Tiki Bars
The Tropics - Denver
Denver, Colorado, United States (Closed)
This was a well-known pre-tiki burlesque nightclub with an exotic tiki/jungle theme that opened around the late 1940s and ran through the 50s.
Inside there were hourly thunder storm sound effects.
A very large tree branch on the ceiling with moss on it had little twinkling white lights hidden here and there.
The dance floor was hydraulic and could be lifted up for shows.
A big bird cage came down out of the ceiling above the dance floor for special shows with signature dancers inside.
There were tiki masks on the back walls that had black lights on them.
There was a lighted alligator pit in one back corner of the club.
The chairs had an animal skin prints on them, and the girls that worked there had animal skin printed bikini suits on with one shoulder strap.
Many headliners in music, comedy, and burlesque played here over the years. Blaze Starr in her leopard skin outfit below was just one honorable mention...
Today, this location is home to The Stone, a Recreational Cannabis Dispensary
Roxy's Tikibar
Nijmegen, Netherlands
Opened @November 2022.
From Roxy's:
"Roxy's Tikibar is the new place in Nijmegen for the tastiest cocktails, burgers and nachos. Exotic cocktails are central to tiki culture , including in our tiki bar.
We serve a wide range of well-known cocktails such as the Mojito, Pornstar Martini or Moscow Mule. Of course you will also find special tiki cocktails such as the Mai Tai, the Jungle Bird or the Ancient Mariner. One cocktail sounds and tastes even more exotic than the other. Served in an original tiki mug, you will soon feel like you are on holiday in our atmospheric cocktail bar.
Will we see you soon for a cocktail and a burger or a large bowl of nachos? Love, Team Roxy's"
Capt. J's Hurricane Tiki Room
Tilburg, Netherlands
Opened @November 2022.
From Captain J's Hurricane Tiki Room:
"Capt. J's Hurricane is a completely new concept in Tilburg.
A real tropical tiki room and latin club in the middle of the center.
There are few ways to escape modern problems,
but what if there was a place that transported you to another world?
The ultimate achievement in escapism. Enter the Tiki Room."
*NOTE: Capt. J's Hurricane is located in the De Lollipop building. Since an icon like De Lollipop can of course never disappear, De Lollipop will continue to exist as a festival and as a regularly recurring Saturday evening event under the name 'Lollipop Outdoor'.
Parliament House - Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
The new Parliament building was officially opened by His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, on 8th August 1984. Designed by Cecil Hogan, then Department of Public Works Director
Parliament House is an iconic A-frame building in Papua New Guinea, based on traditional Spirit Houses.
It is open to the public on week days (except for public holidays) and Parliamentary staff are available to do guided tours for groups of visitors. If you live in Port Moresby or are a visitor to Port Moresby make sure that you visit Parliament – it is certainly worth the effort.
Tiki Hideaway - at the Mean-Eyed Cat Bar - Manchester
Manchester, United Kingdom
This is the third in a series of Tiki Hideaways (the first opened in Leeds and the second opened in Liverpool at a sister Mean-Eyed Cat). It is part of the Escapism Bar Group family, which was founded in 2004 by husband and wife team Phil and Mel Harrison.
This space was previously home to a Thai BBQ restaurant that closed in October 2022.
This third Tiki Hideaway opened September 28th, 2023 in the basement under The Mean-Eyed Cat, and resembles the other two versions with a long bamboo bar, thatching, lit tiki mask wall sconces, palm frond wallpaper, and stools around the perimeter.
There is also a photo booth.
Wharf Fishhouse & Tiki Bar
Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Opened summer of 2023 and located in downtown Newport, RI, this two-level bar and restaurant is tucked away in-between shops and bars on the side of a building on Bowen’s Wharf.
The tiki decor is sparse but there are fish floats, walls covered with lauhala matting, fish netting on ceilings, and tropical plants throughout. The white ceilings and beige walls along with wide plate-glass windows run contrary to the usual dark and cloistered tiki bar environment. Neither are there the layers of tiki mementos and ephemera one might find at a Trader Vic's or other classic establishment, but Wharf Fishhouse is new and has room to add more if they wish.
Their selection of custom tiki drinks are served in various tiki mugs, and they have several Polynesian inspired dishes, with a variety of skewers, sliders, rangoons, wings, ribs, etc.. Additionally, they offer standard local New England fare.
From Wharf Fishhouse & Tiki Bar:
“POLYNESIAN INSPIRED SMALL PLATES, NEW ENGLAND CLASSICS AND TIKI BAR. RIGHT IN THE HEART OF BOWEN’S WHARF.”
Paradise Lost - New York City
New York, New York, United States
Opened Friday, October 13th, 2023.
Friday the 13th was appropriate to open a "Tiki Hell" themed bar with lava floors and demon-themed barware.
