Root Of Happiness

Very nice and chill. We came here on a whim when my sister was like I need to relax (after I explained what I thought kava was like). Very enjoyable experience. Kava is a nice chill without the heavy brain effects, but this our first time. Great place to study I found out. They also offer non-​kava drinks and tons of space to relax, hang out or study. Also, they have fun free games you can borrow. Server was super nice and helpful.

Great place for someone to relax and get some work done on a laptop. Excellent staff who are extremely helpful and friendly. I find myself going almost everyday. Much better than alcohol. Probably gonna go later tonight.

I came here on a whim. I had no idea what kava is, but thankfully a gentleman who worked here explained it to me. Apparently it’s a root that is supposed to relax you. I definitely have a Type A personality, so something that is going to relax me without giving me a hangover sounds like a good idea to me.
I had the Molokai Mule which is basically a Moscow Mule with Kava. Honestly, I have nothing to compare it to, but I thought it was pretty tasty.
When I came home, I don’t know if it was in my head, but I felt very relaxed. I probably had the best sleep that night. Too bad they are so far from where I live. Because between work and school, a drink that will chill me out sounds amazing.

I think this place is truly unique, and what I love most about it would be the vibe that it gives off. The dim lighting, multiple couches, and decorations (including a painted sky) create a perfect atmosphere for a full kava experience.
In terms of the kava itself, I’ve been here multiple times and always attempt to try a different item on the menu. I recommend trying one of the originals (a high tide or low tide — just different sizes) along with a cloudbreaker to get a feel for the kava itself. These drinks come in a few different flavors, but chocolate is my favorite because I think it masks a bit of the kava root taste more.
This last time that I went, I tried the kava AMF which is described to be very potent and flavorful. It was definitely very potent, but the bartender was more than happy to add more flavor to the drink when I asked. Overall, the servers were very accommodating.
Also, there is a really large upstairs area if you’re looking for a more private setting or if you want to just relax with a group of friends. and of course, you gotta play the giant jenga! Overall, a great experience and definitely a place that everyone should try at least once (probably try multiple times because kava is said to have a reverse tolerance effect).

Fun, yummy, good vibes. Happy to see a poly girl working the bar :)
Beautiful art murals covers entire walls. Dim light and comfy surroundings makes for a super relaxing atmosphere.
Drank the high tides and was pleased. They do have some fruity like drinks that were tasteful but I like them dirty :)

The environment here is really great, and its almost like a tiki bar theme. They have couches to relax, tables to sit at, an upstairs lounge, and the bar. There are also lots of games to play (Giant Jenga anyone?) and even books about Kava if you are first timer. The staff was very friendly, and described all of their different products and made recommendations based on how many times you have been there.
But, and the only reason for 3 stars, is that I had to force myself to drink the kava. I thought it tasted really bad. I realize that you are paying for the feeling you get, but I had a hard time paying $ 8 for a drink I could barely get down.
Definitely give it a try, maybe you’ll like the taste.

I was super interested in the idea of Kava, especially because I’ve never heard about it before. This place is 18+ and it’s kinda like a bar with their kava shots and kava mixed drinks. I didn’t try the shots with my friends because I hate shots of alcohol and even though shots of kava probably aren’t as bad, I just wasn’t up to trying it. I ordered the Kava Kolada and it was ok. I didn’t like it that much, although I did like the piece of pineapple it came with. I ended up switching drinks with my friend who got the Strawberry Kavajito which I liked much more because it was a lot sweeter. I guess it just depends on personal preference. We went on a Friday night and it was one of their «Deep Vibes» events where they hire a DJ. The atmosphere was cool and the music was chill. However, it was super hard to get a seat both upstairs and downstairs. I’m not really sure if I felt any of the effects so I’m not sure if my $ 6 – 7 was worth it. I just know that I got a headache later in the night… not sure if it was due to the kava or something else but that wasn’t fun because I almost never get headaches. Maybe I’ll come back on a random weekday when they have happy hour to get the full experience.

I’m still new to kava and my friends dragged me out recently and I enjoyed it very much. I ordered the Lanai Lemonade and was pleasantly surprised by how it tasted. The server was very friendly and welcoming. Since my group of friends and I were mostly new to the drink, they took the time to explain as well as recommend drinks to us. The vibe of the bar was very relaxing. My friends and I played Cards Against Humanity and talked for a good three hours, so we were quite comfortable at the bar. Being that this was my first time, I have yet to feel the effect of the drink but I definitely will be coming back and trying more drinks.

I love this place, not too noise. and drinks here is so amazing, special!!! And the batender– she is so kind and nice. good place to relax alone or with friends. I will be back here many other times.

I’m new to drinking Kava, and this place is lovely. I like to come when it’s not so busy. The staff is super friendly and knowledgable.
Reverse tolerance is very real.
The effects are relaxing, as well as uplifting. I experience no memory problems.
Try to go with a full stomach, drinking kava on an empty stomach makes me a little nauseas.

