Describe your ideal Kava Bar
- Thread starter Mr. Kava
- Start date
Me too. I wanna open one in Fairfax to the south of me with my friend Frank.
I'd go non-polynesian themed, but comfortable seating at a bar (critical element, either round or traditional straight bar) and on couches with coffee tables that are L shaped straight, and wraparound. Oh, and nice control of the lighting so it can be customized. I'd want air flow through the kava bar and lots of plants.
I'd go non-polynesian themed, but comfortable seating at a bar (critical element, either round or traditional straight bar) and on couches with coffee tables that are L shaped straight, and wraparound. Oh, and nice control of the lighting so it can be customized. I'd want air flow through the kava bar and lots of plants.
Squanch72
Kava Vendor
Dark, quiet, and peaceful. No loud music, tv, or sports. Not catered to the partier/clubber scene. I want to be able to really relax and listen to the kava. Sometimes it is hard to escape buzzkills at home and it would be great to have a nakamal like bar to go to.
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It's a topic I've been day dreaming since I visited Hale Noa on O'ahu in 2002, it was my first kava and the vibe was perfect. Small intimate space, light island decor, dim and lit almost entirely by candlelight. Local bands played live mellow island music, and there was a section in the back with couches to melt into if you wanted. This place was being called Hawai'i's 1st 'awa bar as recently as the early 2000's...it didn't survive and I used that as evidence that a kava bar could never thrive on the mainland if the only kava bar in Hawai'i itself was struggling/out of business.
Hale Noa:
More than a decade later, there seems to be a slow growing and apparently thriving number of kava bars, both in Hawai'i and the mainland.
To me, an ideal kava bar would at least incorporate some distinguishable amount of tradition in aesthetics and consumption.
Ideally Vanuatu, being that it's the mother of it all. Designs in Vanuatu can be mixed, from completely traditional, to traditional with a touch of modern or some can be shanty town corrugated sheet-metal shacks...in my view, whatever they decide on in Vanuatu = legit:
One could even imagine buying a vintage American Wienerschnitzel restaurant and turning it into a nakamal:
Basically, my ideal "Western" kava bar would be a clean, comfortable and modern version of a traditional one. Dim lighting, maybe even dimmer switches all around for personal control, chill music (at most), comfortable seating, covered open air sitting area, additional darker/quieter section (if possible), respectable amounts of traditional decor, kava knowledge easily available to see and read (including bathroom stall doors) and last but not least...a supply of fresh green kava to serve...as well as the bitter shit-sauce dry powder we're all accustomed to. Throw in the availability of ginger powder, ginger candy, ginger ale/beer, light snacks, other beverages, "wasem mout(s)", small potentiating meals and your good to go.
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Blippy5
Certified Noble
I'm with Steve on this one, I like the non-traditional idea. All the potted plants!
I've never been to a kava bar so I'm not totally sure. type of lighting would be important.
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
I want one that delivers direct to my front door via drone withn 15 minutes or it's free.
Instead of commericals with slogans like 'Pizza Pizza', I want to see ones that say 'Kava Kava'.
Kojo Douglas
The Kavasseur
Four or five Kavas available in big bowls. Tudeis and Nobles. Lots and lots of bean bags. Music and seminars. An area for people to do yoga if they want to. Lots of South Pacific art, educational programs about South Pacific culture and history, a library of Pacific Island history and ethnography. Definitely a big Kava store with different Kavas, shells, bowls, carvings...
HeadHodge
Bula To Eternity
The Barnes & Nobel for kava. 'Tudeis & Nobel'Four or five Kavas available in big bowls. Tudeis and Nobles. Lots and lots of bean bags. Music and seminars. An area for people to do yoga if they want to. Lots of South Pacific art, educational programs about South Pacific culture and history, a library of Pacific Island history and ethnography. Definitely a big Kava store with different Kavas, shells, bowls, carvings...
Kojo Douglas
The Kavasseur
Kojo Douglas
The Kavasseur
Most importantly, it would be great for a Kava bar to have someone working there who knew about Kava. I have been to many Kava bars where the server knows nothing about our favorite drink, and usually reads some summary from Wikipedia.
YogaNatureLvr
Kava Enthusiast
@Steve Mariotti: Looks like Wu Wei Tea Temple beat you to it!
http://wuweiteatemple.com/pages/kava-bar
Ligermeat
Warm and Fuzzeh!
I'd have a friendly, positive atmosphere and wide variety of herbal teas to go with the kava.
The decor would be earthy and rustic, not tiki-ish, just really rustic with no night club influences.
On the tv's I would show nature programs, and mellow psych rock/reggae would play in the background.
The decor would be earthy and rustic, not tiki-ish, just really rustic with no night club influences.
On the tv's I would show nature programs, and mellow psych rock/reggae would play in the background.
Wuwei in fairfax looks to be a gourmet tea house that decided to add kava to the menu.
Their website says they buy their kava from Melo Melo kava bar which means they would be serving borogu only. A dedicated kava bar in the same area could definitely still be viable.
Their website says they buy their kava from Melo Melo kava bar which means they would be serving borogu only. A dedicated kava bar in the same area could definitely still be viable.
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Kavafied
Kava Vendor
I would like to see a Kava Bar with two different levels. The store front would have a modern bar appeal making Kava approachable to new users and a wider audience. The second level would require a cover but would be one large all you can drink traditional Kava circle served out of a big Kumete/Tanoa/Kava Bowl by one of the bar tenders. I think this model would bring balance to attracting a large audience while still honoring the rich culture of Kava.