Tiki Bars
The Beachcomber - Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Closed)
The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Aside from this Vancouver location, there were also locations in Calgary, Edmonton, Victoria and Winnipeg.
This location opened in 1960, and was briefly closed in December 1961 after a fire. The restaurant was also called The Hawaiian Village during part of its time of operation. It eventually closed in 1981.
This space has been occupied since 1984 with the newly constructed Grosvenor Building at 1040 West Georgia St.
The Beachcomber - Winnipeg
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Closed)
The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Other restaurants in the chain were located in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.
The Beachcomber was located in the Carlton Motor Hotel in Winnipeg; the motel opened in 1961, and the Beachcomber was open at least as early as 1962. The restaurant had a "star-lit sky" ceiling, and had thatched huts, and an open "steak pit" area where patrons could see chefs at work. An alcove dining area had floats, tapa and beachcomber lamps.
The Beachcomber was open until 1990.
The Carlton Motor Hotel became the Carlton Inn, and the then non-Polynesian restaurant on site was called Paragon.
The building was torn down in 2012 when what is now the RBC Convention Centre expanded.
Kon Tiki - Temple City
Temple City, California, United States (Closed)
Served "Authentic Cantonese Food". Also offered "Dining, Dancing, and Cocktails".
This location is now apparently Temple Liquor.
Club Mallard
Albany, California, United States
Club Mallard came into existence in 1945, but this same building has been a bar since 1934, just after the end of the Prohibition. It was originally called The Doghouse and then became Club Pago Pago in 1941. Some of the Club Pago Pago roots can still be seen on the outdoor patio and have been accented with some Oceanic Arts decorations as well.
Overall, though, this bar is themed more like a duck-hunting lodge than Polynesia, but in addition to the tiki-themed patio, some of the bartenders (Robin, in particular) can be trusted to make classic tropical drinks. The bar is pretty popular with East Bay folks, and the doormen can be quite strict about checking IDs -- be sure you have yours on hand.
The current owner of the Mallard also owns Kona Club in Oakland.
The Polynesian Room at the Waldorf Hotel
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Polynesian Room (now called The Tiki Bar) is located in the Waldorf Hotel.
The hotel was established in 1947 and is one of the most renowned tiki-themed hotels in North America.
For much of the '90s and '00s, it was available only as a rental hall for private events. The Waldorf came under new ownership in late 2010, and the new owners have re-emphasized the Polynesian Pop angle. The Polynesian Room was renovated and restored, and a new era-appropriate analog sound system was installed. It reopened to the public in early November 2010.
It is made up of three rooms, the Polynesian Room (now the Tiki Bar), Tahitian Room (now the Tabu Room), and Menehune Room (now the Hideaway). The Polynesian Room has a large collection of black velvet paintings by Edgar Leeteg, collected by one of the original owners of the hotel, Bob Mills. One of these, The Tahitian Drummer, was used on much of their early advertising, especially on their swizzle sticks.
'Ohana - Seattle
Seattle, Washington, United States
This popular sushi restaurant can become quite crowded on weekend evenings when the DJs play dance music and reggae. That warning aside, the food and drinks make this place worth a visit. It has a more tropical than tiki feel, as is common with the more modern tiki bars, but for the most part at least sticks to a Polynesian theme.
Zen Island
Santa Cruz, California, United States (Closed)
This location was formerly called The Zen Trading Post, but is now called Zen Island.
It is a women's clothing and bikini boutique.
They also have a large selection of jewelry, art and coastal home decor, including tiki mugs, although it's not clear at this point how many of the mugs shown are for sale and how many are just store decoration (especially along top wall rails).
Islander Apartments
Gardena, California, United States
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.
South Seas Tiki & Golf Lounge - Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Opened by Shawn Cantley in May of 2022.
This is not a traditional tiki bar in the mold of Trader Vic's or Don the Beachcomber, with a dark, intimate, and immersive space layered in Polynesian artifacts and art.
Rather, Shawn went for more of a vacation vibe pulling from Hawaiian, Jamaican, and Mexican beach and surfer culture.
South Seas is an 8,400 square foot two-story space with an additional 1,600-square-foot outdoor deck. This is huge, and aside from a traditional bar set-up flanked by booths, there is a large dining hall area, a large outdoor patio, and a miniature golf course with a cocktail theme. This course offers lots of photo opportunities with a life-size "Don" zombie, giant octopus, planet Saturn, and other fantastical props.
*NOTE: December of 2024, the location was purchased by new owners, Ruth Gao and her husband. They have expressed a desire to keep the venue as-is but add on to it with more Hawaiian-style food and tiki cocktail options moving forward.
Tahiti Village - Key Largo
Key Largo, Florida, United States (Closed)
Formerly the Mayo Fish Camp in the early 1960s.
Opened in the 70s and closed in 1984.
Burned down mysteriously after 1984.
This venue consisted of a restaurant, floating outrigger bar (Tiki Isle Outrigger Club), gift huts, tropical cruise ship (Tahiti Queen Paddlewheeler), canoe rental, and of course, Polynesian shows.
In 1986, Jules Undersea Lodge opened at mile marker 103.2, very close to, and probably overlapping the original location of Tahiti Village located at mile marker 103.
Grind Gastropub & Kona Tiki Bar
Ormond Beach, Florida, United States
Previously known as Caffeine Bistro or Caffeine Wine Bar (opened @2011), this location had a tiki bar outside with some poles and decorations, but in 2013, the interior and exterior underwent a major makeover and re-naming to become Grind Gastropub and Kona Tiki Bar.
The outside makeover included a tall, peaked thatched roof over the tiki bar, which was lengthened and expanded to accommodate more beer taps. Large televisions were added. They retained the wood deck, tall carved tiki statues and string lights of Easter Island heads all up against the side of 1924-built carriage house.
An uncovered area sits between the tiki bar and restaurant building and includes a music stage where they regularly have live entertainment. It features some tiki themed murals.
Inside, the building has a large Italian wine cellar-style banquet room that can seat up to 50 persons and a smaller private room that features an entire wall filled with framed SHAG prints.
Kahuna Grill
Goleta, California, United States (Closed)
Kahuna Grill was a small fast-casual restaurant in the food court of an outdoor shopping center. The menu was mostly burgers, salads, and sandwiches. They served beer in bottles. There was a fish tank inside and the walls were decorated with surf boards and surfing photos and memorabilia. A television played continuous surfing videos. The tikiness was limited to one or two free-standing carved tikis.
Closed in February 2019. Today the location is home to Mesa Burger.
*NOTE: Kahuna Grill had also opened a second location at the Paseo Nuevo mall in downtown Santa Barbara but it closed in 2014 -- 12 De la Guerra Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States.