About Elixir Lounge

We're Not Your Average Bar. (That's the Point.)

Elixir Lounge Kava Bar opened on August 30, 2022 in the heart of Old Town Spring, Texas — Spring's first and only alcohol-free tiki mocktail lounge, kava bar, and botanical supplement shop.

The Story Behind the Lounge

Elixir Lounge was founded by Chris Jepson, a longtime supplier to over 65 kava bars across the country who personally visited more than 150 kava venues before opening this one. He took the best of everything he saw and brought it to Old Town Spring.

"As more people seek alcohol-free social spaces, I saw a real need for a welcoming environment where anyone can come together to unwind, connect, and belong."

A Voice at the International Level

Chris's connection to the botanical world runs deeper than almost anyone in the United States. He has traveled to Indonesia 19 times and Thailand 3 times, working directly alongside indigenous farming communities, government scientists, and American Kratom Association leadership to help shape the regulatory frameworks governing Indonesian-US and Thai-US botanical trade — at both the federal and international level.

He has participated in government meetings overseas and on Capitol Hill alongside US Senator Curt Bramble (UT), Representative Brian Patrick Kennedy (RI), and Congressman Matt Salmon (AZ). Alongside him at these meetings: Dr. Kirsten Smith and Dr. Jack Henningfield of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Edward Boyer in emergency medicine, and researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) — among many others working to establish safe, science-based botanical policy.

A close colleague, Melody Wolf, was among the citizens who shared personal testimony at the HHS/FDA press briefings — a powerful moment in the fight for responsible botanical policy that Chris has supported and advocated for throughout his career.

Chris has personally led remote jungle expeditions into the kratom forests of Borneo, documenting indigenous harvesting traditions and building direct relationships with the farming communities whose livelihoods depend on responsible trade. Hundreds of hours of video and photography from these expeditions are archived — a record of where your drink comes from and the people behind it.

Watch the Kava & Kettlebells Podcast Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9anq369ssQU

View the Borneo Expedition Archive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vcefy5wDQ7R2L96in3oit9sB6DsxERXh

The ingredients in your shell have a story. Chris was in the room where it happened — and in the jungle — when that story was written.

Meet Cassandra

Elixir Lounge is brought to life every day by our General Manager, Cassandra. She's the first face you see, the person who helps first-timers find their perfect drink, and the reason our regulars keep coming back.

The Space

Step inside and you'll find yourself transported. Our interior draws inspiration from Hawaii's Big Island — indigenous statues, traditional Polynesian relics, and an atmosphere that feels both exotic and immediately welcoming. Space for up to 50 guests, a dedicated back room, free WiFi, a mini art gallery, and nightly events almost every day of the week.

What Is Kava?

Kava is a tropical shrub native to Fiji, Polynesia, Vanuatu, Hawaii, and the western Pacific. For centuries it has been central to social gatherings and ceremonies throughout the region. At Elixir Lounge, all drinks are prepared fresh by knowledgeable staff who love walking first-timers through every option.

18+ to be served. Kava and elixir metabolize differently for everyone.