How To Drink Kava In Vanuatu (Where To Go + What To Expect)
Kava is one of those things you should try in Vanuatu even if the first sip makes you question every decision that led you there. It tastes like bitter muddy pepper water. Your lips tingle. You sit there for a while wondering if anything is actually happening.
Most of my kava experiences have been like that: one or two shells, relaxed chat, a bit of numbness, and a mild sense of is this doing something? Last time I had four shells and could barely feel my legs, so yes, it does work. Lesson learned.
But I am not an expert. I am a tourist who has been to Vanuatu four times, drunk it a bit, made a few faces, and slowly realised the drink is only half the point. Kava is one of the places where Vanuatu comes together: locals, expats, tourists, workers finishing the day, everyone slowing down in the same dimly lit space.
Table of Contents
The Short Version
For your first kava in Port Vila, I would start at Kava Lounge in town. For a better local-feeling session, go to Sano’s Nakamal down by Pango.
Kava Lounge is the easy tourist answer: approachable, central enough, washmouth and kakae nearby, and no big mystery about how the whole thing works. Sano’s is the one I would go to if you want a stronger nakamal experience without making it too complicated.
I would not start with a random roadside seller unless you are with someone local who knows what they are buying. Nakamals are easier, more social, and much less awkward for a first go.
Order one shell to start. Drink it quickly, rinse the shell at the washemout station, buy some washmouth or kakae if you need a snack, sit down, and wait. Do not immediately order four because you think nothing is happening. That is how you end up politely attached to your chair.
My simple first-night plan would be: keep dinner loose, go for kava around 4:30 or 5pm, have one shell, sit for a while, then decide whether you want another. After that, go eat properly.
What Is Kava?
Kava is made from the root of the kava plant, mixed with water, then served in a shell or small bowl. Vanuatu Tourism describes it as a traditional drink used for its calming effects and social role, usually drunk at a nakamal in the evening.
It is not alcohol. It can make you feel calm, heavy, talkative, quiet, sleepy, floaty, or all of those in a slightly confusing order, but it is not the same social energy as beer. If anything, kava is the opposite of a big night out.
The Cultural Side
The thing I like most about kava is the pause it creates. People speak softer. The lights are lower. The day slows down. You drink, sit, snack, chat, and eventually realise the whole island has shifted into first gear.
In more local or hosted settings, there may also be a small ritual side to it. You might be told to face the sunset, tip a little kava onto the ground, or say a local phrase before drinking. I would be wary of any one-size-fits-all Bislama phrase here, because customs vary by island, village, family and nakamal.
So the simple tourist rule is: watch, ask, and follow the person hosting you. If they show you a ritual, do it respectfully. If they just hand you a shell and point you toward a bench, that is fine too. The point is not theatre. It is respect, connection, and being part of the evening without making yourself the main event.
Where I Would Drink Kava In Port Vila
There are plenty of nakamals around Port Vila, and everyone seems to have an opinion on the best one. I have not scientifically audited the city. I would just give you two practical picks.
Kava Lounge: Best First Shell
Kava Lounge is the place I would send most tourists first. Not because it is the most raw, tucked-away kava experience on Efate. Because it is easy.
And easy is good when you are trying something that looks like puddle water and makes your mouth go numb.
The current listing has kava and washmouth from 3:30pm every day, plus a cafe open for lunch Monday to Saturday. It is also a good bridge between tourist Port Vila and actual nakamal culture: relaxed enough to feel comfortable, but still centred around the kava.
If you are nervous about going solo, you can also ease into local food, markets and kava on a guided Port Vila food tour. I would still do a proper nakamal afterwards, but it is a good first nudge.
Sano’s Nakamal, Pango: My Stronger Pick
For a more proper session, I would go to Sano’s Nakamal down by Pango. It is listed on Pango Road next to Surf Side, open daily from 4pm to 11pm, with three kava windows and Mamas selling washmouth.
That is exactly the kind of setup I like: not too polished, plenty of space, snacks close by, and a proper after-work feel.
If you are staying around Pango, Paradise Cove, Erakor, Nasama, or doing a scooter/car day on that side of town, it makes much more sense than dragging yourself back into central Port Vila just to drink kava.
Tip: Pair Sano’s with a Pango afternoon: beach, sunset, kava, then dinner somewhere simple. If you are driving or riding, be sensible with how many shells you have. Better yet, sort your transport first. My Vanuatu transport guide has the practical bus/taxi/car details.
How To Order And Drink Kava
The basic process is simple. Walk up to the kava window, order a shell, pay cash, take the shell, drink it, rinse the shell, then sit down somewhere quiet.
- Start with one shell if it is your first time.
- Drink it in one go if you can. The taste does not improve with inspection.
- Use the washemout station after you drink. This is usually a long trough with taps where you rinse the shell before putting it back.
- Buy washmouth or kakae between shells if you want something to take the dirt-pepper flavour out of your mouth.
- Wait 15-30 minutes before ordering another shell.
- Keep your voice down and read the room. Nakamals are social, but usually not loud.
Some places have weak, medium and strong options. Some just have whatever they made that day. If you are unsure, just say it is your first time and ask for a normal shell.
What Are Washmouth, Kakae And The Washemout Station?
This confused me at first, so here is the useful version. After you drink your shell, you normally step over to the washemout station: the long trough with taps where you rinse the shell before putting it back.
Then, if your mouth is still trying to process what just happened, you buy washmouth. You will also see it written as washem maot or washemout. It usually means the fruit, sweets, cordial, snacks or BBQ bits sold nearby to help get the kava taste out of your mouth.
