This kava bar is a tranquil space with soothing decor and comfortable seating. You can prop up one of the couches or choose to sit at a table. The cafe felt like a haven completely shielded form the busy construction outside, on a very hot summer day. The attendant at the bar was very friendly and coffee was strong. They serve appetizers and pizza in the evenings. read more

See all

The people here are really friendly. Clearly attracts some regulars so it has a nice neighborhood vibe. It's nice to have non-alcoholic options. The vibe is more coworking than nighttime, and the kava is pretty pricey. read more

Cool and tranquil place but the Kava isn't strong at all. Need to work on the extraction process

Another AMAZING trip to Squarerut! I HAVE to make a stop every time I'm in Austin. This time we had Mark as our kavatender. Made the visit fun & also gave us EXCEPTIONAL service and suggestions on places to get some good grub. The kavaritas didn't disappoint & we left with some kava chocolate that I ate on the journey back to Denton. Can not express how much everyone should have a kava experience! read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Kava chocolate & candy - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

My husband and I wanted to try kava for a while now. When we walked in there was only 2 other guys there and the bar tender. We told the bar tender it was our first time so he suggested what we should try and do, and we took his advice. Got the bigger size, no flavor add ins. He was nice and very laid back. Later on another bar tender came in and took over and she checked up on us asking if we needed anything and how we liked the kava. She was super nice as well. Very VERY earthy taste. Best way to describe it is dirt water. It's best to chase it. Don't try to savor the taste. It's the feeling you go for, not the taste. The feeling is great. I was sooooooo chill. I sat on their couch where the sunlight washed over through the window and just basked and was very content. My husband and I played scrabble. They have a lot of different board games there. He took the kava that helps you focus and I took the one that makes you chill. Took me like 5-10 min to put anything down on the board due to how chill I felt, hahaha. It's definitely a splurge. Kava ain't super cheap but it makes sense why. I definitely plan on going back again soon! read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Bout to try kava for the first time! - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Lovely staff and lovely customers! Everyone is very chill. It feels like a little slice of Hawaii. Super cute. Obviously it tastes like dirt water but I left feeling like I was on cloud 9! Great alternative for someone who is trying to cut back on alcohol. read more

Pretty cool place and a nice vibe. I like that people who don't drink alcohol or coffee have an option to go to a place like this instead. Not a huge kava fan myself but I like the experience overall. read more

Heard good things about this place, but wasn't exactly sure what it was all about, so when I was walking by over the weekend I decided to pop in. SquareRut serves Kava, which is a beverage made from the roots of a plant native to Polynesia. It has a slightly intoxicating effect, but without the blurriness that comes from alcohol or the dimness that can come from other drugs. From my understanding, it's meant to give you a relaxed, euphoric, yet chilled out experience. I was curious to try, so I got the 12 oz pour. It is very earthy, and not very delicious. But I did feel some light effects afterward - talkativeness, relaxation, slight euphoria. Hard to tell what was actual vs placebo, as they do a great job of telling you what to expect and how it goes. If you're interested in plant or alternative medicine, I'd recommend checking this out. If not, they also have a cute coffee shop and a great area to chill (with board games!) so it's fun for all! read more

One of my friends is a Kava expert and he took me here to try out Kava for my first time. You probably know by now, drinking Kava isn't for the taste, well, unless you like earthy water taste. Here are his suggestions: 1) Don't eat too much beforehand 2) Don't drink alcohol within 24 hours 3) Chug down the first shell, sip on the second shell, wait for 20 mins for the third shell 4) Mix a little bit of Ginger beer help ease the taste The first chug is to numb your tongue, which helps you sipping on the second shell. I can feel the effect within minutes from the first shell, like a mini buzz, that was pretty cool. The place is pretty chillaxing, free wifi and good place to hang out (if you enjoy Kava) read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Mix a little bit of Ginger beer help ease the taste - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

We stumbled upon this spot after browsing Guzu Gallery next door. Having never heard of Kava, we thought we'd check it out. A gal behind the counter explained to us that Kava is a root from the South Pacific and is consumed for its medicinal properties - helping with relaxation of the body and mind. Sure, we were skeptical but who can't use a bit of relaxation? After drinking our first coconut shell of Kava, Waka, our tongues felt numb and I experienced some sort of head change. After the second shell, I felt my body relax. We played cards for a bit and decided to take the third to go. (A "program" usually involves three 4oz shells of kava) I have to admit, I was delightfully surprised by the subtle change I felt in my body. It was.. different. I can't quite pin point the feeling but it sure was an interesting experience. I'll definitely head back and check it out some more. read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

Adam (the radiant Leo that he is) welcomed me very warmly! I love this place and have found my new spot!

