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    Free Spirited

    4.8 (139 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated a few days ago

    Free Spirited Photos

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    FREE SPIRITED ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Free Spirited

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    Calinari aka mushrooms (delicious!)
    Bill P.

    This is not a place for everyone but if you want a dark dive place to be left alone, while people in the background play mahjong (Wed and Thurs) and you can sip on a decently priced tasty mocktail (they're so pricey elsewhere), then this place is for you. They carry a vegetarian menu and I can only vouch for the "calimari" (mushrooms) which were delicious and hit the spot. The service was great.

    Political gathering AUG2026
    Franklin M.

    The interior still brings back memories of when it was the Caramba Mexican restaurant. This time around I came by for a small political voter gathering of neighbors. The owners of this restaurant have made it into a special gathering place where they have events going on during the week. If you need a special place to rent out for a special gathering they are waiting with open arms.

    Alan D.

    Love the ambiance. Great selection of drinks. Huge bonus too that they don't use disposable cups and straws !

    First drink. Citrus based. Can't remember the name.
    Kuo L.

    Just experienced a fun stop in at Free Spirited. I've been meaning to check them out for months but never got around to it. Then, I saw on SGV Eats from FB that they might close! So I had to go support this vegan business! The restaurant-bar is such a unique place. Eclectic, charming, lively. I came on a Thursday night which is their Ma Jong night. Lots of people were already set up and playing. Friendly crowd who welcome people into their table to play even if you come solo. They are gluten-free, vegan / plant-based, and alcohol-free. I ordered two drinks from an extensive and tempting menu. Both cocktails were excellent. I enjoyed chatting with Arlio who owns and runs Free Spirited with his wife. He is a truly warm and friendly guy. I learned that they actually make their own zero-proof alcohol to control for allergens and alcohol content! I also ordered a scallop dish made from trumpet mushroom stalks. OMG. It was delicious! Buttery and lemony. Ordered a side of gluten-free french bread. I'm not gluten sensitive, but I couldn't tell the difference; it was just great bread with a nice crusty exterior and soft center. Please go and support this business. I'm going to keep coming back as often as I can. Hoping our Yelp community can help them stay open!

    Menu
    Jose R.

    Never thought of I would have a great time in an alcohol free environment with stand up comedy. I had a blast with vegetarian appetizers and mocktails for about 3 hours. Loved the talent and felt good, food was healthy for me The vermouth mocktail was tasty but my "beer "was not great/other than that, would love to come back In between sets, waitstaff would quickly pop in to make sure everything was ok.

    Mah Jong event on Thursdays 6-9pm
    Clara C.

    This is the first I've heard of a real life mocktail bar. They serve drinks with no alcohol! I recommend checking out the menus on their website. It's easier to read and has pictures. They are categorized by flavor profile. I tried 2-3 drinks, and they all tasted good. I tried a couple bites of the "calamari" (fried mushroom) and caprese. All the food here is vegan, and I wasn't very impressed with the two that I ordered already. I wouldn't order food again here. They've been hosting many community events, so I love that for them.

    very magical cat. served me only half of what it was supposed to be :(

    Got there at 8pm (an hour before closing) the bar was backed up and I waited over 30 minutes for my drink, and they only served me half a drink for some reason. Really disappointing. :(

    Garlic Pasta
    Terrence S.

    There are some aspects of this place that are unique and well done. Although not in an busy area of Alhambra and with hard to find parking, I love that there are so many activities and makes for a place that is very easy to be a regular hang out spot. The service was also very accommodating, we had a group of almost 10 playing several rounds of mahjong and made for a fun experience. Regarding food and drinks, I'm sure it is difficult having only mocktails and mostly vegan options, but they were able to add chicken to my black garlic pasta which I appreciate. Unfortunately, I was still not a fan of the pasta as the chicken was dry and the seasoning and flavors were not distributed evenly throughout and made for some bland bites, and also I did not feel it was worth the price. I will not be back for the food, but I appreciate the passion and creativity this place offers, and I would be interested in the other activities such as trivia or comedy nights in the future.

