Home Tiki Bars
Enchanted Treehouse High on the Hooch
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Enchanted Treehouse High on the Hooch is the home tiki bar of Michael and Desiree' Maurice in Atlanta, Georgia. The space is in the basement level of their home, which sits over the Chattahoochee (The Hooch) River, like a treehouse. The bar top wraps and extends from inside to outside through the clever use of a sideways-mounted door that opens and hangs from the ceiling. There is a chalk art mural behind the bar, created by Desiree'. They serve an extensive drink menu, inspired by the menus of both Trader Vic's (they're regulars at the nearby Atlanta location) and Don the Beachcomber. The space is used for entertaining neighbors, family, friends, and they also host an annual fundraising tiki party for their kid's schoolraising over $5000.
Kimo's Iki Tiki Ahi Hale
Morgan Hill, California, United States
Kimo's Iki Tiki Ahi Hale is the home tiki bar of James & Brigitte Crawford in Morgan Hill, California, just south of San Jose. The couple built the space in March 2016, after being inspired by attending the South San Francisco Bay Area Home Tiki Bar Crawl in 2015. It's in a free-standing 16'x20' building in their backyard, built from the ground up by the couple. Kimo is Hawaiian for Jim, and the bar's name roughly translates to "Jim's Little Tiki Firehouse," a nod to Kimo's work as a fire chief.
The decor and design in the space include nods to Disneyland's Adventureland, The Enchanted Tiki Room, the couple's English bulldogs, and Kimo's fire service career. There are over 65 rums, a lava wall, a surfing bulldog, an elevated fire truck, and 80% of the art on display comes from artists the couple considers to be friends and ohana. The couple loves having pu pus and cocktails as an excuse to gather, and has accommodated small crowds of 2-8 people all the way up to large parties of 25-65 people.
Brigitte says, "E Komo Mai is our motto, let us know when you are in the area and we would love to share a night at Kimo's with you!"
The Bungalow
Seattle, Washington, United States
The Bungalow is the home tiki bar of Robb and Sarah Sieger, in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Sunset Hill to be specific. It was created in their 1949 bungalow-style home, in its glassed-in front porch, in March 2015. It has west-facing views of the Olympic mountains, Puget Sound, Bainbridge Island, and the sunset.
The couple was inspired by a trip to the Tonga Room in San Francisco in 2010, and sought further inspiration from Beachbum Berry's "Potions of the Caribbean" and photos of Martin Cate's home tiki bar. The bar and stools were acquired from a Hawaiian native living in Seattle, via Craigslist. There is a vintage Paul Frankl pretzel-style rattan sofa with matching end tables. The decor includes plenty of nautical gear sourced from Seattle's Fisherman's Terminal, items from the Coco Palms on Kauai, vintage and collectible bric-a-brac, and lamps, shelves and wall hangings created by Robb.
The Speakeasy Tiki
Pacifica, California, United States
The Speakeasy Tiki is the home tiki bar of Charles Muccia in Pacifica, California, just south of San Francisco. It was created in January 2015 in the backyard of his home. The first iteration of the bar used repurposed wooden pallets and plywood for the bar itself, and a year later shelving behind and below the bar were added. There is a sound system for music, and for rainforest and ocean sound effects. A screen behind the bar displays a virtual fish tank, and colored lights add atmosphere for evening parties. In 2016, a larger roof was added to allow the bar's use even in the rain. The space is used mainly for parties, but also for the family to enjoy.
Tonga Room
Palm Bay, Florida, United States
Tonga Room is the home tiki bar of Ed Garland, in Palm Bay, Florida. It was created in April 2015 on the lanai near the pool of his home. It is handmade from scrap pallets and bamboo grown and harvested from the backyard. There is a mug collection, which includes several early examples of mugs from Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus, Ohio. All of the large tikis and wall tikis were carved by Ed, who also created the paintings, including a three-dimensional panorama illuminated by a black light.
