The Tiki Cocktail Lounge is situated essentially in the parking lot for the Tropics Motel (now re-named Tiki Lodge), the Modesto entry in the midcentury Kimes Tropics Motels chain. The Tiki Cocktail Lounge has fared a bit better than the barely-operational motel--and while it's more of a beer joint (despite its full bar), it has managed to retain some of its tiki charm.

They did a remodel in recent years and removed the bamboo and thatched roofed booths inside. Probably to open the space up -- it's often packed-out for dancing.

There still appears to be some bamboo behind the back bar, a sometimes-lit pit fireplace and a small outdoor patio with a smattering of tikis.

The old velvet paintings may or may not have made it through the remodel and there was talk of a tiki mural in back...

In recent years, the Tiki Lounge has become a LGBTQ focused site, and they state on their Facebook page that: "We feature an open lifestyle environment where people of all sexualities and genders can feel free to get together, have a few good cocktails and have a great time. Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgendered all are welcomed at the Tiki!"

The Tiki Lounge is just down the road from Minnie's Restaurant (not walking distance, unfortunately).

Charming neighborhood bar that began a conversion to tiki in 2001 when it was purchased by current owners Dave and Rebecca Fernandez. Purple Orchid serves tropical drinks in mugs featuring their logo tiki that are available for sale. Purple Orchid periodically hosts parties to celebrate special events such as Halloween, New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day, by having bands perform on their small tiki-filled stage. Purple Orchid has two pool tables covered in purple felt, and a jukebox containing a few tiki-bar friendly selections, including APE's Jungle Sounds. The owners' Purple PT Cruiser painted with color-changing flames and the Purple Orchid can be seen around town. Be sure to visit the restrooms, which are papered with pages from Sven Kirsten's Book of Tiki.

The Tiki Mirage cocktail bar started in 2019 as a pop-up in West Los Angeles. It's now a bookable cocktail experience for parties and collaborations, re-located to Chinatown for the time being.

Founders Max Masuda-Farkas, Aaron Girard, and Nick Newberg, decked out a box truck with a detailed tiki interior and crafted it into a show with its own original story.

Those who book the $85 gratuity-included tickets will be asked to meet at a Google-pinned location in Chinatown and get escorted over to the truck. Once seated, bartenders will assemble a cocktail menu by World’s 50 Best Los Angeles bar Thunderbolt while the trio tells a narrative based on tales of a fictional sea explorer named Daniel T. Coleridge.

Opened circa 2010.

This was not a classic tiki bar but more like a college/sports bar lightly skinned with tikis and beach decor.

It had both an inside seating area and a back outdoor patio with its own bar.

The interior walls were painted solid colors over the years (light gray or orange) or covered in bare brick (patio exterior). The ceilings sported exposed beams with track lighting. Lots of TVs around the room playing sports.

They placed some inexpensive tiki masks and carvings around, along with a few old surfboards and a Sailor Jerry's Hula Girl Statue, but the overall vibe of the place still screamed college bar or sports bar.

It didn't help that they had a very limited selection of non-craft tropical cocktails and did heavy promotion of their "Shot-Ski" where shots are lined up for several drinkers to lift and drink at once as a group activity off a literal ski.

Their closing was also rather abrupt in 2023, but probably not terribly missed by people looking for an authentic tiki experience.

This is a speakeasy bar that has front access through an old video store.

It opened in October 22nd, 2016 as a Quentin Tarantino inspired bar. It was originally named Video Archive, taking its name from the video store where grindhouse auteur Tarantino famously got his education in all things film.

However, as of July 10th, 2020, with encouragement from their patrons, they decided to change their name and re-brand themselves as a tiki bar.

The change was not a "from scratch" new build-out. The space still looks much the same but with the addition of some added tropical/tiki decorations.

However, their menu is now full tiki.

In addition to the working video store out front and the tiki bar beyond that, there is an outside patio area in back where they sometimes set up a screen and view their favorite films.

Opened in 1964.

Tom Snyder, owner, renamed this motel, formerly known as The Rest Haven. He installed the sign.

Later postcards attribute ownership to Wilford and Glenna Adams.

In addition to the sign is a large (probably concrete) moai head resembling a decanter that was created by M. H. Strikow for Kahlua liqueurs.

Today, as of 2021, there is no sign of anything tiki and the site is home to an Econo Lodge.

Opened in 2019.

This small tiki bar is located behind a nondescript sliding bamboo door and curtain inside the McFadden Public Market -- sort of a speakeasy vibe. It probably can hold about 30 people.

Among the interior decorations is a large octopus chandelier on the ceiling (created by David Outline of Outl1n3 Island), fish floats, ukuleles, tiki masks, palm & monstera leaf wallpaper, and lots of bamboo. Dimly lit with lots of purple and blue and red mood lighting.

Word on the street is their drinks are well made and dialed in to what the tiki crowd likes also.

Tiki Bar Tokyo was a small, 38-seat bar and restaurant in the Marunouchi area of Chiyoda-ku in Tokyo, Japan. The space was simply decorated, with painted palm fronds on one wall and thatch above the bar. The menu of tropical drinks included Mojitos and Caipirinhas, but also a Mai-Tai and some original tropical drinks.

Closed in 2017.

The Kon-Tiki was opened in 1967 by former WWII veteran Bob Sonntag along with a group of investors.

Prior to opening the Kon-Tiki Mr. Sonntag was a director of marketing for a pharmaceutical company.

The 20' tall tiki was created to compete with other nearby state-run campgrounds.

In 1979 the investors chose to sell the property in large part due to rising value of oceanfront property.

At the time of the closing Mr. Sonntag says his campground hosted over one million guests.

Served "Authentic Cantonese Food". Also offered "Dining, Dancing, and Cocktails".

This location is now apparently Temple Liquor.

The Indianola was a lovingly-restored, small 12-unit hotel in the Movie Colony district of Palm Springs. The property was originally opened as the Indianola Lodge in 1955, and had fallen into disrepair when it was purchased in September of 2001 by partners Michael Glenner and Steven Rockwell. Glenner and Rockwell turned the run-down hotel into a posh clothing-optional resort for gay men, with a retro, polynesian pop theme. It opened in 2003. Guests were greeted with a lei and a cocktail on arrival; there was a weekly cocktail party where guests were encouraged to wear costumes provided in their rooms, including sarongs and pith helmets.

The Indianola closed in 2008, and today as of 2021, it is home to the Avanti Hotel.

In 1982 this became the Stanford Terrace Inn, an independent, non-Polynesian hotel.

*Background rendering is by John Nicolini for Electrical Products Corporation but the sign he drew was not built. Note that Gene Costa was appearing at the piano bar. Gene was another one of the illustrators at EPCO. He and John were close friends. They both shared a love of art and jazz...and probably dancing girls.