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Kava 101

New to kava?Start here.

Kava bars are bars without the alcohol: a bar top, a kavatender who knows the menu, board games and a crowd that came to hang out, morning to late. If you've never been, these guides walk you in. Pick whichever sounds like you.

First-timer dealsRead the guides
What is it?Not drinkingOff the weedTry itBula!
Alcohol-free kava bars listed
776
US cities
342
States
41
A shell, at the median
$8.00
03

I'm quitting weed

Somewhere to go and something to sip while you take a break.

Sober, in recovery, or taking a break

Your call, and your program's.

Kava isn't alcohol, and it isn't weed. Whether it fits your recovery is your call, and your program's. Kratom is a different plant that some kava bars also serve, and it can be habit-forming; the sober bar pages mark the bars that list kava only.

Never mix kava with alcohol. Skip it if you're pregnant, nursing, or have liver problems.

SAMHSA National Helpline · free, confidential, 24/71-800-662-4357
Three shells of kava raised together at a kava bar
Shells up! Then everyone says Bula!

The short version

Your first visit, in four lines.

  1. Say it's your first time. Kavatenders love a first-timer and will pick for you.
  2. Order a shell of the house kava and grab a chaser from the bar.
  3. “Shells up!” then “Bula!” One gulp. Give it a few minutes.
  4. Stick around. Grab a board game, the pool table, or whoever's next to you.

Your first shellis closerthan you think.

Grab a first-timer deal at a bar near you, then get the HappyKava app to see which bars are open now and what's on today.

First-timer dealsGet the appFind one near me