A couple blocks from where I live is a business called Ocean Beach Cafe. At first, I thought it was just a place one could buy coffee but upon closer inspection, I realized Ocean Beach Cafe has an incredible selection of virgin drinks and self identifies as a ‘sobar’. A beautiful bar serving non-alcoholic beverages with healthy ingredients and innovative flavors, Ocean Beach Cafe is also a community arts space with constant events taking place such as open mics, non alcoholic wine tastings, beach clean ups, live music, etc.
“There’s an unprecedented shift in drinking culture happening right now - not as many people are drinking alcohol as much or at all” owner Josh James explains.
A long time bartender, Josh decided to channel his cocktail making skills into providing SF with the largest collection of delicious non alcoholic drinks. From mixed drinks in a can to gin and whiskey, all of the drinks at Ocean Beach Cafe are incredibly popular and sophisticated. “A lot of our distributors can’t keep up with supply because demand is just too high right now” explains Josh. He opened Ocean Beach Cafe last year with the intent of providing alcohol but the beer and wine license took so long to clear that in the meantime, the other drinks that Josh were providing were selling so quickly they realized they didn’t need the beer and wine license at all.
“My goal is to get people to realize how cool this block is,” Josh says to me.
True to its namesake, Ocean Beach Cafe is located right on the beach next to Singler Gym and TJ Cafe - a peaceful and community oriented corner of the city. Come down and check out Ocean Beach Cafe in the Outer Richmond!
-Valentine Batra
