Tiki Bars
Mai Tiki Gallery
Cocoa Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
Mai Tiki was the business of tiki carver Wayne Coombs, and his Mai Tiki Gallery opened in 1973. Wayne started carving tikis in 1967, and continued carving tikis for 45 years. He was the pioneer of what has become a distinctive style for tikis out of Florida. He did custom work not just in carving, but also painting, and other tiki decor. His showroom offered a variety of one-of-a-kind tikis and masks.
Wayne Coombs passed away of a heart attack in September 2012, and the gallery closed in November 2013.
Tiny's Hut
Walnut Creek, California, United States (Closed)
Tiny's had a log cabin exterior and was known for its cocktails and pinball game machines.
1716 Lofts is now in this location.
Junkanoo
Washington, District of Columbia, United States (Closed)
Junkanoo appears to have had Carribean influences in addition to tiki (Junkanoo is a Bahamian festival). Junkanoo may have later been called Krakatoa.
The drink menu states that the mugs, which were available for sale at the front desk, were made by Potter's House Workshop in Washington, D.C.
Junkanoo closed in the 1970s and was finally demolished in 1988.
The restaurant currently at this site is called Gazuza and is a hookah lounge that also serves sushi.
Tiki Aloha Apartments
Torrance, California, United States
The Tiki Aloha Apartments were originally called the Tiki Tabu Apartments. They opened in January of 1963 and were still calling themselves the Tiki Tabu Apartments as late as 1965.
Developed by Ray Watt, designed by Phil Blair, and built by Dan Ostrow. From a concept by Dan Ostrow. Originally opened with 35 available apartments, most of which were leased immediately in the first 6 weeks.
The building has two peaked a-frames with outrigger beams, and support posts carved with tiki faces. The grounds once had many tiki carvings and thatch details, and some still remain, although some of the bigger carvings like the two that flanked the front entrance are no longer there.
Polynesian Motel - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California, United States (Closed)
The hotel now in this location is called "Inn by the Harbor." It doesn't look like it could have once been Polynesian, it looks too Spanish-influenced, and seems probable that the original Polynesian Motel has been razed.
Taboo Cove
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (Closed)
Taboo Cove opened in the Venetian casino in 2001, and was the first of the tiki revival bars to have been done with a large budget. There was fantastic decor, but in order to draw patrons, they played rotten music. The artist Bosko provided many carvings, and there were some great classic light fixtures. In December 2004, Taboo Cove was gutted for a remodel, and reopened as a non-tiki bar. Just across the hall from Taboo Cove's former location was Venus, a retro lounge-themed bar with artwork by Shag.
Hawaiian Inn - St. Petersburg
St. Pete Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
The Hawaiian Inn was opened by Frank Cannova in late 1974. Its building used to be the Desert Ranch hotel which dates to the mid 1950s. The lobby was decorated with tiki masks and outrigger canoes. They had a restaurant called the Kon Tiki Supper Club, which had the traditional Polynesian floor shows such as hula and fire knife dance, and there was also a separate lounge. In November 1978 a fire gutted the restaurant and lounge, and it remained closed until May 1979 when it became the Beachcomber Resort, run by Resort Inns of America, who decided to change the bar/restaurant area into a German Beer Hall complete with an oom-pah-pah band.
The Lucky Tiki - West Hollywood
West Hollywood, California, United States
Opened March of 2024, after having been closed for over 20 years following the demise of its original location in the San Fernando Valley.
Run by Bobby Green and the 1933 group.
Re-imagined as a speakeasy at the Tail O' the Pup in West Hollywood, the 18-foot-long hotdog-shaped building near the corner of Santa Monica and La Cienega boulevards, which was also a Bobby Green project (re-opened in July of 2022).
Besides being the site for Tail O' the Pup, this upstairs locale was The Doors’ recording studio in 1970, and it was their office. They recorded “LA Woman” here. Jim Morrison liked the way the tile echo sounded [in the bathroom]. So he sang all the vocals to “LA Woman” here.
At the top of a staircase, the new Lucky Tiki has many of its old features on display, including a huge tiki by Crazy Al, but also incorporates many new pieces, especially hanging lamps by a variety of artists. Other details include some new Tiki tOny tikis, some green breezeway tiles that feature the Lucky Tiki mascot tiki at center, and custom wallpaper that also serves as the pattern for the staff's button-up Aloha shirts.
