Tiki Bars
Tiki-Ko & The Sinking Ship
Bakersfield, California, United States
Tiki-Ko opened in Bakersfield in June 2016, and is owned by Roy Scarazzo and Sonya Gamargo. The interior, designed and built by Danny "Tiki Diablo" Gallardo, features vintage Witco pieces, beachcomber lamps, turquoise blue upholstery, and artwork by Tiki tOny. A full slate of traditional tropical cocktails is on offer, and there is a souvenir logo coconut mug available.
In June 2021, The Sinking Ship, a downstairs bar level, was opened. This basement bar, which has a capacity of 70 — more than twice the upstairs bar — has a mix of first come first served seating, and seven reserved areas, which can accommodate parties of two (like Quint's Cove) up to eight guests (Banana Crate Booth, which requires a $100 deposit good toward the bar tab). The entrance for The Sinking Ship is a few doors down from the main Tiki-Ko entrance at the corner. The Sinking Ship is packed with great details, from the Papua New Guinea masks throughout, to the sawfish rostrum hanging behind the bar, to the giant container of "Torpedo Juice" at the end of the bar. Flicker flame bulbs add atmosphere. The main ceiling is a giant map of the Caribbean, but other parts of the room have different ceiling treatments, including aged lauhala matting and corrugated metal papered in old Japanese newsprint. And there is something new to notice on each visit...
Pagan Idol
San Francisco, California, United States
Pagan Idol opened in San Francisco's Financial District on February 24th, 2016. The bar is owned by the Future Bars group, which owns a variety of craft cocktail bars around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pagan Idol has a front bar, which is designed to look like the inside of a wooden ship, complete with porthole views of swimming fish, and blown glass tentacle light fixtures.
Red-lit stairs lead to the back bar, which is where the full-on Polynesian Pop experience can be found. A second bar is lined with zebrawood and backed by lava windows. Overlooking the bar is a massive tiki carved by Crazy Al Evans, and a large outrigger canoe hangs overhead. A tangle of ropes and fishing floats decorates the bar. The walls are lined with Tongan tapa cloth designs.
Just beyond, the room opens up, and a night sky of twinkling stars hangs overhead, with a volcano waterfall and two cozy booths. Looming over this room is a second large tiki, this one carved by Ivan Lee Mora. Periodically, the volcano "erupts" and a fog creeps along the starry sky, adding to the moodiness of the room.
The soundtrack is all Exotica and hapa-haole music. The drink menu is all original tropical drinks, but a full array of classic tiki drinks can be ordered off-menu.
In the 1950s, this same location held Tiki Bob's Mainland Rendezvous.
Tahiti Hut
Long Beach, California, United States (Closed)
The building that housed the Tahiti Hut was built in 1959.
Tahiti Hut, itself, opened in 1961.
It was owned by husband and wife, Carl Jurs and Irene Jurs, and co-owned by cook Mary Bulich (possibly not at the same time) and Mary and "Mitch" were later listed as "hosts" on postcards from the Tahiti Hut.
The restaurant specialized in steak, prime rib and seafood, and regularly featured piano entertainment. There was full Polynesian decor, including faux palm trees, floats, a hanging reed boat, carved masks, and lamps from Orchids of Hawaii.
Tahiti Hut closed in 1975.
The building still stands and houses several retail businesses that have changed over the years. As of 2021, the storefront is empty but would have been in-between the current businesses of Soggy Dog pet grooming and Studio Red hair salon.
Longitude
Oakland, California, United States (Closed)
Longitude was opened by Suzanne Long in downtown Oakland in August 2014. Long had previously been bar manager at Alameda's Forbidden Island. The theme here was not strictly tiki, but rather "adventure," with a mix of African and Papua New Guinea elements, but the echoes of golden-era Tiki were still felt, especially in the drink menu.
The buildout was done by Tiki veteran Bamboo Ben. A massively long and wide monkey pod-topped bar anchored the space, while the main attraction was a large, raised African hut with seating inside. There was an upper mezzanine that overlooks the room below. A sophisticated sound system delivered a variety of jungle sound effects and exotic music. Fresh orchids and plenty of greenery added to the jungle feeling. Beautiful drawings of African animals on the menu and adorning the walls to the mezzanine were created by Long's mother.
The food menu was influenced by Africa's colonial past, with familiar British items like Bangers & Mash and Shepherd's Pie. There were plenty of the old traditional Polynesian restaurant appetizers, including a flaming pu-pu platter.
