Kava has been consumed by Pacific Islanders for thousands of years, but it’s only now becoming popular in Pittsburgh.
Kava, the common name for Piper methysticum, is a pepper plant native to the Pacific Islands. Kava also refers to a beverage made from the plant’s root that is growing in popularity across the country, including in Pittsburgh.
Pacific Island communities in the South Pacific have used kava for thousands of years for ceremonial, recreational, and medicinal purposes, as the drink made from ground kava root has calming, relaxing effects similar to alcohol—but without the same risks of intoxication and addiction. As a supplement, kava has been studied and traditionally used for anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
In the United States, kava is most commonly served as a muddy-looking, earthy-tasting drink in kava bars, where it’s often positioned as part of an alternative experience to conventional, alcohol-fueled nightlife.
Within 15 to 30 minutes after consuming kava, you might feel effects similar to other antidepressants: increased relaxation and mild sleepiness. You may even feel your tongue and lips start to go numb due to kava’s muscle-relaxing and mild anesthetic properties.
Is it safe?
Probably, but we don’t definitively know the extent of kava’s effect on health—especially since there are so many different ways to prepare it. The plant has been linked to reports of liver damage, though some researchers believe these cases may be tied to atypical extracts or improper preparation rather than traditionally prepared kava. The beverage can also interact with some medications, including a handful that treat anxiety.
In a 2016 report on the drug, the World Health Organization said previous research and the long history of traditional kava use suggest “that it is possible for kava beverage to be consumed with an acceptably low level of health risk,” but that additional research is still needed to determine safe levels of consumption, particularly based on how it’s prepared.
Where to try kava in Pittsburgh
Over the past couple of decades, kava bars have been popping up across the country and around the world, often serving the drink in traditional coconut shells. Pittsburgh itself doesn’t have a dedicated kava bar, but there are still a number of places in and around the city where you can try kava, as some cafes and wellness-focused shops have begun offering it alongside other functional drinks. There’s also a kava bar in nearby Washington County, less than an hour from the city center.
As with any dietary supplement, check with your doctor if you have concerns before trying kava.
Bantha Tea Bar – Pittsburgh’s Garfield
Bantha Tea Bar, located on Penn Avenue between the Garfield and Bloomfield neighborhoods, is the only cafe in the city with kava on its menu. The local space already attracts an alternative crowd with its poetry readings, eclectic assortment of art, and bar-like vibe, so offering kava alongside organic teas isn’t surprising.
Though Bantha may be the only shop mixing and serving kava in the city, it does offer a wide range of kava-drinking options. Try kava mixed with almond milk, coconut milk, ginger beer, or lemonade—though you could also simply have a shot of Bantha’s concentrated kava extract. Kava newbies might look to Leilo, a fruity, ready-to-drink kava beverage served from a cute can, which you can even mix with Bantha’s kava extract.
A kava beverage is a great accompaniment to one of the tea bar’s regular community events.
Hippie and French – Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville
A woman-owned shop in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Hippie & French calls itself a “cannabis boutique.” But in addition to CBD and THC products, Hippie & French also sells a few items infused with kava. You can try kava by way of an unflavored kava mixer—meant to be added to a drink without adding the earthy flavor of kava—or flavored “Kavahol,” an alcohol-free spirit featuring kava. The shop also sells kava gummies.
Kava Culture Cafe – Washington
If you’re yearning for a dedicated kava bar experience, Kava Culture Cafe is a recently opened kava bar in Washington, roughly 40 minutes southwest of Pittsburgh. The space serves kava drinks as well as mushroom and other functional beverages (and even your basic coffee and tea if you’re not quite ready to jump into kava). The menu has a long list of creative kava drinks, as well as traditional kava—which you can get served in a coconut shell.
The specialty hot drinks the cafe is serving with kava this winter include hot chocolate, hot apple cider, a maple pecan drink, a chocolatey marshmallow drink, and more. You can also add kava to any other beverage, meaning the kava options at Kava Culture are virtually endless.
PA Botanicals – Multiple locations
PA Botanicals has a large presence as an online vendor selling wellness products, but it also has two brick-and-mortar shops—one in Pittsburgh’s South Side and one just over an hour north of the city in Mercer County. You can’t buy readymade kava drinks here, but you can grab kava root powder and even candy made with kava.
Coming summer 2026: Solace Elixirs – Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville
Solace Elixirs isn’t open yet, but we’re including it on this list so you can keep it on your radar! The spot, which plans to open this summer, brands itself as “Pittsburgh’s first non-alcoholic bar and lounge.” It aims to feature functional “cocktails” and serve as a daytime workspace and nighttime social hub. Kava will be a key menu offering.
