Tiki Bars (Commercial)

South Seas Cafe (1937-1977) was San Diego’s first large, Tahitian-themed restaurant, home of ‘rain on the roof’ just like at Ray Haller’s Seven Seas (1935) in Hollywood (later Bob Brooks Seven Seas).

The South Seas Cafe not only had the distinction of being the first large Tahitian/Pre-Tiki restaurant in San Diego — it was a woman-owned business. Opened Saturday night July 10, 1937 by Ruth W. Becker and Charles Thomas, South Seas Cafe was located across from the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Pacific Highway.

“We feel sure that the atmosphere of the ‘South Seas’” said co-owner Charles Thomas to the press, “in which we produce lightning, thunder and the beating rain of a tropical storm, will delight seekers of the unusual. The South Seas illusion will be enhanced by Tahitian portraits and figure studies, done by Leeteg. The haunting rhythms of Hawaii will be produced nightly by steel guitars and ukuleles in the capable hands of Stone’s Hawaiians.”

Consolidated Aircraft Corporation’s newly-built production facility nearby provided a busy lunch crowd. And the novelty of an indoor rainstorm with thunder and lightning drew in as many patrons as could fit in the Tahitian-inspired restaurant. Their collection of ‘figural studies’ by painter Edward Leeteg certainly didn’t hurt, either.

Along with the Leeteg paintings down in the bar, they prominently featured an 11-foot-tall black velvet nudie by Morris Levine in the upstairs dining area, and on their menus. The Levine was reportedly won in a Las Vegas dice game bet by Wilbur Clark.

Top it off with thick steaks. Fried shrimp. Rum drinks. Entertainment by Stone’s Hawaiians, Teddy ‘K’ and his Hawaiians, Benny Kealoha and his famous ‘Echo Song.’ Comedy by Our Gang actor Spec O’Donnell. All this made the South Seas Cafe a destination spot.

The South Seas closed in 1977 and was replaced by a ladder store. For years it was a GolfMart, and later was part of an AMVETs thrift store properties. Most Recently, as of 2021, the property was vacant and up for lease.

Del Webb's hotel OceanHouse was located on the Pacific Coast Highway on Mission Bay.

Opened in 1962, with design by Las Vegas architect Martin Stern, Jr. (1917-2001).

The complex sat on several acres, had 200 rooms in the hotel, a dining room, coffee shop, the Jolly Roger cocktail lounge, and banquet and convention facilities to accommodate up to 1,000.

The most notable tiki features were several impressive carvings around the pool area. The cocktail lounge was not a tiki bar, but was a deeply immersive nautical themed space.

It was sold two years later to become the Hilton San Diego Inn, becoming the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, renovated in 2007.

Currently (as of 2022) owned by Noble House Hotels & Resorts and branded as the San Diego Mission Bay Resort. No trace of the tikis today...

This pre-tiki establishment featured live musical entertainment during the 1940s.

Opened in 1977.

El Jube was a cocktail pub located in the old "U", in front of the "La Laguna" Health Center.

It was a calm and exotic place, jungle-like, with hanging plants everywhere, branches on the ceilings, fruits, and, a small fountain in the center, with a waterfall included, and two parakeets in a cage.

At the entrance there was a container with peanuts so that you could feed the birds.

At one point, they also had at least one monkey -- Arturo, whose owner from time to time took him for a walk around the block of the premises.

Toward the end of its life, the owners tried to convert the theme into a western/cowboy atmosphere, which many found quite jarring given its history.

The pub closed in November 2017, just as it was about to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge opened March 4th, 2021 in the upstairs space above Saxon's, formerly occupied by Level Two.

Rapa Nui serves fresh-pressed cocktails along with tapas with an Asian fusion flavor. They have several versions of bao, the Chinese-style buns, along with wings and drinks including flaming Scorpion Bowls -- all perfect for sharing.

Opened March, 2022 in the former site of an Outback Steakhouse.

SWLO is a “district” of Longmont and many pronounce it "SWayLO".

