First visit and took the family along. Enjoyed the Zombie! They had Stagg Jr. bourbon behind the bar too, but for $22 a shot I decided to stick to cocktails (Quick math: Stagg Jr is $299 on secondary market so their cost is @ $12 a shot and a $10 mark-up is fair for a retail establishment in Los Angeles). Pub Burger was excellent and so was the banana dessert.
Ilene and I went here and vended at their Haunted Hulaween event and had a blast. I had been here once before as a customer to see the Tikiyaki Orchestra play. Had a great time then, too. There is also an amazing Spanish Tapas Restaurant down the street, Cafe Sevilla.
This was part of a longer family visit to San Francisco where we also visited Tonga Room and Zombie Village and did some other tourist activities. Wilfred's was great. Fantastic decor and cocktails!
First visit here during a family vacation. I stopped by and had a Jamaican Zombie and at least one other cocktail and enjoyed them immensely.
Stayed here this weekend with the family at the Fairmont Hotel and this was our first stop for dinner and drinks the evening we rolled into town. I had been here before on at least two other occasions when I was in town for academic conferences but those would have been prior to 2011 and both occasions were during Happy Hour where I probably shared an appetizer plate -- no entrees. Also visited here on 12/27/2006 with Ilene during our 4 day Tiki Spectacular Vacation. Decor here is amazing and the drinks were a bump up from what I remembered. The food was very good but very steep prices. Also, I wanted to buy mugs but due to Covid shipping problems they were still waiting for their shipment on bowls and fog cutters, etc..., which were postponed to 2023 in all likelihood. Overall, though, it was well worth it to see it all again and to introduce my son to a San Francisco Tiki icon!
I visited here with the family and bought their new $35 Mai Tai mug. I've been here on several occasions over the years but this was the first time in a while because of Covid and I was able to see some of their new changes including the sidewalk-side seating and the new interior dining area in what had previously been a Hawaiiana store. The Mai Tai was on point with lots of fresh mint!
Ilene and I went here for the weekend for Tiki Caliente and Rory put on a great event. We stayed at the Sonder V next door since all the rooms at the Tropics were long since booked. However, I spent a great deal of time hanging out at the poolside or in the Reef Bar. Also visited the new Le Fern and Sanchos. Great new additions! I have been to the Caliente Tropics Resort before for previous events. Rory continues to be a good custodian of the venue. Always new improvements to see.
I was here for the SHAG signing and Exotica Moderne Magazine release at Tiki Caliente. I didn't have any of the drinks here at the bar. They were rotating the menu and I recall that I had missed out on the previous menu which had a couple that looked interesting to me, so opted to go next door to The Reef instead. Decor was great though and I enjoyed visiting with everyone!
Ilene and I were here for Tiki Caliente and I had several drinks from both the pre-made selections and the menu. Very good. Bought a bottle of the Dark Arts Rum with Anthony Carpenter's art on the label. Before this, I'd been to the Reef for previous Tiki Caliente events. I usually get the Caliente Burger with pineapple ring here at some point. "That's one tasty burger!" as Jules would say.
This was my 3rd visit here if memory serves. Ilene's first visit. The 5 spice ribs were amazing. I think Murph needs to bottle that sauce and I told him so. The Navy Grogs were on point as well. We did not make it into the secret room this time, but I've hung out there in the past and that's my favorite part of the build-out. Lots of cool details all over the place though!
I made a brief stop here to say hi to friends during the Ship-Wrecked Tiki Social & Bazaar. I've been here several times over the years.
Kelly Reilly (Hiphipahula) and I gave a presentation here during one of the OA celebration nights in advance of its closing. I came back afterwards for one of the other nights to bartend outside with Carey Ysais, representing Kahuna Tiki TU. Before this, I had probably been to Oceanic Arts dozens if not hundreds of times just to shop (mostly window shopping). It was always a favorite activity to hit Oceanic Arts and King Richard's Antique Center before having lunch and possibly hitting Bahooka's on the way back home.
On this visit I acquired the First Edition Haunted Mansion Gargoyle Mug. I've been to Trader Sam's many times over the years. Usually when the family (my son) wants to go to Disneyland. For the last few years we let our pass expire, but the family is feeling the pull once more, so I may have to re-up and head back once again.
Hung out here on the patio/lanai on this trip after picking up a mug at Sam's.
I went by on 3/18/21 to get a mug signed by Doug Horne but I had been here previously for longer visits on at least 2 occasions. Really enjoyed the Zombie King cocktail and the theming at this place!
I vended here at the first ever marketplace event. At that event I talked to Carey Ysais who needed a bartender and soon after this I started picking up some bartending shifts which I continued regularly each week for just over a year. I also started designing their fliers and re-designed their cocktail menu. Great owners and a fun location. Go check it out!
I was here for the Red Pagoda Mug release by Tiki Diablo with the family and we sat at a booth and had a nice lunch and a few drinks. I've been here a few times and the drinks are always on point and the food is good.
Kelly and I were vending our book and other goodies at the Bamboo Club's Hardcore Marketplace. I've been here a few times. I've also bartended alongside some of their bartenders when we did the Oceanic Arts farewell event. Good group of guys! Really enjoyed their Firewalker cocktail using Mezcal.
I was here for the opening night check-in for Tiki Oasis 2019. I've been here dozens of times over the years, probably going back to my first Tiki Oasis in 2006. My wife is fond of telling people that it takes 5 of their jet fueled mai-tais to get me out on the dance floor. Unfortunately, that's correct!
