Tiki Bars
Holu Restaurant
North Attleborough, Massachusetts, United States (Closed)
Featured Polynesian and Cantonese dishes. Inside was a space designated the "Island Lounge". Host was Harry Lew. Open during the 70s, at least as early as 1973.
Tiki & Co.
Kralendijk, Caribbean Netherlands (Closed)
Opened in 2020.
Offers tropical drinks and food with a Creole twist.
From their site:
"Sir Eddy Trenidad is an island man. Last year he returned to Bonaire, where he grew up, to open a brand new cocktail bar: Tiki & Co. An unforeseen but exciting adventure that allows the ‘master of tailor-made drinks’ to pursue his ultimate goal, enter the top 100 best bars in the world, and educate a new generation of bartenders."
Closed @ 2023.
Ala Moana Motel
Wildwood, New Jersey, United States
In Hawaiian, Ala Moana means "path to the sea" and this hotel is exactly that -- a resort located only a block away from the beach and the beginning of the Wildwood, New Jersey boardwalk.
It is known for its vintage moai neon light with flaming tiki torches.
This hotel and several others along Wildwood Crest are commonly referred to as being a part of the Doo Wop style of architecture, named after the popular music of its time, but this style is also referred to as Googie architecture in California and other parts of the country.
Built in 1977. The Polizzes took over the Ala Moana in 1999 by redesigning the interior and exterior of the motel. 18 winters were spent refurbishing the Ala Moana Motel to the modernized resort it is now.
At this same time, the Polizzes bought four adjacent houses to expand the Ala Moana Motel Resort. The four houses were turned into suites and special motel selections known as the Ala Moana Tiki House, the Quiet Cottage, the Beach House and the Coconut House.
Tiki House Key West
Key West, Florida, United States
Opened in August 2017 in the location formerly occupied by Rumor lounge.
This two-story white-painted structure may resemble a large fraternity house made over for a luau weekend on the outside, with its brightly painted tiki masks and Corona beer ads and banners/pennants strung across the balconies, but on the inside they appear to have something for everyone.
The bar offers classic and house cocktails in tiki mugs. They also have two full pages in their menu devoted to rum tasting notes on their large selection should you prefer to sip your spirits neat.
Additionally, they have a large selection of vodka, tequila, and beers on tap.
Hotel Tiki Tiki Tulum
Tulum, Mexico
Opened in 2016.
The Hotel Tiki Tiki Tulum has only fifteen rooms and is surrounded by a magnificent jungle. Its architecture was inspired by mid-century modern architecture and it would be right at home in Palm Springs or Miami Beach.
There is a lounge area with bamboo bar, but other than the name, there are no tikis on site. However, they have started embracing tiki imagery and recently created some drink coasters with tikis and might be adding some other flourishes to match the namesake.
The hotel is an hour and a half from Cancun International Airport.
It is a 10 minute drive from the beach and not far from the Tulum Monkey Sanctuary.
Dobbs House Luau - Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States (Closed)
Dobbs House Luau was part of a chain of Polynesian restaurants throughout the south. This location was open by the early 1960s.
Open till at least 1975, as seen in the celebrity photo below of the band, Buckingham Nicks. Buckingham Nicks was a California-based music duo made up of guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks.
The building has been demolished, but the fountain on the front lawn of the restaurant can still be seen today in the otherwise empty lot.
The original Dobbs House Luau location was in Atlanta, and there were also locations in Memphis, Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, Orlando, Lexington, Houston, and Louisville.
Bora-Bora - Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal (Closed)
This location operated from 1984 until 2011.
The site is now home to Club Noir since @2014, which kept some of the lighting fixtures and tile-work from the former Bora Bora, so there are traces to be seen if you are interested.
There is also another location, Bora Bora on Av. Almirante Reis, just to the north in Lisbon.
Tiki Iniki - Princeville
Princeville, Hawaii, United States
Tiki Iniki opened in Princeville, on the north side of the island of Kauai, in 2013. It was brought to life by Michele Rundgren, wife of famed all-over-the-musical-map Todd Rundgren. The two fell in love with Kauai through their visits to the Coco Palms resort. They moved to Kauai just after Hurricane Iniki destroyed the resort. All these years later, they have now opened a place of their own.
The interior of Tiki Iniki was created by Bamboo Ben.
A sister Tiki Iniki location came and went in Atlanta, operated by a licensee without the Rundgrens' involvement.
Keko Moku
Manchester, United Kingdom (Closed)
Opened in 2009. Keko Moku was a small tiki bar in the Northern Quarter section of Manchester, England. The bar featured plenty of thatch, and a full menu of tropical drinks served in monkey, skull and tiki mugs.
Closed November 19th, 2017. It was replaced by Convenience Store, a convenience store themed bar.
The Tiki Terrace - Des Plaines
Des Plaines, Illinois, United States
The Tiki Terrace is a rare treat: a modern-day Polynesian restaurant with a floor show. This second location opened in April 2008; the original location was in nearby Prospect Heights.
This new location is much larger, and the decor is even more elaborate than before. The walls are lined with tapa cloth, lauhala and bamboo, and many massive moai guard the perimeter of the room. The dining room seats 90 in a number of cozy booths separated by bamboo and tall, carved tiki poles.
The restaurant is owned and operated by the Zuziak family, with traditional floor shows performed each weekend by its sister company, Barefoot Hawaiian productions.
Kona Kai Motel - Anaheim
Anaheim, California, United States (Closed)
Opened @ June 8th, 1958 when they started advertising in the Santa Ana Register.
Themed motel just south of Disneyland. This site is now Eden Roc Inn & Suites.
Tiki Lounge - Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
This tiki bar opened in 2002 after four years of effort by owners Scott Kramer and Steve Zumoff, who also owned a non-tiki bar in the same neighborhood called Lava Lounge (closed in 2016). Tiki Lounge features three waterfalls, thatch & bamboo hut booths, and a large tiki head entrance reminiscent of the large tiki fireplace at the now defunct Kahiki Supper Club. Tiki Lounge offers a variety of tropical cocktails in souvenir tiki mugs. The bar is full of regulars and probably has more appeal to tikiphiles on weeknights, as on the weekend it becomes a packed hip-hop dance club.