Hannah Lambert
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.
… moreAmanda Panda
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.
… moreCody Pham
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.
… moreShui Jie
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.
… moreGilbert Cahatol Jr
This is Alhambra’s hidden gem! My wife & I absolutely love this place. It’s honestly one of our favorite spots. They have vegan, gluten free food & they are food allergy conscious. We don’t drink so we were so excited when we discovered this place is not only alcohol free, but provides vegan options for us! There are so many reasons why we love this place. First off, their food is just so fresh & healthy. They do such a great job with their flavors & it’s all made from scratch. Their meals are quality made—far from fast food, so expect a fine dining experience vs. greasy oily finger food. It’s a perfect spot for vegans to hangout with their meat eater friends since they have a lot of variety on their menu. They serve Filipino inspired food & have vegan options for it—which is so rare to find. The ambiance of the place has such a fun vibe & vintage feeling to it. We go to sing karaoke & play board games. Anytime we have friends visiting us, we bring them here because we love the vibe of this place. We love their customer service. They are very thoughtful. Any time we have questions about what drinks to try out, they know exactly what to offer. We come here so often that we ended up celebrating our birthday here & got to reserve the whole place for our friends & family! TOTALLY worth it! You would need to contact the owners ahead of time on their Instagram & coordinate the details. The owners are incredibly kind, giving, & understanding when it came to figuring out the details for our party, so we highly recommend. We became really great friends with the owners. Amber & Arleo run the whole restaurant. They put a lot of love & thought in their menu & it shows. We love this place. Thank you both for creating such a special restaurant in our community.
… moreTeresa Wang
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!
… moreEmily Wong
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! 😀
… moreEleanor Lee
My first time at Free Spirited. Walking in I could feel the warm anf friendly atmosphere of the place. It was Mahjong night and the place was pretty low key. It made it nice to play and have a conversation without having to talk too loud to be heard.. The drink menu was mix of interesting non alcoholic dringks. I tried the Quarantine Heart …very yummy! Unfortunately the menu was limited that night be cause the owners’ puppy was at the emergency vet. I hope everything is okay with the puppy. Will definitely be back.
… moreMojtaba Taheri
What an incredible experience! This place is an absolute gem – the vibes are amazing, the food is delicious, and the drinks are a true work of art. The owner, a very sweet couple, crafts their own non-alcoholic bases using a mix of flowers, fruits, and spices, creating unique and unforgettable mocktails that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s a fun and cozy spot with plenty of games to enjoy with friends, making it the perfect hangout. Whether you’re here for the amazing culinary experience, the one-of-a-kind drinks, or just a great time, you’ve just found your new favorite place!
… moreJen Liu
Everything’s great. This place is amazing for people who have intolerances(like lactose and gluten), allergies(like dairy), and other diet restrictions(like vegan.) More restrictions that I forgot about are catered to here. If you can’t have caffeine their menu warns which things have caffeine. I like how they try to make their sugary drinks with healthy ingredients that are good/better for you. Their sodas I’ve tried are in-house and have actual fruit ingredients that taste much better than canned soda. I wish more resteraunts catered to these needs.
Try the string beans, I’ve know a couple people who drank the delicious sauce like soup. I love their blended drinks. My favorite drink is the Hero of Hyrule. My favorite soda I’ve probably ever tried is their version of Cactus Cooler.
The owners are awesome people to be around. With how much they consider people’s needs in the making of everything in the menu, they should be proud because it is genuinely an impressive accomplishment.
Enjoyable atmosphere. It’s true that this is a very kind and cozy space.
… more