I really love the decor and all the plants here, it feels cozy and inviting. I also appreciate that they have healthy options on the menu and clearly care about their ingredients, which you don't find at just any smoothie place. In terms of food, this place has been a bit of a hit or miss for me. The first time we stopped by, we had smoothies, and they were delicious, creamy, and not too artificially sweet, yummy but still felt healthy at the same time. The second time, we tried their coffee and waffles. The latte was good, and I liked their seasonal flavor options. Unfortunately, the gingerbread waffle we tried was practically inedible, wayyyy too spiced, to the point it tasted medicinal. The pomegranate seeds on top, which looked pretty at first, were actually soft and mushy, clearly not fresh. That said, I'm still willing to come back for another smoothie, because those were really good. read more

Kava DSM - Strawberries and Cream Smoothie - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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Plenty of free 2 hour parking Zero entry Neat setting - unique decor Friendly staff Price points acceptable The waffle was very good read more

I loved the look and feel of this place! Right when you walk in it feels so relaxing and calming. I think it's because of all the plants they have in there; some on the floor and some hanging from the ceiling. It feels like you're a part of nature. Kudos to the person who decorated the place. They did an awesome job. I treated my husband and myself to a couple flights of gelatos. You get four small bowls for $8 and they were almost too much gelato for one person. Two people could almost share a flight. They had some dairy and nondairy options. There were 16 different flavors to choose from. I think the coconut milk vanilla flavor was my favorite. My husband really liked the mango sorbet. They also have smoothie bowls, waffles, coffee drinks and other beverages. There's an outdoor patio but it's almost too lovely inside to eat outside. I'm so glad to have found this wonderful and unique place. I think this will be our new favorite dessert spot. read more

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Walking into Kava DSM on a Friday morning is like walking into a tropical oasis I didn't know I desperately needed. I tried the Avocado Waffle Toast and the Green Thumb smoothie. I sipped on the tasty smoothie while I soaked in the atmosphere and waited for the waffle. Their lunch salads look so good. I can't wait to try one on my next visit. It took longer than average to prepare the waffle. The staff described the waffle accurately explaining the waffle wasn't overly sweet and complimented the savory toppings. It was quite yummy. My mind just couldn't got over my expectations of a waffle, so I'll likely stick to the sweet waffle variations in the future. read more

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I had kava tea and an açaí bowl here and the vibes are awesome! Good: - Cute little corner store - Lots of tables and tons of outlets available - Quiet area, AC for when it's super hot Bad: - Fairly expensive - Takes a whole for food to get to the table Overall this place was great for a working session! Loved the vibe and sat here for hours. read more

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Food was decent. I was the only one in the shop and waited almost 35 min for two coffee drinks, a smoothie, and a smoothie bowl. It was soup by the time I got it and prices were a little high. $39 with a tip. I won't be back just because I don't have time to wait like that. read more

Food, service, and vibes were great. Food I had the banana honey waffle and my partner had the sun kissed bowl. Both were amazing and a great sweat treat Service Great couldn't ask for better. Was very nice and speedy Vibes Great place, great vibes. It was quiet with lots of plants and a great spot to have a smoothy, coffee, or waffle. read more

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Strawberry covered waffle was amazing and so was the iced caramel latte. Loved that they have a lot of gluten free desserts and options of food. Even the drinks have various gluten free options. The waffle was huge and the perfect amount of sweet. I thought it was going to be a lot but it was fluffy and airy so I was still able to gobble it down. I saw on the Instagram that they are actually paleo so it made me feel better about eating the whole thing. The iced oatmilk caramel latte was delicious I loved the coffee they used to make it. I don't know what it was but it was great. I took of a star because the service was not the best. My friend and I were there on a Monday and it wasn't so busy. We went up to get our drinks and waffles, the two cashiers didn't greet us or anything they were deep in conversation. We weren't ready right away but we still had to interrupt them to order so the interaction made it kind of awkward. Also I was not aware that the parking was so much for an hour. We were there to study and do some work so I ended up paying $15 for like 2.5 hours. It was ridiculous so I don't see it being a place I frequent because I'd probably have to park elsewhere so I can avoid that huge parking fee. read more

Kava DSM - Chocolate covered strawberry waffle - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I would give this place 5 stars if it wasn't for their coffee. Loved the atmosphere this shop provides. You walk in and it feels so calming. Absolutely beautiful. Came earlier today so it was very slow and I didn't get greeted until I walked up to the register. Usually you get greeted right when you walk into a shop to feel welcomed. I asked some questions and ended up going with Brown sugar SK (?) ube latte. I love ube and brown sugar but this drink definitely came short. I did ask for it to be less sweet but that wasn't the problem. The latte tasted watered down and lackluster. I was looking for more bold flavors. The cold foam wasn't what I expected either. It's definitely more foamy when I was expecting it to be a little thicker. I wouldn't mind spending 7$ on coffee but hate when I spend 7$ and it turns out not so great. Great place for a photo op but I would opt out of their coffee. Or at least the latte that I got. read more

