Tiki Bars
The Downtown Tiki Lounge
San Mateo, California, United States (Closed)
The Downtown Tiki Lounge was opened by two friends, Jim Wilkinson and Dennis Romero, in 2010.
The decor in the bar was a mix of beach, Caribbean and Polynesian (many of the carvings appeared to be Indonesian imports), and the music was typically reggae. The place was full of surfboards provided by Seven Tiki Rum (who also provided the glassware). There was a comfortable seating area near the front, and the rear had a small raised seating area.
The drink menu appeared at first glance to have a few classics, including a Sidewinder's Fang from the long-gone San Mateo power palace, The Lanai. The tribute was a wonderful gesture, but sadly anyone who was excited to have that great drink would be disappointed: what they served had the same name, but not at all the same recipe. The drinks tended strongly to the sweet and chemical side, and could perhaps have used an upgrade in ingredients.
Closed permanently in 2020-2021.
Tiki Brett
Berlin, Germany (Closed)
Opened in 2008.
Tiki Brett was a small bar located underneath Classic Tattoo, a tattoo parlor featured on a German reality show inspired by Miami Ink, called Tattoo - Berlin sticht zu. The manager of the tattoo parlor, Thomas Fender, ran the bar. Much of the decor came from Berlin's beloved Tabou Tiki Room.
Closed in 2009.
Tiki Railbar
Anchorage, Alaska, United States (Closed)
Alaska Railroad 351 is a Pullman-Standard coach built in 1958.
Originally delivered to C&NW (Chicago & Northwestern Railroad) as a long-distance Gallery car.
The "Tiki Railbar" as 351 came to be called was one of two lounge cars in service for the 1997 Florida Fun Train, the other (352) was decorated in a 50s diner style.
The Tiki Railbar decor was not much more than some bamboo & thatch with a couple of fake palm trees.
Both cars (351 & 352) were acquired by Alaska Railroad alongside the rest of the FFT equipment in 1999. They initially maintained their original Florida interior and configuration, with only the exterior being repainted; in 2006, the cars were retrofitted to become café-lounge cars, with seating for 39-49 passengers.
So the "Tiki Railbar" appears to be no more, but car 351 is still running. The car appears to now be decorated with a curated mini museum of photos celebrating the Alaska Railroad's proud past.
The Tiny Tiki
Spokane, Washington, United States
Claire Fieberg opened The Tiny Tiki in 2018.
It is true to its name at less than 500 square feet, but provides a needed dose of tiki to the Spokane area.
The bar closed in June 2021, looking for new owners to take over. This took a while, but they did eventually re-open @ February 2024.
Kahuna Tiki TU
Los Angeles/Valley Village, California, United States
This is the newer sister location to the first Kahuna Tiki in North Hollywood, owned and operated by Carey Ysais.
It features sushi and Polynesian style food and tiki cocktails.
Opened in December 2020, the Kahuna Tiki TU is located at the site of the historic and former Mikado Sushi Bar in Valley Village.
The Kahuna Tiki TU and the adjacent Mikado Hotel were both built in 1957. They are under separate ownership.
This location has a full liquor license and a full range of cocktails featuring hard alcohol, whereas the first Kahuna Tiki location has a limited liquor license and features beer and wine, and a more limited range of tropical cocktails made with sake and soju and the like.
You can sit at "The Jungle Bar" (a more intimate area with three thatched booths and velvet paintings), the sushi bar, the main hall with tables or booths, the "Party Room" (complete with jukebox and windows overlooking the pool), or sit outside on the patio next to the pool itself.
Check their calendar for burlesque shows, karaoke, hula performances, ukulele performances, or other live entertainment.
Fuchsia Tiki Bar
New Paltz, New York, United States (Closed)
Opened in 2019.
