Tiki Bars
Mishima's
Gardena, California, United States (Closed)
This location had a fantastic back-lit plastic-faced sign. The sign's tiki head stood over 8' tall with gas-burning tiki torches on either side.
Located at Western & 186th St., Torrance, CA. Open at least through the 1970s, but saw redevelopment in the 1980s.
Now home to (as of 2022) Kansha Creamery.
South Seas Cafe - San Diego
San Diego, California, United States (Closed)
South Seas Cafe (1937-1977) was San Diego’s first large, Tahitian-themed restaurant, home of ‘rain on the roof’ just like at Ray Haller’s Seven Seas (1935) in Hollywood (later Bob Brooks Seven Seas).
The South Seas Cafe not only had the distinction of being the first large Tahitian/Pre-Tiki restaurant in San Diego — it was a woman-owned business. Opened Saturday night July 10, 1937 by Ruth W. Becker and Charles Thomas, South Seas Cafe was located across from the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Pacific Highway.
“We feel sure that the atmosphere of the ‘South Seas’” said co-owner Charles Thomas to the press, “in which we produce lightning, thunder and the beating rain of a tropical storm, will delight seekers of the unusual. The South Seas illusion will be enhanced by Tahitian portraits and figure studies, done by Leeteg. The haunting rhythms of Hawaii will be produced nightly by steel guitars and ukuleles in the capable hands of Stone’s Hawaiians.”
Consolidated Aircraft Corporation’s newly-built production facility nearby provided a busy lunch crowd. And the novelty of an indoor rainstorm with thunder and lightning drew in as many patrons as could fit in the Tahitian-inspired restaurant. Their collection of ‘figural studies’ by painter Edward Leeteg certainly didn’t hurt, either.
Along with the Leeteg paintings down in the bar, they prominently featured an 11-foot-tall black velvet nudie by Morris Levine in the upstairs dining area, and on their menus. The Levine was reportedly won in a Las Vegas dice game bet by Wilbur Clark.
Top it off with thick steaks. Fried shrimp. Rum drinks. Entertainment by Stone’s Hawaiians, Teddy ‘K’ and his Hawaiians, Benny Kealoha and his famous ‘Echo Song.’ Comedy by Our Gang actor Spec O’Donnell. All this made the South Seas Cafe a destination spot.
The South Seas closed in 1977 and was replaced by a ladder store. For years it was a GolfMart, and later was part of an AMVETs thrift store properties. Most Recently, as of 2021, the property was vacant and up for lease.
Del Webb's Ocean House
San Diego, California, United States (Closed)
Del Webb's hotel Ocean House was located on the Pacific Coast Highway on Mission Bay.
Del Webb was an American real-estate developer, and a co-owner of the New York Yankees baseball club. He also built the Kuilima Hotel & Resort (now known as the Turtle Bay Resort) in Hawaii.
Opened in 1962, with design by Las Vegas architect Martin Stern, Jr. (1917-2001).
The complex sat on several acres, had 200 rooms in the hotel, a dining room, coffee shop, the Jolly Roger cocktail lounge, and banquet and convention facilities to accommodate up to 1,000.
The most notable tiki features were several impressive carvings around the pool area. There were also brightly painted tiki mask faces along one exterior wall -- shown in the Jerry Lewis film, The Big Mouth (1967).
The cocktail lounge was not a tiki bar, but was a deeply immersive nautical themed space.
It was sold two years later to become the Hilton San Diego Inn, becoming the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, renovated in 2007.
Currently (as of 2022) owned by Noble House Hotels & Resorts and branded as the San Diego Mission Bay Resort. No trace of the tikis today...
Cafe Aloha
Buffalo, New York, United States (Closed)
This pre-tiki establishment featured live musical entertainment during the 1940s.
Jube
Cádiz, Spain (Closed)
Opened in 1977.
El Jube was a cocktail pub located in the old "U", in front of the "La Laguna" Health Center.
It was a calm and exotic place, jungle-like, with hanging plants everywhere, branches on the ceilings, fruits, and, a small fountain in the center, with a waterfall included, and two parakeets in a cage.
At the entrance there was a container with peanuts so that you could feed the birds.
At one point, they also had at least one monkey -- Arturo, whose owner from time to time took him for a walk around the block of the premises.
Toward the end of its life, the owners tried to convert the theme into a western/cowboy atmosphere, which many found quite jarring given its history.
The pub closed in November 2017, just as it was about to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge
Bend, Oregon, United States
Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge opened March 4th, 2021 in the upstairs space above Saxon's, formerly occupied by Level Two.
Rapa Nui serves fresh-pressed cocktails along with tapas with an Asian fusion flavor. They have several versions of bao, the Chinese-style buns, along with wings and drinks including flaming Scorpion Bowls -- all perfect for sharing.
Swaylo's Tiki Restaurant & Bar
Longmont, Colorado, United States
Opened March, 2022 in the former site of an Outback Steakhouse.
SWLO is a “district” of Longmont and many pronounce it "SWayLO".
Sean and Rebecca Gafner own three other restaurants in Longmont—the Roost, Jefes Tacos & Tequila, and Smokin’ Bowls—all of which are located on the city’s Main Street.
The center bar of Swaylo's is housed within the gray hull of an old wrecked pirate ship. Seating is spread out around the outside of this centerpiece with plenty of other tiki decor, including pufferfish, glass floats, and stained glass parrots.
Hale Koloa - at the Prince Kuhio Apartments & Hotel
Koloa, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
Built in 1962.
Today, the bar and restaurant is gone and this property has been converted to condos.
Located adjacent to Prince Kuhio Park and mere yards from the ocean on the sunny South Shore at Poipu Beach in Kauai.
Pele Apartments
El Monte, California, United States (Closed)
Built in 1964.
This 1-story building has 93 units.
The location is hardly recognizable, years later, in 2022, as the M Motel.
The kidney-shaped pool and waterfall in center appear to have been removed/concreted over.
The corner A-frame and the rest of the roof-line is the same but the exterior has been completely re-done with any stonework replaced and a blah gray and white paint scheme with brick-work accents added.
Tiki Apartments
Covina, California, United States (Closed)
Built in 1963, this apartment complex features two A-frames in front and an A-frame pool house in back. Original name unknown...but labeled "Tiki Apartments" on blueprints.
Features 14 units and 2 stories.
Oceanic Arts was consulted about decor for this location, so it's quite possible it once had tikis or other decor on grounds.
As of 2022, this location was closed, but not demolished, possibly awaiting refurbishment or re-development.
Menehune Bar - at the Edgewater Hotel
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1951 by Roy Kelley.
This bar seems to have been adjacent to the Coral Terrace Restaurant at the Edgewater Hotel.
Since 2007, with the creation of the Waikiki Beach Walk, this entire area has been redeveloped and no signs of the original structure remain.
Twin Tiki Inn
Eddyville, Kentucky, United States (Closed)
Built in 1969.
The Twin Tiki Inn boasted a Polynesian theme with gas fired tiki torches, rattan furniture, and its signature double-headed tiki sign.
In early 1992 the owner converted the property to a Regency Inn. The only trace of Tiki now, is the mention of it on the history section of their website.