Sean and Rebecca Gafner own three other restaurants in Longmont—the Roost, Jefes Tacos & Tequila, and Smokin’ Bowls—all of which are located on the city’s Main Street.

The center bar of Swaylo's is housed within the gray hull of an old wrecked pirate ship. Seating is spread out around the outside of this centerpiece with plenty of other tiki decor, including pufferfish, glass floats, and stained glass parrots.

Built in 1962.

Today, the bar and restaurant is gone and this property has been converted to condos.

Located adjacent to Prince Kuhio Park and mere yards from the ocean on the sunny South Shore at Poipu Beach in Kauai.

Built in 1964.

This 1-story building has 93 units.

The location is hardly recognizable, years later, in 2022, as the M Motel.

The kidney-shaped pool and waterfall in center appear to have been removed/concreted over.

The corner A-frame and the rest of the roof-line is the same but the exterior has been completely re-done with any stonework replaced and a blah gray and white paint scheme with brick-work accents added.

Built in 1963, this apartment complex features two A-frames in front and an A-frame pool house in back. Original name unknown...but labeled "Tiki Apartments" on blueprints.

Features 14 units and 2 stories.

Oceanic Arts was consulted about decor for this location, so it's quite possible it once had tikis or other decor on grounds.

As of 2022, this location was closed, but not demolished, possibly awaiting refurbishment or re-development.

Opened in 1951 by Roy Kelley.

Since 2007, with the creation of the Waikiki Beach Walk, this entire area has been redeveloped and no signs of the original structure remain.

Built in 1969.

The Twin Tiki Inn boasted a Polynesian theme with gas fired tiki torches, rattan furniture, and its signature double-headed tiki sign.

In early 1992 the owner converted the property to a Regency Inn. The only trace of Tiki now, is the mention of it on the history section of their website.

Because of her nearby homes, they called the coastal area in this part of Waikīkī Queen’s Surf Beach.

Queen’s Surf was built in 1914 as a private home across from Kapiolani Park on the Diamond Head end of Waikiki Beach.

During WWII, the house was used for military retreats and other military uses. Admiral Nimitz, General Douglas McArthur and staffs spent time there.

It was acquired by the city of Honolulu around 1946 and leased to Spencecliff Corporation which operated it as the hugely popular Queen’s Surf Restaurant and Nightclub.

Sterling Edwin Kilohana Mossman (February 3, 1920 to February 21, 1986) headlined at its upstairs Barefoot Bar. A man as versatile as he was talented, literally led a double life. A detective with the Honolulu Police Department during the day, after dark he was one of Hawaiʻi’s most popular entertainers. His diversified careers earned him the nickname “Hula Cop”.

The Barefoot Bar was ground zero for this new brand of local comedy. Mossman was the ringleader, along with the likes of Lucky Luck, a zany radio personality, and Kent Bowman, known as KK Kaumanua. They told stories, sang songs and, when a celebrity from the Mainland happened to come by (and they did a lot), they became part of the show.

Another attraction at the Barefoot Bar was Varoa Tiki or "Tiki" (also known as Shirley Kaluahine Piliwale). She was a well-known entertainer during the 50's, 60's and 70's. She performed with many music legends like Tony Bennett, Don Ho, the Kent Ghirard's Hula Troupe where where she danced with the Ray Kinney show at the Royal Hawaiian. She appeared with Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny, Andy Williams, Jack Parr and the Vagabonds. She performed as a "one women show" on the Princess Line Tour ships and took the first all-girl show on tour to the orient as Varoa Tiki and the Tikis. She played more than twenty instruments, sang in sixteen languages. She yodeled in three styles and brought the art of whistling back to the stage.

Despite the wealth of talent on display, the business ran into trouble...

The site was closed down in 1969 by Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi in a lease dispute and demolished in 1971.

Today it is home to a public park.

Open at least as early as 1965 and well into the 1970s.

Ziegler’s Charcoal House, located in East Lansing’s Frandor Shopping Center, included an adjacent tiki bar called the Boom Boom Room.

Their most memorable cocktail was a bowl drink for six or more called "The Flaming Orgy".

