Tiki Bars
Exotic Isle Apartments - Alhambra
Alhambra, California, United States
Built in 1964.
Not to be confused with the Exotic Isle Apartments in Paramount, California at 8600 Rosecrans Avenue that were built in 1963.
This Alhambra location was lush and populated with tiki carvings, tropical plantings, and water features in its heyday.
The carvings became overgrown and were removed and the name was eventually changed to Jade Gardens, but the A-frame and basic architecture of the site remains intact.
Older photos of this location can be found in Sven Kirsten's Book of Tiki (page 220).
Southgate Shopping Center - Sacramento
Sacramento, California, United States
Opened in 1960.
One of the first mall-type shopping centers in -or around- California's capital, SOUTHGATE CENTER was developed by a joint venture of Sacramento's James J. Cordano Company and San Francisco's Blumenfeld Enterprises. The single level, open-air complex was designed by Los Angeles' Chaix & Johnson firm and W.B. David, of Sacramento.
It has undergone many developments over the years and is hardly recognizable today.
Most recognized by tikiphiles for having a Barney West tiki on display outside, which was viewable at least as late as 1984.
Notably, the phallus was removed from the carving, for fear of hurting the delicate sensibilities of shoppers.
Today the entire statue is gone...
Tahiti Nui
Hanalei, Hawaii, United States
Bruce T. Marston was a Californian serving in Tahiti as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. There, he met Louise, who was from Tubuai, just south of Tahiti. They fell in love, and moved to the town of Hanalei on the north side of the island of Kauai in Hawaii. There, in 1963, they opened Tahiti Nui.
Tahiti Nui became the go-to gathering place for Kauai's north shore, with musicians, hula dancing, and occasional singing from "Auntie Louise" Marston herself. Louise passed away in 2003, and Tahiti Nui is now run by Bruce and Louise's son, Christian.
Tahiti Nui makes an appearance in the 2011 film The Descendants.
The restaurant serves a mix of Hawaiian seafood standards and Italian food. The drink menu is limited, but they do have their own Mai Tai recipe, which they've been serving since they first opened. They still have live music and hula dancing.
The walls are lined with lauhala matting and bamboo, with Oceanic art pieces hanging here and there. The small round tabletops are painted with Polynesian designs, and the barstools are carved tikis. There is a small curio shop attached to the restaurant.
Tabou Tiki Room
Berlin, Germany (Closed)
Tabou Tiki Room opened in July 2004, with carvings by California artist Danny "Tiki Diablo" Gallardo, and artwork by German artist Moritz R.
Logo and signature tiki mug designed by Tiki tOny.
There was a change in ownership in 2006, and the Tabou Tiki Room closed some time shortly after that.
Some of the decor from the Tabou Tiki Room wound up at Tiki Brett.
Kahiki Moon
Burlington, Vermont, United States (Closed)
Kahiki Moon opened in July 2004, and featured decor from California tiki institution Oceanic Arts, carvings by Washington artist Ken Pleasant, logo artwork by California artist Miles Thompson, and artwork by Florida artist Scott Scheidly. The Kahiki Moon shone brightly for a short time, winning rave reviews for the food and atmosphere, before closing in early 2005.
Don The Beachcomber's Final Resting Place
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Beach passed away in Honolulu, Hawaii, in June 1989, at the age of 81.
He is known for starting Don the Beachcomber during the 1930s in Hollywood, California, which was expanded to a chain of dozens of restaurants throughout the United States. He later built the International Market Place and additional establishments in what was then the Territory of Hawaii.
Beach is also generally credited with establishing the entire tiki drink genre. He created dozens of recipes such as the Zombie, the Cobra's Fang, Tahitian Rum Punch, Three Dots and a Dash, Navy Grog, and many others.
He was an Army colonel during WWII and is buried in buried in Section B Site 1-C of The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
Shrunken Head Tropic Lounge
Jefferson City, Missouri, United States (Closed)
Shrunken Head Tropic Lounge was a modern tiki bar combining elements of mid-century Polynesian pop culture with Caribbean and general tropical influences. The bar was opened by California transplant Jonny VerPlanck in 2013. The decor was simple, with large shrunken heads and the bar's name painted on the walls, and a lauhala-fronted bar. Carved tiki poles flanked the back bar.
