Tiki Bars
Waikiki Burger - Potsdam
Potsdam, Germany
Opened April 4th, 2012.
Located in Potsdam, Germany. Americans, especially Californians, might find it similar to the Islands Hamburger Restaurant chain.
In addition to burgers and other fast food offerings with a Hawaiian twist, they offer Hawaiian beers and cocktails at their bar.
On September 16th, 2017 they had their 5th anniversary party with a Hula dance show and live Hawaiian music.
The owner changed in 2023. The tropical atrium was closed by the new owner and all wall paintings were removed.
South Pacific - at Pittsford Plaza - Rochester
Rochester, New York, United States (Closed)
This bar and restaurant was located in Pittsford Plaza, a 530,000 square foot open-air center in a suburb of Rochester, New York, built in the early 1960s.
"Specializing in Polynesian, Cantonese, and Mandarin dishes".
Today, there is no sign of the South Pacific. The location is now home to Century Liquor & Wines.
Tiki Strandbar derBaari
Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany
This small seasonal beach bar has been running a tiki theme since 2018.
They do not serve food, but they do have a volleyball net.
They also serve tiki drinks in tiki mugs.
Mangoladas Tiki Bar
Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany
Built December 18th, 2010.
This is a lightly themed tiki bar with a mural of a surfing tiki on one interior wall, some netted fish floats, and bamboo trimming.
They do serve a variety of tiki cocktails in tiki mugs.
Samoan Joe's - Skydome - Coventry
Coventry, United Kingdom
Opened June 30th, 2023 at Skydome, which is a multi-purpose entertainment center featuring a 4,000 person arena, a gym, nightclubs, restaurants, and an ice rink.
Samoan Joe's moved here from its old location on Spon Street in Coventry, which closed June 24th, 2023.
This location at Skydome had previously been home to FOMO Restaurant and is a much bigger space, allowing more room all-around, especially for the dance floor.
Some details include a photo booth, a canoe on the roof, a VIP area, neon signs, hand painted murals throughout, and plenty of tiki mugs to serve cocktails in.
The updated cocktail list also features at least 4 drinks which include fire, according to bartenders.
Polynesian Palace - at the Reef Towers Hotel
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
The Reef Towers was built in 1959.
The Reef, Reef Towers and Edgewater hotels were sold to the Cinerama movie company in 1969 but Roy Kelley re-purchased the hotels from Cinerama in 1982 to re-integrate them back into the Outrigger chain.
The Polynesian Palace was the nightclub at the Reef Towers associated with Don Ho's long-running regular performances from 1970-1981, but it was also home to many other performers, including Al Harrington (The South Pacific Man).
Since 2007, with the creation of the Waikiki Beach Walk, this entire area has been redeveloped and the Reef Towers is now Club Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk.
The Chief's Hut - at the Cinerama Reef Hotel
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
The Reef hotel was built in 1967.
The Chief's Hut was an outdoor poolside dining area at the Cinerama Reef Hotel. Circa 1969 if not earlier.
Run by Bob Maynard, they advertised "Dining Under The Stars".
The Reef, Reef Towers and Edgewater hotels were sold to the Cinerama movie company in 1969 but Roy Kelley re-purchased the hotels from Cinerama in 1982 to re-integrate them back into the Outrigger chain.
Since 2007, with the creation of the Waikiki Beach Walk, this entire area has been redeveloped and the Reef is now known as The Outrigger Reef Waikiki beach resort, with The Chief's Hut area completely gone and remodeled.
Okolehao Bar - at the Honolulu International Airport
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
The governor, on April 27, 1951, signed an act to change the name of Honolulu Airport to Honolulu International Airport.
There was still much construction to do, however, and the new terminal and facilities took a few years to develop, but several airlines, including Pan American Airways and United Airlines inaugurated jet service between the mainland United States and Hawaii in 1959.
Eventually, the Okolehao Bar was added to entertain guests. This was probably when the new John Rodgers Terminal was dedicated on August 22, 1962, during the annual conference of the Airport Operators Council, held in Honolulu August 19-25, 1962. The entrance to the bar can be seen in the press photo below.