This is a Chinese restaurant with a selection of classic tropical cocktails on the menu.

No real tiki decor to speak of, however, it has a rich history and is tiki adjacent with mugs issued by both Tiki Farm and Tiki Diablo.

From the Formosa:

"The Formosa first opened its doors in 1939: making its new debut in its 80th year. Located across from the then-Samuel Goldwyn studio, stars like Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, and Elvis Presley would pop into the legendary Formosa Cafe regularly for dining and drinks. On any given day, patrons might have seen Ava Gardner dancing past the old, red leather booths, or John Wayne nursing a late-night scotch (he was caught making scrambled eggs in our kitchen one morning, after reportedly passing out in a booth the night before).

Among the interior design restorations is the full reveal of the iconic and original red trolley car, dating back to 1904 and is confirmed to be the oldest surviving red train car in existence. Boxes of autographed celebrity photos and storage units of original memorabilia have made their way back into the Cafe.

We worked with local L.A. archivists and hospitality notables who are helping to inform the new food and cocktail menu: a retrospective of Formosa’s culinary evolution since the 1920’s. The new Formosa not only transports guests back in time to the glory days of Hollywood, but with its new menu, patrons are given another way to connect to a part of L.A.’s gastronomic history, too.

Because one of the most prominent decor themes in the Formosa is the old black and white headshots, we wanted to give the newer areas of the Formosa a part to play, too: to tell a storied history of Chinese Americans in Old Hollywood. To do this, the Formosa Cafe team collaborated with historians as well as the original family to procure all the original photos and artifacts and bring them back to their original home where they belong. With the new addition of the historic Yee Mee Loo bar area of the Formosa, we decided to tell a story about the influence of Chinese Americans in early Hollywood: from a collection of ephemera and photos, movie posters and headshots, it showcases major Chinese actors from a chronological standpoint from Hollywood’s golden age."

Opened in 2020.

Offers tropical drinks and food with a Creole twist.

From their site:

"Sir Eddy Trenidad is an island man. Last year he returned to Bonaire, where he grew up, to open a brand new cocktail bar: Tiki & Co. An unforeseen but exciting adventure that allows the ‘master of tailor-made drinks’ to pursue his ultimate goal, enter the top 100 best bars in the world, and educate a new generation of bartenders."

Opened in 2020.

This tiny house build is named "Fare Mananui" ("House of big magic/spirit" in Tahitian).

From their AirBnb site:

"Imagined by artist @TahitiGil & designed by @TyphoonTommy (Former Disney/Universal creative team & designer of the Suffering Bastard Tiki Bar in Sanford, Fl. Experience your next Adventureland/ Enchanted Tiki Room “story dwelling” adventure from the moment you step thru the door! - Kungaloosh!!

Mananui is a very special place. Please respect the property and our resort neighbors. This beautifully crafted 400 sq ft. small cottage home has been transformed into a Disney inspired Tiki hideaway from ceiling to floor. Complete with bamboo posts, thatching, authentic native artifacts and, of course, you gotta have a tiki bar! (Booze not included!)

Totally redesigned to include smart home capabilities. Features include: high speed wifi 400 mbps, onsite sensor lighted/video entryway security, custom retrostyle smart tv with Disney+ (Premier movies available: just added Jungle Cruise! - Duh, Black Widow, Cruella & Mulan) Netflix, Hulu and Amazon streaming services installed, home audio system, Alexa enabled smart home for lights, music and climate control. Queen size bed in a totally renovated bedroom with nods to Disney’s inspired Polynesian Village Resort. A fold-out sofa bed, a Tiki bar and screened-in lanai with a beautiful partial lake view for those stunning Florida sunsets! Because of the size, it is PERFECT for 2 people."

This was a pre-tiki tropical bar.

The site was later home to Tiki Jack's from 1962-1977, but was destroyed by a fire in 1977.

This site, as of 2022, is now Lorin Station Plaza, an apartment building.

Soft opening on February 6th, 2022. Opened to general public on February 16th, 2022.