The service was great, probably the best thing about this place, Mallory is amazing However I wasn't expecting to get sick along with my boyfriend right afterwards, we both now have a fever from the kava. Not sure if it's from the coconut cups or the lava itself. We do dn't really feel anything other than nausea after chugging 2 servings of the kava and spent a total of $60 read more

I had been wanting to try kava for a while. It helps relax you naturally and is non addictive so I was intrigued. I went tonight and had a great experience. A huge shout out to Davey, who was running the place. He was really informative and so welcoming. If you ever wanted to feel welcome then this is the place. everyone there was engaging in conversation with each other and we did a group toast. The kava has a very earthy flavor but adding the banana cream was totally worth it! They have a 3 kava special, and each one gives you a different vibe. I would come here when you have time to relax, hang out and be social. If you are looking for a good night with fun people this is a great idea! Keep up the good work! read more

10/10 recommend , Try to go on a really nice day, and sit outside ! Have fun and play some games while you're at it

Blown away by the awesomeness of this concept in action! A true gem of a unique experience! I enjoyed kava tea before, but I had to get the full effect of the kava this place serves. They even have 3 different kava variety that have 3 slightly different effects. Amazing! I love it! The place was quiet too and as a person who loves tranquility that only endeared me to the place. Thank you, SquareRut, for making my week! Experiences this novel are hard to come by, so I hope to come back! This is what they call a "Wow" experience! read more

I came here on a Saturday around 2:00 pm and was very disappointed. So many problems: - No food available, aside from some kava chocolate bars. - There were no kava flavors available today. On Saturday? How?? - I took my last kava to-go. D'you know what that looked like? Kava in a Solo cup. No lid. - Atmosphere was so dead and the furniture reminded me of a cafe (that serves food) rather than a lounge. It was an awful vibe. This place is run like they are weeks from closing and can only afford the barest provisions. I would not come here again. read more

So my girlfriend and I were in the neighborhood and walked into this place. We had never heard of kava before, and we decided to be adventerous and try it out. BIG MISTAKE!! my girlfriend had to shit after 2 sips, I'm talking instantenous diarrhea (we call it kava lava). she also felt her heart racing and weird feelings in her muscles. The bartender told us that she gets diarrhea from it too. I felt fine though, the tingling in my mouth felt kind of cool, but later that night I discovered that I had rashes all over my body! FUCK KAVA! we then googled kava and discovered that rashes from kava are common, and it can basically make your skin turn into fish scales flake off, also it can damage your liver so that you need a liver transplant. But seriously guys, read the WebMD for kava, I'm not making this up. To be fair the bar was a nice chill place, and the decorations and coconut cups were pretty cool. The bartender was also really nice, I wouldn't mind going back for coffee or tea. read more

Where to start? Hmmm... I love this place. I love the people. And of course, I love the kava. When I have a headache, am stressed or my sciatica is acting up, I head to the kava bar. After a decidedly more intense day at my manual labor job, I had 4 shells of waka kava last night, and was actually able to stand up straight and walk (not limp) away from my bed this morning. Success! Shelby, Garrett, Davey and Jason are my lovely invaluable kavaristas, I always look forward to whoever happens to be working when I go in. They are extremely helpful, informative, and fun! I no longer drink so sometimes that kava bar replaces that social setting for me as well. My boyfriend and I love to go on a quite night and hunker down on a couch for a long, deep, philosophical conversation. They do have live music sometimes, which can be nice, but sometimes a little too loud for my taste. I personally like the south Congress locations the most, it's closest to my home. But the North Lamar on is convenient from work, and they have an espresso machine, which is almost too much for me to handle. Do I wanna get jacked on coffee, or rooted on kava? Either one, SquareRut is one of my absolute favorite hangouts. read more