My first visit here and it wasn't very busy so I got to talk to the bartender for a while and he introduced me to Probitas daiquiris. Delicious!
First visit to try Dole Whips at the newly opened Hideaway.
Had a sample of Foursquare Criterion & Chairman's Reserve rum here among other things, with Kelly "Hiphipahula" Reilly.
Went here with the family to listen to The Hula Girls band and drink some delicious Lapu Lapus. I had visited this location before for a couple of mug releases and swung by with Kelly Reilly before the last remodel happened. The Golden Era with Bamboo Ben's decor and The Hula Girls music lasted for a short time but is a happy memory!
Did a quick visit here to check it out while attending a Christmas event with the family. Had been here once or twice before.
I was here with Ilene and several friends for the Pacific Seas Tiki Takeover.
Sat at the bar with Kelly "Hiphipahula" Reilly and had a rum barrel and a chartreuse swizzle. I think this is where I had my first taste of Plantation Rum's OFTD (released in July of that year), which I now keep stocked and find quite indispensable.
I was here for their 55th anniversary mug release. I've been here numerous times over the years but I've never been a regular. I think the first time I went might have been in 2006 after attending an event at Wacko's Soap Plant Gallery nearby. This was back in the smoking days! Their drinks always look so impressive with all the foam on top. I think they use Frothee or some other product. Used to get the Lemon Heart Lemon Heads all the time. Delicious!
Visited here with Ilene while we were in town for the Vegas Archery Shoot with my son.
Visited here with Ilene while we were in town with my son to take part in the Las Vegas Archery Shoot.
I've been here once. The date is a rough estimate. I had one drink to pass the time while I was waiting to meet up with friends. I has the feel of a slightly exoticized Marie Calendar's...
This was one of my go-to tiki places when I lived in Portland for a time. It was nice because I could take my family there. I liked going to Hale Pele also but couldn't take my young son with me. At Vic's though, he could have food and mocktails. I was here on several occasions and was really bummed to hear that it closed. I remember my favorite drink there besides the traditional mai tai was their fog cutter.
I visited several bars for the CATT (Chicago Area Tiki Tour) in 2015. This was one of them.
I visited several bars for the CATT (Chicago Area Tiki Tour) in 2015. This was one of them.
I visited several bars for the CATT (Chicago Area Tiki Tour) in 2015. This was one of them. I think this was my final bar of the tour and I went directly to the train station from here. The drinks were solid. This is the only time I've visited this location, however.
I visited several bars for the CATT (Chicago Area Tiki Tour) in 2015. This was one of them. Great floor show!
I visited several bars for the CATT (Chicago Area Tiki Tour) in 2015. This was one of them. I've been here on more than one occasion, though. I've flown in from Los Angeles and walked from my hotel, often taking the train downstate to visit family in Southern Illinois. The drinks here were good and I enjoyed talking to the bartenders. Also, great mugs and swizzles. However, the crowd is often just young 20-somethings that don't seem to really be there for the theme. It was nice to go there during the CATT event with fellow tikiphiles.
I actually was last at Munktiki's on 10/11/2013 to pick up a Johnny Ku mug after purchasing online -- at their Portland location before they moved to Astoria. I was here for a couple of tiki parties as well back when they were in Portland. I've been to Astoria, but not since they established there. Hope to get there one day soon.
I swung by here during the weekend of the 2013 Tiki Kon if memory serves. I had been here before on at least a couple of occasions but it was not my go-to bar since Trader Vic's and Hale Pele had better food and drinks at the time and it seemed like The Alibi was always doing karaoke which is not my thing. Still, I admire all the interior Witco detail. Classic!
I lived in Portland from 2011 to 2015 while my wife was working for LAIKA animation on The Boxtrolls project. I went to Hale Pele at least once or twice a month for a few years, starting the month it opened in 2012 and until I moved back to Los Angeles in 2015. My last visit was probably June 1st, 2015. I was about halfway through both my water bearer (cocktail list) and fire drinker (rum list) but never completed either one. Sadly, I do that at every bar that has a customer incentive drink list. I can never focus. Took me forever to pick a major in college too. I guess some people never learn! Hale Pele's unique round-the-world presentation of their rums taught me a lot and introduced me to a wider range than I might have otherwise explored from purchases at liquor stores. I heartily recommend a trip there!
I visited the last month it was around, right before it closed and re-opened as Hale Pele. I seem to remember that we swung by the weekend of Tiki Kon 2012 and picked up a couple of their cannibal mugs as well -- one of which I have still today.
I camped here with my family in a tent and took part in the cocktail contest, where I won Second Place for a Garam Masala based concoction. The prize was a bottle of Asom Broso Tequila and a cool tiki pendant. Joseph, my son, really enjoyed fishing during the event. It was a great weekend, overall!
I was here with Tiki Al for his mug release of some special limited edition Bumatay mugs he had made while in China. Photo shows me in center with Liz and Al on my right and the Purple Orchid owners on my left. I've been here on several occasions, usually when they book a band I like -- I think I was here to see The Insect Surfers play a couple of times.
Stopped here during a cross-country Christmas vacation visit. Joseph got to visit the Milan Guanko tikis.
I was here for the Tonga Hut Tiki Wonderland party on December 11th, 2010. Also picked up the first edition Big Mo Mug designed by Kirby and made by GROG.
I've been here on countless visits over the years from back when just Jeremy Fleener and his girlfriend were running it up to the present with Murph and Claudia. I completed about half the Grog Log on premises and then moved to Portland which interrupted things...so I started on the Hale Pele list and made it halfway through that before I moved back to LA. Never going to complete a list! :(
