This location was built in 1925 and is an iconic structure in Santa Barbara, California.

The original hotel was only open a week before a 6.8 magnitude earthquake forced it to close for repairs. It was subsequently rebuilt and was successful for years before falling into disrepair decades later.

It started as the Hotel Californian but became known as the Californian Hotel some time in the 1940s (or just The Californian). Now it has reverted back to its original name as the Hotel Californian.

Its start is uncertain, but the Lei Lani Room was running at least through 1980 at this location and is fondly remembered by area residents.

Recently, in 2017, after years of redevelopment, the hotel was reopened -- bigger and grander than ever before in what was much much more than a simple makeover. No sign of the Lei Lani, however, and if anything, the designers chose to lean more toward a Moroccan theme.

California native and self-taught cook Tsutomu “Jack” Kaya moved to Omaha after war’s end, and in 1947 opened his first restaurant, the Grass Shack Cafe. In 1965, Jack and wife Alice opened the Mt Fuji Inn, Omaha's first Japanese restaurant; the cuisine on offer spanning from Japanese to Cantonese to American.

After the loss of the restaurant by fire in 1969, the Mt Fuji Inn re-opened in a new, larger location that afforded the addition of a dedicated cocktail bar on the lower level. While the main restaurant was a pretty standard affair, the Mai Tai Lounge was a dimly lit drinkery decorated with port holes, black velvet paintings, fish tanks, bamboo over the bar and Orchids of Hawaii beachcomber lamps. There were a few other tiki touches including tiki door pulls and a tall tiki pole at the entrance.

The Mai Tai Lounge boasted a menu of “25 Original Polynesian Cocktails,” including their own spin on classics such as the Zombie, Fogcutter and its namesake Mai Tai, served in customized Mt. Fuji Inn Moai tiki mugs. Throughout the 1970s, occasional live music by such acts as “Big Al” Kaulia and The Kanakas played the “sounds of the islands.”

A family business to the end, the Mt Fuji Inn and Mai Tai Lounge closed in October 2017.

This classic Southern California tiki apartment building has an unusual amount of its Polynesian elements intact. The dramatic A-frame entryway shelters a collection of waterfalls and waterways, lined with nautical chain, and guarded by tiki rail posts. There is one very large old tiki still standing out front, and there are lush, tropical plantings and a cluster of tall palm trees.

Inside, there is a tiki-themed recreation room for tenants to use, which although not a vintage feature, is nonetheless cool.

Featured on page 280 of Sven Kirsten's Tiki Pop book with an early photo of owners admiring the front tiki. The front looks very similar except the early photo shows several fish floats hanging from the front entrance as well.

Trailer Happiness is a retro-California lounge in the Notting Hill section of London, opened by John Downey in 2003.

Rather than finding its inspiration in midcentury Polynesian restaurants, it aimed for the feel of an American, kitsch-heavy, basement rumpus room.

The tiki-heavy drink menu was developed with a helping hand from famed cocktailian Dale DeGroff.

They proclaimed over 300 rums behind the bar.

The bar changed hands and has been owned by Sly Augustin since 2012.

For many years, patrons were greeted by Bianca the topless hula girl statue in the front window, but it appears Bianca has gone on vacation for parts unknown in recent years...

Augustin has made changes and updates since the early years, and especially after a disaster that happened to the bar right on the heals of Covid...

On July 12th, 2021, the location was flooded, but since then, they've been able to deal with the damages, do extensive remodeling, and re-open thanks in great part to help from the bar and spirits industry who have been very supportive and consider the location to be an iconic part of the bar landscape.

Exotical has been serving Southern California's aloha wear needs since 1964, more than 40 years. Owner Paul Orloff still runs the shop today, which is open six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Exotical carries a wide array of nice aloha wear -- some of it is vintage, but has never been purchased and worn. Prices can be on the high side, but the uniqueness of what you can find here, combined with the uniqueness of the shopping experience, can make it worthwhile. Exotical used to carry a lot of tropical import items like bamboo and furniture. They still carry a few tropical items beyond the aloha wear, including vintage albums, furniture and coconut monkeys. Orangethorpe Avenue has been their location since 2020.

This short-lived fast food restaurant opened in 1971, in Los Angeles, California, off Airdrome St. It was notable for its unique fiberglass leaf shingles.

The Kai Kai was built in 1959 and was a huge A-frame construction with tons of carvings, some by Ed Crissman. Oceanic Arts had a big hand in their development.

