Old City Kava Co. is betting that Philadelphia is ready for a different kind of night out. The new Old City spot is a day-to-night, alcohol-free cafe and lounge that aims to land somewhere between a laptop-friendly coffee shop and a low-key bar, offering a bright workspace by day and a dimmer, conversation-first hangout at night with events and botanical drinks.
The concept was recently featured in PHL17’s Positively Philly series, which described Old City Kava Co. as "a space in between coffee shops and bars" for people who want to relax and socialize without drinking. The segment highlighted the owners’ early plans and programming for the space, according to PHL17.
On its website, Old City Kava Co. lists its address as 40 S. 2nd St. and bills itself as a "day-to-night cafe & non-alcoholic bar" that pours coffee, kava, botanical teas, kombucha and a rotating menu of alcohol-free cocktails. The site also keeps an updated schedule of hours and late-night events, along with a calendar for bookings and special programming, according to Old City Kava Co..
Where It Fits In Philly's Sober Curious Scene
Old City Kava Co. is stepping into a niche that local pioneers have already started to carve out. Jaya Kava pop-ups and Lightbox Cafe’s early kava program helped introduce Philadelphia drinkers to kava as an alcohol-free social option, and the new Old City lounge joins that small but growing scene.
Local reporting has tracked how kava bars are surfacing as part of a broader sober-curious wave in the city, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
National directories show the same trend on a larger scale, with listings of kava bars expanding alongside other sober-focused social spaces, according to Kalm With Kava.
Health And Safety Notes
Kava is popular for its calming, social effects, but federal and medical experts have also flagged safety questions after rare reports of liver injury linked to some kava products.
The Food and Drug Administration has previously issued consumer advisories about supplements that contain kava, according to the FDA.
Health publications also warn that kava can interact with certain medications and may pose liver risks for some users, according to WebMD.
Old City Kava Co. plans a steady stream of programming, from "sip & learn" educational sessions to acoustic nights, and directs visitors to its website for the latest calendar and reservations. The tagline on its homepage sums up the pitch to Philly’s sober and sober-curious crowds: "No Booze, All Vibes," according to Old City Kava Co..
