Martell's Tiki Bar

Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, United States

Fred Martell opened the bar circa 1962 or shortly before, when there were no raw bars or multiple restaurants at the beach the way there are today. Then, it was known as Martell's Sea Breeze Club.

Dave Bassinder bought the place in the 1980s, and set to work transforming and expanding the operation.

Martell's Tiki Bar is a prime example of the confusion that has arisen between midcentury Polynesian Pop and muddled, any-tropical-will-do, anything-with-thatch-is-tiki "Tiki Bars."

This is the latter -- a bar focused on steel drums, Jimmy Buffett and Corona -- and the WRONG BODY OF WATER. While Caribbean influences have always been present in Polynesian Pop (rum, calypso), this is completely missing the mark. There is little or no tiki to be had here.

It's sad that Martell's owns "tikibar.com". They're completely within their rights, but... ugh.