I have tried kava before but my boyfriend hadn't so we stopped here on a Tuesday afternoon. We both ordered the strong batch and an açai bowl. I didn't really feel too much, but also I haven't done kava in awhile. The açai bowl was pretty good definitely recommend. Their street parking in this area can get busy so just be aware of that if trying to park during primetime. There's other shops and restaurants are around here to check out if you wanted to. Inside kava house, people are either on their laptops and or socializing with others. There are board and card games to play if you choose. read more

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I came to this place to read and also just enjoy the vibes and I really enjoyed how pleasant the attendants were and also the overall chill vibe to this place. The Kava I got was potent enough and made me feel really relaxed in a beautiful way. I stayed here for hours and could have possibly stayed longer, it also seems to be a really social place, I highly recommend and will more than likely come back! read more

Bula Kava House - Interior - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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A friend and I visited BKH for the first time as kava newbies. We enjoyed the space and although the kava was hard to drink because of the taste- we understood that before we decided to try it. I ordered 2 drinks and enjoyed the feeling that the kava gave me. It is a bonus that this place is walking distance from my house and I will definitely head over there again. I appreciate that there is an experience like this for non-drinkers. read more

Neat spot. Cool place for nice service an Or to just hang out/ meet with a friend or two. read more

Clean, comfortable, open spaces to sit, nice decor, open until 1 am which is great for socializing without drunks! Staff knowledgeable and friendly. Parking sucks so I've had to drive in circles around the neighborhood until I find street parking. At least it's a nice safer neighborhood. Kava drinks were the best I've had so far out of anywhere in Portland. Good variety and strong. Worth the money and their online store is the best I've found for local purchases. I bought their kava online and will continue because there's no horrible fees for transportation from Hawaii or South Pacific. The vibe is upbeat, mix Portland crowd. A little more fancy than other places but not scary or judgmental. I think it's becoming a staple for me for socializing on my weekends. Thanks!!! read more

I am a rather experienced kava drinker because I live in the midst of Pacific Islands Polynesian culture. This is the only kava that caused me to throw up violently. Zero stars read more

I have met some of my best friends & most genuine humans through this community. Many memories made at both Division & Vancouver locations! Kava is top-notch! read more

I definitely regret not getting Bula Kava as often as I should! I haven't been in 2-3 years, and finally visited again when Bula reopened for sit-in/dine-in! I really love the atmosphere and appreciate how people were abiding by the mask rule unless eating/drinking. The comfort bowl was delicious! A huge portion. I definitely recommend as I love the local granola pair. read more

Bula Kava House - The Comfort Bowl - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Outstanding customer Service! I ordered Kava from them a few months back and was later diagnosed with a condition that prevented me from consuming it. I took a chance and contacted the management team, explained my situation, and much to my surprise they agreed to a return of unopened product and a full refund. I can't express enough how much I appreciated the team's understanding and granting an exception to their policy. read more

Welcoming, casual kava bar. Good kava selection, environment, and location. Spent a lot of rainy afternoons here when we lived in pdx.

First time trying kava while visiting a friend in Portland. Alright, I'll admit, I'm not the biggest fan of kava. But 5 stars for the lady who helped me and my friend figuring out what kava is and which kava we need to get. Another reason why I enjoyed this place is because of the ambience. Whilst there's line almost in every places, you can come in and get seated right away. Not to mention the relaxing experience in this place. read more

Bula Kava House - Kava and some juice(?) - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Amazing spot with wonderful staff - everyone just always seems happy inside this place. All the drinks are tasty too!

Great ambiance, good kava selection. I am not always in the mood for kava, but I'm in luck because they also have great smoothies and juices. If you're looking for a chill weekend night spot, this is the place read more

I've been here a few times now and have enjoyed each visit. As someone new to Kava, the staff has been super helpful and informative in explaining the various options on the menu. Each kava drink is served in a coconut shell with a piece of pineapple. While Bula Kava House is located in one of Portland's busiest neighborhoods, it's a nice place to relax and hang out. I've noticed some people even visit to study/ work. I recommend visiting if you're curious about trying Kava! read more