Yonkers Tiki Hut
Yonkers, New York, United States
Yonkers Tiki Hut is the home tiki bar of Natalie von Tiki and Kastaway Ken in Yonkers, New York. It was created in September 2012 in a small side room just off of the living room of their home. It began with a vintage tiki bar found on Craigslist, and features carved tikis from Hawaii and local artists like Zombie Oasis, over 300 tiki mugs lining the ceiling, and random flotsam and jetsam picked up along the way. There is a vintage "Tropical Fun" pinball machine in the corner. With only two seats, and standing room for about five more, the Yonkers Tiki Hut crams a lot into a small space. Since the room is fairly bright, the Hut is more of tropical beach paradise than traditional tiki bars, but Exotica music and cocktails give the room a warm feel.
Ruth & Joe's Tiki Bar
New York, New York, United States
Ruth & Joe's Tiki Bar is the home tiki bar of Ruth & Joe Roth in Brooklyn, New York. They created their bar in their living room in November 1999. The space features tikis from Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Moorea and Bora Bora, and has thatching, pufferfish, and float lights from Oceanic Arts. It also houses their collection of tiki mugs from their travels.
The Bula Bula Bar
Nutley, New Jersey, United States
The Bula Bula Bar is the home tiki bar of Scaramouch in Nutley, New Jersey. It was created in October 2016, in the outdoor garage of his home. It is designed to feel like the hold of a pirate galleon, with a "porthole" with animated scenes of the ocean, and hidden speakers that make the ship "creak." The bar is heavily influenced by Smuggler's Cove in San Francisco, and can seat 20 people.
The Monkey Skull Voodoo Lounge
Seattle, Washington, United States
The Monkey Skull Voodoo Lounge is the home tiki bar of Pete Andrijeski in Seattle, Washington. The bar was built in the basement of Pete's 1920 bunglaow in 2002. Pete says, "My inspiration for the lounge and for sparking my interest in tiki in general was a Munktiki mug I stumbled across on eBay. I had been thinking of redecorating my basement as a cocktail lounge, and the scary looking tiki mug made me realize that tiki could perfectly fit my inchoate desires for something dark and exotic." He soon found Tiki Central, where his username is monkeyskull, and began making friends in the local Seattle tiki scene.
There are bars on either end of the basement, and a third on a patio outside. The lounge features several artworks and artifacts, including original paintings by Davey Wong and several other artists, a Witco tiki gifted to Pete by Tony Boitano when he closed down Luau Polynesian Lounge, and a substantial mug collection. The bar had a substantial upgrade in 2006, when a koi pond and moai fountain created by Seamus were added.
The bar sees limited activity outside of Pete's annual tiki party in August, a massive and legendary affair that began in 2002, and now includes live bands and 150-200 guests.
TamTiki's LeiLo Lounge
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
TamTiki's LeiLo Lounge is the home tiki bar of Darren and Tamra in Victoria, B.C. The lounge is located on what used to be the sundeck of their home. There is a lava rock wall, and several homemade animatronics, inspired by Trader Sam's at Disneyland. Future plans call for an expansion that will take over most of the basement of the home, and the Japanese garden is slowly morphing into a tropical tiki paradise as well.
Tiki Zug's Swag Room
Rochester, Michigan, United States
Tiki Zug's Swag Room is a home tiki bar in Rochester, Michigan, created in January 2015. Unlike most private tiki bars, this one is hidden inside a business rather than a home. It's in the back building of the Village Lamp Shop. It is an 1800s carriage house, converted into a tiki bar and art studio; owner Bill Beuthien makes custom tiki lamps and shades. The space holds his collection of pop culture tiki ephemera. Anyone is welcome to stop by for a tour, just go to the Village Lamp Shop and ask for Bill. He says if you bring something to trade you will be fast friendsand you may find something in the shop for your own home tiki bar.
Barnacle Brian Tiki Bar
Beaverton, Oregon, United States
Barnacle Brian Tiki Bar is a home tiki bar created in 2017 in Beaverton, Oregon. Half of the home's garage has been converted into a tiki bar/surf shack.