Cane Tiki Room is the fourth sister restaurant from owners Donovan Schmit and Troy Larkin; the ‘restaurant family’ also includes Fish Gaucho, Pappy McGregor’s, and Eleven Twenty-Two Speakeasy & Cocktail Lounge.

Housed in the space previously occupied by Stein’s BBQ.

Mary Yick opened The Tiki Hut in 1961, on Tyler Street in Boston's Chinatown.

An article in February 1970, noted how “The Tiki Hut is a favorite after-show stop for many theatrical people when they’re in town.” The article mentioned how Pearl Baily, her husband, drummer Louis Bellson, co-star Cab Calloway, and other cast members of “Hello Dolly” dined at The Tiki Hut. Many theatrical celebrities dined at the restaurant when they were in town, and some of those regulars included David Merrick, Angela Lansbury, and Shakespearean actor Nicol Williamson.

Like Ruby Foo's Den and the Cathay House, the Tiki Hut was a favorite of the stage and screen celebrities, as well as stars from the local sport teams, from the Celtics to the Bruins. It was even noted in an article in February 1971, that on the theatrical circuit, Mary Yick was affectionately known as “The Dragon Lady.”

Unfortunately, Mary and the Tiki Hut ran into a serious problem in mid-1971, facing a possible ouster from her 10 Tyler Street location. The owner of the premises, the Lee On Dong Association, was attempting to conduct an “auction in the Chinese tradition of her lease.” Fortunately, Mary was able to secure an injunction to halt the auction until the owners could come forward and justify themselves to the court.

Mary and the Tiki Hut lasted only another year, though at least it seemed the lease ouster had been prevented, when in November 1972, she transferred the liquor license to Mai Lai Inc., managed by Kwok Man Yu, who would operate a restaurant at the same address. The Boston Globe, December 1, 1972, noted this loss in an article titled, “Chinatown loses its last Dragon Lady.” It referred to Mary Yick “of the lyrical voice and quick quips that (gently but plainly) put down amorous customers.” The article also stated, “Her departure ends, at least for the time, a tradition begun by the legendary Ruby Foo and later Anita Chue.”

This Coco's was built on the site of the famous Kau Kau Korner which stood here from 1935 to 1960.

The well-known Hawaii restaurant chain, Spencecliff, took over the site in 1960 and remodeled the existing structure into a more modern building for Coco’s. This Coco's was one of three Hawaiian-style coffee shops designed by the famous architect Pete Wimberly. The other two were Tops and Popo's.

Within this Coco's coffee shop was the Calabash Bar. This location lasted until August 31, 1986.

The Hard Rock Café replaced Coco’s in 1987.

Today, as of 2022, this location is home to the Honolulu Coffee Experience Center.

This restaurant took over the space previously occupied by Les Sablons and has been slowly rolling open since late December 2021, starting with the upstairs tiki bar. The downstairs section, which is focusing on affordable Hong Kong deli-style rice plates to start, debuted February 1, 2022 in time to ring in the Lunar New Year.

From the Wusong Road Website:

"Hidden away in the historic 100 year old Conductor’s Building on the outskirts of Harvard Square. Wusong Road is named after the first Conductor’s building located in Wusong China. Located in the outskirts of Harvard Square, Wusong Road tells the culinary love story about classical Asian American cuisine and tropical Tiki escapism that was central to Cambridge Massachusetts. With food crafted by Chef owner Jason Doo, guest experience by owner Kaila Fong and our beverage program by Justin Crooks and Charlie 'Rocco' Napoli, we hope you will join us for an escape from the hustle and bustle of Cambridge city life.

The team behind Wusong Road (Jason Doo, Thomas Brush, Kaila Fong, and Charlie Napoli) renovated the abandoned conductor’s building during the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020. The conductor’s building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1988.

The team behind Wusong Road with the help of architects Analogue Studio, master craftsman Thomas Morgan (Morgan Construction) and Frank Simotics (‘Tiki Rancher’) beautifully converted the once French Restaurant interior and converted the second story into a tropical Tiki escape."

Hurricane Cove, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island was a pre and post-war restaurant and bar (1937-1979), located at 305 Crescent.

