Miamians love to go out and socialize. But that often means spending hundred of dollars at clubs and expensive lounges.
Restaurateur Giancarlo Rodriguez has an alternative that still allows people to be social yet have an alcohol-free evening with friends. When it opens, Pink Gorilla Kava will offer gourmet coffee drinks in the mornings, and kava drinks in the evenings in a cool setting that feels welcoming for everyone.
The bar, scheduled to at 340 West Flagler Street by April 2026, will offer kava, a drink made from the root of the kava plant, found mainly in the South Pacific. The root is ground up and mixed with filtered water to make a beverage. Kavalactones in the drink are said to help people with insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression, and ADHD. Like alcohol, kava can help people relax. Unlike alcohol, you likely won’t experience massive hangovers after indulging in an evening of kava.
Rodriguez says that there’s already a loyal community of kava drinkers in Miami, but he wants to invite everyone into Pink Gorilla to experience kava. “The kava community is fantastic, but our approach is to make sure we can get people outside of our community. Come and enjoy a great specialty coffee, ceremonial matcha, or a latte in this beautiful space we’ve created. Then try some kava.”
For Miamians seeking an alternative to the club scene, the Pink Gorilla (his name is Conor, by the way), is centrally located and adjacent to Brickell’s nightlife. Rodriguez says Pink Gorilla is the perfect way to spend the evening. “We’re social creatures. Everyone wants to socialize, but we don’t have to drink alcohol. That’s why kava bars are great — you’re at a bar, you’re with your friends, you have a drink in your hand, and you’re feeling good about everything.”
