Bula Kava House

Very chill atmosphere with great music, cool art on the wall, sketch books for customers to draw in which are filled with amazing things. The staff was extremely knowledgable and friendly. The actual kava experience was quite interesting as it was my first time trying it. It’s fun drinking it out of a coconut shell, but it tastes terrible and makes your mouth numb, but overall it has a pretty cool, mellowing effect.

Really wanted to like this place as we dug the food trucks, farmer’s market, and many other spots on our visit.
Kinda felt like someone’s dirty living room. And they’re high in the kitchen, or something…
It took over 40 minutes to get one smoothie.
Kava in Hawaii tasted and felt much cleaner/​higher/​better. We ordered two different kavas, and they were both a little cold and left us feeling somewhat affected but also a little nauseous. Not sure why, as that hasn’t happened before. As for service, maybe we came on an off-​night.
Seems like they’re trying to build community which is a plus.

Really Chill atmosphere, very kewl staff! I had only been to one other kava bar before this in Davis, Ca and they have a much more Night clubby vibe, probably to cater to the college students at UC Davis. Bula has a chill loungy vibe, similar to a coffee shop but with less wirey people on laptops and more people hangin out and coloring! Yes, they have those cool adult coloring books and also a guest sketch book. I appreciate this place especially because I am a non-​drinker (used to be a heavy drinker) and when I am in Portland and want something that is not coffee, this place is a nice alternative, and also I don’t feel like I am in a nightclub. They have some yummy fresh juices and they are very tasty! I visit Portland frequently because I used to live there and my bf lives there. He is also a non-​drinker and is a regular here. :) I highly recommend checking it out if your trying to escape the enormous bar scene in Portland!

Last stop before heading to the airport, my friend Mark insisted that I have a bowl of Kava. What is Kava you ask? Well without knowing fully what I drank, I do know this…
1. It’s a root turned into a liquid. Very earthy in taste and smell.
2. It calms you to the core when it starts kicking in after some mouth numbness and warm
belly feelings.
3. It’s something you need to experience at least once
In true ME fashion I questioned everything before I drank the muddy water looking concoction like…
1. Am I drinking a drug?
2. Will I be noticeably high when trying to get through security at PDX?
3. And if so, will I be stripped searched by some hot TSA agent?
4. After which would I get their number?
You know, the basic stuff. My friend quickly was able to answer two of the four questions without hesitation so I guess it was down the hatch time!
The setting in which I drank the Kava from what looked like a coconut bowl was chill, earth-​toned walls, tribal masks which I’d assume are from the same area Kava comes from and Kava-​like music from the same place in which Kava comes from. I guess they also serve up food but I may have to delve into that when I come back.
Overall it was an experience and maybe I need some Kava to really chill me out on those days when I need it the most.

So I love the Yogi Kava tea I can buy at the store, and was thrilled to see portland had a Kava café. Not many around really. .just a few in US.
The café is cool and simple. Kava is the main deal here. .with a few options of different potency. We choose a couple of different rules of kava drinks.
It was served out of a couple big containers and it is served cold. This was different for me since I am used to a hot tea.
The taste of the true Kava drink is easy different!
One that toy would have to get used to. But the experience is well worth the outing!

Chris was awesome… Super knowledgeable and very friendly. My kava and my acai bowl were both great. Nice, relaxing atmosphere and great music.