I happened to be in the area and couldn't pass up a chance to try the north location out! They have wifi but no TV at this one. Very similar decor as the South location and vibe. It's in a quiet residential neighborhood and parking is tight. I've discovered you can use points earned at the other location at this one ; +1 Kava! Not much to see outside but a parking lot. Someone is smoking an E Cig in here and I'm surprised a smoke alarm hasn't sounded. I've not seen someone do that down south. read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Happy Hour Wednesdays here! - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

Taking Kava in capsule form for awhile now from Whole Foods and when my fiancee's friend mentioned a bar dedicated to the magical root, I said "hey, why the hell not?" Walking into the bar for the first time it was quiet and empty (and a tad odd) but after trying their most popular choice "the program", the dark and quiet was actually extremely relaxing! Lauren, the bartender was extremely informative and attentive. She helped walk us through the process and explained everything in detail with a kind, professional attitude. To all the kava lovers who go to the south location, don't forget about this one! A great place to relax and chill. read more

This place was awesome! The atmosphere was chill and nice, they have a bunch or board game and stuff. The bartender lady was sooo sweet!!!! I can't remeber her name and I wish I did. She had dark brown hair and was so sweet. She explained the whole thing to me and my friends in great detail and was so nice about the fact that we were newbies. I will totally come back just becuase she was so sweet! read more

I give the place itself 4 stars. The atmosphere was great. The staff were nice and the other patrons were fun as well. The kava was so gross!! Lol it taste like dirty water with clay. It did make my mouth a little numb but other than that I don't think I felt any effects. It was fun to try though. Wouldn't do it again haha. read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Waka kava - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

The new growler is just a bonus. (Thank you Groupon) Besides being within a mile from my home, this cool little spot is right next to a game store. My friends and I already have plans to go back and play Munchkins while we hang out. Adam was extremely helpful! Ask him to show you the monkey paw prints on the bamboo!! read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Adam, the kava expert, and my shiny new growler. Cant wait to go back with friends! - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

This was our first time here and in any Kava bar so we weren't sure what to expect. Jason was great! He explained everything from how it is made to what to expect from each shell. He made it a great experience! All the other patrons were very friendly and helped us along in learning about kava. We will definitely come back for the kava and Jason! read more

SquareRüt Kava Bar - Lounges Near Me - Austin, Texas

Service: Ballin! I spoke to Shelby who was like a kava genius and explained everything really thoroughly. Once we got to the Kava bar, Lauren was so helpful in explaining everything to us, and was so friendly and nice the whole time we were there. Lauren is why I want to give this place 5 stars!! Atmosphere: This place is like a bar meets a coffee shop meets the Domain. It's not a super cozy space but it's not stiff, it's just nothing really to write home about. Maybe a little reminiscent of Islands, at least I think that's what they were going for. Kava: So basically Kava tastes like dirt water. We tried the chocolate mint flavor and the orange spice flavor after the first one grossed us out, but they were not enough to mask that we were essentially drinking dirt water. Lauren encouraged us to have the kava because she said people usually drink it not for the flavor but for the effect it has on mood. We got the program of three drinks and although Lauren was fantastic in explaining what each one was supposed to be like, neither my boyfriend nor I experienced any effects. We felt the same as before. Conclusion: Maybe kava is like Tinkerbell - you have to believe! But I am not a believer, and we will not be back. read more

Stumbled into here looking for a coffee shop/cafe type of place to sit down and read for a bit. I'd never heard of Kava before. The guy that served the drinks gave a good breakdown on everything. The taste didn't bother me all , but might be a bit much for some people (people there described it as potato water or dirt water). They can add in flavors to make it more drinkable if needed. To me, it was more of an anti-coffee drink. I was alert, yet very relaxed. I walked in with my leg bothering me a little from the jogging I had done all week. This drink alleviated that pain. I'd say check it out, and do so with a friend. It's an experience and hope to go back again soon. read more

One of my favorite places in all of Austin. Super relaxed and peaceful vibes, a great escape from the outside world. Lauren is awesome, always super positive and great to talk too, really adds to the experience. read more

I was super excited to visit here because it was highly recommended, however this was my first time ever going to a Kava bar and I made that known to the bartender. I told her I wasn't from here and I e had Kava tea bags and Kava extract at home, she gave me 3 options and explained nothing on the menu not how anything worked. I read the wall in my own drank my glass of Kava, a guy came in and got a shell I asked what was that her response was "the same thing you have" and walked back to her corner. Another guest walked in and she became quite the chatter box asking how was his day and so on....I gave two stars because the Kava was good but it definitely tainted my experience as a first time visitor. read more

Friendly staff and fun atmosphere. Kava tastes like pencil shavings but that is hardly their fault.