Wow! Kava is quite a drinking experience that I'm glad I tried. My friend and I visited after post-dinner drinks, as we learned that Bula Kava House was just down the street. Since my friend is from Hawaii, she was excited to try this place, as she's had kava before back home. Kava is a plant from the Pacific Islands that has a relaxing effect. When we ordered, the employee asked if it was my first time having kava, and mentioned that the drink was made to help calm you down, like a muscle-relaxer. I was a little nervous at first because I didn't know what to expect, but he assured me and the customer sitting at the bar who overheard our conversation that it was totally safe and it wasn't gonna make me groggy, which was my main fear. My friend and I ordered two different batches, as there are different, rotating kava concoctions that they serve, depending what they have available. My friend had a lighter version while I had a strong batch, and both were very different. If you haven't had kava before - sip slowly! I foolishly made the mistake of taking big sips quickly, like any other drink, and I started to feel my lips going numb and my throat became dry. I had to get some water and took a break from the kava. I tried some of my friend's who had a lighter batch and hers was a much smoother drink. In general, I would say that kava tastes like water with a grainy texture to it. Again, sip this, take your time and enjoy it. My friend and I were here late on a Saturday and the place was packed! Who knew? All of the tables and seats were filled, as there were many people, either alone, reading a book or with a party, playing board games, all enjoying some kava. Great vibe! They do also serve kombucha here, if you learn that kava isn't your thing. I'm definitely glad I tried it and next time I visit, I will get a lighter batch to sip on. read more

Bula Kava House - Kava Drinks - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I went to listen to an open mic session. John Black went out of his way to be accommodating and welcoming to all who performed that night. He fired up the audience with his own performance and encouraged others. The place was so full of positive energy. I will be back and bring friends. The kava was fun too. read more

Bula Kava House - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Simply a cute and cozy space. Always nice people working there. Kava is good. Sweet ambiance. Lots of games. Great for chilling. Usually pretty quiet and personal feeling. The art changes out every time I go back in, always fun to see what's up on the walls. Yep. I like it. read more

Bula Kava House has been my near daily retreat from stress for years. This place has a friendly and inviting community that keeps me coming back. Best of all, they have great reputation for potent kava and I can attest to the quality. I highly recommend you check it out! read more

Bula Kava House - Shell of kava - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

So happy to see a Kava bar in Portland! Came with my kids who played their 3D tic-tac-toe game. Also got some kava to go and powdered kava to make later :) read more

Been here multiple times. The ambient atmosphere here and the drink go very well together. A must visit place in the area. read more

Bula Kava House - Kava - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Nice meeting you the other day, thank you for educating me in your product. I would love to more. Great product, great service and fabulous atmosphere... read more

I usually go here to study since it closes really late and it's very nice ambiance to go to when you need a nice silent place. I had kava the first time and the server was kind enough to explain it to me. The kava is very muddy like and personally I don't like it but definitely helped me relax and sleep. I will say it is an acquired taste but for how well it relaxed me, definitely getting some for finals lolol. Also the açaí bowls are so yummy! Really nice sizing for the price. read more

Wintrey was super kind and makes a killer açaí bowl. This place is awesome. Enjoying a relaxing day out and feeling uplifted. Great alternative to drinking and a great environment to just chill. Definitely worth the trip read more

The person working was nice however we are not from here and we really wanted an acai bowl but they didn't serve us when we arrived. and we drove very far for this place and called before hand because it was later and we wanted to make sure it was ok. But no answer. Something on the website or an answer of the phone or closing the doors early if you don't wanna serve food would be good. It was nice inside I'll give it that but overall disappointing serve food If your going to be open! Or tell people other wise read more

Bula Kava is a lively, yet quaint and relaxing Kava bar, making for a great alternative to boozy nightclubs. Although they can get busy, and the wait time can be a while, their friendly employees and top-notch Kava surely compensate for that small inconvenience. As a sober woman, I am always on the hunt for a nice date or hangout spot that isn't alcohol-centric or crawling with children. read more

Bula Kava House - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It's a nice place with good smoothies. So I would definitely come back to get a drink but not to study. We had to wear masks all the time while studying even though we are fully vaccinated. So, it's been a bit inconvenient for studying long time... read more

Bula Kava House - a purse and sunglasses on a table - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I have had kava and I know it is bitter and makes my mouth numb . My complaint is more that this is just terrible. I've been here twice because the first time I figured I had just ordered something that was not my taste . Today I tossed out a $5 drink because it was so bad. read more

