Alcohol-free in Gainesville
Try kava. Your first shell starts here.
4 kava bars in Gainesville don't list alcohol. Try your first shell, and get the week's alcohol-free events and deals.
Your week in Gainesville, alcohol-free
Try your first shell
No bar in Gainesville lists a first-timer deal on HappyKava right now. These are the most reviewed alcohol-free kava bars in town.
Closed · opens 7 AM
Kava Gator Coffee Shop
4.7(364)Gainesville, Gainesville
Kava and kratom · also coffee, tea
Closed · opens noon
Mai Kai Kava Bar
4.8(158)17 W University Ave, Gainesville
Kava and kratom
Closed · opens 8 PM
KAVA LOUNGE
4.1(125)1007 W University Ave, Gainesville
Kava and kratom
Closed · opens 9 AM
Brew & Root Kava Cafe
5.0(62)615 W University Ave, Gainesville
Your first time
Kava is a root from the South Pacific, ground, mixed with water and poured into a shell. It relaxes your body and keeps your head clear. It tastes like bitter earth, so drink it all at once and follow it with a chaser. Numb lips mean it's working.
Tell the kavatender it's your first time; they'll steer you. When someone calls “Shells up!”, raise your shell. Then it's “Bula!”, and everyone drinks. Some bars have a First Time Guide poster by the door: scan it for a one-minute walkthrough.
Kava bars open early and close late, so go whenever suits you: after work, a lazy afternoon, or late.
Sober, in recovery, or taking a break
Kava isn't alcohol. Whether it fits your recovery is your call, and your program's. Kratom is a different plant and can be habit-forming, so ask which drinks have it.
Never mix kava with alcohol. Skip it if you're pregnant, nursing, or have liver problems.
Need support? SAMHSA's National Helpline is free, confidential and open 24/7: 1-800-662-4357.
Questions
Every sober bar in GainesvilleIs my first shell free?
None of the bars in Gainesville lists a first-timer deal on HappyKava right now, so plan to pay for your first shell. The weekly email tells you when one starts.
What's in the weekly email?
Events and deals at alcohol-free kava bars in Gainesville for the week ahead, plus any first-timer deals. One email a week. Every email has an unsubscribe link.
Do kava bars serve alcohol?
Most don't, and we leave out any bar that lists alcohol on HappyKava. Menus change, so call ahead if it matters to you.
Is kava the same as kratom?
No. Kava is a root from the South Pacific. Kratom is a leaf from Southeast Asia, usually served as tea. They feel different, and kratom can be habit-forming. Ask which drinks have it.
Claim deals at the bar
Exclusive Deals live in the free HappyKava app, along with which bars are open now and what's on today.