The Kava Bar Experience
If you've never been to a kava bar, you might not know what to expect. When most of us picture a Friday night out, we think of a loud, crowded bar. A kava bar promises something different — and once you've experienced it, it's easy to see why people keep coming back.
A Welcoming Atmosphere
Walk into Elixir Lounge and you'll find lounge spaces and bartops for hanging out alone or with friends, a laid-back island-tiki vibe, and staff — our kava-tenders — happy to walk you through the menu on your first visit. Come in more than once and you're a regular. Beyond the drinks, kava bars are gathering places: spots for studying, working, playing board games, and catching live music and community events. See what's coming up on our events page.
What Is Kava?
Kava is a root from Piper methysticum, a plant in the pepper family native to South Pacific islands such as Fiji and Tonga. Traditionally, the root is ground, kneaded with water, and strained, then served in a communal setting — often in a half coconut shell. The taste is earthy and peppery, and it's traditionally served with a piece of fruit like pineapple alongside. Prefer something mixed? Ask about our flavored kava drinks, or sample four flavors in a flight for $16.50. Learn more on our What Is Kava page.
The Traditional Kava Ritual
Kava is rooted in the cultures of many Pacific Island communities, and the traditional ceremony is a beautiful piece of that heritage:
- Dress modestly: When visiting a Fijian village, guests traditionally cover their shoulders and knees.
- Bring a gift: Being welcomed to a kava ceremony is an honor; guests often bring kava roots to present to the chief.
- Gather: The group sits cross-legged in a circle around the communal bowl, called the tanoa.
- Prepare: The ground root is kneaded in water through a cloth bag until the brew is ready.
- Drink up: Kava is served in a half coconut shell called a bilo. Clap once and say "Bula!" before drinking, finish the shell, then clap three times and say "Maca!" to signal you're done.
The Kava Bar Difference
Elixir Lounge is an alcohol-free bar — all the ritual and community of a night out, with no alcohol and no hangover the next morning. We're open seven nights a week at 206 Main St in Old Town Spring for guests 18 and up. Browse the menu, get in touch, or order through Toast. Come grab a bilo with us and say bula!
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kava products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Elixir Lounge serves guests 18 years of age or older.