Ah, what a nice change from caffeine. Before I talk about the kava drink itself, let me mention the pleasing modern interior of Bula Kava House. Of course, considering kava's origin, there was a South Pacific ambience. I loved the masks on the one wall and the music was great. Also, they've got sandwiches. I was surprised to learn that several different kavas were available. I decided not to monkey around and requested Madang Long ($3.75), Bula's most potent variety - even though as a newbie to kava, the gal working there suggested maybe I would want to try something milder. Nah, let's go for broke! In very short order, I was handed a tannish translucent beverage in a half coconut shell, served with a spear of pineapple. The gal told me that normally kava is chugged quickly, but some people slowly sip. I decided to milk the whole experience and sit down and nurse my drink. The kava was served chilled and, yes, had an earthy flavor - and maybe was slightly sweet and tart all at the same time. I had to laugh at another review that stated kava tastes like the Willamette River. I wouldn't know about that because I would never be drinking water directly from that source. I immediately could feel a sensation in my mouth. Not burning, not tingling, but a sensation. I also soon felt a sensation throughout my body, that was not entirely dissimilar to reefer. More precisely, kava gives a feeling of relaxation and well-being. After taking about ten minutes to drink my kava, and then chasing it with the sweet slice of pineapple, I departed the premises. I assume that kava does not really have any psychoactive properties, unless it was a hallucination induced by the beverage when moments later I saw a flock of chickens strutting out onto 37th near Clinton, including one that had hairy legs like a dog. read more

Traditionally, Kava in some cultures of Oceania, such as Tonga it is only available to the men-folk and was served to them by young, typically single, probably the hottest women they can find (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava_culture). Ok, men lazing about while having a hottie serve them? Sounds about right no matter what culture you are talking about... Fast forward across the globe to S.E. Division Street, Portland, OR: At Bula Kava House, there is a hot dude serving up the Kava Beverages to a mixed crew that includes we lady-folk. Oh yes, we ladies shamelessly threw back coconut shell after coconut shell FULL of the man-drink. This was my first foray into the taboo Kava world. The Kava is served in a communal bowl at the table. Scoop two nice big servings into your coconut shell, do not be alarmed at the way it smells: it smells just like dirt. Clap once to ward off evil spirits (so I'm told) chug it down all at once. Clap twice after finishing (so I'm told). I missed the intro and this is what my fellow Yeeps told me to do... This is not a delicate sipping drink. It tastes like dirt too. So do you really want to prolong the taste by sipping it? The weird thing is that I really liked the aftertaste as that did not taste like dirt. It had a metallic, tangy, un certain je ne sais quoi that I really enjoyed. I tossed back several coconut shells and I got Kava drunk. The Kava euphoria reminded me of being a little stoned (yes, I inhaled years ago). I became a part of the furniture and blessed-be, everything was beautiful. If those silly Tonga men were half smart, they would give it to their women. Our crew parted ways much happier, much more relaxed and some of us headed off to the D. Street Noshery for some foodie goodness. read more

I'm going to add a different perspective than previous reviewers. You can sip kava! For an hour or two. Yes, your tongue may become somewhat numb. And yes, the flavor is as described. But I've had several gettogethers at Bula which we both sipped and were none the worse for not gulping. For calibration though, I like my coffee and espresso bitter and black. And a standard bowl of kava did not radically affect my mood, nor did two radically affect that of my companion about 2/3 my mass. They have a kava happy hour too. Unique drink experience with day and into evening hours! read more

Whoa.. they now have kava kava root that's been juiced.. and potent .. sensational!!! Also, they have containers for to go kava kava.The containers are glass and returnable. . sensational! read more

Having experienced Kava once before, I knew it didn't taste...good. Or taste...edible. It tastes like a root basically, like earth and such. However, the affects are nice and mellow - basically relaxing as heck. So, this new-ish joint has Kava in a lovely, spread out space where the environment just lets you chill & relax while sipping (or gulping) a bowl of the oddly colored stuff. We went for the more advanced Madang Long and it tasted as I expected - kinda bitter, earthy and a kick to it. I do believe if there's two of you, the tanoa is a better deal than just a shell. We could only gulp down half a shell at a time. Oh yeah, your tongue going kinda numb is normal! The waitress was very helpful, friendly and attentive but not to the point of irritation - and that's a HUGE thing for me. read more