It would be considered pre-tiki and followed in the footsteps of the Hurricane Bars in New York and San Francisco who also took their iconography and theme from the 1937 film, starring Dorothy Lamour.

Hurricane Cove once featured a huge semi-circle bamboo piano bar. It was originally owned by Oscar Griffith (1895-1974). David Renton, was the architect for the Wrigley Family and designed the structures on the Island per the Wrigley request, (including the Casino). The Wrigley family did not want any tropical themed structures, but Oscar and the owners of the Waikiki Hotel were able to prevail and had their businesses constructed the way they wanted.

Oscar had a band, Jimmy Lowe and the Sons of Hawaii, who played regularly at his place. Oscar had after hours for top named entertainers that played at the Avalon Casino Ballroom including Benny Goodman. Oscar had the place built per his vision which included a bamboo bar in 1938. He had lights, fans and audio to simulate a hurricane which were activated every hour. Oscar imported an expert in bamboo construction from California.

In 1957, Hurricane Cove was managed by Johnny Piacentini and Vince Scari.

Los Angeles attorney, Don Lake, who had done work for Oscar, Griffith purchased Hurricane Cove and had it remodeled.

More than 40 years after it first opened, Hurricane Cove was destroyed by a fire on March 4, 1979. So was the 20-unit Waikiki Hotel.

The Surf Rider opened in Bakersfield, California in June of 1961. It was the restaurant and lounge for the Wonder Lodge motor hotel. The motor hotel cost an estimated 2 million, and consisted of a 2-story structure with 120 suites and guest rooms, and a pool out back surrounded by manicured grounds.

Both Oceanic Arts and Ed Brownlee worked on the project with Oceanic Arts furnishing much of the interior and Ed handling the exterior decor.

The interior held 170 persons and featured a huge Tahitian fish trap on the ceiling, South Pacific murals, and plenty of carvings and other tropical decor.

This exterior featured Ed's own carvings based on New Ireland tribal art and an application of large abalone shells.

Opened in 1971.

This restaurant serves Chinese, Polynesian, and American food.

The building has been remodeled since its opening, but there are still many tiki masks (some appear to be Witco) and they serve tropical drinks.

Area code 508 was created on July 16, 1988, in a split from 617, the original area code for this restaurant, but otherwise it is the same number.

This location appears to have thrived in the 60s and 70s and had several themed rooms, including the Chinese & Polynesian Room with a large bar decked out in Witco style decor, the Sayonara Japanese Room with a miniature city and fountain display (and a large buffet table), and the King Arthur Room (with steak and seafood menu options).

This tiki bar soft opened in San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose on Monday, December 13th, 2021. Opened to the public on Thursday, December 16th.

Located in the former site of Peggy Sue’s 1950s-style diner.

Designer Notch Gonzalez transformed the venue with thatched-roof booths, bamboo railings and blowfish lights hanging from the ceiling. There are tikis everywhere, including a six-footer that Gonzalez carved in about a week.

They serve Dr Funk's namesake cocktail (of rum, absinthe, lime, lemon, demerara syrup, grenadine and seltzer) alongside 12 original tiki tipples and eight classics.

The kitchen expects to be serving food later, in January.

This bar and restaurant appears to have been opened in the late 60s (1967?) and only flourished for a short time, possibly into the early 70s.

Many people, especially younger visitors, remember they had paddle boats for rent as well.

As can be seen in the pictures, they had a couple of large moai outside and at least one very large tiki. The roofline is very distinctive and has stayed basically the same at this location and into the present (2021).

At some point this restaurant was re-christened as Pompano's (later as Pompano Key) and was open at least through 2018, after which it was closed and remained vacant, possibly awaiting land redevelopment.

Opened in 1978.

There may once have been more tiki decor in the 70s, but today it has a fairly common bar/roadhouse interior with a pool table and karaoke being the biggest draws.

Still, they have a pretty cool exterior front roofline and vintage looking logo sign still in use.

Opened in Culver City in the late '50s.

