Kava. For hundreds of years, it’s been known as a ceremonial drink in the Pacific Islands. It’s not an alcoholic drink but some feel that it’s similar to drinking a spiked cocktail due to its effects of happiness and a slight numbing feeling in the mouth. It’s meant to be enjoyed while relaxing and socializing with others in a comfy environment.

The Kava Bar, found at 4376 E. Speedway Blvd, has been just that since its grand opening on November 2019. Next up, a downtown location at 63 E. Pennington St. is in the works under a new name, The Kava Den.

The Kava Bar shared the exciting news on Instagram:

“Look out for updates and lots of awesome giveaways as we wait for construction to finish! Big things coming!”

So, the corner of Pennington and Scott Avenue continues to flourish with edible options. The Kava Den is moving into the area that features the likes of Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink, Urban Fresh, Raptor Canyon Cafe, Café 54, La Chingada Cocina Mexicana, and CRUDA Mariscos & Oyster Bar.

Yep, there’s a lot going on in the vicinity, and that’s even without mentioning 47 Scott, which is temporarily closed due to fire damage.

If you’ve yet to try kava, the roots are ground into a pulp and added to cold water. This then results in a thick brew. Over time, it’s been compared to the social equivalent of having glasses of wine in France.

Here in Tucson, you can get it a few different ways at The Kava Bar. Popular options include their non-alcoholic “kocktails” or in the traditional manner — poured into a bowl that’s best handled with two hands.

The owners of The Kava Bar, Whitney and Kevin Marx, met in Asheville, North Carolina — where they discovered their love for Kava. Whitney was born and raised in Tucson and was running a restaurant in Asheville before moving back to Tucson and opening up The Kava Bar.

Since 2019, the cozy bar has been providing a fun atmosphere that just about every kava bar aims for. They want you to think of it as an alternative to the average bar.

With the addition of The Kava Den downtown, expect a lot of the same events and activities the Speedway location has been offering, like board games, open mic comedy nights, live music, and more.

They’re aiming to open in December 2022.

The Kava Den will be located at 63 E. Pennington St. and the first location, The Kava Bar, is located at 4376 E. Speedway Blvd. For more information and to keep up on the latest, visit tucsonkavabar.com or follow The Kava Bar on Instagram.