Tiki Bars
Ming's Restaurant & Lounge
Yreka, California, United States
Ming's is a Chinese restaurant with an attached bar area that is semi-Polynesian themed. There is a heavy use of lauhala mats, and all the lamps are made of tapa & bamboo and look like they are probably from Orchids of Hawaii. There are dark wooden masks throughout, but they look like generically-exotic Indonesian imports of recent manufacture. Tiki mugs are behind the bar. The restaurant has a dramatic Chinese facade that looks like it has been there for many decades; the bar feels like it acquired its Polynesian bent in the late '60s or mid-'70s. The restaurant itself apparently dates back to the 1880s.
And now the sad news: Ming's was purchased by a new owner around 2002; this new owner's immigration status precludes him from having a full liquor license, and now Ming's serves only beer and wine. The bar area is still intact, but no longer in active use.
Paradise Club
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Paradise Club (or Club Paradise, depending on which sign you read) has been under the same ownership since about 1991. It has gone through at least two name changes since its opening in 1954, when it was first known as Gene Kamp's Island Home.
For a while it was known as Grace D's (or Gracie Dee's Sneaky Tiki) from about 1976 - 1986.
Lauhala matting is used throughout (and the bar appears to still have its original ceiling treatment) but the tiki/tropical vibe has been toned down over the years.
Drinks, once selected from the single tropical drink menu on the premises, are served in tiki mugs. They are known for their original, called the "Banana Spider".
The bar reportedly has a bit of a dive bar feel, and caters to the area's robust Polish population.
Lun Wah Restaurant
Roselle, New Jersey, United States (Closed)
Lun Wah was a Chinese restaurant located in a nondescript strip mall, with Polynesian decor and tropical drinks served in tiki mugs. It became Lun Wah in 1974, and before that time it was called the Red Dragon. The restaurant had lots of bamboo and tapa cloth on the walls, and like most other tiki joints in this corner of the country, the few tikis looked like they were painted by a kindergartener. Other features of the decor included booths in bamboo huts, illuminated palm tree wall scenes, artificial palm trees throughout the restaurant and a koi pond with a functioning rock waterfall. The ceiling of the dining room was painted white unfortunately, but the dim lighting helped to make it feel cozy. The menu included a flaming pu-pu platter.
In 2013, Lun Wah was taken over by a new family who were going strong and keeping the tiki character intact, and making some upgrades.
However, Covid shutdowns and restrictions took their toll and they were forced to close permanently in February 2021.
The Bamboo Grove of Westwood
Seattle, Washington, United States (Closed)
The Bamboo Grove of Westwood is the home of Tiki Artist Dawn Frazier, also known as Sophista-Tiki. It was a single-apartment vacation rental for a time, from about 2008-2016.
It is located in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle. The unit is filled with vintage midcentury furnishings including a rattan couch, and has a built-in bar and tiki mural. The unit has a full kitchen, wireless internet, off-street parking and a private bamboo garden. Two twin beds can be pushed together to make one king-size bed, and a third person can be accommodated on a fold-away bed.
Since about 2016, Dawn no longer makes The Bamboo Grove available for rent, and today it is just her private residence. It is still as spectacular as ever and Dawn is continually making improvements and additions.
The King Kamehameha Tiki House
Sedalia, Missouri, United States
The King Kamehameha Tiki House was built in 1964 by William Parkhurst, on his own private land. It is owned today by his grandson, Rob Parkhurst. It has been used as a rental facility for many decades, and is still available for rental today.
The building sits off of Highway Y and Dresden Road upon a man-made island in a man-made lake, with an arched bridge from the land to the island. The structure has four peaked roofs arranged in a sort of plus-sign shape.
The space was once decorated with many items acquired during trips to Hawaii, and King Kamehameha imagery was found all around the building and grounds in the form of metal cutouts.
Today it appears to have been renovated and modernized but the structure is still the same.
Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge
Charleston, South Carolina, United States (Closed)
Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge was a funky, modern tiki/exotic/lounge bar and restaurant in the Avondale neighborhood of Charleston. It opened in early 2005. Tropical drinks were served in tiki mugs, and food was served late, until 1 a.m.
Caroline Smith-Adams, the face of Voodoo Tiki Bar for 15 years, passed away, so the team at Voodoo decided to rebrand the restaurant to honor her life.
From 10/22/2020 onward, the bar was re-branded as Caroline's Aloha Bar and given a new makeover along with a new website and Facebook page, until it closed on November 12th, 2022.
The Tropics - Dayton
Dayton, Ohio, United States (Closed)
The Tropics opened November 18, 1954. At one point it suffered a fire which gutted the interior. It was re-opened soon afterward.
At some point it was known as Georgie Rudin's Tropics -- at least as early as 1960 when Barney West was contracted to carve 4 large tikis for the establishment.
Cantonese and American food was served, and tropical drinks were served in tiki mugs. It was well-known as a live music venue.
The restaurant closed in 1988. A wrecking crew took down the structure later in 1994.
The Beachcomber - Winnipeg
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Closed)
The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Other restaurants in the chain were located in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.
The Beachcomber was located in the Carlton Motor Hotel in Winnipeg; the motel opened in 1961, and the Beachcomber was open at least as early as 1962. The restaurant had a "star-lit sky" ceiling, and had thatched huts, and an open "steak pit" area where patrons could see chefs at work. An alcove dining area had floats, tapa and beachcomber lamps.
The Beachcomber was open until 1990.
The Carlton Motor Hotel became the Carlton Inn, and the then non-Polynesian restaurant on site was called Paragon.
The building was torn down in 2012 when what is now the RBC Convention Centre expanded.
The Beachcomber - Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Closed)
The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Other locations were in Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.
The Calgary location was open at least as early as 1967, judging by newspaper advertisements.
However, it burned down on April 19th, 1972, and there is now an office building where it once stood.
The Beachcomber - Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Closed)
Opened in the late 1960s.
Advertising lunch specials at least as early as 1966 and architectural plans were submitted to the city the year prior in 1965.
The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Other restaurants in the chain were located in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
This location was demolished to make way for the Broughton Tower in the 1980s, the ground floor of which housed a Fogg & Suds location.
The Beachcomber - Edmonton
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Closed)
Opened 1963 and closed in 1980.
The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Other restaurants in the chain were located in Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria and Winnipeg.
The Beachcomber reportedly was owned by Zane Feldman, the original owner of the Edmonton Oilers hockey team.
It was razed in 1980, an office building now stands in its place.
Burt's Tiki Lounge - Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1999 at this smaller original location.
This was a popular bar with live music and no cover. Burt's had lots of kitschy decor, but not a lot of actual tikis.
In 2016, Burt's decided to trade this original Gold Avenue location for 515 Central NW as part of a significant expansion project. Burt’s nearly tripled in size to accommodate as many as 600-700 people for its live music shows.
The theming was kept the same but it was more sparsely decorated. After the move, the bar lost momentum and eventually closed in 2018.
There does not appear to be any connection between this Burt's Tiki Lounge and the Burt's Tiki Lounge in Salt Lake City.