Roswell, Georgia, United States
The Kingfish Lounge is the home tiki bar of Kevin Bachman in Roswell, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. As an enthusiast of vintage culture, sun and surf, eclectic oddities and all things tiki, he longed to bring his passions together under his own roof to create an escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of life and a place for friends to gather and enjoy good food, drink, music and conversation.
He built the bar in the basement of his mid-'70s ranch home in February 2017. The room was already ideally suited, paneled in wood and with a tongue-and-groove wood ceiling. Kevin hand-crafted the actual permanent bar structure and refinished a few structural details before outfitting it with ephemera collected over the years. Parts Disney Adventureland, Florida swamp, Caribbean vibe and classic Hawaiian influence, The Kingfish Lounge pays tribute to the things that Kevin and his family love more than anything else in the world.
The trophy piece in the lounge is the 5-foot King Mackerel hanging high above the bar. Caught in 1981 by Kevin's father-in-law, off the coast of Florida, this was a destiny neither man or fish saw coming. Donnie Ray may have never been allowed to hang the fish in his own house, but he sure is proud it is the adorning mascot of the Kingfish Lounge today and raises a glass to his catch every time he visits.