Tiffany and Conrad Hildebrand bought Shrunken Head from Jonny VerPlanck in 2015.
While the bar’s customer base dwindled over the following years, Hildebrand said, Shrunken Head’s catering business flourished, offering bar service at events throughout Mid-Missouri like weddings, corporate parties and concerts — including downtown Jefferson City’s Angiepalooza and The Millbottom’s Fourth of July party, for example.
“Instead of just closing down everything, we’re going to just close down the bar and focus on the catering,” she said.
The bar closed on February 23, 2019.
More information about Shrunken Head’s catering is available on its Facebook page or by calling Hildebrand at 573-338-5455. Their business is now called Shrunken Head's Mobile Bar & Tropical Drinks.
Trader Sam's Grog Grotto
Orlando, Florida, United States
Trader Sam's Grog Grotto opened at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort in 2015. It is the sister of Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar, found at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. Like the bar in Anaheim, the Grog Grotto is a twin tribute to both the Enchanted Tiki Room and Jungle Cruise attractions. It is densely decorated and intensely themed, just as you would hope to find in a Disney tiki bar.
Like the Jungle Cruise, the crew members at the Grog Grotto are trained to give you a theatrical, goofy, fun experience. Some drink orders trigger special effects around the room (order a Polynesian Pearl and watch your bartender retrieve your pearl from a large clamshell), and several drinks are served in souvenir mugs. The decor is a mix of tiki and nautical, with some nods to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and also includes pieces left over from the old Adventurer's Club that used to be part of Downtown Disney in Orlando. The menu is limited, with several small plates. There is also outdoor seating at the adjacent, relatively lightly-themed Tiki Terrace.
The Grog Grotto was added as part of a big refresh of the Polynesian Village Resort in 2015.
Children are welcome at the Grog Grotto during the day, but after 8pm it is only open to those 21 and older.
Dirty Dick
Paris, France
Dirty Dick is a tiki bar, opened in February 2013 in a former brothel. Barman Scott Schuder is an American expat, originally from southern California. The menu is a mix of tiki classics and their own creations. Menu graphics by Bai.
Kona Kai Bamboo Grill
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Closed)
Open from 2003-2006.
Today, as of 2021, the building at this address is mixed-use with a Starbucks on one side and a Verizon on the other, as well as a Dental office and a California Tortilla Restaurant. It appears that the Verizon matches up with the footprint of the old Kona Kai location.
Waikiki Burger - Potsdam
Potsdam, Germany
Opened April 4th, 2012.
Located in Potsdam, Germany. Americans, especially Californians, might find it similar to the Islands Hamburger Restaurant chain.
In addition to burgers and other fast food offerings with a Hawaiian twist, they offer Hawaiian beers and cocktails at their bar.
On September 16th, 2017 they had their 5th anniversary party with a Hula dance show and live Hawaiian music.
The owner changed in 2023. The tropical atrium was closed by the new owner and all wall paintings were removed.
Don The Beachcomber - at the International Market Place
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
The first incarnation of Don The Beachcomber's was across from the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, at the Queen's Royal Gardens.
This first Don's lasted 10 years which is how long his original lease was for.
Don the Beachcomber moved to the International Market Place, a short distance away, after it was built sometime in 1957, and this was on a new lease of 17 acres.
This version of Don's had the famous Dagger Bar with walls covered in Don's collection of daggers he had picked up during his travels.
Adjacent was also Don's tree house, which was inspired by earlier tree houses that he had on his property in Encino, California.
It was at Don the Beachcomber’s that Martin Denny got together with vibraphonist Arthur Lyman and bassist John Kramer to play jazz. The trio got a record contract in 1955, and bongo player Augie Colon joined the group the following year. Denny played at the International Market Place Don's on a regular basis.
Duke Kahanamoku's moved into the Don The Beachcomber building at the International Marketplace at some point and Don moved to another nearby location (circa 1971), although this final location was named The Colonel's Plantation Beefsteak and Coffee House. This location burned in a fire in 1966, due to outdated and faulty wiring.