Tiki Bars
Kanaloa - Portsmouth
Portsmouth, United Kingdom (Closed)
Kanaloa was a UK-based chain of tiki bars, this Portsmouth location opened in February 2013. It was part of the Tiger Tiger nightclub complex, and was more of a nightclub than a tiki lounge. The space was designed by CheekyTiki. The walls were lined with tapa cloth and bac-bac matting, and there are several faux palm trees. There were thatched roof "huts" for seating larger groups. The drink menu had several large drinks for sharing. There was a cover charge some evenings. It was all ages until 9pm, after that it was 18 and over only.
In addition to the original Kanaloa location in London (now closed), there were also locations in Cardiff (closed), Newcastle (closed), Leeds (closed), Glasgow (closed), and Croydon (closed).
Kanaloa - Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom (Closed)
Kanaloa was a UK-based chain of tiki bars. This location in Newcastle opened in August 2012 inside of the Tiger Tiger nightclub complex, and was more of a nightclub than a lounge. The space was designed by CheekyTiki. Kanaloa had a bridge entrance, into a room lined with bac-bac matting, with a bamboo-covered bar, and rattan seating. A cluster of glass floats decorated the ceiling. There was a cover charge for entry some evenings.
The space appears to have reverted back to a Tiger Tiger nightclub sometime around 2014-2015? and then later converted to Shoreditch in March 2020.
In addition to the original Kanaloa location in London (now closed), there were locations in Cardiff (closed), Portsmouth (closed), Leeds (closed), Glasgow (closed), and Croydon (closed).
Kanaloa - Cardiff
Cardiff, United Kingdom (Closed)
Kanaloa was a UK-based chain of tiki bars, this Cardiff location opened in August 2012. It was designed by the CheekyTiki design firm. Kanaloa was one of several clubs in one complex, and was more of a young nightclub than a lounge bar. The Kanaloa space had a bridge entrance, leading to a room with a bamboo-lined bar and short rattan stools. The walls were lined with bac-bac matting. The menu of tropical drinks featured large shared shared drinks, and there was a small menu of bar food available.
This Cardiff Kanaloa location opened in August 2012 in the Tiger Tiger space and then closed and apparently converted back to Tiger Tiger around 2015? and then later converted to Shoreditch in March 2020.
In addition to the original Kanaloa location in London (closed), there were locations in Newcastle (closed), Portsmouth (closed), Leeds (closed), Glasgow (closed), and Croydon (closed).
Kona Pali Apartments
Granada Hills, California, United States
Kona Pali is a 63-unit apartment building, built in 1962 in Granada Hills, in the San Fernando Valley. It is a remarkably well-preserved example of a midcentury Polynesian-themed apartment building. It has an identical twin in San Gabriel, the Kona Kai Apartments. The entrance is a dramatic A-frame. The entryway has a tile mosaic of the Hawaiian islands, and a water feature. Tiki carvings are all over the common grounds of the complex.
Marina Palms Apartments
Seal Beach, California, United States
This 54-unit apartment building was built in 1963 with a Polynesian theme, and was originally named Marina Lani. The entrance is a grand A-frame, with a dramatic lava rock wall intersecting it. Over time, the Polynesian details were removed and it was simply called Marina Apartments.
In 2009, a refresh of the communal spaces brought in fresh tropical landscaping and the addition of many new tikis, and the apartments were renamed Marina Palms. The color scheme was green/orange/yellow for this iteration.
As of 2021, the color scheme appears to be slate blue and white. The 2009 tikis are not as evident in promotional photos, although the honu/sea turtles can still be seen on the front.
Tiki Action Park
Centereach, New York, United States
Tiki Action Park is a tiki-themed miniature golf, arcade and amusement park in central Long Island, New York. There are go-karts, laser tag, and video games, but the big attraction is the outdoor, themed miniature golf course, complete with tikis, rock structures, and water features.
Before becoming tiki themed and changing the name to Tiki Action Park in 2010, it was called Castle Miniature Golf.