The environment was super amazing. There is a upstairs where you can just sit and relax with your friend or downstairs where you can dance all out with your friends.
I came at 10:00 pm which was pretty early but the crowd gets super hyped around 11 – 11:30 and everyone dances.
The drinks are not overly expensive. I got upgraded to a high tide for free (using the free low tide Unilocal checkin) because they forgot and the people are fast with service ! Kava was definitely something interesting if you never had it before, try it !:)

I have mixed feelings about this place, 2.5 rounding down to 2. The idea of this place is unique-​a place that is exactly like a bar and serves drinks that give you the feeling of being under the influence. However since it is not alcohol, you do not need to be 21+ because it is just the kava root that they use. Just like a bar, they have mixed kava drinks and kava «shots.» This all seems like a really cool experience! I also appreciate how much thought went into everything.
The service here is what turned me off and what gives me mixed feelings. I understand that their job is to sell to you, but they are the type of people who are SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER pushy i cannot explain it. I used to be a sales associate so I know that is how the job is, so I can tolerate it a little more than others because I understand, but as a customer, there is a point where enough is enough. I am big on planning things before hand, especially when it comes to where I want to eat/​drink and what I am going to order. So I had come into the kava bar already knowing what I want but the cashier and workers making drinks would not accept us getting just the one kava smoothie drink we wanted. They wanted us to buy 3 drinks which were part of the friday night special (they have daily specials for 15 $ that include 3 different drinks, designed to give you the full effect kava has to offer) We went back and forth forever about it, so we gave in and bought the 3 drinks for the Friday night special. YOU GUYS WIN we paid $ 15 instead of like the $ 9 we planned on spending. I should have walked out the second they wouldn’t let us get our one drink, but nope we paid $ 15 for the 3 drinks, LEFT THE OTHER TWO and just took home the one we wanted.
Anyway, you don’t drink kava for the taste, you do it for the feeling. I swear to you, every employee here will repeat that to you a million times because kava tastes horrible and (just like a shot) you have to just down it, not sip on it. We sat there for a bit waiting for our 3^rd drink which is the tropikava smoothie (the one we came in here tonight for and actually tasted really good). They had handed us the low-​tide and our cloud breaker, but we let it sit there because WE NEVER WANTED IT. And I know this isn’t alcohol but the workers are literally hardcore with the way they peer-​pressure and this girl worker stood there in front of us for a long while urging us to drink. So to make her go away I drank one sip of it and I don’t know if I’m allergic to kava or what because my throat started to just close up and I started freaking out. My friends lips and stuff got numb which is what’s supposed to happen and she was fine other than that. Never again. I wouldn’t come back unless I felt like being harassed to buy more than I wanted.

This was my first experience in a Kava Lounge. I’ve always wanted to give it a try, but never had the chance. I started out with the free Unilocal offer (Low Tide) and then we added on. Sadly there is no online menu and I can’t recall the next drink we got. It was part of the happy hour menu and was recommended by our very friendly waitress. I loved the place. I wish we had time to play some of the games they have to offer.
Sadly the drinks didn’t agree with me. I ended up with a bit of an upset stomach. I don’t fault the establishment at all. The place was wonderful. We had outstanding service. I would go back and order the on tap kombucha. I love that stuff, but the tab was out of order.

*NOT A BAR, its 18+ their drinks is non-​alcoholic.
Came here for my first time, and was greeted well by one of the owners. He was very sweet and took his time to explain to us what ‘Kava’ was.
Except by this time, all we wanted to do was drink so we didn’t really listen to what he said.
Point is. I still don’t know what Kava is exactly, i know its a plant thats used in a chill/​relax pills, and yes it actually relaxes you.
I recommend:
* Low/​high tide (difference is basically the amount) — make sure to check in on Unilocal to get your free low tide!
* Strawberry Kavajito $ 8
They also have specials for each day of the week, my favorite is the Thursday special.
I started with a shot of Low Tide, and I personally like it a lot because it taste like traditional sweet herb drinks. And the pineapple goes well with it.
And continued my journey with Kavajito! Mind you, it taste like a very yummy carbonated juice, the kava will sneak up on you.
Take your time trying this Kava ‘root of happiness’ because it will hit you, you’ll be relaxed like a jello if you drink too fast.
Cheers!

I feel like being part of a new lifestyle…
I just recently heard about the drink kava for the first time in my life. As I am lucky enough to live around the Bay Area, where it is likely to find a weird new place around me. Perfect way to spend a birthday, Root of Happiness crossed my Unilocaling path, and I knew I had to come here.
We went during their happy hour which is 4pm to 7pm daily. The waiter recommended us to go with a strong drink and chug it. Oddly enough, kava has a reverse tolerance. That means, you need to start with a high dose and over time you feel the same effects on less kava.
The drink was hard to drink, it tastes earthy, bitter, spicy and has a numbing effect in the mouth. You also get a piece of pineapple to get some other flavor in your mouth. After some time we felt very relaxed and just enjoyed ourselves.
The waiter was really nice and asked us how we were doing and was open to answer any questions.
I look forward for another drink.

