Lei Kava Cafe - Kava Bar Experience

Lei kava is my favorite kava bar! I’ve been to a wide variety of different kava spots but lei always provides the perfect atmosphere with the greatest service and the selection of drinks and mixes are endless! Sofia and Ryan are excellent tea tenders and they always make sure everyone is taken care of and feeling good! Sofia always makes sure me and my friends have a full stomach and have been drinking plenty of water to ensure the best outcome and results while enjoying our kava and kratom! If you haven’t gotten the chance to stop in I highly recommend it! The white rabbits and slushes are to die for!

I had a really bad experience at Lei Kava, and I feel compelled to share it. My boyfriend ordered a drink, and the bartender, Sofia, didn’t mention that it could make him dizzy. Unfortunately, he ended up feeling extremely unwell and was throwing up for 30 minutes straight. It's crucial for bartenders to inform guests about potential effects, especially when it comes to kratom. We were really disappointed with the lack of communication and care. This could have been avoided if they had just given us a heads-up. I won’t be coming back, and I hope they take this feedback seriously for the sake of other customers.

I recently tried Lei Kava and was really looking forward to it, but I have to say, I was quite disappointed. The drink just didn't live up to the hype—there was an odd taste that I couldn't quite place, and it felt more like a chore to finish than an enjoyable experience. To make matters worse, I found it to be overpriced for what it was. I expected something special given the cost, but it definitely didn't deliver. Overall, I wouldn't recommend Lei Kava; there are much better options out there for a refreshing drink. Save your money!

All it takes to please me is a drink of my choosing and a quiet area to read or work on CAD. I don’t like to get in people’s way and, typically, they don’t get in mine. I also don’t like leaving one star reviews (and this is not for Ryan, Joe, Sofia, or the two new folks who seem decent). Gabe and his dog is also great. But I feel that the service on my last (and final) visit was exceptionally bad. All of it delivered with a self-aggrandizing smirk. I’ve heard customers bad talked behind their back, other Lei colleagues, and finally heard about a buddy of mine who was accused of something he did not do. The accusation is so laughably dumb (and costly for the company). Simple statistics tells me that a customer who spends maybe 800 to a grand a month isn’t your culprit of theft. Common sense tells me that if you disseminate that this person is a thief to other customers versus confront him and say “hey, good to see ya. You forgot to pay for something” that you will likely keep that customer forever and they will pay you (keep in mind this person liked and trusted EVERY ONE of the employees prior). Starting a fight and spreading gossip about a regular of a business that relies on regulars is mind bogglingly dumb, that’s just common sense. Ultimately, I truly hope Lei outlasts this phase and holds the right employees accountable. If you are not going to hold unique events or advertise like the other bars (and charge 20 to 30 percent more than they do on your drinks), then the best course of action will be to treat your regulars who don’t cause problems with respect. Massage their feet and lather them with chocolate if you must, but by God, gossip is a universally hated form of smallness. That’s the last thing you want in an industry where word spreads almost instantly. Please take notice and fix the problem, and I wish the bar and the owners well. Even the employee (which I shall not name) with the severe attitude problem hopefully does well.

This is my opinion and first hand experience on Lei Kava: Please note that I’ve found that the reputation of the ownership and management (within the kava community) precedes them, and accurately as well. So I will not comment on that matter. However, I will say that ownership is known to retaliates against former employees when they seek employment within the industry after leaving lei. Beverage, Drinks, and food: They have decent slushies and shots, although they’re quite overpriced. When it comes to botanical teas (such as their house brews), they’re uninspired. It’s your standard “pick your vein, and which syrups you want”. Other bars offer unique kratom and kava cocktails that look and sound as good as they taste. Lei does offer a considerable variety when it comes to syrups..yet what they gain in variety, they lose in attention and appeal. Of all the kava bars I’ve been to, the Lei menu is the least inspired. For example, at other bars you can get an Apple-tini kratom cocktail, but at lei you’ll get (at best) a mason jar with only a thin veneer of flavor masking an overwhelmingly bitter kratom taste. The do offer the most food of any kava bar in the area. By food, I do mean snacks (protein bars, chips, candy, and frozen pretzels with packaged cheese product), however it’s an appreciated offering when hunger strikes and you’re not quite ready to leave. Vibes and atmosphere: The vibe is predominantly attributable to the people who go there (as is with all kava bars). The quality of your stay is dependent on the customers in attendance and the kavatender behind the bar. I say this because I find the decor to be a bit tacky. However, there’s ample seating and 2 bathrooms (rare among kava bars) which is a big plus. Employees (non-managerial) The actual employees who deliver leis true value are incredible. Joe, Ryan, annd Sofia are the only pieces of the business that directly deliver value. Ryan and Joe can be successful anywhere, delivering unparalleled customer service. Events and Games: The events were once great. However, the old hosts stopped coming (opting in for other bars) and they haven’t changed or revamped their events since opening. As a result they’re not incredibly exciting. They have a pool table that converts to a ping pong table, which is nice. However, the queue is often so large youre unlikely to play within the hour. When your time does come, it won’t be against your chosen opponent (a friend or partner), you’ll be playing against whoever won the preceding game. This kind of “winner stays” is common and I don’t mind it, the problem lies in the fact that there aren’t enough facilities to play at. There is a dart board and the pool table, that is the extent. Lastly, they have many TVs, but the TV is often occupied and muted (as the music tends to be too loud). Conclusion: All in all, this place has its pros and cons. As far as the experience, the kava community and the kavatenders are great. I hope to have given you enough information to make your own judgement. However, my opinion (1 star rating) and first hand experience with management and ownership was so negative that I cannot recommend this establishment. I do recommend cycling between different kava bars regularly because I believe there are much better options, but Lei can be very nice in moderation.