Owned by James B. Wong and Po Yuen Chau. It was named Bali Hai after the hit tune from the musical South Pacific.

Served Cantonese/Americanized Chinese food and tropical drinks.

The decor outside resembled a tiki hut with bamboo and dried palm trimming. Inside, there was a small wooden bridge, which led to the dining area, the long bar and the performing stage.

Closed in 1969.

This bar & restaurant opened in May of 1951 but was only open for a few months on the Vegas Strip in what had earlier housed The Players, Wagon Wheel, and Bowery Club. It possibly became Murray Nort's Jungle Club. Later Jack Denison's Jungle Club. The building was demolished in the late 1950s.

The Mission Inn, now known as The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, is a historic landmark hotel in downtown Riverside, California. Although a composite of many architectural styles, it is generally considered the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States.

The property began as a quaint adobe boarding house called The Glenwood Cottage, built by engineer/surveyor Christopher Columbus Miller and on November 22, 1876, the Millers took their first paying guest. In February 1880, Miller's son Frank Augustus Miller purchased the hotel and land from his father. It became into a full-service hotel in the early 1900s. In 1902, Frank changed the name to the "Glenwood Mission Inn" and started building, in a variety of styles, until he died in 1935.

Miller's vision for the eclectic structure was drawn from many historical design periods, revivals, influences, and styles. Some are Spanish Gothic architecture, Mission Revival Style architecture, Moorish Revival architecture, Spanish Colonial style architecture, Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture, Renaissance Revival architecture, and Mediterranean Revival Style architecture.

During the 30-year construction period, Miller traveled the world, collecting treasures to bring back to the hotel for display.

In the early 1930s, in the rotunda wing, Miller established a "Court of the Orient" which was a collection of Asian influences and lasted after Miller's death for a few years until 1939 when this section was re-imagined as the Lea Lea Room.

The Lea Lea Room had tons of bamboo, a bar, tables, a dance floor, a band area, and all the trappings of the pre-tiki tropical nightclubs that persisted throughout the 1930s to 1950s.

One detail that is hard to miss are the Chinese Tiles with Buddhist Swastikas in their centers. Of course, this symbol goes back thousands of years before the Nazis appropriated it.

In any case, around 1985 or so, the Lea Lea Room was eventually remodeled and it was thought fitting to return the space back to its previous incarnation as the Court of the Orient.

This bar/lounge, package house, coffee house, and motel appears to have thrived during the 70s, but was eventually wiped out after a few Florida hurricanes. Today, the memory lives on through the Pensacola RV Resort.

Shea’s Tiki House Motel became the place to be on Pensacola Beach. The Gulf side had a total of 45 rooms, a pool, and the famous Tiki Lounge. The Tiki Lounge was located underneath the rooms on the Gulf side (see picture) with the Gulf waters just steps away. On the Sound side the Tiki House had 24 units and a pool.

Opened Monday, November 6th, 1961.

This bar & restaurant ran throughout the 1960s.

There was a sister location in Boston as well.

There are moai mugs that list both locations on back. The mugs also list "The Hawaiian" which may have been a third location or possibly a smaller section/bar within the West Hartford South Seas. This is unclear.

Currently the site of Max's Oyster Bar, as of 2021.

This restaurant was located in Boston's Chinatown and ran from about 1958-1983. Henry Oi was the owner and operator there for many of those years. He passed away in 2015.

There was a sister location in West Hartford, Connecticut.

There are moai mugs that list both locations on back. The mugs also list "The Hawaiian" which may have been a third location or possibly a smaller section/bar within the West Hartford South Seas. This is unclear.

Opened in 1963 with the reputation of being the first upscale Chinese restaurant in Hawaii.

As one postcard proclaims: "One of the most beautiful Chinese Restaurants in the world offering superb Cantonese cuisine, graciously served in an atmosphere enhanced by fine art reproductions. Kuan-yin, the Goddess of Mercy, carved in 5 feet of rosewood, greets diners at the second floor landing of the restaurant and Waikiki's only indoor waterfall is presided over by the God of Longevity."

Raymond Hong took his restaurant chefs to China for training and they introduced Peking duck to Honolulu.