If you’re an experience seeker like me, then you’ll love this place… a kava bar!
Read all about kava on Unilocal and the internets.
Get excited.
Get friends excited.
Go to Root Of Happiness with previously mentioned excited friends.
First round on the house — check in for a free shot!
Be kavafied :)
Mysterious tiki atmosphere is so perfect for this. Lots of great drink options, like the delicious kavajito. My friend got a full package — shot, drink and concentrated spoon. Best way to go if you want to go where you want to be.
No noticible aftereffects for me, but I didn’t make it to enlightenment… «reverse tolerance» means I’ll be sure to hit it next time.

This is such a unique and great place to go with friends as an alternative to a bar! I’ve been here a couple times and can’t wait until I’m back in Davis to go again!
Most of the time, my friends enjoy going upstairs, where they have an adorable lounge, with lots of TVs and couches to sit, relax, and enjoy the effects of kava. This location also has plenty of seating space downstairs with lots of games (Big Jenga, for example).
As for the kava — in my opinion — it does *not* taste good — kind of like dirt in warm water. The chocolate/​cream flavored ones are more bearable than the fruit flavored ones (and I am usually more of a fruit-​y person). The first time I went, I had to take the little bowl like a shot in order to stomach it (they also provide a pineapple wedge, which helps a bit). Some of my other friends (mostly the guys LOL) enjoyed the kava (or so they claimed…). Root of Happiness, however, also provides lots of other kava-​infused options that are more enjoyable. I’ve tried both the smoothies and the spiced hot chocolate (mmm…). These options probably don’t contain as much kava as the three shots though.
To be honest, I didn’t really feel the effects of the kava after my first shot + smoothie. The first time I visited, the bartender informed my group that the effects of kava were usually stronger for more experienced kava drinkers. I’m not sure if this is true or not but the bartender also let us sample a concentrate (which I actually enjoyed) and after taking the concentrate, I realllllly started feeling the effects (as did my friends). We stayed upstairs for almost 3 hours — but it only felt like half an hour! ._​_​_​.
Overall, I definitely think this is an experience everyone in Davis should try at least once! If going for the first time, don’t be ashamed/​bashful about asking lots of questions, stating different preferences, asking the bartender for suggestions, etc. The first time I came, I came with a varying group of people (some who had kava before, some who hadn’t, some who didn’t even have it when we got there LOL) and the bartender was GREAT about accommodating everyone.

This place is definitely a hidden gem in Davis that not a lot of people know about! My first experience with the Kava fruit was a very interesting one and I really enjoyed it! I got the Strawberry Kavajito when I came the first time and it made me feel cloudy at first, but it didn’t last too long and then afterwards it became relaxing. It’s nice to just hang out and spend time listening to the music and relax. If you lean too far back into the couches you’ll start to sink into them and you’ll probably never get up again unless you force yourself to, they’re so comfy!
The second trip here I got a Diamond Mind which was cool and the reverse tolerance is definitely a thing because 3 sips in I was already feeling it, but I had to consistently keep drinking for the feeling to last. It was tasty too! I got blood orange.
The upstairs room is really spacious and I can see now why they have twister for you to play too if you want! Loved the music selections and just the chill vibes overall. Maybe I’ll come back again to study one day since it’s always so empty! I’m still too scared to play the jumbo jenga lol.

What is Kava? To be honest, I’m still not really sure. But the atmosphere was great. We went at 11pm on a Wednesday night and it was pretty empty. They’ve got a second floor with couches so you can lounge and play card games, like Cards Against Humanity (provided by them).
I wanted to try the kava drinks to see if it would have an effect. It’s supposed to make you feel very relaxed and happy. I had a low tide, which is just like a shot of a kava drink – non-​alcoholic so no worries. And also ordered a Kava Kolada, which as it sounds like, is pretty much a kava-​infused piña colada. Basically, it was more like a kava kolayaaaaas. Pretty yummy and I guess it worked. I did have a fantastic time here and I wasn’t sure if that was cause of the people I was with or the drinks or just a combination of both.
5 cause thnks fr th mmrs, they were pretty damn great.

I’ve never had kava before and didn’t know what it was, but I found this place on Unilocal and wanted to try it during today’s trip to Davis. We went right when they opened at 3pm and there were already a few people in before us. The place is island themed, and there is a huge jenga for people to play with downstairs. There was one person working behind the bar. We looked so confused that he asked if we’ve ever tried kava before, to which we said no, and he did a good job explaining it to us.
My friend jumped in and ordered three hard kava shots for us. These come in a few different flavors and we picked mango. At first taste, it was just like mango juice, but the shot ended very bitter due to the kava. Next, the cool guy working gave us each a sample of a kava smoothie drink, which was delicious. I love samples! They’ve got a lot of interesting drinks on their menu, some without kava even. So after taking forever to decide, we decided to use our check in offer and got free 4oz low tides (one person in our party decided not to check in, and got the high tide). I got the chai flavor, and my friends got chocolate and no added flavoring.
We took our drinks upstairs to enjoy and posted up at the barstools. Our mouths were numb by the time we were done with our drinks. I didn’t feel any intoxication, but maybe I needed more drinks. I really like that this place has couches and games for people to drink, play and just hang. I will be back to try some of the other drinks and play some games!