Located at 14925 E. Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA.

In 1964, this site became home to a Sir George's Smorgasboard. Sir George's Smorgasboard was a regional chain with several other locations throughout California, including Tarzana, Northridge, Van Nuys, West Hollywood, Canoga Park, Glendale, Simi, Newhall, and Arcadia. They also had locations in Arizona, Nevada, and Texas.

Streets have been re-zoned since then, but it appears the original building has been razed at this site and it is now, as of 2023, a Ralph's Grocery parking lot.

Opened in Summer 2006.

A converted cottage houses this beachside eatery serving California favorites, a popular breakfast, and cocktails.

Beside it is a small stand-alone Bootlegger Bar that is loosely connected and offers a slightly smaller menu of drinks.

There is both inside and outside seating.

To get here, however, you have to park on the other side of Pacific Coast Highway and take a shuttle from the lot.

This venue is unique in that it is built in an original beach cottage that friends and family of the Irvine family once leased. From the 30s to 50s, many such cottages were built up and down this stretch of land, and were a popular holiday location.

This area retains the scale and ambiance of a 1930's beach resort. It is also on Crystal Cove State Park land, a carefully conserved property interested in preserving this stretch of land.

This is not a tiki bar, but very tiki adjacent. They have issued several tiki mugs through Tiki Farm and offer tropical drinks. Additionally, there once was a Beachcomber Cafe sister location in Malibu (now closed) that had a dedicated tiki room and payed homage to the Tonga Lei that once existed nearby.

In the years after the close of this more tikified Malibu location, it seems their trend toward tiki has faded, but Crystal Cove is still a lovely venue to visit.

Make reservations if you can. It gets crowded.

Built in 1957, Coffee Dan's was designed by Architect William Krisel of the firm Palmer and Krisel.

Coffee Dan's was a chain located throughout Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

This location was special, though, because of its architecture and the inclusion of the Outrigger Room bar.

Today, as of 2023, the entire corner has been re-built and this location houses a Subway Sandwich shop.

Opened in 1951 by George Lim and Joe Ho.

The Los Angeles Times gives several accounts of Kowloon in the 1960s. Joan Winchell and Lois Dwan wrote articles or snippets about different aspects of the popular Cantonese restaurant. The restaurant’s impact was clear, and impressive to many. Joan Winchell praised the restaurant for its reputation and appearance and suggests Kowloon is the best Cantonese food in California. Lois Dwan explains the origins of George Lim’s restaurant, and how he originally understood French cooking and went to China to learn Cantonese cuisine. Dwan explains how Lim originally owned Normandie but decided that French cuisine was not what he wanted to pursue in life.

Much of their background is, indeed, covered in their quite voluminous menus (almost like scrapbooks), which included newspaper clippings and certificates celebrating their time with the restaurant.

The restaurant also had an extensive tiki cocktail menu and offered a prix fixe "South Seas Supper" dinner menu that was served each evening from 10PM to close.

Appears to have lasted into the 1970s.

High Roller re-located to this location in July of 2020 from 1636 Copenhagen Drive to 433 Alisal Rd.

All of the drinks served are variations on tropical drinks, using wine as the base instead of rum or other hard liquor. The space is thoroughly decorated with lauhala and tiki tchotchkes, and souvenir mugs are available.

Solvang was founded by a group of Danes who traveled west to establish a Danish community far from Midwestern winters. The city is home to a number of bakeries, restaurants, and merchants offering a taste of Denmark in California. The architecture of many of the façades and buildings reflects traditional Danish style. Additionally, since Solvang is in the heart of wine country, you can easily visit up to 20 different wine tasting rooms within walking distance, so remember to pace yourself!

*NOTE: In addition to the main bar, there is a separate entertainment space with stage for live music - Club 433 - just off the patio and feet from the main bar.

Menu below with hula girl illustration on 2nd page by Miss Fluff.

February 9th, 2018, this tiki bar was completed for the Laguna Beach Hobie store location.

Built by Craig Dunlap.

Although it isn't open as a working bar, it is certainly trimmed out perfectly and encapsulates the classic vibe of a mid century Southern California Tiki Bar.

The Oceanic Arts PNG mask on the door is a nice touch.

It might possibly see some actual bar use for the occasional employee party, but is mostly used for photo ops.

Hobie also has another larger bar at their warehouse location termed "The Embassy" that seems to get more use as an actual bar space for employees.