    Beautiful vintage women drinking excellent mocktails
    Timothy D.

    We were invited by a friend to come last night dressed in vintage suits and such and we loved it. It is a 1930s building with Greco-Roman reliefs sticking out of walls in a charming manner. The lighting was exactly what one wants. I had two Bella Rosas, which tasted fresh and delicious. My wife had a Moon and Stars and a drink with the word Therapy in its name. The bartender (long-haired Asian guy with facial hair) was extremely nice. The drinks were bargsin-priced! A lovely time. My one suggestion for improvement would be to engineer the speakers so the music could be heard better throughout. Otherwise this was a perfect evening. I am happy that people who do not want to drink alcohol have such a perfect spot. Drinks, service, ambiance A+.

    Vibes
    Hailey C.

    Love the vibe, it's almost like a hidden speakeasy. The place has a mostly vegan menu and non-alcoholic drinks! (But they also have halal chicken for omnivores!) If you're looking for an alcohol free third space to hang out in the evening, this place is great. They also have fun events like mahjong nights hosted by different people! Also if you get their very cute mocktails, you can add a shot of dopabeam for two bucks if you want to feel a light buzz naturally.

    Christina F.

    I came for their Kpop Demon Hunters trivia night! It was lots of fun and I loved the owners, food, drinks and restaurant. I hope they're able to stay in business, because it's a wonderful place, and they have such heart and care for their community. I'm lactose intolerant and allergic to onions, and they took excellent care of me. I really enjoyed the creamy pasta that had no dairy. I wouldn't have known if I'd tasted it blind. I also hate the taste of alcohol, so getting to choose from so many neat mocktails was so fun! Arleo, the mixologist and one of the owners, even made drinks for each of the demon hunters! I got the Rumi, it was sweet but also had a smoky, warming quality. Great choice based on her character. Also tried the Very Magical Cat, a nice fruity drink with pretty colors. The bone marrow appetizer was my favorite! So flavorful and savory. I enjoyed the tofu cheesecake too. Good texture, though I could have used more sweetness. Thank you so much Amber for being so hospitable and for delicious food! It was fun singing with you too. I'll be coming back asap because this month might be their last. I hope not, because as the grand daughter of restaurant owners, it hurts my heart so see great businesses close down. Times are so difficult, and it's made the tough restaurant business even harder.

    Butterbeer
    Cody P.

    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.

    A-Z Cocktail menu (illustrations by me)
    Lili C.

    We first learned about Free-Spirited Lounge via a mahjong event hosted here. Our obsession with mahjong aside, my husband doesn't drink alcohol and I am prediabetic (despite my sweet tooth) so we love that Free Spirited Lounge exists. They serve amazing alcohol-free cocktails (with available-sugar-free options!) and meals that accommodate a range of dietary needs including vegan and halal. Drinks-wise, so far we've had the Quarantine Heart, Daily Flip, Hero of Hyrule, Moon & Stars, Green Moissanite, and Nueva Ecija. Next to try: Scooter SSR, Very Magical Cat.... Basically, I want to try all the cocktails. Most impressive of all is that only two people run this place and do everything. What used to be a çonquistador-themed Mexican restaurant still has that old-school vibe but is now a cozy and accessible space for games and music events, or just to hang out with friends. (I see dogs are welcome too!) This is such a hidden gem that more people need to know about, because they deserve more business to survive. Note: they are only open 4 nights a week for a few hours.

    Mushroom crostini and truffle salt&oil!

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    They have a mah-jong table and good drinks! The service is great, too. Would come again.

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    Amber P.

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    Amber P.

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    3 years ago

    The best chicken piccata. The owner is so sweet with such good vibes. I highly recommend.

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    2 years ago

    Great service Great food and Amazing non alcoholic drinks. You definitely want to come here.

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Free Spirited

    Is this a 100% vegan place?

    We are nearly vegan; all of our food is vegan unless you specifically select the animal protein option And a couple of our cocktails have honey which we can very easily swap… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The Speakeasy - Christmas decorations!!

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    Free Spirited - gluten_free - Updated September 2026

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