The newest addition to Olympia’s westside is Bula Bar, a cafe providing classic options like tea and coffee alongside kava. The owner, Daniel Douglas, decided to include kava in his cafe’s selection because of the time he spent in Florida, where kava bars were integral to helping him make friends and find purpose. So, upon returning to Olympia, bringing back that part of the culture felt natural to him.
Although kava is a non-alcoholic beverage, people often reach a similar buzz to light drinking. A root steeped in tea, kava is a drink mainly consumed in Pacific Islander culture for the mellow effects it offers. “In a proper kava ceremony, families would sit down in a circle and drink kava before dinner,” explains Danile. “They would get the euphoric, relaxing feeling, spend time with their family, and then eat and go to bed.”
For him personally, kava was a way to socialize without the pressure to drink alcohol or go out to a bar, and he mentions having met some of his closest friends at kava bars in St. Petersburg, Florida.
The benefits Daniel found from kava bars are what compelled him to establish the concept in Olympia as well. “When I moved back, I used to tell myself that the two things Olympia needs are more sober spaces and more sunshine,” he shares. “And I mean, you can’t control the weather, so let’s do this.”
There aren’t too many third spaces for people of all ages to utilize especially on the westside of Olympia, so he felt strongly about adding to this particular area. Additionally, being a Capital High School graduate himself, there’s a lot of nostalgia attached to the complex where Bula Bar is located, so it was a no-brainer to open up shop there.
The Intent Behind Olympia’s New Kava Bar
Seeing how many of the main activities in Olympia are concentrated on a specific age range, Daniel noticed there was little to do for people between the ages of 18-21. At Bula Bar, he wanted to cultivate a space that is welcome to people of all ages, while still having a structure in place for different age groups to enjoy themselves. For example, the cafe is limited to 18+ after 8 p.m., unless accompanied by a parent, so that adults have the freedom to be adults, but Daniel emphasizes how there isn’t a specific age group they’re targeting. The purpose is to truly provide an open area for everyone, and a diverse set of customers have already walked through their doors in the weeks they’ve been open. It is meant to serve all generations, so both parents and students can get work done, or grandparents can enjoy a cup of coffee while still getting in quality family time.
“We have so many people who aren’t drinking alcohol anymore and those people don’t really have traditional, laid-back spots to go to, so the goal is to emulate that,” Daniel describes. By including kava in the cafe’s offerings, Daniel hopes to offer a space for genuine conversation and friendly interactions to take place so that people don’t need to rely on just alcohol as an option.
What’s in Store for Bula Bar
Already, the cafe almost always has something going on during the week. While Tuesdays are reserved for open mics, where people can bring a piece of poetry or music to share, they have an extensive boardgame collection available at all times, and fun events like karaoke and trivia on other days. The weekends are left empty for open access to the cafe. Bula Bar aims to offer the opportunity for artists to share their work with the community as well, so they are booking groups on Fridays. For those interested in scheduling a show, there is an inquiry form on their website.
There’s only a select number of dedicated kava bars operating around Washington, Bula Bar in Olympia now among them, so Daniel has been pleasantly surprised by the number of people already familiar with kava.
Typically, people haven’t been exposed to the concept and application of kava, so Daniel will give a brief spiel on the experience and light but noticeable after effects. If you’re interested in learning more about the drink, Bula Bar is open every day of the week, from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. on weekdays and even later on the weekends.
Bula Bar
3225 Harrison Ave NW STE D, Olympia
