Kahuna Awa Kava Bar

• Hours: Noon to midnight.

Description

At first, Kahuna 'Awa Kava Bar, which opened in June, looks like a typical upscale drinking spot. Customers sit on stools and chat along the long low-lit bar. Thinly woven throws hang from the ceiling, and books about religion and veganism occupy the book shelf, adding a new-age earthy vibe. But when the muted glow of the lanterns illuminate the hookah smoke, and the light flickers off the neutral-colored wall and décor, the space seems almost dreamlike; like a spa or the most inviting psychiatrist waiting room. Or the magic could just be related to the Kava, that therapeutic, not-so-tasty root found in Pacific Ocean cultures. The root, served here in faux-ancient cups/bowls, is more sedative than intoxicating, similar to a low-intensity high from marijuana than to the buzz from alcohol. (According to the barista, it's good for helping you quit smoking pot. And it's totally legal.) Every Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight is all-you-can-drink.