6 Kava Bars in Chicago, IL

This is the city-level kava guide for Chicago, IL, pulled from Downtown Dry's national kava bar directory. Kava bars serve kava, a traditional Pacific Island drink made from the root of the Piper methysticum plant, plus kratom teas and other botanical drinks, in a relaxed alcohol-free setting. If you have never been to one, our guide to what a kava bar is covers ordering, etiquette, and what it feels like; the science behind kava covers the pharmacology and safety.

Kava affects your central nervous system and your liver processes it. Do not drive after drinking it, do not mix it with alcohol or medications without checking with your doctor, and skip it entirely if you are pregnant, nursing, have a liver condition, or take prescription sedatives. The CDC issued a warning about rising kava-related reports in April 2026, and the FDA does not classify kava as generally recognized as safe. That context matters, and it is why we list honest risk information on every kava page rather than treating kava as a lifestyle product.