There is an outdoor patio with tables and chairs, and lit by several tiki swag lamps, also featuring a huge cartoony PNG mask by Vic Hdz.
The bar has their own food menu with coconut shrimp and crab rangoon and other favorites, but you can also order food from Tail O' The Pup downstairs.
*NOTE: In August of 2025, a second location in Highland Park, CA opened.
South Seas - Long Beach
Long Beach, California, United States (Closed)
The South Seas was connected to the Three O Seven Club at 307 W Pike in Long Beach, CA.
Circa 1948 - 1953.
This pre-tiki establishment featured such cocktails as the "Monkey's Tail" and the "Banana Bazooka"!
Kai Kai - Whittier
Whittier, California, United States (Closed)
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.
The Sorrow Drowner
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States (Closed)
Opened on March 19th, 2022 in what had been known previously as the old TheaterNOW building.
This venue billed itself as an "Adventure Bar" which incorporated some aspects of tiki decor besides just the cocktails, but also included a Cabinet of Curiosities vibe with artifacts from all corners of the world as one would expect to find in an old-school adventurer's club.
From The Sorrow Drowner:
"Once you cross the threshold, you will be transported into the classic era of Exploration. The Lemurian Institute, a global leader in history and exploration, led by its founder, Edward Bartholomew Wheatley the Third, have assembled a team of the finest adventurers and scholars from around the globe. What happens behind the doors of the Institute has been a question for decades; however, as the old saying goes, 'When the Machairodus Kabir is away, the Indefatigable Galapagos Mice will play!'
Enter The Sorrow Drowners!
This rag-tag group of individuals, nicknamed for their near nightly revelries, keep the Institute running while the Board of Directors are out exploring! Many of these acolytes pine to be in the field but have yet to pay their dues. Instead, they stay behind to research and catalogue the variety of artifacts sent home by the Institutes elite expedition teams and partners worldwide. Due to all the doldrums of lab work, an informal vote was taken and the Sorrow Drowners have decided to open the doors of the Institute to all of YOU! (Truth be told, its mostly because theyd prefer the chance to speak to someone that isnt 2000 years old.) Just dont tell E.B.!
Once inside, you will be welcomed with open arms into 'The Grand Marae', the meeting hall in the Institute typically used for lectures, but sans supervision the dais has been co-opted into a space for members and a variety of entertainers to perform! Books and notes have been pushed into corners to make room for you in the Library and you have been granted access to the secretive Director E.B. Wheatley IIIs office to view his personal collection. Most importantly, they saved you a seat at the bar as they serve up drinks a tad bit stronger than Lemonade!
So prepare yourself, The Sorrow Drowners welcome you!
Owned and operated by The Lemurian Institute, Inc., wholly owned by North Carolina Native Alfred Brian Wheatley and designed by former Disney Imagineer Brandon Kleyla, aka Trader Brandon, whose resume includes attractions worldwide and is perhaps best known for his work on both Trader Sam's Tiki Bars in Anaheim, Ca and Orlando, Fl. You will want to spend hours here just looking at all the artifacts from around the world and to allow yourself to get lost in the story.
'People love being able to escape, to get lost in an experience, and thats what were doing here,' says Brandon. 'Were stepping out of the framework of a traditional Tiki bar and delivering a much larger experience, set in the golden age of adventure. The age of Earhart, Bingham, Carter, and Bird.'
'My whole life, I was always on the hunt for adventure! I havent climbed Mount Everest or Walked the Plains of the Serengeti, but when I couldnt there were movies that could,' says Alfred Brian Wheatley, proprietor of the Sorrow Drowner. 'It was in these films that I found myself enthralled and, when presented with the opportunity to create this experience, it was these films that guided my hand. It is my wish to bring a space permeated with that sense of adventure to Wilmington.'
The Sorrow Drowner will feature a large menu of classic craft cocktails from classic tiki faire to drinks from around the world as well as a menu of island favorites. Select Evenings, the stage will come alive with a Vaudeville Style Revue featuring a variety of acts as well as an interactive cast of wandering comedic characters. Our hope is to provide the city of Wilmington and Coastal North Carolina with an ever-changing experience that youll want to visit again and again!"
NOTE On January 8th, 2025, the owners of The Sorrow Drowner announced their intentions to re-locate their business to California, with promises to document their progress toward this goal online as the process unfolds. Last night open at this location was May 31st, 2025.