Mocktails Everywhere in Atlantic City: A Rainy Day Adventure at Kings Pub and Ocean Casino
What do you do on a rainy, late-winter day in South Jersey when everything feels a little… gray?
Sure, you could wander the nearly empty mall with its two surviving stores. Or take a peaceful drive through a nature reserve (one of our favorite little secret spots). But when the weather refuses to cooperate, there’s always one reliable option:
This quick trip turned into the perfect rainy-day adventure filled with great food, fun games, and—most importantly—excellent mocktails.
First Stop: Kings Pub on Tennessee Avenue
Our first stop in Atlantic City was Kings Pub, located on Tennessee Avenue in the space formerly occupied by the beloved Pic-A-Lilli Pub (still missed!).
Kings Pub has completely elevated the space, giving it a fresh vibe while still delivering that classic neighborhood pub feel.
But let’s talk about the most important part of the visit:
The mocktails.
A “Dealer’s Choice” Mocktail Win
We grabbed seats at the bar where we were welcomed by Nikki. While there wasn’t a dedicated mocktail menu, the moment I said “dealer’s choice mocktail,” her face lit up.
Kings Pub carries Ritual Zero Proof non-alcoholic spirits, which immediately told me they take alcohol-free drinks seriously.
Nikki double-checked that I wanted something completely alcohol-free and then got to work behind a bar that looked stocked with a million possibilities.
Moments later, she delivered a prickly pear margarita mocktail.
It was fruity, vibrant, and surprisingly complex thanks to the Ritual spirit. The drink had a subtle kick and was finished with a tajín and salt rim that tied everything together perfectly.
Joe and our friend Johnny immediately experienced drink envy and ordered mocktails too—also leaving the creativity up to Nikki.
She came back with what she called a Raspberry 75, a sober twist on a classic French 75.
This mocktail combined raspberry juice and club soda for a drink that was light, bubbly, tangy, and just sweet enough. It was refreshing without feeling overly sugary.
Honestly? Nikki absolutely nailed all three drinks.
The Food at Kings Pub
Now let’s talk about the food.
I love a good burger, but my personal benchmark is something simple and classic—think Five Guys style burgers.
This burger? Definitely not Five Guys.
And that’s a good thing.
I ordered the build-your-own burger, which came stacked with:
Two smashburger patties
Melted cheddar
Lettuce
Tomato
The burger arrived tall and proud with a side of fries. By some stroke of luck, the kitchen accidentally gave me Joe’s truffle fries instead—and honestly, I had zero complaints.
Joe and Johnny ordered the Squire Burger, which featured:
Two smashburger patties
Cheddar
Maple pepper bacon
Shallot marmalade
It looked ridiculously gooey and indulgent. Based on how quickly they both inhaled it, I’d say it lived up to the hype.
The Wing Fest Winner
Of course, we couldn’t skip the Fire Glaze wings, a **Atlantic City Wing Fest winner.
And yes—these absolutely deserved the hype.
The wings had the perfect sweet-and-spicy balance. They weren’t “melt your face off” hot, but they had just enough heat to keep things interesting.
Even better, the sauce coated the wings perfectly without drowning them. The dish was finished with a side of sweet potato fries, which might secretly have been my favorite part.
Overall, it was an excellent dish from start to finish.
Snow in Atlantic City? Sure, Why Not.
When we left Kings Pub, it had started snowing.
Mind you—it had been 70 degrees the day before.
South Jersey weather is nothing if not unpredictable.
So naturally, we headed to our next stop:
Ocean Casino and Ocean 18 Mini Golf
Our next destination was Ocean Casino Resort.
The boys have recently rediscovered their love of golf, but instead of Topgolf we decided to check out the brand-new Ocean 18 mini golf experience.
This place is massive.
Ocean 18 Mini Golf features an 18-hole indoor course, and it’s cleverly designed so you can play 9 holes or all 18, with a bar conveniently located for mid-game breaks.
Now, I’ll admit something:
I usually hate mini golf.
It’s frustrating. It’s chaotic. It’s just not my vibe.
But this course?
I actually had a blast.
And somehow, I was absolutely crushing it.
The Skee-Ball Golf Challenge
At the end of the course, there’s a giant skee-ball-style golf challenge.
For $5, you get three shots. Score over 200 points and you win a gift card.
The boys tried their best.
But the mini-golf skeptic of the group scored 220 points.
Sweet victory.
Of course Joe couldn’t let me be the only winner, so he went back for another attempt while I explored the bar.
And guess what I found?
Mocktails. Again.
The Ocean’s 18 Tropical Blue Mocktail
My drink of choice was the Ocean’s 18 Tropical Blue, made with:
Pineapple juice
Blueberry syrup
Lime juice
Simple syrup
Sparkling water
This mocktail was basically dessert in a glass.
It leaned a little sweet for my personal taste, but honestly—maybe that’s just what sweet victory tastes like.
Final Thoughts: A Perfect Rainy Day in Atlantic City
For a rainy winter day, this trip turned out to be pretty perfect.
From creative mocktails and great food at Kings Pub to unexpected fun at Ocean 18, Atlantic City proved once again that it’s a great destination—even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
And the best part?
We got to enjoy it all sober and still have an amazing time.
We’re already looking forward to our next mocktail adventure in AC.
Until next time,
The Sober Party Girl
Sober Party Girl Score
⭐ Kings Pub: 10/10
⭐ Ocean 18 at Ocean Casino: 10/10
👍 Pros
🍹 Creative Mocktails at Kings Pub – Nikki absolutely delivered with a prickly pear margarita and a refreshing Raspberry 75.
🧃 Alcohol-Free Options Taken Seriously – Using Ritual Zero Proof spirits made the mocktails feel just as thoughtful as any cocktail.
🍔 Solid Pub Food – Smashburgers stacked high, truffle fries, and that ooey-gooey Squire Burger were all big hits.
🔥 Wing Fest Winning Wings – The Fire Glaze wings (a Atlantic City Wing Fest winner) had the perfect sweet and spicy balance.
⛳ Ocean 18 is Actually Fun – Even for someone who normally hates mini golf, Ocean 18 Mini Golf was a blast.
🎯 Skee-Ball Golf Challenge – Win a gift card if you score over 200 points… and yes, bragging rights included.
🌧️ Perfect Rainy Day Activity – Between Kings Pub and Ocean Casino Resort, there’s plenty to do indoors.
👎 Cons
📋 No Dedicated Mocktail Menu at Kings Pub – You’ll have to go “dealer’s choice,” which could be intimidating for some guests.
🍬 Ocean 18 Mocktail Was Very Sweet – The Tropical Blue leaned more dessert than refreshing drink.
❄️ Wild South Jersey Weather – Rain, then snow, after a 70° day… make it make sense.
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