Tiki Bars
Tropical Hideaway - Disneyland
Anaheim, California, United States
This open-air dining area opened in December 2018 and is nestled between the Jungle Cruise and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland's Adventureland.
It replaces the space that had previously been Aladdin's Oasis, although there is one small section to the left as you wait in line that is still decorated with lanterns and barrels filled with Persian rugs from the Aladdin era - hearkening back to the street vending of Agrabah.
This was not a full turning back the clock to the original Tahitian Terrace, which had live shows and occupied the space before Aladdin's Oasis, but it is a significantly better use of the space - diverting traffic from the Enchanted Tiki Room's Dole whip line and providing a pressure relief valve from an area that was growing more and more congested each year. Before this, the Aladdin's Oasis was only opened sporadically as a character greeting site.
The Tropical Hideaway features an open-air dock where patrons can sit back and relax on the Jungle River waterfront while enjoying sweet and savory bites (bao dumplings or chilled ramen shaker salads) or enjoy a Dole whip. As the sun goes down, flickering torch lights illuminate the area. Rosita is also hanging out with the visitors, awaiting a Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. boat (which is running uncharacteristically late) to take her on a journey towards a solo career. She spends her time telling jokes and reminiscing about the Hideaway from way back when.
Souvenirs from this location include collectible sporks - each with Adventureland inspired imagery on their handles - occupying an ambiguous collector niche adjacent to swizzle stick collecting.
Kala Kai Apartments
Lomita, California, United States
This 34,356 square foot condo features 74 bedrooms and 42 bathrooms. It was built in 1963 and still has many of its original tikis in place.
Canoe House
South Pasadena, California, United States
Previously Wild Thyme Restaurant, Canoe House opened in January 2012.
The restaurant design layout features a canoe hanging from the rafters as you would expect. They also have several very nice tiki lamps throughout the building, paddles, Hawaiian art prints, and at least one large Papua New Guinea tiki mask.
Big screen TVs at the bar and throughout the restaurant kill the island ambience somewhat but it brings in a sports crowd.
Food is sort of Hawaiian fusion -- not as high-end as a Roy's -- although you can get herb crusted mahi mahi -- but with a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, and tacos it feels more like a Hawaiian-styled Applebees.
They have a very limited cocktail menu and don't feature traditional tiki cocktails, but do have an island style mai-tai made with Gosling's and Malibu rum as well as pineapple and orange juice.
The restaurant also has a very nice outdoor patio with a fire pit.
Del Rosa Isle Apartments
San Bernardino, California, United States
This site is right next door to the Del Rosa Palms Apartments at 2640 Del Rosa Ave and they were probably two sides to the original complex which was envisioned as a sort of Hawaiian Village. They are often mentioned together or interchangeably in apartment listings or other posts.
Opened on May 3rd, 1964, the complex advertised itself as having 71 one, two, or three-bedroom and efficiency units, a putting green, badminton and shuffleboard court, and 2 swimming pools.
This was also the former home to 15 large tikis, some weighing up to 5000 pounds, by local tiki carver Ramar, but they are now long gone. Little is known of Ramar beyond this location.
The Del Rosa Palms has an A-frame entrance in front, but the Del Rosa Isle has an even more impressive A-frame building back by the pool, that is HUGE, with 10-12 original lucite swag lamps hanging from the rafters (the flower blossom variety in multiple colors). This A-Frame was probably meant to be more of an open entertainment area or pool house before, but today the lower half has been walled off to use as a laundry facility and there is a stairway leading up to the top which is a rather bare patio area.
Del Rosa Palms Apartments
San Bernardino, California, United States
This site is right next door to the Del Rosa Isle Apartments at 6262 Del Rosa Ave N and they were probably two sides to the original complex which was envisioned as a sort of Hawaiian Village. They are often mentioned together or interchangeably in apartment listings or other posts.
Opened on May 3rd, 1964, the complex advertised itself as having 71 one, two, or three-bedroom and efficiency units, a putting green, badminton and shuffleboard court, and 2 swimming pools.
This was also the former home to 15 large tikis, some weighing up to 5000 pounds, by local tiki carver Ramar, but they are now long gone. Little is known of Ramar beyond this location.
The Del Rosa Palms has an A-frame entrance in front, but the Del Rosa Isle has an even more impressive A-frame building back by the pool, that is HUGE, with 10-12 original lucite swag lamps hanging from the rafters (the flower blossom variety in multiple colors). This A-Frame was probably meant to be more of an open entertainment area or pool house before, but today the lower half has been walled off to use as a laundry facility and there is a stairway leading up to the top which is a rather bare patio area.
Mona Kai Apartments - Culver City
Culver City, California, United States
The Mona Kai Apartments were built in 1965 on Sawtelle Boulevard in Culver City, CA. They feature a large A-frame entrance.
It doesn't appear that there is any other surviving tiki decor.
There is also a Mona Kai Apartments in Goleta, CA but it is not clear if there is any connection other than the use of the name.
Mona Kai Apartments - Goleta
Goleta, California, United States
This apartment complex features 4 A-frames in front and is 2 stories with 21 units.
Other than this, it doesn't appear to have any other tiki decor.