The drink menu was full of Long's own take on Tiki classics, and her own inventions. The Navy Grog could be purchased with a souvenir Longitude rocks glass, while the Black Orchid came with a real black pearl to take home.
Longitude closed on March 5, 2017. The Kon-Tiki opened in this location in November 2017.
Kahuna Tiki
Los Angeles, California, United States
Kahuna Tiki is a tiki-themed sushi restaurant with tropical drinks.
Kahuna Tiki initially opened without a liquor license and was only a sushi restaurant. A liquor license was added in June 2015, but for beer & wine only, no hard alcohol, so the tropical drinks on offer are made with sake, soju and the like (Their second location, Kahuna Tiki TU, has a full liquor license and an expanded cocktail menu featuring drinks with hard alcohol).
There is a very large outdoor patio with rock features, waterfalls, pools, trees, and beachcomber lamps.
Kahuna Tiki is known for its luau presentations and burlesque shows as well.
*NOTE: The owners have announced that this location may be closing in 2025, but as of February it appears a 6 month extension on the lease was reached. So, make sure to visit while it is still around. Their sister location, Kahuna Tiki TU, will remain open.
Bootlegger Tiki
Palm Springs, California, United States
Bootlegger Tiki opened in 2014, in the same spot that decades prior had housed the Palm Springs location of Don the Beachcomber. The owners also operate Ernest Coffee, right nextdoor. The walls and ceiling are lined with lauhala mats and Asian-motif graphic wallpaper, framed by bamboo. A creative slate of craft-inspired tiki cocktails are offered. There is a small covered outdoor patio.
The Enchanted Tiki Office
Emeryville, California, United States (Closed)
The Enchanted Tiki Office was the work space of Pixar animator Mark Walsh. The space began as a standalone cube structure, and was turned into a tropical hut with the help of Bamboo Ben.
VenTiki
Ventura, California, United States
VenTiki opened in July 2013. Great care and attention were paid to the history of Polynesian Pop, particularly with the tropical drinks.
It is full of modern-style bamboo touches and chunky resin lamps. There is also an outdoor patio area in front.
It has a dedicated shrine to Magnum P.I.
The logo design was created by local artist Tiki tOny.
In 2016, a storm blew a tree over onto the patio; its fall was stopped by a carved tiki, saving some patrons who would have been struck.
There was an adjacent Ventiki shop for several years, but around 2021, this space was converted to another interior dining area which was badly needed.
As of 2022, Ventiki built additional outdoor seating curbside and during peak evenings, a line can form between these curbside areas and the hostess stand, but it usually moves fairly quickly.
Tonga Hut - Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California, United States
Tonga Hut opened in Palm Springs in the spring of 2013. It is the sister location of the historic Tonga Hut in North Hollywood, with the same ownership responsible for restoring that location to tiki glory.
Tonga Hut is located on the second floor of its building. The restaurant has booth seating, and a dramatic tiki bas relief wall. Tucked at the back is a phone booth with a false back, leading into a small private room with a rich, dense, golden-era approach to tiki style. Behind that room is a small private lanai with a Witco bar and stools. Opposite the restaurant side of the space, there is a good-sized bar with a tiki-tinged mid-century modern look, and a lanai overlooking Palm Springs' main drag. The interior was created by Tiki Diablo.
The Palm Springs Tonga Hut location has a full food menu, including a flaming pu-pu platter. The drink menu is a mix of classic tiki drinks and their own modern creations, and includes a flaming coconut drink and shared volcano bowls. Tonga Hut hosts special music events, with particular emphasis on Exotica acts.
Hong Kong Inn
Ventura, California, United States (Closed)
Hong Kong Inn opened in 1964. It closed on November 30, 2012 but then re-opened again in April, 2014. Then it closed its doors once again in September 2020 and was converted to a Mexican Restaurant. The decor and cuisine was decidedly Chinese, but tropical drinks were served (including volcano bowls), and most notably, there was a Polynesian revue on Friday and Saturday nights at 9pm.
Alphie's
Goleta, California, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1957. Alphie's was a greasy-spoon diner, serving breakfast and lunch. The space was light and airy, with white walls, but there were quite a few Polynesian touches throughout. There were some carved tikis on the wall, lauhala matting, tapa cloth, and an outrigger (from Oceanic Arts) hanging overhead. It was a family-run joint, and if you were lucky, you might have caught the owner and friends playing jazz.
Closed May 18th, 2021. The family decided not to re-open as a result of COVID closures.