Kava Bars in Denver, CO
Alcohol-free by nature: kava bars pour the South Pacific root drink that fills a bar-shaped hole in a night out — social, late-open, and zero-proof. These are the Denver spots we've verified are open and pouring.
4 verified kava bars
- NA Program Strength: 5 of 5?
Kavasutra Denver is a fully alcohol-free kava and kratom social lounge on the Capitol Hill / East Colfax stretch, part of the Florida-founded Kavasutra chain and among the first true kava bars within Denver city limits. The house specialty is kava imported directly from Vanuatu and served in traditional "shells," alongside kratom teas, loose-leaf and herbal teas, cold brew coffee, and fizzy kombucha-style drinks. Open daily from 10am to 2am, it functions as a late-night, no-alcohol gathering spot — the kind of place Westword has noted draws people who don't drink or are getting sober. One important caveat: it is alcohol-free but not substance-free — it serves kratom, an active and controversial botanical that some reviewers describe as habit-forming.
- NA Program Strength: 5 of 5?
That's Kava is an alcohol-free kava bar on South Broadway in Englewood, on the southern end of the Denver metro's Broadway corridor. The venue states plainly on its own site that "We are an alcohol free establishment" and describes itself as a sober bar. It trades from 8am until 2:30am, which makes it one of the latest-closing alcohol-free rooms in the metro, and it programmes trivia, bingo and board-game nights most evenings of the week. Readers should know what is actually being served: alongside kava, the traditional South Pacific root drink, That's Kava pours kratom and other psychoactive ethnobotanicals, and Colorado law restricts kratom sales to over-21s. The drinks list is organised into kava, teas, on-tap, shots, mocktails and a high-potency "extreme" section.
- NA Program Strength: 5 of 5?
Peak Kava is the Lakewood branch of Roots & Leaves, a seven-strong kava bar group operating across Colorado and New Mexico. The venue states its position without hedging: "Peak Kava is a non-alcoholic bar dedicated to nurturing social connections without alcohol", and the group markets itself under the line "join the sober shift". It is fitted out as a bar rather than a cafe — two pool tables, giant Jenga, a multicade, a fireplace, bar seating and lounge seating — and runs happy hours from 5pm to 7pm and again from 10pm to midnight. The drinks are kava and ethnobotanical teas, both psychoactive: the house tea blends include blue lotus, California poppy, wild lettuce and white willow, and the kava is served traditionally by the shell or CO2-extracted.
- NA Program Strength: 5 of 5?
Mile High Kava is the Westminster branch of the Roots & Leaves group, on the northwest edge of the Denver metro. The venue describes itself as "a unique 18+ non-alcoholic tea and kava bar experience, perfect for those who prefer to socialize without alcohol", and it is programmed like a bar rather than a tea room: a stage for open-mic nights and karaoke, two pool tables, Skee-Ball, darts, couches and a full-size bar. It also has a kid-friendly area with toys, and hookah is available. Drinks are house-brewed kava and a range of traditional and ethnobotanical teas, both psychoactive plant preparations rather than soft drinks. Happy hours run three times a day, including a late slot from 10pm to midnight.
New to kava? Here's the two-minute version
Kava is the ground root of Piper methysticum whisked into water — the traditional social drink of Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga, where it has anchored gatherings for centuries. It contains no alcohol. The active compounds (kavalactones) are mildly relaxing: the usual description is a calm, easy sociability, with a clear head.
A kava bar works like a regular bar with the pressure removed. You order at the counter — a traditional shell, or a mixed kava drink if you want the training wheels — say "bula!", and drink. The taste is earthy and peppery, and a brief tongue-numbing tingle is part of the deal. Most bars are open late, which is exactly why they've become the after-dark backbone of the alcohol-free scene.
Sensible caveats: if you're pregnant, on medication, or have liver concerns, talk to a doctor before trying kava — and as with anything relaxing, go easy the first time.
Frequently asked about kava in Denver
Yes — we've verified 4 kava bars in Denver: Kavasutra Kava Bar, That's Kava, Roots and Leaves: Peak Kava, Roots And Leaves: Mile High Kava Bar. Each listing shows the neighborhood and when we last confirmed it was open and pouring.
Kava is a traditional drink from the South Pacific, made from the ground root of the kava plant (Piper methysticum) mixed with water. It's naturally alcohol-free and mildly relaxing — regulars describe a calm, sociable ease rather than intoxication. Expect an earthy, peppery taste and a brief tongue-numbing tingle; that's normal.
For a lot of people, yes — kava bars fill the same social slot as a neighborhood bar: open late, regulars at the counter, nobody asking why you're not drinking. You get a social ritual and a mellow shift in mood without alcohol. If you take medications or have liver concerns, check with your doctor first, and skip kava if you're pregnant.
Start with a single traditional shell and drink it in one or two goes rather than sipping — the taste is earthy and most first-timers prefer it fast. Many bars also pour mixed kava drinks (with coconut, fruit, or chai flavors) that are gentler introductions. Staff at good kava bars are used to first-timers; say it's your first shell and they'll walk you through it.
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