Park Hill is getting a new kind of night spot on Colfax, and this one will keep the buzz but skip the booze. Denver Cafe and Kava is moving into the corner space at 5501 E Colfax Ave, planning a nonalcoholic bar and café that pairs kava with coffee, mocktails, and family tea recipes. The owners say they want it to be a true zero-proof hangout, a place to socialize without any pressure to drink alcohol, and they are aiming for a late-March opening.
According to WhatNow, the founding crew includes Kevin Bloom, Elizabeth Leung, Cam Webbe, Jayden MacDonald, and Jack Kestian, a group of friends who met at Golden Kava Lounge. WhatNow reports that they got the keys in October and have been chronicling the buildout on their Instagram page ever since.
Business filing and site details
Public records compiled by OpenGov list Denver Cafe and Kava LLC with Elizabeth Leung as the registered agent, confirming the venture is formally set up on paper. The corner storefront at 5501 E Colfax appears in commercial property listings as a white-boxed restaurant space, giving the new business a high-visibility Colfax address to customize. CommercialCafe notes that the listing was updated in early February.
Menu and community pitch
The team says the cafe will serve familiar café staples like classic coffees and zero-proof mocktails alongside Chinese and Vietnamese tea blends inspired by family recipes, with kava positioned as the signature offering. They are pitching the spot as a gentle introduction for people who are curious about kava, combining a standard coffee-shop rhythm with community-oriented events such as open-mic nights and vendor markets.
How kava fits into Denver
Kava is a root-based plant from the Pacific Islands whose traditional preparation can have calming effects, and it has carved out a niche in Colorado’s growing zero-proof scene. Local coverage and directory listings point to several kava-focused outlets in the region, including Golden Kava Lounge in nearby Golden, suggesting there is already a built-in audience for the drink, as noted by Westword and Kavawiki.
What to expect next
The owners are still circling a late-March opening date, according to WhatNow. Those watching the timeline, or just curious about how a white-boxed corner turns into a kava cafe, can follow along via buildout photos and updates on their Instagram.
