Tiki Bars
Smuggler's Cove
San Francisco, California, United States
Smuggler's Cove was opened December 8th, 2009 by Martin Cate, a renowned rum expert and longtime tikiphile who was one of the founders of Forbidden Island in Alameda. Smuggler's Cove specializes in all varieties of rum and rum drinks, with a particular emphasis on historic and exotic cocktails. Cate has attracted some of the top bartender talent in the talent-rich city of San Francisco. Smuggler's Cove regularly appears on the lists of the best bars in the world. It has proven incredibly popular: if you go on a weekend, be prepared to possibly wait in a line for entry.
The decor is a blend of nautical and tiki. The dimly-lit bar spans three floors: the main and lower levels each have their own bars, and an upper half-level is a tiki hut that overlooks the main floor. There is a waterfall between the main floor and the lower floor, with a small pool at the bottom. The construction was led by Ignacio "Notch" Gonzalez, of San Jose's Top Notch Kustoms.
The offerings can be overwhelming in scope: over 500 rums, and more than 75 cocktails. If you're intent on trying as many as possible, consider entering the Rumbustion Society; those who complete the list are rewarded for their efforts.
Kona Inn and Kona Kai Club
San Diego, California, United States (Closed)
Kona Kai Club opened in 1953, and along with the nearby Bali Hai Restaurant, was one of the first developments on the predominantly Polynesian-themed Shelter Island. The Kona Kai Club was a marina, intended from the start to serve high-end yachts, and it developed into the premiere marina in San Diego. The catalog of celebrities mooring pleasure boats there is impressive: Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Jack Lemmon, Gregory Peck, Jimmy Durante, Dick Van Dyke, Liberace, and many more.
The Kon-Tiki bar & lounge adjoined the club's main dining room and came complete with a Kon-Tiki sail waving from the bar itself.
In 1959, the Kona Inn hotel was opened next door (at 1901 Shelter Island Drive). Later in the year, the entire property was purchased by Jack Wrather, a Hollywood producer who was the original owner of the Disneyland Hotel. Wrather expanded the marina, and in 1963 sold the club to John Alessio, owner of the famous Hotel del Coronado. Alessio started to add Mediterranean touches, including an octagonal structure echoing the one at the Coronado.
The Kona Inn and Kona Kai Club underwent their final renovation from 1995-1997, which completed the conversion from Polynesian to Mediterranean. The name was removed in 1998, and it became Shelter Pointe Hotel & Marina.
Today, the name is back (well, nearly: it is called Kona Kai Resort & Spa) but the theming is entirely Mediterranean.
Rock-a-Tiki - Berlin
Berlin, Germany (Closed)
Rock-a-Tiki was a clothes store carrying both vintage and rockabilly-label items in the Prenzlauer berg of Berlin. It was once in another location on Eberswalderstrasse.
This and several other stores were reportedly folded into a store called Class of Berlin.
Aloha-Luau Lounge
Berlin, Germany (Closed)
Aloha-Luau Lounge was a short-lived pop-up in the Kreuzberg area of Berlin in early 2007. There was a small bar in the back of the space, with an art gallery in the front. Aloha-Luau offered classic tiki drinks like Zombies, Navy Grogs and Mai Tais.
Tiki Brett
Berlin, Germany (Closed)
Opened in 2008.
Tiki Brett was a small bar located underneath Classic Tattoo, a tattoo parlor featured on a German reality show inspired by Miami Ink, called Tattoo - Berlin sticht zu. The manager of the tattoo parlor, Thomas Fender, ran the bar. Much of the decor came from Berlin's beloved Tabou Tiki Room.
Closed in 2009.
Tiki Heart Cafe & Shop
Berlin, Germany
Tiki Heart opened in Berlin's Kreuzberg area in early 2006. It has two parts: upstairs, a cafe serving coffee, cocktails and food; downstairs, a shop selling clothes and accessories. Tiki Heart is adjacent to the Wild at Heart music venue, and caters to the rockabilly crowd.
The Tahitian - Pasadena
Pasadena, California, United States (Closed)
The Tahitian in Pasadena opened on November 21st, 1961.
This location at 137 S. Lake Avenue was previously home to Steve Romer's Surf Rider, which had closed only 4 years before.
The Tahtian restaurant was co-owned by Don Avalier and Bill Dove with Chef Francois Sirgant as a third partner. It was one of two Tahitian restaurants, the other location was in Studio City. There was also a Royal Tahitian restaurant in Ontario, CA that used identical lettering and was likely related. Menu cover tiki was designed by Andres Bumatay. The decor was supplied by Oceanic Arts and Sea & Jungle, and the ceramic table lamps and coconut mugs were supplied by Spurlin Ceramics.
