As the “sober curious” movement gains momentum and Dry January rises in popularity, restaurants are devoting more time and attention to zero-proof drinks.

Mocktails are enjoying a moment in the spotlight. The zero-proof drink offers many of the same benefits as a cocktail, with less health and cost-related drawbacks.

Below is The Bulletin’s guide to bars and restaurants in Central Oregon for those interested in celebrating sans the booze.

JIA Asian Street Kitchen

JIA Asian Street Kitchen, which opened last fall in Brookswood Meadow Plaza, has given priority to its mocktails since day one. Bartender Tou Meechukhant designed a mocktail program that excites the senses with five options on the menu that vary in color and presentation and are priced at $10 or under.

The ube lavender sparkler ($8) offers a similar depth to a cocktail and is made with a lavender and ube shrub and sparkling water. Ube, a purple yam native to Southeast Asia, covers the inside of the mouth with a buttery and nutty flavor.

The tiki panda ($8) is presented on fire and served in a panda or tiki-themed glass, Meechukhant said. The drink has a berry-forward flavor and is mixed with pomegranate juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice and sparkling water, then topped with fruit dehydrated in-house.

JIA’s mocktail menu arose out of the necessity of waiting for its liquor license, but there’s no denying its popularity among customers.

Alli Mansfield, who works at JIA, said that even after the introduction of beer, wine and cocktails, interest in the mocktails has failed to wane at the restaurant.

“It’s a really good alternative for someone who doesn’t want to have an (alcoholic beverage), but still wants to feel like they’re drinking something fun,” she said.

On the dessert menu is an iced matcha latte ($8) served with dairy-free whipped cream, a sprinkling of edible flowers and a couple of matcha-flavored Pocky biscuit sticks. It tastes creamy, with a lot of body and a pleasant mouthfeel.

JIA also serves a watermelon cooler ($8), berry pina colada ($8) and Thai iced tea ($5).

JIA Asian Street Kitchen; 11:30-2:30 p.m., 4:30-8:30 p.m. daily; 19570 Amber Meadow Drive #100, Bend; jiastreetkitchen.com, 541-241-7172

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Bar Rio

Bar Rio extends an invitation to its guests to dabble in the booze-free lifestyle with the “sober curious” corner of its cocktail menu. Bar manager Randy Fitch said he prefers to pair fresh, complimentary ingredients, rather than incorporating non-alcoholic spirits.

“You have to do a lot of doctoring up to the non-alcoholic spirits to make something that’s enjoyable,” he said.

The cocktail bar in downtown Bend, formerly known as Barrio, serves four mocktails with a range of flavor profiles. The tamarind cider ($9) ushers in similar flavors of an apple cider cocktail with cardamom, ginger and soda, according to Fitch.

The Brazilian lemonade ($9) tastes like a slice of key lime pie in a glass. Condensed milk, lime and vanilla come together for a creamy and bright beverage with complex flavors.

Captain Bringdown ($7) is fresh and simple, made with lime, ginger and soda water. The Chili Piña ($9) offers a hint of spice with a pineapple reduction, chili simple syrup and lime.

Bar Rio; 3-10 Tuesday-Wednesday, 3-11 Thursday-Saturday; 915 NW Wall St., Bend; barriobend.com

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Ladybird Cultural Society

Ladybird Cultural Society in the Old Mill District serves mocktails with non-alcoholic spirits by Monday and Wilderton Botanical Spirits, a company based in Hood River.

Bartender Thomas Dauphinee said he has noticed the mocktails are especially popular with the under-21 crowd.

He recommends the Blind Serpent ($14), a tonic mocktail made with Wilderton’s crisp and citrusy Lustre. It combines the non-alcoholic spirit with citrus cardamom syrup and a sprig of fresh basil and is a great drink for sipping.

Lady Bird Cultural Society; 4-9 p.m. daily; 375 SW Powerhouse Drive #130, Bend; ladybirdbend.com 541-382-8345

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More mocktails

Washington Dining & Cocktails is featuring a new mocktail special every week in January. Its Blood Orange-ina, available through Sunday, mixes blood orange with lime, agave and soda water.

Drake in downtown Bend has four special mocktails on its menu, including an autumn elixir ($7), passion fruit soda ($8), a cherry limeade ($7) and a passion fruit soda ($8).

Feast Food Co. in Redmond makes $9 mocktails. Its Orange You Glad includes a house-made tonic and the ginger beer contains a house-made ginger syrup.

Ditching the booze, whether for dry January or longer, doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to a good time. Mocktails, non-alcoholic spirits and non-alcoholic beer offer an abundance of thirst-quenching flavor combinations to sip on while socializing, dining or spending a night on the town.