This is the perfect place for anyone who:
A. Wants to feel like they’re in high school again
B. Is on probation and wants to beat the system
C. Is celebrating a new job pre-​drugscreening
D. Just wants to get wants to get totally eff’d
Backstory:
Started off the day hopping around different breweries in the areas. Got a little crunk. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being I just got out of church and 10 being I’m naked and burning the church to the ground, I was about a 5.
Our friend meets us at Deschutes and offers to take us on a tour of her own. As were walking down the street, she points out this café and says «ahhh man! Have you heard of Kava? It’s a thing here and it makes you feel light and high. Do you wanna try it?»
«Absolutely not, I want my time here in Portland to be lame as hell.»
Sarcasm aside, we went in to what I am now convinced of the morning after, were the gates of hell.
The guy working inside, Chris, was pretty chill and had a lot of knowledge about the product. He told us of the Polynesians and how they use it. The effects of the Kava and how it releases serotonin but not dopamine so it’s not addictive and how it’s an anesthetic. The taste he described as «It makes tequila taste like a good Merlot.» And finally how this powder he can add for $ 2 can boost the effects. He was a salesman, and because of this, I didn’t want to believe him. My friends got the serotonin one, I got the «strong batch»
Because my friends and I think we’re cool I guess, we got the extra boost, and in traditional Polynesian style, we put on some Chris Brown and took it to the head ahyayeyah…
Not even ten seconds after I drank what tasted like liquified tree-​roots and mud, our lips and tongues all numb and faces looking like we just ate a pee-​flavored WarHead, the salesman/​barista/​satan looked at us and says
«oh yeah, I forgot to mention, don’t mix alcohol and Kava. It potentiates alcohol and will attack your heart, liver and kidneys»
«But we’re already drunk»
«Just drink some water and eat some food.»
Even up to this point I still thought it was a crock of shit. Fast-​forward 20 minutes later…
My heart is racing. Nurse buddy measures my pulse at 103 when I’m just sitting there. I can hear my heartbeat. The room isn’t spinning but just like Ving Rhames in Pulp Fiction after he gets b-eff’d, I’m pretty fuckin’ far from okay.
Just 20 minutes earlier I was a 5 and now I’m a 15.
I. Am. Cross-​faded. Holy shit.
For the next hour we stumbled around looking for our car so we could listen to music and dance it off. No luck. It was so intense that we all just ended up puking all over the place. We lost our appetites, and every time a non-kava’d friend looked at us, comments were made about our eyes buggin out.
For 3 hours, I remembered what is was like to be 17 again.
I’m writing this the morning after. I feel good. I feel like I should be studying the bible, or volunteering at a soup kitchen or something. Something a good boy does.
So why 5 stars? Because it works. It gets you really insanely fucked up. The salesman I would give 3 stars to for not telling us about the alcohol thing until after. In fact, I just realized that his name is Chris, and his name is a crucial part of the term «anti-​CHRISt». Coincidence? I think not…
Would I do it again? No. It’s actually #1 on my list of things I’ll never do again.
But hey! Don’t let this review deter you! Don’t be a pussy. Do it for the story.

This place is unique and a lot of fun, and the food is great and allergy friendly. Trying the Kava root tea was a fun experience and I’d love to try it again!
However, it would be perfect if there were a few more areas to sit and lounge with your Kava root tea. Most of the seating is just tables and chairs, which is good for working and chatting, but surprising for a place that serves mainly drinks and tea and not much food.

Been here twice and have been a big kava fan before. I love how it actually uplifts your mind and takes you out of linear thinking into just a greater sense of being in the moment. Tried their strong batch 11-​year Waka and it kicked me in the face (in a pleasant totally relaxed way). Good quality strong kava, some of the best I’ve had! Everyone who works here is so friendly and knowledgeable! New favorite hang out spot!

Been a long time Kava kava fan, mostly making it at home but checked this place out over the weekend and wow! Great kava, very informative about their different types and friendly staff! They even served it in traditional hollowed coconut bowls! Atmosphere was perfect with some chill music and unique artwork to observe as you relaxed into your seat with some fantastic brew. Definitely going to be buying their kava for home use, and coming back to this awesome little kava café :)

In addition to Portland’s many food truck, microbrewery, and badass kombucha offerings, they also definitely know how to do healthy lounges. We were wandering around the trendy SE Division Street scene after chowing down on some delicious food truck eats, when we stumbled upon Bula Kava. The delicious description of their acai bowls compelled me to go in and sample a taste. I got the nut bowl, which was absolutely delicious and loaded with tons of healthy topping goodness such as almond milk, banana, mixed berries, and peanut butter. They also have a variety of kava root teas that are known for their tranquil and euphoria-​enducing properties. They carry Townshend’s kombucha, as well as a ton of smoothie and juice options that are not to be missed!
The atmosphere is very chill and the staff is very inviting and laid back. This is not your typical drive-​by joint. You’ll want to pull up a sofa chair and catch up with friends or enjoy the summer temperatures outside on the benches. If you’re looking for healthy and loungy, skip your local Starbucks and head over to Bula Kava House… they’re open until 11pm!

