Tiki Bars
Waiana Tiki Bar
Zürich, Switzerland
Opened in July 2023.
The Waiana Tiki Bar strives to convey an original South Seas atmosphere in the middle of old town Zurich. A huge palm tree on one of the two outdoor terraces with twelve and 24 seats points the way to the Polynesian terrain. The smell of coconut beach from a scent machine at the counter permeates the entire interior on the ground floor, the Tiki-style interior decoration, the service and the matching music create South Sea dreams if you want to get involved. The handmade tiki cups come from Niki's Tiki (a Hungarian craftswoman and daughter of a Budapest tiki bar owner).
With the opening of the Waiana Tiki Bar, Hunor Deák has fulfilled his dream of having his own bar in the tiki format. An anchor in the catering industry for 17 years, his gastronomic journey began at Morrison's , which is one of Budapest's oldest nightclubs. This was followed by bartending and bar manager positions on the cruise ship Aida, in the Café del Sol on Ibiza, in the English Loose Cannon Cocktail Bar and in the Committee Bar & Restaurant in Boston. Afterwards, he and his wife Betina De-Luca wanted to explore Waiana in Mallorca. But Covid and the subsequent war in Ukraine caused them to leave the island to find a new place for Waiana. They have been living in Switzerland since September of 2022.
The Tiki Restaurant - at Villa Plaza - Tacoma (Lakewood)
Lakewood, Washington, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1963 at Villa Plaza, a new construction in Lakewood just south of Tacoma (although advertising materials say "Tacoma" for this location).
It was a 2-story construction with A-frame entrance and a Witco Mbulu Ugulu mask just below the roofline.
This restaurant started off life as a nicely appointed Polynesian Restaurant with decor sourced from Witco and some fern tikis sourced from the 1962 Seattle World's Fair that ended just half a year before The Tiki Restaurant opened.
Martin Denny even did a live performance back in the early days here.
However, in 1966 they decided to have topless go-go dancing upstairs and it appears to have gotten seedier/more sketchy as the years went on...
First off, the dancing was illegal. There were some arrests made and negative headlines before the bar was able to secure a cabaret license and legitimize the dancing.
Then, in 1974, a patron killed a bouncer.
Shortly after this, the restaurant was sold and became Peking Restaurant for a few years until in 1978 it was burned down in a suspected arson.
Nothing remains today.
The Samoa - Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
This location is not to be confused with another bar called The Samoa in Cocoa Beach, further North.
This restaurant/bar was located at the intersection of Highway A1A and Royal Poinciana Way in Palm Beach.
It appears to have thrived in the 60s.
Today, as of 2023, the site appears to be occupied by LDC Property Services -- a contractor.
Duke's Hideaway - at McCray's Tavern On The Beltline
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Opened July 26th, 2023.
This is sort of a reincarnation of Tiki Tango, which closed in June of 2022.
The upstairs space above McCray's Tavern on the Beltline (formerly The Baxter on the Beltline) provides plenty of seating and a great view of the city.
Many of the set pieces from Tiki Tango can be spotted, including the tiki that greets visitors at the entrance.
Tiki Rancher (Frank Simotics) was also essential to this build-out as well.
The bar serves a full menu of tiki cocktails in tiki mugs and has branded mugs and glassware for sale.
Lost Island Theme Park
Waterloo, Iowa, United States
Lost Island Theme Park is located in Waterloo, Iowa. The 90-acre (36 ha) park includes five element-themed lands (fire, water, earth, air, spirit), which feature numerous attractions; including three roller coasters.
The park is owned by the Bertch family, who also operate the Lost Island Waterpark, which is located next to the site of the theme park. Construction on Lost Island Theme Park began in August 2019, it opened on June 18, 2022, and it cost an estimated $100 million.
The entire park setting is a fictional, enchanted island called ‘Auk Modu’ (in the park's constructed language of Aukipi).
The park is located next to a 30-acre (12 ha) lake which lends itself to the island feel, with some rides extending out over the water.
The park's Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol dark ride is perhaps the most "Tiki" thing in the park aside from the tikis that flank the front A-frame entrance. For Disneyland park-goers, a comparison could be made to the Buzz Lightyear ride. Here, in Volkanu, patrons sit in small slowly spinning ride cars and fire lava pistols at lava monsters. An animatronic and tattooed native gives them a call to adventure at the beginning to defeat the boss lava monster at the end of the ride (much like Buzz urges players to defeat Emperor Zurg in the Buzz Lightyear ride). There are also 3-D visuals that jump out.
Adults can purchase alcoholic drinks (beer, seltzers and frozen cocktails) at Thirsty Voyager in the Awa (Water) Realm (see menu below).
Revival House - at Blue Sushi Saki Grill
Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Opened December 2nd, 2020.
The rapidly growing mini chain of Blue Sushis (there are 19 and counting open or coming soon across the U.S. as of 2023) now have “pocket bars” next door. Each has a different style, and Des Moines was lucky enough to draw the tiki card.
There is a nice selection of hanging lamps and the interior is nicely trimmed out in bamboo, natural materials, and palm leaf wallpaper. One end has a lava rock wall with the requisite pink neon sign that has sprung up in the age of Instagram to take the obligatory photos with.
They serve tiki cocktails in tiki mugs, although as of this time they do not appear to have original branded barware. The mugs used appear to be the top 10 wholesale mugs made in China (some of them rip-offs of Bosko's or Tiki Farm's mugs). However, the cocktails appear to be dialed in craft-cocktails using good ingredients, by all accounts.
Tora Tiki
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Opened summer of 2021.
Build-out completed by Northstar General Contracting.
The duo of owners behind the bar are also the owners of Saint Franks, located on Broad Street.
The bar does have a limited food menu and also features a private karaoke room.
W Der Imbiss
Berlin, Germany
Opened in October 2016.
Restaurant with Tiki atmosphere and vegetarian-vegan-fusion cuisine in the heart of Berlin.
A small tiki bar is the centerpiece of the Restaurant. One part of is used as breakfastroom for the Artim hotel nextdoor.
Drinks are served in tiki mugs or tiki glassware.
There is also a spin-off in Kastanienallee 49, 10119 Berlin but not comparable.
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.