Methodology
How we build and maintain our listings
This page explains how venues enter the directory, how we verify information, how partners are disclosed, and our editorial standards for accuracy.
How listings are created
We maintain a seed list of kava bars across Orange and Seminole counties, expanded through community tips, owner submissions, and periodic audits of public business records. A venue is researched, fact-checked, and drafted before it appears on the Orlando directory.
Listings combine structured data (address, hours, links) with original editorial context: neighborhood placement, atmosphere, and who the space tends to suit. We do not copy competitor directories verbatim or publish empty stub pages at scale.
Verification criteria
Active kava-focused venue
The business serves kava on site and is open to the public on a regular schedule. Pop-ups, closed locations, and unrelated businesses are excluded.
In-person or direct verification
We visit venues before first publication when possible. When a visit is not yet complete, the listing is marked accordingly and prioritized for review.
Structured fact baseline
Name, address, hours, phone, and coordinates are sourced from the Google Places API and cross-checked against the venue's official website or social channels.
Human editorial review
Every listing is reviewed by an editor before publish. Descriptions must add context—neighborhood, vibe, occasion—not repeat generic directory filler.
Scheduled re-verification
Hours, closure notices, and material changes are rechecked on a regular cadence. Each listing displays a last verified date when applicable.
Ranking and ordering
The main directory is organized geographically—by neighborhood and region—not by payment, sponsorship, or undisclosed preference. Venues within a cluster appear in a stable editorial order that does not imply a scored #1 ranking.
Curated guides (for example, a first-timer's essentials list) may use intentional editorial ordering. When we do, we explain why those venues were selected and we do not present that order as the default directory ranking.
We do not sell placement as "#1 in Orlando." Paid relationships, where they exist, are limited to disclosed disclosed partnerships described below—not hidden sort keys.
Expanded coverage disclosure
Three venues are design partners: they collaborated on early directory planning and receive expanded editorial coverage (additional photos, occasion tags, and guide features). Those listings are marked Full profile on the site.
- House of Mana Kava Social Lounge
- NovelTea
- Piper's Pit Kava & Kratom Lounge
DevinOps has built websites for some of these partner venues. That commercial work is separate from directory editorial decisions: partner status does not guarantee top placement on the main geographic list, and non-partner venues receive the same factual standards and correction rights.
Partner listings are not paid #1 rankings. Expanded coverage is disclosed; it is not a substitute for independent verification.
Editorial standards
Venue descriptions are written by the Kava Castle editorial team from verified source notes—visit observations, Places API fields, and official venue copy—then reviewed for accuracy, tone, and originality before publication.
Our editorial process does not:
- Invent reviews, ratings, or customer quotes
- Make health, medical, or legal claims about kava
- Assert licensing or compliance status without a documented source
- Publish comparative claims we cannot support with evidence
Authorship is attributed to the Kava Castle editorial team on every listing.
Data sources and attribution
Factual fields such as address, phone, hours, and coordinates are sourced through the Google Places API in compliance with Google's terms. We do not scrape Google Maps HTML. Where we reference third-party data on a listing, attribution is shown on the page.
Optional website scraping is limited to publicly available pages where permitted by robots.txt, and only to supplement—not replace—owner-provided information.
Corrections, removals, and updates
Venue owners and readers can request corrections or removal through the relevant listing page. We review good-faith requests promptly and update dateModified metadata when a listing undergoes human review.
For background on who operates Kava Castle and our editorial independence, see About Kava Castle.