Kava Saia is one of the coolest places i’ve been to since i moved to portland! highly recommend, especially if you are looking for a community of people if you are sober / recently quit drinking (like me). The staff were so welcoming & amazing, seriously just the best atmosphere possible. I didn’t know anything about kava or what I wanted when I came in, but thankfully the kavatenders made me feel super comfortable immediately. No awkwardness of coming alone, just a really cool place with amazing vibes & amazing people! Highly recommend. Even if you’re not sober, come try kava! To me, it’s like all of the positive effects of alcohol with no negative effects (hangover etc).
Also big S/O to Shayla & Todd, the kavatenders when I first came in by myself - just the best! Can’t speak highly enough about these two. I never write reviews but this was necessary.
Catherine Sinow
My boyfriend and I were waiting at the counter for about five minutes and the one barista didn't look at us or talk to us. He was having a conversation with another customer and doing what looked like between-customer tasks. I thought maybe he hadn't noticed we were there, so I said "Hey, can we order?" and he immediately starts angrily lecturing me about how there's two other people in front of me, saying "I'm working my [expletive] off," telling us to go to another tea place down the street, and loudly saying to the other customers "Did you just see that interaction? That was SO WEIRD." I haven't experienced aggressive customer service like this in a very, very long time. It was really unsettling and ruined my outing with friends. At the same time, he should not have been the only one working there as he was clearly overloaded.
Also, the tea menu should not say "herbal teas" because it has black and green teas on it. "Herbal" is synonymous with "caffeine free," and so someone could accidentally order something with caffeine in it. Which, for some, can have medical consequences.
Ben Macy
The person at the counter was clearly at the end of his rope, he was making what looked like some 20 drinks for one person, but we weren't sure if he knew we were there after 5-10 minutes so we asked if we could order. He turned to his other customer, acting aghast and said "wasn't that weird?" Then he said to us "I'm working my ass off over here" and explained the line order before us, including someone named Conrad, and he kept on going so we just didn't engage and didn't get anything. He looked totally overworked and also he was pretty rude. So it left us feeling uncomfortable. It then got way busier. The solution is put another person in behind the bar there with him.
Sara Pittock
Friendliest service in town. And their Midsommar tea is delish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
K Makani
Absolutely the best kava in the metro. One or two shells is o' plenty. Custom herbal teas and one-of-a-kind kava shots. The staff is always fun and inviting...compared to other kava places. Saia also makes a distinctive kratom tea. Ask them about it. Very clean, organic environment. LBGTQ+ friendly. ALL lives matter.
Kid-friendliness: Not so much
Wheelchair accessibility: Good sized door, 1st level
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Jonathan Noyes
This place is awesome. It always has a good vibe. I love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
david knife
We stopped in while traveling, to sample some of the local kava/kratom. Our order included both white and green kratom teas, and the Thai tea kava shot. Excellent products. The owner was friendly and knowledgeable, answering our questions with patience. Well recommended.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Kyle Jester
Came here for the first time and loved it! Kava-tenders were very friendly and helped us out for our first time having kava. Atmosphere is really nice and they have pool and board games. Will definitely be coming back
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
George Love
I did not eat anything here but had a lovely cup of toasted green tea and you can just sit in here, hang out, and read a book or people watch. The tea comes in a tea ball which you can let soak to your desired level of tea strength and you can also ask for a refill on the hot water. I thought it was a lovely place to hang ou and soak up the vibe. Older guy so don't quite get the Kava thing but might try it while I'm here (comes in a hand glazed pottery bowl with a slice of pineapple). The location has a wide variety of customers (ages and backgrounds) and a great place to come and process at the end of the day (or, I guess, anytime). Suffice to say, worth going to experience and as someone else noted, the staff is super nice.
First time there. Glad it's within walking distance of the hotel because I plan on going back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patrick Fullem
This place is amazing. I have been to Kava bars all over the country and lived in Hawaii. I’ve been to the first bar to sell Kratom in the US and hands down Nick and Hannah’s product is by far the best I have had. The problem that I run into at Kava bars is they rarely higher from the hospitality industry. Not this place you get great and friendly service. The Kavatender remembers your name and a lot of times your favorite order. Best in class! Well done Kava Saia!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cornelius
This is one of my favorite kava places in Portland.
I really like the puzzles on the bar. It's nice to be able to try and solve the puzzles while watching a random show.
It's nice to have a neat spot to meet a friend that isn't just another place that serves alcohol.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kennedy “elkattack23” Smith
Loved the experience and the guy working was so nice and amazing!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robbie Donaldson
Even though this Kava bar is relatively new on the scene, it feels very warm and lived in. Vibes are perfect. You have your guitar, uke, Rubik's cube, puzzles, and all the other little things you'd expect to find in a good kava bar (pool table was a personal first for a kava bar for me). They even have a little merch shop which added a nice touch.
Staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the kava hit strong and smooth. I think I found my new go to when in central eastside.
Where everybody knows...your dog's name. XP
Kava Saia is one of the coolest places i’ve been to since i moved to portland! highly recommend, especially if you are looking for a community of people if you are sober / recently quit drinking (like me). The staff were so welcoming & amazing, seriously just the best atmosphere possible. I didn’t know anything about kava or what I wanted when I came in, but thankfully the kavatenders made me feel super comfortable immediately. No awkwardness of coming alone, just a really cool place with amazing vibes & amazing people! Highly recommend. Even if you’re not sober, come try kava! To me, it’s like all of the positive effects of alcohol with no negative effects (hangover etc). Also big S/O to Shayla & Todd, the kavatenders when I first came in by myself - just the best! Can’t speak highly enough about these two. I never write reviews but this was necessary.
My boyfriend and I were waiting at the counter for about five minutes and the one barista didn't look at us or talk to us. He was having a conversation with another customer and doing what looked like between-customer tasks. I thought maybe he hadn't noticed we were there, so I said "Hey, can we order?" and he immediately starts angrily lecturing me about how there's two other people in front of me, saying "I'm working my [expletive] off," telling us to go to another tea place down the street, and loudly saying to the other customers "Did you just see that interaction? That was SO WEIRD." I haven't experienced aggressive customer service like this in a very, very long time. It was really unsettling and ruined my outing with friends. At the same time, he should not have been the only one working there as he was clearly overloaded.
Also, the tea menu should not say "herbal teas" because it has black and green teas on it. "Herbal" is synonymous with "caffeine free," and so someone could accidentally order something with caffeine in it. Which, for some, can have medical consequences.
The person at the counter was clearly at the end of his rope, he was making what looked like some 20 drinks for one person, but we weren't sure if he knew we were there after 5-10 minutes so we asked if we could order. He turned to his other customer, acting aghast and said "wasn't that weird?" Then he said to us "I'm working my ass off over here" and explained the line order before us, including someone named Conrad, and he kept on going so we just didn't engage and didn't get anything. He looked totally overworked and also he was pretty rude. So it left us feeling uncomfortable. It then got way busier. The solution is put another person in behind the bar there with him.
Friendliest service in town. And their Midsommar tea is delish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely the best kava in the metro. One or two shells is o' plenty. Custom herbal teas and one-of-a-kind kava shots. The staff is always fun and inviting...compared to other kava places. Saia also makes a distinctive kratom tea. Ask them about it. Very clean, organic environment. LBGTQ+ friendly. ALL lives matter.
Kid-friendliness: Not so much
Wheelchair accessibility: Good sized door, 1st level
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
This place is awesome. It always has a good vibe. I love this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We stopped in while traveling, to sample some of the local kava/kratom. Our order included both white and green kratom teas, and the Thai tea kava shot. Excellent products. The owner was friendly and knowledgeable, answering our questions with patience. Well recommended.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Came here for the first time and loved it! Kava-tenders were very friendly and helped us out for our first time having kava. Atmosphere is really nice and they have pool and board games. Will definitely be coming back
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I did not eat anything here but had a lovely cup of toasted green tea and you can just sit in here, hang out, and read a book or people watch. The tea comes in a tea ball which you can let soak to your desired level of tea strength and you can also ask for a refill on the hot water. I thought it was a lovely place to hang ou and soak up the vibe. Older guy so don't quite get the Kava thing but might try it while I'm here (comes in a hand glazed pottery bowl with a slice of pineapple). The location has a wide variety of customers (ages and backgrounds) and a great place to come and process at the end of the day (or, I guess, anytime). Suffice to say, worth going to experience and as someone else noted, the staff is super nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
First time there. Glad it's within walking distance of the hotel because I plan on going back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is amazing. I have been to Kava bars all over the country and lived in Hawaii. I’ve been to the first bar to sell Kratom in the US and hands down Nick and Hannah’s product is by far the best I have had. The problem that I run into at Kava bars is they rarely higher from the hospitality industry. Not this place you get great and friendly service. The Kavatender remembers your name and a lot of times your favorite order. Best in class! Well done Kava Saia!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is one of my favorite kava places in Portland.
I really like the puzzles on the bar. It's nice to be able to try and solve the puzzles while watching a random show.
It's nice to have a neat spot to meet a friend that isn't just another place that serves alcohol.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loved the experience and the guy working was so nice and amazing!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Even though this Kava bar is relatively new on the scene, it feels very warm and lived in. Vibes are perfect. You have your guitar, uke, Rubik's cube, puzzles, and all the other little things you'd expect to find in a good kava bar (pool table was a personal first for a kava bar for me). They even have a little merch shop which added a nice touch.
Staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the kava hit strong and smooth. I think I found my new go to when in central eastside.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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