Free Spirited Brings Expertly Crafted Sober Cocktails to Alhambra

After working as a server, chef, bartender, and sommelier, Amber Pennington had one thing left to do – open her own restaurant.

But not just any restaurant. She and her now-husband, Arleo De Guzman, dreamed up a place that served high quality alcohol-free cocktails and delicious food that anyone could eat, regardless of dietary restrictions.

Less than a year later, Free Spirited came to life. The new restaurant and cocktail lounge opened on Main Street in January, taking over the location previously occupied by Caramba Mexican Restaurant. It was after searching all over Los Angeles and Santa Monica that they found the perfect spot in Alhambra.

“We understand we’re a very niche concept, but we also know there’s a lot of need for our restaurant,” said Pennington, 32.

The couple has over a decade of combined experience in the restaurant industry, covering everything from fast food and dive bars to fine-dining and Michelinrated establishments. The two have lived in Temple City for four years now, making their new restaurant conveniently close to home.

When they got married last February, they had three things on their wedding registry: Help them start a restaurant. Help them buy a home. Help them pay for their honeymoon.

They thought their first request was the least likely, but it came true first.

The non-alcoholic concept was inspired by Pennington’s own experiences growing up with alcoholism in her family and being hit by a drunk and high driver six years ago. Her partner, De Guzman, has also struggled with his own alcohol addiction.

“We are here for people going through addiction recovery,” Pennington said. “They can have a safe space without that temptation there or without that reminder.”

There’s a total of five non-alcoholic bars in California, according to Pennington, but they’re the only 100% alcohol-free one that doesn’t use non-alcoholic spirits, a term that can be used to describe anything under 0.5% ABV.

Free Spirited’s food menu is almost entirely vegan, and everything is glutenfree. Their non-alcoholic spirits, made in-house, include flavors like citrus rind, spiced molasses, and aloe herb. Pennington and De Guzman developed the menus together with their respective expertise in fine dining and bartending.

“We work really hard to make sure our cocktails don’t just taste like water,” Pennington said.