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I am from out of town and was excited to try a new coffee place! They had a lot of great options but unfortunately my boyfriend and I had a terrible customer experience. We asked the white bald guy what was his favorite way to have Kava and he rudely said "well can put it in tea, matcha whatever" I am a manager of a coffee bar myself back in Arizona and know this is not how you treat customers. He was also rude to the 2 other customers in front of us. He was also slamming different things around. There was also dirty cups/bowls left on tables inside and outside. If you don't like your job, don't work at a coffee/smoothie bar. Being nice, welcoming, caring, charismatic is part of the "barista" title. If I was a secret shopper, this would 100% be a fail. Forgot to mention, the plants inside are literally all dying probably because of him lol read more

Oh my goodness. This place is a dream!!! Located in the same building as Fuzzy's and Blaze Pizza...this new gelato spot is THEE. SPOT to visit and bring a hot date or friends for some delicious dessert. Gelatos galore and so tasty!! Gelatos with traditional ingredients AND vegan/plant based ingredients. WOWW Sooo many vegan choices I couldn't decide. Flavors available today when I visited: Vegan blood orange Vegan strawberry Vegan mango Vegan chocolate Oatmilk island vanilla Oatmilk strawberry almond crisp Cashew milk Himalayan Salted caramel Cashew milk coldbrew Coconut milk vanilla bean Traditional gelatos: Raspberry Key lime Dragonfruit Lemon Peanut butter açaí Green tea Cute interior decor. Absolutely eye catching. Cozy and fun. Service was nice and helpful. Free samples upon request. Price for 1 scoop: $4.50 Smoothies: $9.50 They also serve paleo waffles, espresso, mocktails, smoothie bowls, and salads. Spent $35.xx for our family of 6 with 5 scoops and a smoothie. Delicious and nutritious. My family was sooo happy to experience Kava. We all have preferences and food intolerances. It was so nice to have a treat that everyone can enjoy!!! Highly recommend and will def be back read more

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There is no other place like this location in Des Moines! It is the cutest atmosphere with the most Instagram worthy foodies. This place speaks for itself when you walk in. They're well known for their smoothie bowls but they do have coffee and waffles. I really need to try their kava next time I come here because all the employees said it gives a calming effect. I got the coral reef which was described as tropical. In my opinion it tasted citrusy. But these bowls were pretty great snacks. This is the spot to go to when looking for a spot to hang out with your friends when you're looking for more than just a coffee shop. I will most definitely be returning soon to try more of their menu. read more

Kava DSM - Smoothie bowls - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Came here on a whim after the farmers market. First off, the space is gorgeous! It's so inviting and calming and there are so many cute photo ops. I would love to just come down here and chill for a bit. As for the coffee, I didn't deviate from my usual iced vanilla latte. It was really good and had a unique taste different from other coffee shops. Also side note, I really like their cups lol. It's similar to the Starbucks cups but like a lot better somehow. The staff was super nice and helped recommend things and walk me through ordering for the first time too! Definitely going to be a staple shop when I visit downtown! read more

Kava DSM - Iced Vanilla Latte - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

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I really like the smoothies from Kava. My fav is the peaches and coconut cream one! I didn't like the smoothie bowl I tried as much though. I ordered the tropical one with peaches in it and felt like it was really watery in comparison to the actual smoothies? The added granola and fruit was a great wash to add texture though and I did like that. read more

Trendy and relaxing coffee shop with some great gelato options. The seating indoor is appropriate and they have a decent size outdoor patio as well. Taking away one star because they do not have Kombucha which now every coffee spot should consider adding. Other than that, great hangout or meeting spot. read more

Kava DSM - Acai Bowl - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

The kind guy behind the counter gave me the biggest single scoop of icecream I've ever seen. Very generous and definitely appreciated. I wasn't able to get a picture as I had to hurry back to the hospital to see my mom, but it was delicious and not too sweet (cashew milk salted Carmel flavor). A great mood lifter for sure :) read more

This is a hard review for me because the food was good. We got a smoothie bowl, green thumb smoothie, and mushroom latte. I understand the business is understaffed right now. However, the person taking our order was extremely rude about a clocking in/technology issue to an older coworker right in front of us which was very awkward. Then we proceeded to wait 35 minutes for the smoothie after getting the smoothie bowl and latte. I had to go ask for it and they clearly forgot we even ordered it. I feel like after spending $36 on an assortment of blended fruit and "superfoods" we'd receive better service. Overall the atmosphere didn't match the service expectations. Also they should definitely validate customers parking tickets for them because we screwed it up and had to go move our car and get another ticket. I'm sure we aren't the only ones who've made the mistake either read more

Kava DSM - Blue Ocean Smoothie Bowl - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Eh. Went in for my first time with my partner. We were super excited to try something new. We are participating in dry January and wanted an alternative to alcohol. The young girl at the counter was not personable whatsoever. Spoke super quiet and we asked her 2 questions and each time, it was met with "i have no clue". The older gentleman in the back was brought to the front to answer my question and his attitude was unprofessional. It's a shame because this place would be so cute and such a vibe, if it was ran by better staff. read more

Walked in with 14 people celebrating a late win. They closed in 15 min, but still accepted us! The ambiance was very earthy and chill. Loved the gelato! read more