This small tiki bar was a bit eclectic -- it had some traditional tiki decor (large tiki carving in corner and masks, mugs, and art on the walls) blended with nautical (netting on ceiling with beach cottage lanterns), as well as a large pirate flag and palm fronds wallpaper. The tufted green Victorian couch, chrome barstools and stacked stone walls may have felt slightly at odds with the other themes, but the overall vibe was clean and cozy and tropical.
They had a healthy selection of tiki cocktails (classic and contemporary) and rums to peruse, as well as a large menu of sushi (or appetizers if you just needed something to snack on).
The owners announced that September 30th, 2023 would be their last day of business at this location. Their lease was not renewed. They hope to secure another lease nearby in the future and re-open if possible.
Tiki Rock Bar - Genève
Genève, Switzerland
Tiki Rock Bar opened in January 2019.
From Tiki Rock Bar:
"The bar is located in the American Dream Diner in the basement of the restaurant. WOW! This is the expression we regularly hear from our customers who come for the first time to the TIKI ROCK BAR. We have designed this place to take you not only to travel to the tropical Polynesian islands, but also to travel to the 1940s, 1950s, the golden age of American Tiki. Discover and taste a great selection of Rums from many parts of the Pacific and Caribbean. Max and Justine, our experienced bartenders, will be happy to prepare the best of classic Tiki cocktails as well as our delicious signature creations. Welcome to Tiki Rock Bar, a taste of paradise. Aloha, TIKI ROCK! "
Tiki Chateau
Madrid, Spain (Closed)
Tiki Chateau was a modern tiki bar in the Malasaa neighborhood of Madrid. It was owned by Miguel Escobedo (Señor Castaway), and opened in November 2016.
The space was very small, and the decoration was spare, but heartfelt; Escobedo has a genuine love of tiki. The wall coverings were not organic matting, but instead a damask wallpaper, but small tiki touches were peppered throughout, and a framed piece of tapa cloth was at the end of the wooden bar. Unlike most of the Spanish tiki destinations, the focus at Tiki Chateau was on creating great tiki cocktails, including the use of housemade syrups and appropriate rums.
Closed December 1st, 2022.
Tiki Bar Head Hunter
Kita-ku, Okayama, Japan
Tiki Bar Head Hunter is a small but thoroughly decorated tiki bar inside Omote-machi Play Town in Okayama. It opened in November 2011, and is owned by Yosiaki Taniguchi. Logo artwork was created for the bar by Mookie Sato.
The bar is encrusted with bamboo and festooned with netting, with thatch and float lamps and pufferfish and everything you want to see in a classic tiki bar.
Though the space is small, live acts perform regularly at Head Hunter, with an emphasis on musicians that get the mid-century American vibe.
Head Hunter is cash only.
Tiki Bar - Ponferrada
Ponferrada, Spain (Closed)
Tiki Bar opened in January 2008 in Ponferrada, in the province of Len. The bar served tropical cocktails and hosted live music, mainly rock & roll. The bar was a celebration of midcentury American pop culture.
It appears they closed some time in 2010 to 2011.
The location is now home to La Posada Club.
There is another Tiki Bar location on the other side of Spain at Calle La Rioja, 39, Gandía. It opened in 2010.
Tiki No
Los Angeles, California, United States
Tiki No is a bar in the San Fernando Valley; it had initial soft openings in October 2010 and opened a few weeks later in early November. The "No" in the name is a reference to it being in North Hollywood.
The interior is by Bamboo Ben. The building is at a corner, with lit tiki torches. The interior has several large, but cozy, upholstered booths with thatched roofs, and the walls are lined with lots of bamboo. The bar has several large tiki carvings. There is a small outdoor smoking patio, which is not heavily themed.
A small menu of tropical drinks are available, a mix of classics and their own creations, including some served in tiki mugs.
Kon-Tiki - Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (Closed)
This was the seventh restaurant in the Kon-Tiki chain, owned by Stephen Crane. It opened on August 23, 1965. It was located in the Sheraton-Gibson Hotel, on the edge of Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati.
Closed February 1974.
The Sheraton-Gibson Hotel was demolished in 1977.