Tiki Bars
The Shag Store - Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California, United States
The Shag Store opened in 2009 in downtown Palm Springs. The store exclusively sells merchandise and prints created by the artist Shag (Josh Agle). Shag lived in Hawaii as a child and has long been a fan of Tiki style, and Polynesian Pop imagery makes frequent appearances in his work.
There was a second Shag Store location in West Hollywood, but it permanently closed as of May 31st, 2020.
The Shore Leave
Old Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Closed)
The Shore Leave opened in the Danforth neighborhood of Toronto in November 2015. Closed on April 15th, 2020 as result of the Covid crisis and their inability to pay their rent.
Grass Skirt Tiki Room - Columbus
Columbus, Ohio, United States (Closed)
Grass Skirt Tiki Room opened in downtown Columbus in November 2012. The drink and food menus included both Polynesian yesteryear classics and more modern takes on tropical. Souvenir mugs were available. The decor included echoes of Columbus' beloved Kahiki Supper Club, with contributions from local tikiphile collectors and craftspeople. There were beachcomber lamps, pufferfish, large tikis, and a lava wall, and even some bamboo pieces that originated at the Kahiki. The bar closed in September 2019.
Tonga Hut - Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California, United States
Tonga Hut opened in Palm Springs in the spring of 2013. It is the sister location of the historic Tonga Hut in North Hollywood, with the same ownership responsible for restoring that location to tiki glory.
Tonga Hut is located on the second floor of its building. The restaurant has booth seating, and a dramatic tiki bas relief wall. Tucked at the back is a phone booth with a false back, leading into a small private room with a rich, dense, golden-era approach to tiki style. Behind that room is a small private lanai with a Witco bar and stools. Opposite the restaurant side of the space, there is a good-sized bar with a tiki-tinged mid-century modern look, and a lanai overlooking Palm Springs' main drag. The interior was created by Tiki Diablo.
The Palm Springs Tonga Hut location has a full food menu, including a flaming pu-pu platter. The drink menu is a mix of classic tiki drinks and their own modern creations, and includes a flaming coconut drink and shared volcano bowls. Tonga Hut hosts special music events, with particular emphasis on Exotica acts.
South Shore Tiki Lounge
Kihei, Hawaii, United States
Opened @ 2006.
A tiki bar & restaurant, tucked into a shopping center in Kihei. The decor is a mix of Polynesian Pop and surfing, with plenty of bamboo and some tikis. The inside portion is nice and dark, and there is a spacious outdoor patio. They have other things on their menu but are primarily known for their pizza. Beach Bumz is in the same shopping center.
Aqua Surf Shop - Sloat Boulevard - San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States (Closed)
Aqua Surf Shop was a surf gear store located only a block from the ocean. The store had a collection of vintage tiki mugs on display, and was decorated with tiki paintings. The store had a good number of carvings by Bosko, including some flanking the entrance.
In the late '00s, there was a sister location in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, it closed in 2012.
This location closed in 2015 to make way for condominium development. The surf store is still in operation, having relocated to 3847 Judah St in San Francisco, but the new location does not have tiki decor.
Polynesia Supper Club
Waupaca, Wisconsin, United States (Closed)
Polynesia Supper Club had a large tiki on its sign, exterior tiki torches, and included a bar, restaurant and motel.
The exact location of this restaurant is a bit ambiguous -- the address of "Hwys 22 & 54" was probably specific when this restaurant was operating, but today these highways appear to overlap.
This location appears to have undergone a couple of name changes, possibly later called the Outrigger. Apparently burned down in 1985.
Kontiki Slottsskogen
Änggården, Göteborg, Sweden (Closed)
Tiki bar and restaurant near Slottsskogen, a large park in central Gothenburg. Kontiki opened in 2007 (it had existed in another location earlier, starting in 2004), and closed in November 2015.
The space was decorated mainly with bamboo, and lots of it. Several tables had different themes, including "The Diner," "The Beach," "Flamingo Hrnet" (Flamingo Corner in English), "Fjllstugan" (Winter Cabin in English) and "Japan Skrubben" (Japan Hut in English). There were loft spaces accessible by ladders, and an outdoor patio.
The food offerings were an unusual take on tropical flavors, including some tropical pizzas. Kontiki had both live and DJ music nights.
The Castaways - Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs, Colorado, United States (Closed)
The Castaways restaurant, which was part of the Castaways Inns & Suites, opened in 1971. It retained its original tiki decor until it closed in early 2013. A large tiki pole from the Castaways could be seen at Liki Tiki in nearby Colorado Springs until its close in 2019.
Samoan Sea Apartments
Los Angeles, California, United States
Nestled somewhat awkwardly between the Harbor Fwy and an on-ramp sits the Samoan Sea Apartments. It was likely built in the '60s, and the front of the building still has a lot of charm. There is a large A-frame entrance, flanked by pier posts with nautical chain, and plenty of lush landscaping. There are two very big tikis that are still in great shape, thanks to their concrete construction. The tikis are painted, and look very similar to the spitting tiki drums in Adventureland at Walt Disney World. The rest of the grounds are sort of well-maintained, but one gets the sense that the days of luxury living at the Samoan Seas are firmly in the past.
Don the Beachcomber - at the San Diego Sheraton
San Diego, California, United States (Closed)
This short-lived location of the Don the Beachcomber restaurant chain opened in a Sheraton Hotel in 1970 and lasted for a few years before closing in 1973. Legendary bartender Tony Ramos, who had worked at the flagship Hollywood Don the Beachcomber, worked here when it opened.
After Don the Beachcomber closed, the spot housed an El Torito restaurant, and in 2006 the space was a Mediterranean restaurant called Alfiere.
The Luau - Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs, California, United States (Closed)
The Luau was located in the "County Airport," a.k.a. Borrego Valley Airport, and opened some time in the '50s or '60s. Open at least as late as 1967. The restaurant in the airport today is The Propeller Bar & Grill at 1816 Palm Canyon Drive, but it is not clear if this is the same space that once held the Luau.