Honestly, I've only had Kava this one time, and I don't think it's for me. My review is about the place and experience. The guy working was extremely friendly and helpful. He explained everything to us and walked us through the whole process. The place itself was clean and well lit. If you every wanted to try kava, I'd recommend this place. read more

Really enjoyed my first time here! The bartender was super nice, friendly and knowledgeable. The kava itself was interesting and I will definitely try it again. I also really liked the atmosphere. Great place! read more

Great experience :) adam was super friendly and knowledgable...amazing service!! Great chill atmosphere. The Kava was delicious. Very relaxing. Would definitely come back here :) read more

I love this place! And this location has the kavaritas now too!! Lauren and Jess are my favs! Lauren is the Kavarista I typically see at this location and she's amazing! Very nice and very helpful with the new people! I'd say I've come to square rut like 4-5 times a week since I discovered them about 8 months ago! I highly recommend this place! read more

I hadn't been to a Kava bar in a while and my friend hadn't ever, but after a gruesome exam and day at work, we headed there. Loved how well Jason explained the whole process & what the effects were beforehand. He was really knowledgeable, casual and friendly which was awesome because I don't think I had ever had anyone really explain it all to me before. Overall, it's a great place with a very relaxed, casual vibe to it. You've gotta try it at least once! :) read more

Good product, not so good service. I left Kava Bar with a high that was quickly lost when I noticed I was overcharged on my order. As a first timer, I was recommended the program special, which I enjoyed. The price was about $10, yet I was charged twice that amount. After having called the North Lamar location twice, the manager has yet to respond to my dispute. Supposedly there isn't even a manager on duty....ever. I've pretty much experienced what my colleagues who have recommended this place to me have, which is, the experience of taking the kava is enjoyable (if you can get past the boo boo taste), but the service here really needs to be revamped. During my experience I dealt with one female barista who was welcoming, but she was replaced by a male barista who seemed aloof and irritated when my friends and I would order. For a place where relaxation and sociability are promoted, this place is quite lacking. Highly dissatisfied customer, S read more

Lauren is amazing. So happy to have a great bar tender to complete my kava experience. Thank you Lauren for the great service.

The last time I was in town I went to the other location and had a way better experience which is probably why I'm only giving this one 3 stars. I brought my friend this time so she could experience Kava since she has heard about it from several of her friends. The guy working wasn't great. I was hoping that he would describe kava and walk us through the process. He didn't. The most we got was that we needed to get the package where we would get 3 cups to try. I didn't feel like we were informed exactly of what we were getting, how much we were spending or anything but we went for it because it didn't seem like he was going to give up much information. He seemed to be more involved playing a game with some regulars or friends than helping anyone else. We got our 1st cup and sat down. The kava was good, I like the tingly feeling in my mouth but I wish I knew more about each cup that we were given so I knew what to expect from each one. I find kava fascinating so I really wanted more information. We got our 3 cups and then left. It just wasn't the best experience. We just didn't feel cool enough to be in there. read more

Tried this place because it's down the street from our house rental while visiting Austin. It's a really relaxed, cozy atmosphere and there are games available for guests. The actual kava was pretty interesting...sort of tastes like earthy cold tea. It made my mouth numb and was pretty relaxing! Fun to try for sure. read more

The service and atmosphere is great. The female employee was extremely nice, informative and pleasant. The effect of the root are as stated but be warned, this stuff tastes horrible! The lemonade was much more palatable but requires a larger amount to get the desired effect. read more

I think I would've enjoyed it more if our server's explanation wasn't so awkward. I didn't feel like a customer, but like a kid waiting for mommy to stop complaining about daddy to get a juice box and some goldfish. I'm not there to hear your life story. I did however like the subtle effects of the drink, even though it tasted like dirt water. My friend even said it helped her sleep. read more