Tiki Bars
The Enchanted Tiki Room - Orlando
Orlando, Florida, United States
When the Enchanted Tiki Room opened at Walt Disney World in 1971, it was a duplicate of the original Enchanted Tiki Room found at Disneyland.
In 1998 it was updated to be more "modern" with a show called "Under New Management". The new show featured the '90s-era Disney animated bird characters Iago and Zazu. The now loud, unsettling and money-focused show featured disco balls, flashing lights, and in place of the beloved water fountain, a shouting, angry tiki goddess named "Polynesia." However, even in this darkest hour, the building itself was still worth a visit, with classic Exotica tunes (such as Martin Denny) often heard playing in the lovely lanai area. The transporting paradise was not entirely lost.
Then, in January 2011, the Tiki gods had finally had enough. A fire struck the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the show room was damaged enough to shut it down. It was restored and reopened as a slightly edited version of the original Enchanted Tiki Room attraction in August 2011, and is now back to the grand, historic, relaxing escape we all love.
The Polynesian - Ocean Shores
Ocean Shores, Washington, United States
This motel was in operation by the 1960s. At this time, it contained two primary elements: an octagonal restaurant located in the parking lot, and an L-shaped building containing guest rooms on three levels. The L-shaped portion had a flat roof, while the restaurant had an octagonal roof with cupola covered in composite shingles. The hotel contained 70 units and conference facilities that could accommodate 300. During its early years of operation, it called itself "The Polynesian Motel and Restaurant," but by 1971 was known as the "Polynesian Condominium Apartment Motel."
The Polynesian Motel was one the early resort motels built on either side of Ocean Shores Boulevard during the 1960s and after. By 2016, a string of over 15 seaside motels or apartment buildings stood to the north of the Polynesian Motel and Restaurant, between Ensign Avenue NW and State Highway 115.
In 2016, the restaurant at the Polynesian Motel was called Mariah's.
On the exterior, Polynesian-themed decorative elements were concentrated around the front porte cochere which had a roof reminiscent of Polynesian long houses. Motel walls featured uncoursed ashlar trim.
The motel operated near a golf course that hosted the annual Pat Boone Celebrity Golf Classic in the 1970s.
*Note that the earlier address for The Polynesian was listed as 291 Ocean Shores Boulevard NW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569. The current address is 615 Ocean Shores Boulevard NW. So, either the original location closed and re-opened in the new northern location or someone adopted the old name. They seem like the same site, however, with the same L-shaped motel and octagonal restaurant. And, although the signage has changed, the sign pole brackets look just the same. Some enterprising tiki archaeologist needs to solve this mystery...
Trader Vic's Final Resting Place
Oakland, California, United States
The founder of the Trader Vic's chain, Victor Jules Bergeron, is interred with his wife Helen in the Mausoleum at Mountain View Cemetery. You will find them on the bottom floor at about eye level, near the west-facing end entrance. If you visit, be sure to bring some menehunes to leave in remembrance.
On the second floor of the same Mausoleum, Henry J. Kaiser is interred. Henry J. Kaiser's connection to tiki is that he built the Kaiser Aluminum Dome, where Arthur Lyman's albums were recorded, and the Hawaiian Village, which was later purchased by the Hilton chain.
Zombie Village - Oakland
Oakland, California, United States (Closed)
On May 13th, 1942, Yachtsman and Bay Area Restaurateur, Frank "Skipper" Kent, opened Skipper Kent's Zombie Village in Oakland, California, right across the street from the original Trader Vic's on San Pablo Avenue. Like his predecessors, Donn Beach and Trader Vic, Skipper Kent wanted to create a South Seas inspired hospitality where patrons could be transported to paradise. Together, with his fellow host, Lucille "Hafe" Hafer, Zombie Village offered typical-of-the-time pseudo-Polynesian Chinese food, but the real star was the drink menu. The restaurant was South Seas-styled both inside and out.
Skipper described the Zombie Village in a letter written in 1953:
"...through massive driftwood doors, with huge Easter Island idols on either side, with a pause to inspect the unusual gifts from all corners of the earth which are for sale at the curio corner, then the beauty of the tropical dining room unfolds before you. Palm trees, Philodendrons, Marantas, Calatheas, and everywhere colorful Anthuriums and overhead the exotic orchid.
