About Kavasutra

The original kava bar.

Since 2008, from one room in Lake Worth, Florida, to 28 neighborhood bars across Florida, Arizona, and Colorado.

Our story

Since day one

Kavasutra opened its first bar in Lake Worth, Florida in 2008, at a time when almost nobody in the United States had heard of kava. The idea was simple: a real neighborhood bar, with a real bar-room feel, built around a South Pacific root drink instead of alcohol.

Along the way Kavasutra became the first business in the United States to sell a retail cup of kratom, and poured the first kratom tea ever sold. Today there are 28 Kavasutra bars across Florida, Arizona, and Colorado, every one of them pouring the same kava at the same prices.

Malo

Why we say "Malo"

For years, every shell at Kavasutra went up with a “Bula,” the Fijian greeting most kava bars borrowed. Then a group of United Nations delegates from Vanuatu visited our New York bar and, politely, set us straight: our kava comes from Vanuatu, and in Vanuatu the word is Malo, from maloku (or malogu), the local word for kava itself.

We have said Malo ever since. Raise your shell, say it loud, and drink it down.

Sourcing

Where it comes from

Kava

Vanuatu

We import our kava root directly from the island nation of Vanuatu: the same coveted lateral root and chips behind our Van and Guru shells. No middlemen, no mystery blends. Just kava we are proud to name.

Tea (kratom)

Indonesia

Our kratom leaf comes from Indonesia. It originally came from Thailand, which halted exports for years and has since reopened through licensed exporters. Our tea is brewed fresh in house daily and served only to guests 21 and older (18 and older in Arizona, where state law sets the age).

21+ only. Kratom (tea) products are sold only to guests 21 years of age and older; proof of age is required for purchase. Kratom products are not evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Not for use by anyone who is pregnant or nursing. Do not combine with alcohol or medications. Consult a physician before use. Kratom is not legal in every jurisdiction; check your local laws.

The people

Kavatenders, not bartenders

The person behind the bar is a Kavatender. They know the strains, the sizes, the specialties, and how to guide a first-timer to the right shell. They also run the room: the daily specials, the events, and the regulars who make each bar feel like a neighborhood.

Want to sling shells?

We hire Kavatenders at every location. Tell us where you want to work and when you are available.

Come raise a shell with us.

28 locations across Florida, Arizona, and Colorado. Same kava, same prices, same Malo.