On a recent trip to New York, I had the opportunity to visit the city’s first sober bar. It’s a beautiful, friendly spot in the East Village. People who crave the camaraderie of a bar without the booze will feel at home here.

The sober bar takes its name from Hekate, a powerful Greek goddess associated with magic, witchcraft and the moon. Also, night creatures like ghosts and hell-hounds. The goddess was capable of both good and evil–sort of like alcohol.

Read about Hekate in Wander with Wonder

I met and interviewed bar owner Abby Ehmann during my visit. She owns both Hekate and Lucky, a regular alcohol bar right across the street. Abby isn’t a teetotaler herself. She opened Hekate in early 2022. One of her best customers had had a stroke, and another quit drinking because of increased pandemic drinking. Abby wanted them to have a place to go sans alcohol. I just love the idea that she cares so much about her customers that she opened a sober bar. You can read my interview with her in Wander with Wonder. Planning some sober travel to New York? Don’t miss Hekate.