Tiki Bars
Pieces of Eight
Marina del Rey, California, United States (Closed)
This location was built in 1962.
The theme was "pirate" with a good dose of Polynesian Pop, especially with the drinks.
This was one of the eight (at least) restaurants operated by the Specialty Restaurant company in the LA area that had various degrees of Poly Pop and Nautical themes.
Later, this site became Shanghai Red's, and then Whiskey Red's and at some point the roofline and interior were remodeled but much of the bones remain.
Most people associate Pieces of Eight with the cocktail of the same name which originated here and was later re-printed in Beachbum Berry's Re-Mixed.
Pieces of Eight: ½ oz Lime juice, 1 ½ oz Lemon juice, 1½ oz Passion Fruit syrup, and 1½ Aged Rum.
Shake or flash-blend with crushed or pebble ice. Pour unstrained into a tall glass, goblet, or tiki mug. Top with more crushed ice if needed and garnish with a lemon slice, a pineapple wedge, an edible flower – or all of the above!
High & Dry Rum Bar
Houston, Texas, United States (Closed)
Opened in February 2018.
This was a very modern bar without all the layers that one usually associates with traditional tiki bars. It had a sort of industrial look with lots of exposed brick and open space.
Then, again, they were not trying to be a "tiki" bar but a "rum" bar that happened to be tiki-friendly.
There were several nice carved tikis on display behind the back bar area and in a few other niches.
They were also true to their name with 200+ rums to select from.
In addition to rum, they had a selection of other spirits and offered a tight list of ten cocktails focusing exclusively on "upgraded" takes on classic rum cocktails like the Mai Tai and Hurricane.
The bar took pride in using house-made orgeat and other tinctures and prepared ingredients.
Closed @ November 2023.
Dairy Queen
Grove City, Ohio, United States
Opened circa 2005.
This is a tiki interior-themed Dairy Queen. Otherwise the menu and exterior are the same as other Dairy Queens.
There is a big tiki god water fountain when you walk in. There are 3 large fish tanks, one is salt water and there is a thatched roof over them. Two of the corner booths are grass huts and the chairs are all bamboo. The walls have a bamboo wall paper with different Kahiki items, a 6-foot tiki god, nets, surf board, islands of Hawaii made by a Hawaiian friend of the owners, shells, etc.
The employees wear hawaiian shirts and leis.
Tropicana Motor Hotel
Tucson, Arizona, United States (Closed)
Built in 1960. This location went into a downward slide despite its fantastic neon sign and took a very sleazy turn, around 1995, when it was converted into a porn theater, adult bookstore and sex-prop shop.
The site eventually fell into such repair that it was condemned in March 2004 and demolished later that year.
The sign was salvaged though, and eventually restored in 2011.
This sign and several other salvaged 1950's era neon signs (the Magic Carpet Golf, Arizonan Motel, and Medina's Sporting Goods signs) were installed along Drachman St. on the north edge of Pima Community College's downtown campus at The Neon Mile: Sock Hop on April 27, 2012. The re-lighting of the signs, donated to the college by the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, was celebrated on the night with a vintage car show, a fashion show, kids' games and some 1950's style dancing and music.
These signs are still here for viewing as of 2022.
The Tropicana Motor Hotel's original location was leveled and a concrete wall/fence construction built around it, but it is still basically vacant as of 2022.
Wind Tiki
Webster, Massachusetts, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1974.
Originally there were two locations, the other being in Worcester, MA. The Worcester location was purportedly more elaborate with a huge rock waterfall in the middle of the dining room.
This location in Webster was renovated a few times and by 2014, it had very little tiki left.
The owner, who was in his 70s at this point, sold it, and the restaurant soon re-opened under new ownership that same year (2014).
On March 18th, 2022, the restaurant was burned down by an arsonist, who was later caught.
Ohana - Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Opened in January 2020. This space boasts that it is Dublin's only Tiki Bar!
Taken from Third Mind Design, who designed the space, which holds 200 people and is divided into 5 separate sections:
"Ohana Tiki Bar is located on Harcourt Street in Dublin, Ireland. The colour palette is a combination of teal, crystal blue and natural bamboo. Oversized palm leaves and pineapples are printed onto custom wallpaper and cover sections of the walls. The exterior is defined by a block colour of crystal blue, wayfinding strip from steps to entrance. The exterior walls and floor are painted black with bamboo cladding and live bamboo plants to bring a softer element. The entrance into the bar begins with a vortex style transition - characterised by mirror panels and neon-style lighting. The reception hallway uses a volcanic effect wall with a vibrant pink ‘Aloha’ greeting. The key design features of the venue are colour block sections, bamboo cladding and a mixture of contemporary and tiki furniture. Tiki heads and Easter Island style statues adorn the corners of the teal colour block rooms. The cove takes on a Caribbean element and the colour palette changes to a monochromatic tan and black. The walls are bedecked with black skulls and a hanging bamboo feature. The copper port lanterns and premium rum feature cabinets complete this look. The outdoor area features an ‘Ohana’ sign made completely from natural bamboo and decorated with soft green foliage."
The bar boasts over 200 rums, and also has a DJ booth across from the bar, so can go from lounge to nightclub space as needed.
After their initial opening, they had barely found their footing when the Corona Virus hit and they had to close for 2 years, opening once again at the end of February 2022.
House of Kwong
Los Angeles, California, United States (Closed)
Edward Kwong (1917-2006) was was one of the leading pioneers of Asian Cuisine in the West Valley.
He established House of Kwong restaurant, a favorite celebrity dining spot in Woodland Hills, CA from 1948 through 1986 when he retired.