Walking in, it’s like a very chilled place. Kind of like Starbucks without the crowd.
Pretty good drinks and not bad for the price.
I got the timberline tonic and it was very refreshing. Can definitely taste all the fruits and vegetables in it. Very healthy

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.

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.

I had never had Kava before and it was described to me as tasting «like dirt, but in a good way.»
The guy at the counter was super helpful when I was choosing which one to order. He didn’t even lie about how bitter and gross it was going to be. He just said people usually chug it and enjoy the calming effects.
I don’t know if I experienced the said calming affects, but my run afterwards was supremely awesome.
I am a fan of the vibe in the shop, and the helpful customer service, although I don’t think I’ll be back for more Kava. It smelled so good, but I did not enjoy the taste.
I do want to try to acai bowls, though!
They also have gigantic jenga. Didn’t play it, but looks fun!

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.

I’m an fan of kava, so I was excited to find an actual kava house. Mind you that kava has very rooty taste so drink it one gulp instead of sipping it. It’s a nice place though, they have snack to go with you kava or smoothie or giant jenga blocks to play with.

This place ROCKS!
Kava kava root is a plant with relaxing and mood-​boosting effects; it takes the edge off, lowers inhibition a bit, and can make you more sociable without losing cognitive function, although you may find yourself feeling a bit mellow.
There aren’t many places like this in the US. The kava here is brewed the traditional way, in cold water, and they serve several strains. Yes it’s bitter, but so is alcohol. Some people don’t feel anything when they take it, but generally you have to get used to it to feel something, meaning you become more sensitive to to with time.
I felt more relaxed my first time but I’ve heard others who have taken three cups their first time and have felt nothing.
The music they play here is usually quite chill but Friday nights they’ll have more upbeat stuff. It’s usually not crowded here at all, and that’s why it’s a regular study spot for me. I’ll be coming here a lot while I’m in Portland. Oh yea they have games and stuff too; scrabble, connect 4, and other old gems.
Lastly, I learned a LOT about wine and good places to eat around here (I’m new to area) from Chris, the Hawaiian guy who works there. He knows a lot about kava too of course and learned about wine from the top master in Hawaii.

Kava is a great alternative for people who are looking to relax but aren’t big drinkers. Alcohol doesn’t treat me very well so I was excited to try this place when I discovered it. I’ve only ever had «stress relief» bagged tea with Kava in it, which is different. I personally really enjoy the Kava «buzz». I’m very sensitive to all substances (even cold medicine) so all I need is just one cup, but I think most people might need two or even three.
I’ve had Kava several times now and I’ve always had a good time with it. It just puts me in a very mellow, relaxed, and overall good mood. I’ve tried a few different ones, but my favorite is the Melo Melo.
Don’t expect it to be great tasting, it is very earthy and you shouldn’t really sip it unless you like the taste. There is a piece of pineapple for chaser! I’ve also been told that the effects of the Kava will be stronger if you drink it quickly.
Tips:
You should put your hands on the table, clap once, chug the drink, and then clap twice. This is supposed to ward away evil spirits. Ask someone who works there to show you how, if you’re confused.
They have various Happy Hour deals M-​F (I believe 3−6PM) and all day Sunday. There’s also some student specials.
The drinks will likely numb your tongue at first, so be ready for that!

Maybe it is for some people, but even I don’t like it and I am normally pretty adventurous in trying new things and loving it. The drink itself is fine– it tastes like watered down Chinese herbal medicine/​tea with a hint of dirt taste mixed in. What I didnt like about it was that it was served lukewarm-​cold. It just felt strange– like it should be entirely cold or entirely hot. But at least I said I have tried it?