Root City

Fun and friendly Kava bar. Beautifully crafted affordable drinks. Great atmosphere with tons of fun free analog and video games. Fast and friendly service. Easygoing and kind patrons. Perfect place to hang with a friend, meet new people, or spend time by yourself relaxing or getting work done. Check out their specials and event nights. Highly recommend.

Nick and Megan did a spectacular job renovating this building, and building a community gathering place in downtown Baltimore. Their kava is fresh and strong, and it all comes from Vanuatu. The bar area comfortably seats 8 people, plus 13 more at the high tops near the bar. They have a variety of flavors and drinks of different strengths on the menu, and they also sell food! Very important if you drink kava frequently. The owners also take a lot of time thinking about ways to bring the local community into the space. There’s stand-up comedy shows, open mic nights, group yoga, and more… there’s always something going on. If you’re looking to try kava in a comfortable and relaxed setting in the DMV to have some good kava, this is the place. Bula!

What a gem! Stunning building, friendly and knowledgeable team, and tasty kava. My friends and I were too late for the cafe, but the 2nd floor kava bar/lounge and 3rd floor kava bar and game room was plentiful. This team shared the ethical practices of harvesting the kava root, and the culture of kava with us, they even went as far as to make sure you didn’t have a shell alone (part of the practice)! Root City Kava is a hidden gem for now, but it won’t be for long so if you want to say “we saw them first” get there now!

I visited this newly opened lounge and it was impressive 🥳 the atmosphere is relaxing, fun, cozy, and warm. Staff made sure the customers were satisfied with their experience. Staff was receptive to feedback. The only reason I gave a 3 for the food was due to the lack of vegan options. Per staff, vegan options are in the works. I was able to try the falafel and it was okay. I would visit this lounge again once more food options are available.

I had the chance to visit the newly opened coffee house in Mount Vernon and was actually the second customer through the door. So far, I’m really impressed. I only grabbed a cup of coffee, but I explored all the floors—and the decor and unique concepts on each level definitely make this place stand out. It’s a fresh, exciting addition to the neighborhood that’s well worth checking out. Can’t wait to come back on a Sunday and hang out playing video games!"