Laki Kane - London
United Kingdom
Laki Kane opened in July of 2018 and was located in the heart of Upper Street Islington, London.
Beyond the Polynesian inspired decor one typically associates with tiki bars, Laki Kane also tried to pull from other tropical areas, including the Caribbean (bongo drums) and South East Asia (elephant wallpaper and swinging chairs).
While those who frequent tiki bars may have been disappointed at the lack of tiki carvings (although there were some pillar tikis) or tiki artwork, they did have several very impressive in-house tiki mugs designed by Bai of France just for this location and a very robust tropical craft cocktail menu.
The name Laki Kane comes from the lucky (Laki) sugar cane (kane) which is converted over time into the rums used in their cocktails.
The cocktail list was designed by co-owner, Georgi Radev, a former Mahiki bar manager (11 years at that location) and author of the cocktail book, Let's Get Tropical.
The bar prided itself on being the first in the world not to use any refined sugar in its cocktails. Instead the bar used natural sweeteners including sugar cane juice, agave, honey and a wide range of tropical sweeteners.
They also endeavored to use a range of fruits not commonly seen in western cocktails, including Soursop (something between coconut and peach), Cupuacu (between peach and cacao), and Wood Apple (cross between mango, peach and grapefruit).
Each table was fitted with call buttons for service, meaning that you could call on tiki-dressed waiters at any time for a re-fill.
They also had a micro distillery on premises and made their own bespoke rum in the upstairs bar, The Spiced Dry Rum Club. This area was dedicated to teaching guests Laki Kane’s unique re-distillation process.
The kitchen was helmed by renowned chef Michael Moore in its early years.
In late 2024, celebrity Chef Collin Brown took over the helm and introduced a vibrant, internationally-inspired tapas menu at the Islington bar. Brown is known for his work with A-list celebrities and his Caribbean-inspired cuisine.
This bar announced its closing date for September 1st, 2025.
Details
- Type
- Bar & Restaurant
- Phone
- 020 7607 0766
- Address
- United Kingdom
- Closed?
- Yes (Permanently)
- Links
Gallery
9 Tiki Mugs
3 Visits
The Splash-Down – 8 Jan 2023
We’ve had a busy family vacation in London and the partner and kids want to have dinner in the hotel. With Laki Kane a quick cab ride away it’s a no brainer to sneak in some pre dinner tiki drinks!
I pick up the London cab outside Kings Cross station (we are staying at the Standard just across the road) and I high tail it up to Islington.
For a Sunday night, it’s jumping. Or as the ‘youth’ like to say, it’s a vibe.
I start off with their signature cocktail. The namesake a Laki Kane which is rum and sugar cane juice and some spices. It’s a refreshing kick off. Garnish was excellent and included the fruit of the sugar cane as well as some sugar cane strips. The straw? Pasta! I slurped that one down quick time so I surprise my bartender Mario by calling for a Pinup Zombie straight away. It’s a stronger drink and I can pick out the cherry liqueur. I also grabbed some prawn crackers to slow me down - which had the desired effect.
After the zombie I felt like a classic so grabbed a Painkiller. Loved the presentation but this version was super light on the coconut. I also nabbed a mug. These were great value - only GBP20. I couldn’t decide between the 2 drinks I had but ended up going for the traditional / signature Laki Kane mug. I wish I had a bit more room in the luggage for their zombie mug which was also a great look.
A fleeting visit as the clock was chiming for my family dinner to begin but great to see the tiki fire still burning in London after the demise of Trader Vic’s.
TikiDeathMetal – Date: Unknown
