What is a kava bar?
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A kava bar is a bar that serves kava instead of alcohol: a relaxed, social place to hang out at night without drinking. Most also serve kratom, teas and non-alcoholic drinks, which is why you'll see them called kava kratom bars or kava lounges.
What you'll find on the menu
- Kava. Served in a shell or cup, usually with a fruit chaser. What is kava?
- Kratom. Brewed as tea, often sweetened or flavored. What is kratom?
- Mixed kava drinks. Kava blended with fruit, coconut or coffee.
- Non-alcoholic options. Teas, sodas and mocktails.
What it's like
Think coffee shop crossed with a neighborhood bar: couches, music, board games, open mic nights. Regulars chat with the bartender, and nobody asks why you're not drinking. Kava bars are especially common in Florida, and they're spreading across the Southeast and Texas.
Your first visit
- Tell the bartender it's your first time. They'll steer you to something mild.
- Start with one kava shell and give it 20–30 minutes. How long kava takes.
- Have the chaser ready: traditional kava tastes earthy. Why kava tastes that way.
- Don't drink alcohol before or after.
No kava bar nearby?
Canned kava and kratom drinks give you the same drinks at home, already flavored.
Related: What to drink instead of alcohol at a bar · Kava vs. kratom vs. kanna · What is kava?
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