There are also Mona Kai Apartments, originally built in 1965, at 4600 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles 90230 (Marina del Rey), CA. It is not clear if there is any connection to the apartments in Goleta other than the name.
Ports O' Call Restaurant - at Ports O' Call Village
Los Angeles/San Pedro, California, United States (Closed)
David Tallichet's Ports O' Call Restaurant, housed in a Polynesian longhouse and surrounded by a forest of tropical foliage in pure Adventureland tradition, opened February 8th, 1961 and proved an immediate success. A lagoon at the entrance, ringed jungle-thick with tropical plants, had a Chinese sampan boat partially sunken in it. Rooms inside were themed to Hawaii (Waikiki), Tahiti, the Hong Kong Yacht Club and a Japanese "Tea Room" - a concept lifted wholesale from Steve Crane's Kon-Tiki Ports chain in Hiltons across the country.
The restaurant sat in the larger Ports O' Call Village -- a seaside plaza that featured souvenir and gift shops, along with restaurants, sweetshops, fish markets and quick-bite eateries. This New England-style seaside village encompassed 15 acres of shops, restaurants and attractions. A meandering promenade of cobblestone streets connects the specialty shops.
More than 40 surrounding merchants were in place when the entire complex held its grand opening on July 13, 1963. When the Whaler’s Wharf section, south of the restaurant, opened in 1967, there were 85 businesses operating in Ports O’ Call Village.
The village drew a good number of people who passed through San Pedro to visit Marineland, a high-profile aquarium/theme park attraction next door, in Rancho Palos Verdes, that closed in February 1987.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, village merchants began to complain about their leases and the upkeep.
By 1984 Tallichet was forced to make some changes and address concerns. The Ports O' Call Restaurant was given a new look and they added a second level with banquet facilities, although the Polynesian theme was done away with almost entirely. Described as "Nautical Victorian", photos of the place which survive online resemble more an 80s retirement home recreation room with bits of tropical decor here and there.
The refurbishments weren't enough and the village continued a slow decline over the years...
The Ports O' Call Restaurant hung on until 2018, when it was forced to close.
Currently, as of 2022, this area is scheduled to be re-developed and has been re-branded as West Harbor (with restaurants, shops, and fresh markets). The $155 million project is scheduled to complete in three phases, with the first phase introducing new restaurants, shops and bars with a finish date of 2024.
Kon Tiki Motel - Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California, United States (Closed)
Built in 1958 with 46 rooms.
Costa Mesa’s Kon Tiki Motel was the New Harbor Inn for a time up until about 2017/2018 but is now the Mesa Motel.
Jan & Dean's Tiki Lounge - Ruby's Diner
Huntington Beach, California, United States (Closed)
Opened October 8th, 2018.
Jan & Dean’s Tiki Lounge opened on the second floor of the Ruby’s Diner on the Huntington City pier.
The lounge featured bamboo walls, carved tikis, dim lighting and artwork from Disney contributing artist Jeff Granito. The build-out was completed by Bamboo Ben.
Visitors could order from Ruby’s standard menu along with a new collection of appetizers such as Huli-Huli Wings and Mini Ahi Tacos and tropical cocktails. For dessert, there was the popular pineapple soft serve ice cream Dole Whip.
The lounge’s name paid tribute to pioneering surf music duo Jan and Dean, which included Huntington Beach resident Dean Torrence and is known for hits such as “Surf City,” “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena” and “Dead Man’s Curve.”
This Ruby's site closed, along with the lounge in February 2021.
Kahuna Tiki TU
Los Angeles/Valley Village, California, United States
This is the newer sister location to the first Kahuna Tiki in North Hollywood, owned and operated by Carey Ysais.
It features sushi and Polynesian style food and tiki cocktails.
Opened in December 2020, the Kahuna Tiki TU is located at the site of the historic and former Mikado Sushi Bar in Valley Village.
The Kahuna Tiki TU and the adjacent Mikado Hotel were both built in 1957. They are under separate ownership.
This location has a full liquor license and a full range of cocktails featuring hard alcohol, whereas the first Kahuna Tiki location has a limited liquor license and features beer and wine, and a more limited range of tropical cocktails made with sake and soju and the like.
You can sit at "The Jungle Bar" (a more intimate area with three thatched booths and velvet paintings), the sushi bar, the main hall with tables or booths, the "Party Room" (complete with jukebox and windows overlooking the pool), or sit outside on the patio next to the pool itself.
Check their calendar for burlesque shows, karaoke, hula performances, ukulele performances, or other live entertainment.
Lanai Room - La Playa Hotel
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, United States (Closed)
The La Playa Hotel started out as a stone mansion in 1905 and was later turned into a 20-room hotel in the 1920s.
It was rebuilt and added to several times, first in 1925, and most significantly in 1940, when designer Jon Konigshofer did a major Spanish Revival-style remodel and expanded it to 80 rooms with a terrace dining room overlooking Carmel Bay.
In 1952, the hotel obtained its liquor license and Konigshofer designed the Lanai Room cocktail lounge.
It is unclear when the Lanai Room was closed and there have been several changes in ownership since.