Gorgeous and inviting space with beautiful unique creations and plenty of options for everyone! Delicious beverages from smoothies to mocktails. Great quality and delicious! Come and see for yourself. The owners are very health conscious and caring and that is the kind of business I will support all day long! read more

Never expected the most beautiful açaí bowl I would have would be in Iowa, but it was. Decent taste, didn't quite match up with the looks, but still a nice healthy dessert. read more

Kava DSM - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Des Moines, Iowa

Cute atmosphere, and fun menu! Very slow service (both times I've been here). I ordered one smoothie, and it took 30 minutes. There were only two people that ordered before me and less than ten customers in there total. The smoothie was fine, but not worth a 30 minute wait (especially on a weekday). read more

I had been wanting to try this place forever and it did not disappoint! Food was so, so delicious and vibes were so cute with plants hanging everywhere and overall impeccable decor. If you're ever in Des Moines and are looking for a nice place to grab breakfast, a smoothie on the go, or just to sit and do some work, I would highly recommend! read more

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Incredibly fresh ingredients, friendly service, and the shop was filled with gorgeous plants. Definitely look forward to coming back when I'm in town! read more

Pros: 1. A health conscious menu 2. It's centrally located within the city. Cons: 1. Parking is limited to two hours via a ticket that is brought in from a gate that must be stamped once inside the business (the whole parking set up is strange). 2. Interior design could be a lot better. Cold feeling and lacking soul. An attempt was with plants to make it inviting but doesn't seem well thought out. A cheap fake fireplace says it all. 3. Was given a hot drink in a paper to-go cup instead of a nice mug- very disappointing when I asked if this was their for-here cup and they said yes. read more

Here for business trip and stopped by for a smoothie bowl. It was AMAZING, and I also tried Kava for the first time. Highly recommend!!

Love the clean and natural environment inside the shop, but also love the fact that they have an outdoor seating area. I've been a couple times during festival season, and the winter time. Their coffee is great, and I loved the food options they have. They also offer free parking for your stay while you stay and enjoy your drinks. Perfect coffee date spot. read more

Love the variety of flavors available. I got the banana smoothie bowl and the waffle with blueberries. It had a unique batter made with lemon and Poppy seeds but not too over powering which I enjoyed. Definitely would recommend to anyone who is looking for a refreshing place to try! read more

beautiful place! food is amazing! plenty of healthy choices !!! please go try! service was great ! read more

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Great service, neat atmosphere, and pretty good smoothie bowl! However, it was a little outside my comfort zone, and I felt like it was overpriced. read more

Beautiful ambiance. Friendly staff. I'm ready to go back! Highly recommend. Kava is so rare in Iowa

We walked in, nobody said hi. Place was empty. Walked to the cold case and saw some salads, but no listing of what they were anywhere. Wait for five minutes to get help. Nobody seemed to notice. So we left. read more

This was my first time in Des Moines. I couldn't wait to try Kava DSM. I was not disappointed! It is absolutely beautiful in there! I was transported to the tropics! Their coffee was delicious. Their smoothie bowls are works of art! Their staff was courteous and friendly. And their waffles....oh my goodness, they look and taste delicious! I can't wait to go back and try other items on their menu. What an amazing place! read more

Don't like to give negative reviews to this sort of place but hopefully it will help them survive, because what they're serving is quality and it's a niche that should thrive in the Gray's Landing area. In town for work and came here on consecutive days because it was close to my hotel and I wanted a smoothie. The customer service here is 100% non existent. No greeting either day and had to wait 2-3 minutes at the register both days w/no acknowledgment. On the first day it was moderately busy and my order took 15-20 minutes. On the 2nd day they just forgot about it and after (no exaggeration) 30 minutes asked me what I'd ordered. There were only 2 customers at 1 table in the place and 3 people working (+ one baby on the floor). 10 minutes later I got my smoothie. Kind of felt like I was in a stranger's living room and I started to wonder if it was sanitary to order food there. It's not a particularly clean or professional operation, as you may have inferred by now. On both days the smoothie was good but someone needs to reevaluate the staff and approach or this place won't last long. read more

I was so excited to see this place was opening up in Des Moines and so I had to try it as soon as I could. It is hands down the most beautiful place I've been to in Des Moines. The inside is decorated with so many plants hanging from the ceiling and flowers on the walls and it's so earthy and comforting. It has the best vibes and it's a great place to sit and study. We ordered the smoothie bowls and they came in those wonderful coconut bowls, decorated with fruits and flowers, and with coconut spoons on the side. It actually looks like art to me. We ordered the Sunkissed, Sandcastle, and Magic Mermaid smoothie bowls. My favorite was the Sunkissed for sure but all of them looked equally beautiful. They tasted great too, so sweet, fresh, and healthy. The portion sizes were pretty big, I actually couldn't finish mine so I took the leftovers in a to-go cup. The smoothie bowls were around $13-$14 each so a little on the expensive side but they were definitely worth it for their taste and aesthetic. The only problem with this place is that they only validate parking for the first 2 hours but I'd like to stay there all day!! read more

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