They do have a gift area inside where they sell tiki mugs, among other things.
The Castaways - Birmingham
Birmingham, United Kingdom (Closed)
The Castaways was opened by a young Birmingham nightclub impresario, John Reeve, in November 1966. It held a restaurant, bar, nightclub and casino. The Castaways attracted many big name acts of the day, including Dusty Springfield, Liberace, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Tom Jones. The house band was the Waikiki Islanders, a band that had begun playing Hawaiian music in 1937, was being continued in the 1960s by the daughter and son-in-law of an original member, and still continues on today.
The upper floor, where the dining and performance happened, was thoroughly themed with massive, 40-foot faux palm trees, carpeting made to look like footprints in sand, and a ship's hull.
After The Castaways closed sometime around 1969, it became a succession of other nightclubs. The multi-story building that housed The Castaways, Bradford House on Bradford Street just off of Rea Street, has been an empty husk for many years now.
Waterworks
Tallahassee, Florida, United States (Closed)
Waterworks was in business since the early 1990s, but it took on its tiki theming when it moved to this location in 2000. The space was decorated in thorough retro-tiki lounge style, with a rock wall, knotty pine walls, colored lamps, thatch, and tall carved tiki poles. The windows had a "rain" effect. The food was casual fare. The tropical drinks skewed more Florida-classic, though there were some old tiki standbys, and they were served in tiki mugs. The back of Waterworks held "Spaceport," a retro-futuristic space.
Closed abruptly on January 24th, 2024.
Polynesian Putter
St. Pete Beach, Florida, United States
Polynesian Putter is a bit of classic roadside Florida, a miniature golf course built around 1966 in St. Pete Beach. It has a giant moai with light-up eyes at the street front, which may have been sculpted by Lee Koplin. It is next to the Sea Palms Motel, both have been owned by Renate Ostrovski and her late husband since 1972.
Ollie Vee's Tiki Lounge
Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom
Ollie Vee's, a vintage store in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, added a Tiki Lounge to one of its upper levels in 2014. During the day, store visitors can enjoy the space with a coffee from the Ollie Vee's cafe. The store is closed in the evenings, but they sometimes hold special evening events in the space, and it is available for private rental; for these special events, they are licensed to serve tropical cocktails. On Saturday afternoons, there is a ukulele jam. The space is clad in bamboo and matting, with tikis.
As of September 2024, the owners announced they would like to sell their bar to someone who would enjoy running their own Tiki Bar...
High Roller Tiki Lounge - Copenhagen Drive - Solvang
Solvang, California, United States (Closed)
Established in 2016, High Roller Tiki Lounge was a tiki bar within Sort This Out Cellars' tasting room in downtown Solvang, California. All of the drinks served were variations on tropical drinks, using wine as the base instead of rum or other hard liquor. The space was thoroughly decorated with lauhala and tiki tchotchkes, and souvenir mugs were available.
Solvang was founded by a group of Danes who traveled west to establish a Danish community far from Midwestern winters. The city is home to a number of bakeries, restaurants, and merchants offering a taste of Denmark in California. The architecture of many of the façades and buildings reflects traditional Danish style. Additionally, since Solvang is in the heart of wine country, you can easily visit up to 20 different wine tasting rooms within walking distance of Sort This Out Cellars, so remember to pace yourself!
*NOTE: During July of 2020, High Roller re-located from 1636 Copenhagen Drive to 433 Alisal Rd. The new space features a large built-out performance area for live music - Club 433 - just off the patio and feet from the main bar.
The South Seas Cocktail Lounge - Battery Point
Battery Point, Tasmania, Australia (Closed)
The South Seas Cocktail Lounge opened in early 2015 on the waterfront in Hobart, on the Australia's island state of Tasmania.
The bar was small, and slightly tucked away, with windows blacked out (hooray!). Though small, space had plenty of tropical decor, including pieces by Witco and Bosko, and some large-scale quality tiki carvings. The focus was on quality classic tropical cocktails, and there was a large and growing rum selection.
Closed in 2018.