Tiki Bars
Bob Lee's Islander
Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Closed)
This Chinatown restaurant was opened in 1951 by Bob Lee, a native of Canton, China, and called Bob Lee's Lantern House until 1960, when it was remodeled into a Polynesian paradise.
The visuals were over-the-top, with high-contrast, Technicolor carpeting and ceiling coverings, to create an effect that can only be described as "trippy."
Appears to have closed in 1977 after running afoul of health code violations over which Lee sued and offered an open door invitation for anyone to inspect his kitchen and restaurant. However, the damage appeared to be already done.
Big Fish Seafood Restaurant was in this location from @2006-2013. Jade Garden is in this location as of 2022.
Tiki Village Motel
Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Built in 1968.
This 30-room motel features an A-frame at the front and a sign with spears, although it is now much shorter than the original sign.
There used to be many more tikis around the grounds, but it appears a previous owner in the 1990s cleared out many of the weathered original tikis and tried to remodel things for a more Japanese aesthetic.
Despite this, there are still quite a few Witco tiki lamps in many of the rooms as can be seen in their promotional materials.
*Not to be confused with the Tiki Village Supper Club that once existed in Prince George.
Don the Beachcomber - Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (Closed)
The Sahara itself opened in 1952 and has long been considered a classic of the early Las Vegas "Strip" casinos. This Don the Beachcomber opened there December 1st, 1962, in the third floor of the Sahara, and featured decor by Eli Hedley, who also created the large signature tikis for the nearby Aku Aku. Dining and cocktail capacity was set at 300 persons. The facility featured a sky room with dancing, cocktail lounge, a huge waterfall and individual Polynesian style huts suspended over flowing water for the comfort of diners. The menu featured over 40 varieties of dishes. The Sahara Don the Beachcomber’s first female hostess in 1963 was Ruth Maestas, who recalled that prominent local residents who were regular customers used chopsticks that were stored in their personalized bamboo containers at the restaurant. She and her late husband, Louie “the Blade,” would later own the hotel barbershop and claim among their clients singer Robert Goulet, comedian Buddy Hackett and jazz drummer Buddy Rich. The Sahara closed on May 16th, 2011.
The Outrigger - Denver
Denver, Colorado, United States (Closed)
When the Trader Vic's in Denver first opened in 1954, it was called The Outrigger. This restaurant was in the historic Cosmopolitan Hotel, which opened in 1926 and was demolished in 1984.
The Outrigger name changed to Trader Vic's in 1962.
This Trader Vic's closed in 1978 when the corporation decided they wanted a fresher location than the, by that time, 52-year-old hotel, and Trader Vic's opened a different location at the brand-new Denver Hilton three blocks away.
A Don the Beachcomber's moved into the vacated spot left by Trader Vic's at the Cosmopolitan.
The second Trader Vic's location at the Hilton lasted until 1985.
Mauna Loa Lounge - Portage la Prairie
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada (Closed)
Mauna Loa Lounge was in the Mayfair Hotel, built during the early 1960s by George Kelly Hill.
The project was executed on the eastern part of the hotel. The walls and ceilings were of grass matting sewn on the large bamboo poles. The room resembled a large Polynesian hut with colored fish floats that glimmered as they were suspended by fishnets in between lighted king turtle shells. Painted leather and gilded tiles made the walls glow. There were gurgling fountains, hoTai (the god of good luck), lighted blowfish, peacock chairs, hand carved wooden tables, all on exotic theatre carpeting. The servers’ sporting flowered shirts and leis, brought drinks served in brightly colored glasses.
While listening to Hawaiian surf music, you could enjoy tall Singapore Slings and other tropical cocktails. Credit goes to Edith Holden (a talented artist), along with Daryl Giffin and Don Pelechaty who both hand carved and painted the tiki pole Gods to create the perfect look.
Mayfair Enterprises sold the hotel in 1966.
The building later burned down December 26th, 1976, destroying the Mauna Loa Lounge.
The Hut - Pontiac
Pontiac, Michigan, United States (Closed)
A newer dance club, above the Have a Nice Day Cafe. Less Tiki Bob's, more Tiki Bob's Cantina. Only not as nice. In photos, the only tikis are painted on the walls, and look strangely like flower pots.
As of 2021, this space is home to Elektricity Nightclub.
Tiki Lounge - Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada (Closed)
Opened @2002 and closed @2008.
Part of the Surrey Inn, which was active from 1974-2013.
The site is now home to Coast Capital Savings.
Aloha Polinesian Bar
Barcelona, Spain
Opened in 1976, this is a very large bar with a 250 person capacity and bills itself as the largest tiki bar in Barcelona.
It still has all of its original decor, including an amazing front bar area with a bundled rattan/bamboo bar railing, several Gaugin inspired nude Tahitian girl murals, and tikis throughout. There are several small rooms and alcove areas for more intimate smaller groups.
There is an anachronistic large television at the end of the front bar-- probably as an obligatory nod to sports fans. There is also a large table soccer game (foosball to North Americans) by the emergency exit.
Porcelain style signature Spanish tiki mugs are used, although many show signs of chipping or cold paint loss and have been in rotation a number of years.
Tiki purists may not always approve of the music or cocktail authenticity, but this is common with many of the Spanish tiki bars. Despite this, the ability to experience such an early time capsule of a tiki temple should not be missed.
The Beachcomber Room - at the Talisman Motor Inn
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Closed)
Opened in 1963, the Talisman Motor Inn had multiple restaurants for fine dining and entertainment.
The plan for the Talisman Motor Hotel was imagined after a trip to Japan with a vision of a Japanese steak house, garden, and overall design for business, modern banquet facilities, weddings etc. The hotel had their main dining room “Raffles” and their own tiki bar “The Beachcomber Room”. Within a few years The Beachcomber Room was relocated to the lower level and the original space was used for meeting rooms. The new “Beachcomber Lounge” did very well as a live music venue from April 1976 until it closed in 1991.
The Beachcomber Room's interior design was by Mary Orenstein of Toronto in a “Tahitian Style” featuring statues of Polynesian Warriors, a war canoe over the bar and South Pacific weapons. The band rested on “tons” of lava rock imported from California. It also included a 90ft. Polynesian mural.
This Beachcomber Mural Painting was created by Alexander Von Svodoba, an Austrian painter and mosaic artist. Von Svodoba was commissioned to create a ninety-foot mural in “rich tropical colours depicting a South Seas theme”. The mural was apparently removed and most of it destroyed when the Beachcomber was relocated.
The Eggroll
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States (Closed)
Opened in June of 1971.
As of 2025, this location is home to WellCare Urgent care.
The Lost Lei
Austin, Texas, United States (Closed)
The Lost Lei opened May 15, 2019 in Austin.
Located in the basement beneath Capital Grill.
The initial opening was underwhelming with decor consisting of thatch over the bar, some inexpensive tiki masks on the back bar, and some "Skull Columns" (three structural supports wrapped with plastic skulls in the center of the space).
Add to this, the bar was almost immediately met with controversy for issuing mugs that were blatantly copied from the famous Three Dots and a Dash Chicago mugs. They also produced mugs whose designs were ripped off from previous Tiki Farm and Crazy Al mugs.
They did slowly make efforts in the wake of widespread complaints and removed the mugs from general use. Although many ended up sold on the secondary market.
They also issued some colorful Royer swizzle sticks.
Closed in December of 2021.