The name is derived from Milton's epic poem and although the decor is a bit red-saturated and hellish, there are definitely tropical elements to be found as well such as thatching, ship's crates, burned wood, etc...
"Upon the beaches of the lake of fire, deep within the depths of the Abyss, sits a small bar."
However, this is also one of the new wave of tiki bars that try to sidestep cultural appropriation issues by not having any actual tikis or hula girl imagery in their bar. They have a large menu of cocktails derived from the list of classics originated by Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic, but many of them are riffs with hell-themed names.
Rum Depot Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Founded by Dirk Becker in 2011, the Rum Depot Berlin is THE place for rum. At the front you can find the store has 800-1200 rums in stock.
In the back is the Berlin Rum Club Bar (opened in 2008). They do the live-tastings here. The Rum Club also has their own tiki mugs.
Dirk Becker is the author of the book “The Big Book of Rum” and the host of the German Rum Festival, the largest rum event on the planet. The festival was started in 2011 and currently has thousands of visitors each year during August/September. At last count, the festival hosted over 70 booths, more than 150 brands and therefore also over 500 different bottlings!
*Note: From a tiki decor perspective, this location is lacking. It is simply a VERY well-stocked rum liquor store with a dedicated area for tiki mugs (and some of their own signature mugs). However, their mascot is a tiki head and they are very tiki friendly/tiki adjacent since rum is the spirit of choice for most tiki cocktails.
Tucano's - Surry Hills
Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Opened in August 2023.
From the Tucano's website:
"Where tropical breeze meets Italian seas.
Experience our version of Modern Tiki, where tropical and Mediterranean flavours meet. (Tucano is Italian for toucan!)
Whether you’re after dinner, drinks, or disco party vibes set to our funky soundtrack, Tucano’s is a colourful local Surry Hills bar where we encourage you to wet your beaks."
*Not to be confused with the popular Brazilian grill restaurant chain of the same name in the US.
Tucano's is a bit misleading with describing itself as "Modern Tiki" but at least they acknowledge that it is their "version" and that there is some fusion with other genres going on (zebra and leopard upholstered furniture, disco night, and original tropical cocktails that tilt more toward Miami than Polynesia).
"Tiki" seems to be the leading buzzword when people really just mean "jungle" or "tropical" or "beachy". However, Tucano's does seem like a fun place and the cocktails sound good as well.
Quarterdeck
Narooma, New South Wales, Australia
Opened in 2001.
The Quarterdeck has an enviable spot smack bang on the banks of the Wagonga Inlet in Forsters Bay. It started its life as an oyster grower’s shed before evolving into a kiosk, then a fish’n’chip shop. Its previous owners took it over in 2001 and transformed it into a tiki-inspired bar and restaurant.
Now owned by Merivale.
From the Quarterdeck website:
"A long-standing Narooma institution, Quarterdeck has been known by locals as a place to catch up and celebrate for almost 20 years. Enjoy a menu that champions the freshest product the South Coast has to offer, alongside re-imagined tiki-style cocktails. Grab a banana daiquiri, watch the sun set, and laugh with friends as day becomes night."
LongBrow's Jungle Bar
Tuggerah, New South Wales, Australia
Opened Friday, May 12th, 2023.
From their website:
"A South American inspired Tiki Bar located in Westfield Tuggerah’s outdoor dining precinct.
Find yourself in a vibrant and tropical atmosphere, transporting you to the wild jungles of South America, complete with amazing authentic street food and refreshing tropical cocktails.
So come on down and escape to the tropics at Longbrow's Jungle Bar. Whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends or a casual catch-up, we have something for everyone and are open till late!"
Waiana Tiki Bar
Zürich, Switzerland
Opened in July 2023.
The Waiana Tiki Bar strives to convey an original South Seas atmosphere in the middle of old town Zurich. A huge palm tree on one of the two outdoor terraces with twelve and 24 seats points the way to the Polynesian terrain. The smell of coconut beach from a scent machine at the counter permeates the entire interior on the ground floor, the Tiki-style interior decoration, the service and the matching music create South Sea dreams if you want to get involved. The handmade tiki cups come from Niki's Tiki (a Hungarian craftswoman and daughter of a Budapest tiki bar owner).
With the opening of the Waiana Tiki Bar, Hunor Deák has fulfilled his dream of having his own bar in the tiki format. An anchor in the catering industry for 17 years, his gastronomic journey began at Morrison's , which is one of Budapest's oldest nightclubs. This was followed by bartending and bar manager positions on the cruise ship Aida, in the Café del Sol on Ibiza, in the English Loose Cannon Cocktail Bar and in the Committee Bar & Restaurant in Boston. Afterwards, he and his wife Betina De-Luca wanted to explore Waiana in Mallorca. But Covid and the subsequent war in Ukraine caused them to leave the island to find a new place for Waiana. They have been living in Switzerland since September of 2022.