This bar functioned through the 60s and into the 70s.
Eventually, in 2017, they changed the name of the Honolulu International Airport to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
Tiki Fala Restaurant
Arlington, Virginia, United States (Closed)
This location was functioning circa 70s - late 80s.
The interior of the restaurant was decorated with lots of decorations including Orchids of Hawaii lamps and masks.
By 1990 this location was closed and had become a Korean Restaurant named Sang Rok Su, which purportedly kept the Polynesian decor.
Today, as of 2023, any sign of Polynesian decor is gone and the location is home to The Celtic House Irish Pub.
Del Webb's Kuilima Resort Hotel & Country Club
Kahuku, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
Turtle Bay opened its doors in May 1972 as Del Webb’s Kuilima Resort Hotel and Country Club. The hotel boasted 443 ocean view rooms and a golf course. Webb was inspired by the name of the area the hotel sits on called Kuilima. In the Hawaiian language kui lima means "joining hands".
The former owner of the New York Yankees opened the resort with none other than Bob Hope as the headliner.
Webb had the vision of making Kuilima the first casino in Hawaii, however a bill that would make gambling legal that he anticipated passing died.
The resort took the Turtle Bay name officially in 1983. However, locals called the area Turtle Bay before then because turtles commonly feed in the bay.
Over the years what hasn’t changed is Turtle Bay’s untouched coastline, expansive grounds and legendary surfing. The resort rests on 1,300 acres of paradise. It is home to the stunning Kawela Bay, Kuilima Farm and the most northern tip on the island of Oahu, Kahuku Point.
The splendor of Turtle Bay has drawn Hollywood to its shores over the past 5 decades. More than 150 movies, TV shows and series have been filmed at Turtle Bay including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Hawaii Five-0 and Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle.
In April 2020, the hotel closed to the public in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic. Owners used the down time to completely transform Turtle Bay from the inside out with world renowned designer Dianna Wong and the architects of WCIT Architecture leading the charge.
*NOTE: It does not appear that the three tikis that stood outside in the 70s are still in place, although with all the remodeling it is possible that there may be new Polynesian art and decor somewhere on the grounds.
Flamingo Tiki Room
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Opened November 14th, 2022.
Flamingo Tiki is AHMM’s second project for client Humankind Hospitality, and it joins the Oso on Paseo bar in the thriving arts community of the Paseo District of Oklahoma City.
The interior features a large central bar with curved banquette seating and there is additional terrace seating outside. The new interior teams mid-century styling and materials with a tropical color palette that extends to its bright pink exterior. The tropical theme is further enhanced by the introduction of indoor planting, LED planted lighting, hanging planters and window boxes.
Although there is "tiki" in the name and they serve a number of traditional tiki cocktails, the decor and theming of this location is skewed towards "Baja Tropical" like the affiliated Oso on Paseo -- even serving the same menu of Baja tacos. The ambiance is not the traditional dark tiki room with layers of nautical and Polynesian artifacts, especially carved tikis, that originated with Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic. Rather, the exterior pink facade and subdued but tasteful interior call to mind an upscale beach resort.
They do serve drinks in a variety of tiki mugs, however, and their food and drink has garnered rave reviews since their opening. They also have a variety of swizzle sticks.
The Kona-Kai Lounge - at The Sheraton Motor Inn
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States (Closed)
The Sheraton Motor Inn, built in 1964 at the southwestern corner of Interstate 40 and Knollwood Street, offered the traveler more than overnight accommodations. With 122 bedroom units, the inn featured a 315-seat K & W Cafeteria and the Hawaiian-themed Kona-Kai Lounge. Palmetto trees surrounded the motel and a swimming pool and putting green provided entertainment for the guests. An explosion, blamed on a natural gas leak, leveled the motel on January 18, 1988. Today, a variety of tenants occupy the 380 Knollwood Street buildings that replaced the Sheraton Motor Inn.