If you want a proper little meal, listen for kakae. That is food. At a good nakamal you can have a shell, rinse it, grab some washmouth or kakae from the Mamas, sit down, someone laughs at your face, and suddenly you are part of the evening instead of watching it from the edge.
What Kava Feels Like
The first thing I usually notice is the lip and tongue tingling. It can feel like a dentist has done half a job and then wandered off.
After that, it depends. One or two shells might just make you feel calm and a bit floaty. You may wonder if it is doing anything at all, then realise you have been happily sitting in the same spot for 40 minutes doing absolutely nothing.
Kava strength varies a lot. Fresh Vanuatu kava can feel much stronger than the dried-powder style many travellers associate with Fiji, so start gently and give each shell time.
Do Not Mix Kava And Alcohol
Heads up: Do not mix kava with alcohol. NCCIH warns that kava should not be used together with substances that have sedative effects, including alcohol. It is also rough on the body and can make the whole evening go sideways.
In practice, most people I saw either did not drink alcohol at all, or they had one or two beers after the kava session was done. Kava first. Sit down. See how you feel. Then decide whether you even want a beer later.
A Few Etiquette Notes
Kava etiquette is not as intimidating as it sounds. The main thing is to be respectful, quiet-ish, and aware that this is not just a tourist drink.
- Do not barge in loudly like you are arriving at a pub.
- Ask before taking close-up photos of people.
- Have cash ready.
- If someone helps you order, say thanks and do not make a big performance of being confused.
- Use the washemout station and buy washmouth if you need it, but do not act like the kava is disgusting in front of the person who just served it to you. Even if your face disagrees.
The best kava sessions feel wonderfully ordinary. People come in after work, sit around, talk, go quiet, snack, drift in and out. It is not a show. That is why you should do it.
My Final Take
If you are in Vanuatu, drink kava at least once. Not because it tastes good. It does not. Drink it because it is one of the easiest ways to understand the pace and social life of the place.
Start at Kava Lounge if you want the gentle tourist version. Go to Sano’s in Pango if you want the better local-feeling version. Have one shell, maybe two, and wait before getting ambitious.
Simple as that.
Vanuatu Travel Planning Cheatsheet
🚑 Should I buy travel insurance for Vanuatu?
100% YES! — Vanuatu’s healthcare system faces challenges, with limited hospital and medical facilities, and treatment costs, including pharmaceuticals, being expensive, often requiring immediate cash payment.
If anything serious happens to you, medical evacuation may be the only option and that’s EXPENSIVE.
If you DO get insurance, also be aware many policies won’t cover adventure activities like diving, climbing active volcanos, or scooter riding (as it’s a high risk activity)!
(that’s right, check the t&c’s)
I highly recommend World Nomads as you can get specific add-ons for these activities (Which are some of the main reasons I went to Vanuatu!)
🎫 Do I need a visa for Vanuatu?
Probably not! Many countries are entitled to 30 day tourist ‘visa on arrival’. However, some other countries do need a pre-approved Visa. Check the list of Visa exempt countries here
💉Do I need any vaccinations for Vanuatu?
YES! Make sure you are up-to-date with all your vaccines. Common travel vaccines include Hep A/B + Typhoid, and Diphtheria + Tetanus.
As always, talk to your GP or specialized travel doctor a few weeks BEFORE you leave.
💸How do you pay for things in Vanuatu?
Cash is king in Vanuatu, but electronic payments have come a long way. You’ll want to get some folding tender out from an ATM when you land.
Generally, street food stalls, mum-and-dad shops and small businesses will only take cash, whereas larger bars, restaurants, hotels and resorts will be perfectly happy taking card.
I personally use a Wise debit card for all my international money needs as they only convert the funds when you make a payment, plus they offer a much better spread (margin on the true exchange rate) than the banks do. They work in all the ATMs I tried (although the ATMs do charge a fee of 700VUV to withdraw from a foreign card – around $6 USD) which is annoying but unavoidable. Taking out larger sums at once will minimise the hit.
🚌 What’s the public transport like in Vanuatu?
In short – basic!
Local buses are just dudes in minivans who operate in the grey area between a bus and a taxi. Get in, say where you’re going and they’ll take you as far as they want, provided there are enough other people on board to make the trip worthwhile.
Domestic flights from Port Vila to the outer islands are irregular and unreliable. Even more so since Air Vanuatu went into receivership.
Unfortunately, hiring a car is your most effective way to get around, but it’s waay overpriced for what you get.
📲 How do I get internet/data/wifi in Vanuatu?
Prepaid SIM cards are cheap and available to tourists and locals alike (You don’t need a pricey tourist SIM!) but they can be a little hard to come by. Your best bet is actually to buy a Vodafone or Digicell SIM at the Airport – yep, I can’t believe I’m saying that!). The sales assistant will get the SIM all set up and activated for you.
Another (better) option is the Saily eSIM. This is a little more expensive but works from the moment you land is is SOOOOO much easier than the in person verification process required for a local sim.
TIP: I used to use Airalo but now find Saily a much better product – you can get 5% off with code SPECIAL5
✈️ What’s the best site to buy flights to Vanuatu?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Skyscanner. Once you find the flight you’re looking for, I’d then suggest booking directly with the carrier (even if it costs a few $$ more than with one of the aggregators/agencies).
💧Can you drink the water in Vanuatu?
Safest not to — tap water in Vanuatu may be OK (the locals drink it) but is generally untreated and not recommended for tourists. Purchase bottled water for drinking and teeth brushing, or get water purification tablets.
I always use these Aquatabs and also recommend a Brita Water Bottle for as some of the tab water wasn’t exactly clear either!
