The drinks were great, but being a Saturday night it was LOUD and crowded. And the "mid-century friendly 200+ hour-long soundtrack that boasts Exotica, Surf, and Bossa Nova, for a retro feel..." was nowhere to be heard. Instead the soundtrack was an eclectic (and in my opinion totally inappropriate for the setting) mix ranging from Jim Croce to the Butthole Surfers - neither of whom I ordinarily have any issue with, but I admit to being kind of a purist when it comes to the musical backdrop of any Tiki (or Tiki adjacent) space. Points lost in this department.
The drinks, however, were great. My Rum Barrel was perfectly crafted and served in a wooden tankard. I'd visit again, but preferably on a quieter night.
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Tiki Bar
Sunken Harbor Club - at Gage & Tollner - Brooklyn
New York, United States
Sunken Harbor Club is an intimate nautical cocktail bar tucked away on the second floor above Gage & Tollner.
After eight years as a weekly pop-up at owner St. John Frizell's Red Hook mainstay Fort Defiance, The Club finally anchored in Downtown Brooklyn in October 2021.
Though this bar has no tikis, they certainly excel in making tiki style cocktails and various craft rum drinks.
They also have a mid-century friendly 200+ hour-long soundtrack that boasts Exotica, Surf, and Bossa Nova, for a retro feel -- and some thunderstorm sounds and other special effects mixed in to give a bit of that Don The Beachcomber rainstorm vibe.
The bar was profiled in Exotica Moderne Issue 17, 2022 and a good comparison was made to other nautical bars that are "tiki adjacent" such as the Molokai Bar at the Mai-Kai in Ft. Lauderdale.
While some tiki purists may bemoan the lack of actual carvings or artwork, they do not claim to be a "tiki" bar. However, there is no doubt that this venue appreciates tiki connoisseurs, understands tiki history, and has created a wonderful nautical bar that any mid century modern or tiki enthusiast would have a very difficult time not enjoying.