In its heyday the restaurant was the place for glittering celebrities and for ordinary people marking special occasions, looking to enjoy a multi-course Cantonese dinner over several hours.

Closed in April 2005 and eventually replaced by the new Outrigger Hotels & Resorts' Waikiki Beachwalk project.

Although not a tiki restaurant, most tiki restaurants at this time (and many today) served the same Chinese food and tropical drinks -- and House of Hong did have several drinks that came in ceramic mugs made by Otagiri.

Opened in 1964.

Tom Snyder, owner, renamed this motel, formerly known as The Rest Haven. He installed the sign.

Later postcards attribute ownership to Wilford and Glenna Adams.

In addition to the sign is a large (probably concrete) moai head resembling a decanter that was created by M. H. Strikow for Kahlua liqueurs.

Today, as of 2021, there is no sign of anything tiki and the site is home to an Econo Lodge.

Circa 1960s.

This lavishly decorated restaurant had koa wood tables, large carved tikis, masks, bamboo and thatch, hanging fish floats, wood canoes hanging from the ceiling, a separate full-length bar, and wood beaded curtain dividers between sections. A fully decorated space.

Located off Rt. 22 East of Harrisburg, PA.

Today, as of 2021, this location is home to Peacock Indian Restaurant.

A.F. (Gus) and Loreen Raigosa were a couple of Los Angeles area entrepreneurs who bought property in Newberry Springs (situated in the Mojave Desert about 150 miles from Los Angeles and 20 miles east of Barstow on Highway 66) and built a 7 acre lake (later expanded to 45 acres) at the beginning of 1960.

Next came docks, cabanas, and barbecue pits. Tetherball and volleyball courts and a nine-hole golf course as well as swings for the children followed. Trees and shrubs were planted and a scattering of carved Tiki gods. They stocked the lake with bass, channel catfish, and bluegill and operated the site as a tropical campground with luaus.

The "Tiki Bird" plane with a tiki paint job and tropical pin-up art was another interesting draw.

The restaurant, itself, was decorated in "authentic Tahitian decor" and had two separate dining areas with red carpets, trimmed in bamboo, with Tiki masks, and a large carved tiki overlooking a waterfall effect. The bar served traditional tiki cocktails.

Eventually, the couple sold the property in 1972 and moved to the Bahamas.

The Hurricane was a pre-tiki bar & nightclub located in the International Settlement section of San Francisco during the 1940s-50s.

The place had some amazing murals, tons of bamboo, thatched roofs, tapa cloth, and featured some of the earliest ever cocktail mugs -- including skulls (similar to those made by Tepco for Trader Vic's) with naked women on them.

Before International Settlement days, the street’s first incarnation was the "Barbary Coast", famed center of Gold Rush debauchery and vice. The 1906 earthquake demolished most of it, bringing an abrupt end to that chapter. Just before Prohibition, the area was known as "Terrific Street". "International Settlement" was the block’s exotic name from the late 1930s to its decline in the late 1950s. Jazz music, tropical clubs, and leggy stage shows were the style of the time, themes aimed at attracting sailors passing through town. The result was a potent mixture of glamour and grit.

This pre-tiki bar ran from the 1940s to the early 1950s. It was located just to the left of the entrance to the "International Settlement" in San Francisco.

Mitchell Lewis was the Pago Pago's proprietor and signage outside proclaimed this the "House of Zombie" and "Lure of the Islands".

Later, this location became the "Arabian Nights" in the mid 1950s.

Before International Settlement days, the street’s first incarnation was the "Barbary Coast", famed center of Gold Rush debauchery and vice. The 1906 earthquake demolished most of it, bringing an abrupt end to that chapter. Just before Prohibition, the area was known as "Terrific Street". "International Settlement" was the block’s exotic name from the late 1930s to its decline in the late 1950s. Jazz music, tropical clubs, and leggy stage shows were the style of the time, themes aimed at attracting sailors passing through town. The result was a potent mixture of glamour and grit.