Open through at least 1968.
The Tahitian - Studio City
Studio City, California, United States (Closed)
The Tahitian in Studio City opened February 20th, 1959, and was one of at least 2 locations -- the other was in Pasadena. The Royal Tahitian in nearby Ontario, CA had identical lettering, and may have been related. Menu cover tiki (same as tiki outside of front door) was designed by Andre Bumatay. The decor was supplied by both Oceanic Arts and Sea & Jungle, with coconut mugs and ceramic table lamps from Spurlin Ceramics. The location is now a parking lot.
Mai Kai Lounge -- at the Tecumseh Inn
Tecumseh, Michigan, United States
Mai Kai Lounge is the bar of the Tecumseh Inn (built in 1964), on the west edge of town. The bar opened in 1971 and remained mostly untouched, until 2018-2021 when it was closed and then given a makeover.
The bar originally had carved Witco tiki barstools, and two tall tiki poles. The table and bar surfaces were covered with a tapa design, and the circular booths were upholstered in '70s vinyl colors: orange, avocado, aqua, blue. The backs and toe-kick areas of the booths were upholstered in green astroturf, and were surrounded by bamboo curtains and faux bamboo plants. There were two hanging rattan chairs suspended from the ceiling, with orange cushions. The lighting was dim and moody, provided by float lamps, beachcomber lamps, and white and red string lights. The building's exterior was simple, but the white walls had modern abstract shapes in relief.
Despite the ideal tiki bar setting, and the full bar, there was no menu of tropical cocktails.
As of April 2009, the bar was temporarily closed, but the owner of the bar assured that none of the decor was being removed. However, as of 2018, it was reported by area residents that the place had been gutted and tiki furnishings were now gone.
This was partly/temporarily true, but the bar did re-open in 2021 with brand-new brightly painted wall murals and much of the interior decor still intact. The floor plan seems more open with removal of some of the fake foliage and bamboo curtains. The Witco barstools are noticeably absent in new photos, so they may be sold or in the process of being restored. All of this refurbishment was part of sprucing up the property for re-sale in 2021. It was listed on loopnet.com for $895,000, and with the assertion that it has new management in place.
The "Jacuzzi Room" did have an Orchids of Hawaii hanging shell lamp and a few other pieces of tiki decor even after the initial refurbishment...but it might have been removed as part of their re-theming to a boathouse/lodge/western look for the overall site by the new owners.
As of 2024, they still advertise the "Tiki Bar" as a BYOB adult hangout that can be reserved. Their website shows a group drinking beer and eating pizza around a small table in a brightly lit room...
Tiki Limbo
Santa Elena, Ecuador
Tiki Limbo is a small hotel/hostel, restaurant and surf shop catering to the casual, backpacking tourists who come through this small coastal town. It was created in 2003 by the husband and wife team of Fernanda Solis (from Argentina) and Lorenzo Torre (from Spain). The couple supervised the full construction of the thatch-covered, '50s Americana, Polynesian Pop-inspired building. Every room of the entire building is thoroughly decorated in thatch, bamboo, and other tropical details and there are plenty of tikis.
The hotel has 11 rooms in both group and private configurations. The restaurant specializes in vegetarian fare, as well as seafood. The shop sells surf clothes and accessories, and offers surf rentals as well.
Polynesian Inn Restaurant
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States (Closed)
The Polynesian Inn Restaurant was in a big box of a building, with five peaked roof structures forming a zig-zag across the top, with the middle one being higher than the others. There was a large, bold sign at the street with "Polynesian Inn" supported by two crossed spear-like structures. It also had a "Tahitian Room."
The owners were C.L. "Vern" Hostetler (Vern passed on November 26th, 1990 -- aged 55) and Dolores "Dee" Hostetler (Dolores passed on July 5, 2014 -- aged 79). In addition to the Polynesian Inn, they also owned and operated the Dutchman Florist in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.
The Polynesian Inn looks to have been operated during the late '50s or '60s (at least as early as 1966 according to one news article advertising a private party and one postmarked postcard) but it's possible this location was very short-lived.
It's highly unlikely that there is any connection to the Polynesian Cocktail Lounge, which opened in 1990.
There is a Denny's (that looks to date from the '60s or '70s) and a small park in the area where this restaurant used to sit.
Hawai Waipahu Paradise
Madrid, Spain
Built in 1979.
Hawai Waipahu Paradise is a small bar on the outskirts of Madrid. The front facade features beautiful, intricate tile work in the shape of Papua New Guinea masks. There is an outdoor patio in the back. Drinks are served in the gorgeous tiki mugs that are common to all tiki bars in Spain. The decor in the space is simple, but the bar back has some nice, elaborate carved details.