...In the Malayan, African, and Garden Rooms, the dining tables are made of selected Koa and Monkey Pod woods. Spears, shields, and Kris, from Africa to Malaya and the South Seas, all collected by the skipper on his many voyages, explorations, and travels, adorn the walls....."
Over the course of two decades, Skipper Kent's Zombie Village would become one of Oakland's best known tiki establishments, and he would go on to open a second outpost on Columbus Avenue in North Beach, known just as "Skipper Kent's". In 1967, a three-alarm fire destroyed the Oakland restaurant, putting an end to its 25 year reign as a Bay Area Landmark and a favorite among those who longed for a temporary escape to a tropical island paradise.
Tonga Hut - North Hollywood
North Hollywood, California, United States
Established in 1958, the Tonga Hut is a small bar in the middle of the San Fernando Valley with some absolutely fantastic tiki decor, with a bamboo-ridged drop ceiling, lovely green booths and some great carvings. "Big Mo" the moai lurks just inside the front door. Towards the back is the "Drooling Bastard" tiki fountain which is overseen by the many placards from patrons who have passed the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard test to drink every cocktail in Beachbum Berry's Grog Log (at the Tonga Hut) within one year.
In May 2021 the back parking lot was transformed into a garden area with tent canopy and the back entrance was graced with a new Kirby tiki mask.
@2023, the space next door on the east side became available, and Tonga hut now leases it as well. So far, it hasn't been completely remodeled to match, but it is utilized during marketplaces and special events and they have hung some swag lamps and a few art pieces to begin the transition.
In 2013, the owners opened a second location in Palm Springs. See separate listing.
Tiki Room Bar & Restaurant - New York
New York, New York, United States (Closed)
Opened 2001.
This sad and (thankfully) short-lived attempt at modern-day tiki (so modern-day, they decided to leave out anything remotely tiki) was not built to attract the Polynesian Pop audience.
In 2004, they moved on to their next concept, and Star Bar moved in. Currently, as of 2021, this location is home to Sagaponack NYC, a seafood restaurant.
Trader Vic's - at the Savoy Hilton - New York
New York, New York, United States (Closed)
This Trader Vic's was a mainstay in the Savoy Hilton from April 3rd, 1958 onward, but was demolished in 1965 to make way for the General Motors building. At that time, the restaurant moved across the street to a location in the Plaza Hotel. Both Bob Fosse and Stanley Kubrick were regulars, and in 1964, Kubrick first discussed his idea for 2001: A Space Odyssey here.
Trader Vic's - at the Plaza Hotel - New York
New York, New York, United States (Closed)
This site was a relocation of the original New York Trader Vic's, which was in the Savoy Hilton.
When the Savoy Hilton was demolished in 1965 to make way for the General Motors building, the Trader Vic's moved here, to the Plaza Hotel.
This location opened August 22, 1965.
When Donald Trump bought the Plaza in 1989, he closed the Trader Vic's.
There was a 40-foot outrigger canoe on display here that was used by Marlon Brando in the movie "Mutiny on the Bounty."
Waikiki Wally's
Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (Closed)
Waikiki Wally's, opened by Hayne Suthon in 2002, was a modern Polynesian restaurant with nods to Polynesian pop history. It was connected via a tunnel to Lucky Cheng's, a drag cabaret also owned by Suthon; Waikiki Wally's closed in January 2009 when Lucky Cheng's moved to a new location.
Their menu art and several promotional ad cards featured art by Richie Fahey.
Otto's Shrunken Head
Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
Otto's Shrunken Head opened in 2002 and is a tiki-meets-punk bar on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Live music acts play regularly in the back room. The music styles range from rock to metal to exotica, and it's often loud. The front entry of the bar has cases filled with tiki mugs and knick-knacks. Over the bar is a row of pufferfish lamps. There are carvings by Wayne Coombs and Crazy Al. Drinks are served in mugs that are available for sale, including a custom shrunken head mug.
In late 2010 a fire damaged the back room of Otto's, but repairs were able to be made swiftly.