In the 1970s, the Bali Hai was a Polynesian showplace, complete with bamboo mugs and native dancers.

The Cow Harbor Inn took over in the 80s and prospered – until competition from newer restaurants became insurmountable. Finally, the Cow Harbor Inn was shuttered and the space fell into dis-repair.

The building site included a two-story house built around 1790, according to information from the Northport Historical Society, and some residents expressed opposition to tearing it down, but eventually, that's what happened.

Currently, as of 2021, this location is home to a new modern building -- the TD Bank.

Circa 1940s to 1950s.

This pre-tiki bar and nightclub in the midst of "The Street" in New York was decked out in South Pacific style with bamboo and painted island murals, but the big draw were the three shows nightly of burlesque dancers.

Opened June 3rd, 2019.

Barista Parlor owner and founder Andy Mumma, Isle of Printing founder Bryce McCloud and longtime Husk Nashville bar manager Mike Wolf have taken over the former Bar Luca space, to create a neo-tiki bar with a "Jetsons" meets "Polynesian Pop" vibe.

The bar itself is trimmed out in bamboo, but the giant robot hovering over it and the sci-fi theming may scare away those looking for a more traditional tiki space.

Still, Chopper has a serious rum collection at hand and their cocktails look to be on-point.

The Hurricane was a hot pre-tiki era night club on the northwest corner of 49th & Broadway from about 1940 through 1944. It filled the second floor of the Brill Building, a historic landmark famous for nurturing the popular music industry from the 1950s into the 1970s; anyone who was anyone in the music industry at the time was seen there.

The name, Hurricane, was probably inspired by the 1937 film, starring Dorothy Lamour.

It was decorated with fake palm trees and other tropical flora and fauna.

Most notably, Duke Ellington headlined at the Hurricane in 1943. According to Ellington, it was at the Hurricane that night club audiences first began to be integrated.

The Hurricane was operated by lawyer David J. Wolper, but many speculated that he was actually the front man for the mob and that they actually ran the place.

After many conflicting reports towards the end, about whether the club would stay open or was simply closed for remodeling, the Hurricane did indeed close.

Meanwhile, another successful spot, Zanzibar, whose tropical/African theme welcomed both a black and white audience, was looking for a new spot. They had opened the previous year in a smaller venue and were looking to expand.

The Zanzibar owners paid more than $50,000 and apparently another $35,000 to redecorate the old Hurricane location in gold, beige and black and opened later in 1944 to instant success with headliners like Cab Calloway and other famous musicians who frequently squabbled over who would headline this new premier club spot.

Another pre-tiki classic...

Harry "Sugie" Sugarman, manager of Grauman's Chinese Theater, opened his first Tropics supper club in 1934 or '35 at 421 North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills (later it became The Luau). It was such a success that he opened this second location, the Hollywood Tropics, in 1939.

Around 1945, the Hollywood Tropics was bought by Glenn Billingsley. That same year, Tom Breneman bought-in and changed the Hollywood Tropics to a self-named restaurant.

Tom Breneman died of a heart attack in 1949. After Breneman's death, the building was occupied by the ABC Radio Center.

Opened in 1959, a few months after Hawaii was given statehood.

This hotel had a magnificent palm tree sign, 73 rooms, and a very nice pool. Appeared to have little theming beyond the sign, but the sign was spectacular.

Unfortunately, the Tahiti ditched its tropical theme to become the Airport Travelodge in 1977. The motel is currently a Days Inn by WyndhamAirport.

Opened February 14th, 1963.

This location billed itself as "The Splendor of the Polynesian Islands brought to the Niagara Frontier."

They had a volcano effect, a waterfall, and a "tropical" river.

This location appears to have been around for at least 10 years, into the 1970s.

Opened circa 1965.

This motel had 28 rooms and a heated swimming pool as well as an attached "Tiki Restaurant".

It was run under the Best Western banner as the Aruba until about 1999, when it was rebranded as the Tucumcari Inn.

The Tucumcari Inn became run-down and has been permanently closed for several years now, since at least 2019, if not earlier. The structure still stands but no sign of any tiki signs or decor.