Place · Kolonia main street
Sakau (kava) market and bars
Sakau is Pohnpei's traditional drink: watch it pounded and served in town, try a small cup only when a host offers, and skip it if you take medication, are pregnant or will drive.
- Traditional drink
- With a host
- Evening
- Go late afternoon, with a host
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Cards are accepted at few places
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Micronesia ↗Micronesia runs on a handful of weekly flights, so one cancellation can cost several days: build slack into every connection between islands.
- Federated States of Micronesia ↗Entry rules are set by the FSM government, and each state also checks arrivals: confirm the rules for your passport with FSM immigration or an FSM embassy before booking.
- Federated States of Micronesia ↗The Chuuk Lagoon wrecks are protected war graves and historic sites: removing anything is prohibited, and a dive permit is required.
- Federated States of Micronesia ↗Land and reefs are owned by families and clans: ask permission and pay fees to visit sites, beaches or villages, especially in Yap.
- Pohnpei ↗Sites and reefs belong to families and clans: ask permission and pay any fee before you go in.
- Kolonia ↗Cards are accepted at few places: carry US dollars in small notes for taxis, guides, site fees and meals.
- Kolonia ↗Rain falls most days and can flood tracks and low roads: keep a covered plan for every outdoor stop.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Go late afternoon, with a host
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun · busiest Fri, Sat · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: US$1–3 (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 45–75 min · up to 120 min if you linger
Best time to go
Fuller from late afternoon into the evening.
By weekday: quietest Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sun, busiest Fri, Sat.
Opening hours
- Note
- Sakau bars run informal hours, mostly from late afternoon; ask your hotel where to go and which bars welcome visitors.
- Hours note
- Informal; mostly late afternoon into evening (check).
Which month is quietest
- Janlight
- Feblight
- Marlight
- Aprlight
- Maylight
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Seplight
- Octlight
- Novlight
- Declight
Crowds barely change through the year here; pick the month for the weather, not the queue.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season and weekday patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Walk or taxi to the sakau bar your hotel names
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- Not recorded
- Shoes
- Shoes or sandals.
Accessibility
- Check firstStep-free entrance
- NoLifts
- Check firstAccessible toilet
- Check firstWheelchair
- NoStroller · poor
Sensory load
- Sensory load3/5 Medium
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Clothing that meets the dress rule · Modest: cover thighs and shoulders.
- Footwear that suits the rule · Shoes or sandals.
- A small bag · Keep valuables at the hotel.
- Modest: cover thighs and shoulders.
- Keep valuables at the hotel.
- Ask each person; some do not want to be photographed.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- rain: The bar is under cover; or the nearest cafe
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Market shade and seats (field-verify)
Problem
Red lines
- Drink only when a host invites you and follow their lead: sakau has customs, including who drinks first.
- Do not photograph people drinking without asking.
- Do not drive or take a boat after drinking.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- Sakau is made from the pounded root of a pepper plant and tastes earthy and numbs the mouth; it is not alcohol but it is mildly sedating.
- Kava can interact with medicines and affect the liver: do not drink it if you take medication, have liver disease or are pregnant.
- A small cup is enough for a first try; wait to see how you feel.
- Take a taxi home, and book it before you go.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Dress code
- Modest: cover thighs and shoulders.
- Bags & lockers
- Keep valuables at the hotel.
- Photos
- Ask each person; some do not want to be photographed.
- What's closed
- SundayscheckSome bars close or keep short hours.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A cup of sakau | US$1–3 (2026 estimate) | Ask the price first; prices vary by bar and strength. |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
30min
Worthwhile
45min
Typical
75min
p95
120min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (75 min).
With the other 15 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Kolonia town market6 min on foot · 9 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: check · check
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: check · check
- Stroller: no · nopoor
Simple open-sided huts, some with steps.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Culture and history travellers | good | A living custom central to Pohnpei life. |
| Travellers on medication or driving | poor | Not advised. |
Skip it if
- You take medication or have liver problems.
- You are pregnant or will drive.
- You feel uncomfortable watching a drinking custom.
With kids
- with kids
- A drinking place for adults; children should not take part.
- child price
- check
Combine with
Combine with
- 6 minKolonia town market
Walk the Kolonia main street area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is it safe?
A small amount is generally tolerated, but it can affect the liver and interact with drugs: check with a doctor at home.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it alcohol?
No, but it is sedating.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I take photos?
Ask everyone first.
Photos
Deep dive
Sources
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.