casual, neighborhood-bistro counterpart, known for its cheeseburger and an ingredient-focused menu. Its bar runs a dedicated "Spirit Free Cocktails" section of seasonal zero-proof drinks alongside its full cocktail list. Current named options include an Herbal & Citrus build with Seedlip Garden, basil, yuzu and ginger; a Velvety & Smooth amaretto-style drink with Lyre's Amaretti and almond orgeat; and a Juicy mix of Seedlip Grove, pineapple, smoked morita pepper and lime. Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beers are also poured.