The restaurant had a pink and green neon sign welcoming customers. Parking in the rear. Thatched reed walls on the interior with a Chinese tree painting, oriental rugs, and purple formica table-tops with glitter.
Although not resplendent with tikis and tiki decor, this Chinese restaurant had a large tiki cocktail menu and is impressive for having several (now) rare and sought-after mugs, including the Spurlin Fog Cutter and Oceanic Arts Cobra's Fang, as well as their own unique bowl, the Witchcraft Bowl, surrounded by 4 flaming demon heads (truly a crypto mug!).
Today, as of 2022, the location appears to be a vacant lot sandwiched between a cell phone repair shop and a multi-level building housing a law firm.
*Photo shows Edward Kwong on left with his brother, Don Kwong, on right -- in the restaurant kitchen.
Bamboo Hut - at Hotel Northampton & Wiggins Tavern
Northampton, Massachusetts, United States (Closed)
This bar and restaurant was located for a brief time in the early to mid 70s in the basement of the Northampton Hotel.
The Hotel Northampton, at 36 King Street in Northampton, was first opened in 1927. The hotel was funded by a five-year subscription drive by the local chamber of commerce to provide Northampton with an appropriately substantial and luxurious hotel. The Colonial Revival-style Hotel Northampton is one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Historic Hotels of America.” Attached to the hotel is the old Wiggins Tavern, a building which dates back to 1786 and was moved to Northampton from Hopkinton, New Hampshire. The Tavern had been opened by Benjamin Wiggins, an ancestor of Lewis Wiggins, the entrepreneur who had built the Hotel Northampton.
It hardly seems possible today and no mention of it is made in the history of the hotel or its social media, but this Historic Hotel of America with its colonial theme focus once was caught up in a fever for Pop Polynesia!
Rita's Tiki Room
Milano, Italy
Opened May of 2019.
The team at Rita placed their trust in their long-time friend Matteo Oioli. Matteo was the head set and props designer for television programs such as Friends, and global events such as the 2006 Turin Olympics, 2014 Sochi Olympics, 2016 Asian Olympics, and AIMAG in 2017. Matteo perfectly understood their desire to create an authentic tiki location with a strong visual impact. He managed to take advantage of the height of the space to fill it with elements that slowly reveal themselves to Rita’s patrons, gradually displaying the finishing details in the materials.
Woven coconut walls, hanging pots from the ceiling, ropes, bamboo chandeliers, jungle-style wallpapers, wicker chairs and tables, a terrace, vintage ceiling fans, hanging coconut leaves, juta lamps, a giant handmade canoe, and an infinite number of plants contribute to the overall setting. The bar also sports a 15 meter long oxidized brass counter with wooden finishing that snakes between the rooms and a tiki carved by specialist Paul Campese (Tiki Campese), who accurately reproduced the bar’s logo (originally designed by the Paperplane Factory).
Ming Garden
Providence, Rhode Island, United States (Closed)
One of the longest lived Chinese restaurants, the Ming Garden was vital to life in downtown Providence. Open from 1941 to 1986, the restaurant was located at 141-143 Westminster Street, which had entrances on Westminster Street as well as Kennedy Plaza (now #68 Kennedy Plaza). The building was 2 and a half stories tall and dates to the late 19th century.
During the 1950s, the Tows contracted a young architect named Morris Nathanson to modernize the restaurant’s interior. Mr. Nathanson was well known for hospitality design, and his portfolio includes The China Inn in Pawtucket and the Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Museum among others.
The Ming Garden (building constructed 1903): 3-story brick building with tiled modern entrance (similar entrance on Westminster Street side of building) and large plate-glass windows on upper stories; modern interiors by Morris Nathanson (ground floor) and Ira Rakatansky (upper floor). Though architecturally undistinguished outside, the building is heavily altered.
During the 1950s, Ming Garden touted a "Bamboo Room" sort of Pre-Tiki bar space on its outside signage. Later, this appears to have morphed into a "Polynesian Room" as tiki pop culture developed. Below, are photos showing the 1950's era version during hurricane Carol in 1954, when the waters of Narragansett Bay invaded the streets. Also shown are later shots of the front and rear exterior from the 1970s.
They did serve tropical cocktails in branded mugs -- at least one of which, a branded coconut, shows up from time to time.
Luau Hut - at Luke's Chinese Restaurant
Providence, Rhode Island, United States (Closed)
Luke's Chinese Restaurant opened in 1951 and was located in the Edwin A. Smith Building, in Providence, Rhode Island.
Owned by Tin Cheung Luke with his son, Henry.
In 1963, the Lukes converted the upstairs dining room into a Polynesian themed restaurant called the “Luau Hut”, which served tropical cocktails and exotic dishes. The Luau Hut was decorated with straw wall covering, bamboo polls, and gigantic shell light fixtures. Downstairs the decorations were modest. People ate in formica covered booths.
Popular in the 1970s, it started to decline in the 1980s and closed by the 1990s.
*Color photo below shows the nearly 7' long Luau Hut sign which resides in the collection of Gregory Theberge, in his beer room, since 2021.
Polynesian Room - at The Chow Family Restaurant
Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Established in 1972.
They advertise both Chinese and Polynesian cuisine and have a large room for each -- the Oriental Room or the candle-lit Polynesian Room.
Stepping into this restaurant is like opening a time capsule. The interior of the Polynesian Room has thatching, amber-colored lauhala matting on the walls, tiki masks, several standing tikis, and many vintage Orchids of Hawaii style lamps.
They are especially proud of their egg rolls.
Their logo used to feature a tiki but was modernized to the current logo showing a silhouette of a couple eating.