Stop Five of Dana's Food Tour PDX. I came to town wanting a taste of many things Portland that I miss. And Kava Shop is one of them. I like to sit in this nice space, which is never too hot even when it's hot out, and read or chat or play games or study. I like the Kava, partly because I like that weird thing it does to my mouth. I like the workers, who seem like they really want me to have a good time. I like the location, which is near parking and - more and more - a ton of other neat places to eat and drink. I like that they serve some food (although there isn't much choice, the menu seems to be growing). I like the fresh squeezed juice, and I think juice + kava = a good time. This was my first Kava Shop, and it will always be close to my heart. On this particular visit, Hungry Friend and I - now not so hungry at all - had a relaxing time watching people walk by, planning what the future holds, and sharing coconut shell bowls of earthy brown liquid. read more

Intriguing! In tonight for my first real kava--I'd had the tea for a few weeks to help relax before bed. This tasted much different and I noticed the calming and slightly giddy feeling after leisurely sipping a shell--which wasn't present in the store-bought tea bags. It looked like the water of an untamed, natural river, and for me, tasted of clay and earth. I really liked it--reminded me of the peaty flavors of a good cigar. The ambiance is lovely--great decor and color: earthen, verdant. I predict this will be a successful biz and soon a thriving, lively community scene. read more

Bula Kava House - VON shell of Kava! Ahh ahh ahh ahhhhh.... :) - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Amazing. Period. I LOVE EVERTHING about this place... Theyve shown me what real, traditional Kava can do. I head in for a growler every week! read more

Bula Kava House - 11yr Waka - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is a Kava bar run by non-Pacific Islanders. The Kava is great but it felt like I was drinking a bowl of appropriation in the shape of a coconut shell. The layout was nice and welcoming with its Pacific Island artifacts on the wall that look like you can find at any tourist trap alongside typical hipster bricabrack like honey comb boxes and amateur art about white concepts of beauty. Go there if you don't mind the commodification of another person's culture or, if you're like me, you want to get angry. But I will repeat the kava was good. read more

This place has a nice relaxing environment that is enjoyable to go to with a friend and talk or to enjoy reading a book. The worker was very friendly and made sure to go over all the different drinks with us and to answer all of my questions. There is bar seating that I recommend to people who are new to the establishment because the workers are very friendly and enjoy making you feel welcomed. I tried a couple different types of kava, one was piney with a lingering wood tasting finish and the other one was more earthy and herbal with a cleaner finish. It was neat to taste the different notes in the different kavas and it was fun to drink it out of a gourd in a traditional style (room temperature) with some pineapple on a stick to bite into as a chaser. Think of it as the lime to a tequila shot. but I do wish there was an option to have it warm or iced with some cinnamon, honey, cream, or really anything to make it taste better. I usually make kava tea mistos at home and I would be more likely to come in on a regular basis if I had the option to customize my beverage. read more

Bula Kava House - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This place is super chill with lots of variety to choose from. They even sell the micronized kava as well. Will defiantly be visiting again. read more

Bula Kava House - Melo melo - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I had been looking forward to trying this place since I first saw it spring up on Division. Was not initially impressed, but see edit and owner's response. Cool that they're open until midnight on a Friday, but there was almost no one there. The guy behind the counter had little to say more than, "It'll probably make your tongue numb. Just chug it, that's how I do it" and to suggest the strong batch. I chugged, as suggested, and saw no effects. My boyfriend got the koniak, sipped his a bit more slowly, and claims he got the intended/expected mildly relaxing effect and slight numbness. He thought the lack of music was unsettling and awkward. The friends we brought with us were not too excited to try it in the first place, and the one couldn't get past the taste. I found myself wishing we had just gone to a bar and had some good local booze. Edit: what a thoughtful, kind reply from the owner. I added a star just for that, because I really appreciate the communication and good explanation. I will go ahead and delete the line "probably won't be back". Thanks. read more

Bula Kava House - Kava kava kava with a little out of season pineapple chunk - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I stopped an got and education on kava. Wow nice!! The Kava was ohh soo nice, I had no idea! This is going to be the place I go to brain storm! Write a paper or my life story Very nice guy there. Will be trying the food soon and review! Try it you just might like it! read more

Bula Kava House - Very calming place. - Lounges Near Me - Portland, Oregon