Tiki Bars
Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge
Bend, Oregon, United States
Rapa Nui Tiki Lounge opened March 4th, 2021 in the upstairs space above Saxon's, formerly occupied by Level Two.
Rapa Nui serves fresh-pressed cocktails along with tapas with an Asian fusion flavor. They have several versions of bao, the Chinese-style buns, along with wings and drinks including flaming Scorpion Bowls -- all perfect for sharing.
Swaylo's Tiki Restaurant & Bar
Longmont, Colorado, United States
Opened March, 2022 in the former site of an Outback Steakhouse.
SWLO is a “district” of Longmont and many pronounce it "SWayLO".
Sean and Rebecca Gafner own three other restaurants in Longmont—the Roost, Jefes Tacos & Tequila, and Smokin’ Bowls—all of which are located on the city’s Main Street.
The center bar of Swaylo's is housed within the gray hull of an old wrecked pirate ship. Seating is spread out around the outside of this centerpiece with plenty of other tiki decor, including pufferfish, glass floats, and stained glass parrots.
Shea's Tiki House Motel
Gulf Breeze, Florida, United States (Closed)
This bar/lounge, package house, coffee house, and motel appears to have thrived during the 70s, but was eventually wiped out after a few Florida hurricanes. Today, the memory lives on through the Pensacola RV Resort.
Shea’s Tiki House Motel became the place to be on Pensacola Beach. The Gulf side had a total of 45 rooms, a pool, and the famous Tiki Lounge. The Tiki Lounge was located underneath the rooms on the Gulf side (see picture) with the Gulf waters just steps away. On the Sound side the Tiki House had 24 units and a pool.
Aruba Motel & Tiki Restaurant
Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States (Closed)
Opened circa 1965.
This motel had 28 rooms and a heated swimming pool as well as an attached "Tiki Restaurant".
It was run under the Best Western banner as the Aruba until about 1999, when it was rebranded as the Tucumcari Inn.
The Tucumcari Inn became run-down and has been permanently closed for several years now, since at least 2019, if not earlier. The structure still stands but no sign of any tiki signs or decor.
Flamingo's Tiki Bar
Cairns City, Queensland, Australia
Opened December 1st, 2018.
Flamingo's Tiki Bar operates from the basement at the Pacific Hotel (below Bushfire Flame Grill) on the Esplanade in the long-vacant site of a former bottleshop. It is a very small bar with only a 35 person capacity. Billing themselves as a "modern interpretation of tiki", this bar is brightly lit with tropical prints, palm trees, bamboo, hula girls wallpaper, and neon signs. It has more of a Miami feel than a dark and traditional Trader Vics vibe. They do have a serious rum collection (over 150 labels), but a light-hearted approach to serving their cocktails. They serve some drinks in tiki mugs but others are served in glassware with miniature pool blow-up flamingo coasters/huggies.
52 Canoes Tiki Den
Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Closed)
Opened in 2018.
This bar boasted: "A wide array of Tiki Cocktails and Classics, One of the Largest Rum Selections in the Country, a good range of soft drinks including our Homemade Ginger Beer and a Selection of Beers!"
The interior had a long bar decorated in bamboo and with a backbar decorated with geometric clusters of bamboo end-pieces. The ceiling had several canoes suspended from the rafters. Walls were painted blue, with booths outfitted in a mix of padded blue and red benches and red/green/and white antiqued wood "captain's chairs". There was one large carved tiki on the bar at the end and several masks and other pieces of assorted tiki art spread throughout.
Closed as a result of Covid shutdowns in September 2020.
The Tiny Tiki
Spokane, Washington, United States
Claire Fieberg opened The Tiny Tiki in 2018.
It is true to its name at less than 500 square feet, but provides a needed dose of tiki to the Spokane area.
The bar closed in June 2021, looking for new owners to take over. This took a while, but they did eventually re-open @ February 2024.
Burnt Ends Tiki Bar - at Dr. BBQ Restaurant
St. Petersburg, Florida, United States (Closed)
Burnt Ends opened in March 2021, above the Dr. BBQ Restaurant, located in the EDGE District of St. Petersburg.
Frank Simontics, known as the Tiki Rancher, was called on to blend classic tiki design with Dr. BBQ’s smokehouse roots in the second-floor bar. Design elements included charred end cuts of wood with red backlighting, and simulating glowing embers. There was also a thatch and bamboo awning and an 8-foot moai-like figure of Ray “Dr. BBQ” Lampe greeting guests at street level.
Closed December 2022. Though quite popular, the restaurant was only leasing the space and the owners were offered a deal to sell the property which they could not turn down.
The Exotic Tiki Lounge - at the Mirimar East Hotel
Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
Operated in the early 1960s.
Postcards list the location for the Mirimar only as downtown on Highway 98. It appears to have been at the site of the present-day Suites at Marina Bay.
Water Witch Tiki Bar
Savannah, Georgia, United States
Opened February, 2020.
The interior is notable for two large moai statues on the way to the front bar where hanging basket lights provide a warm glow. Rattan seating throughout. At least a couple of different seating areas in back, including one with bright leaf print wallpaper in peach and tan beachy tones and another with a tiki fountain and blue-painted walls with a chandelier made from netting, a puffer fish, and glass fish floats.
The name Water Witch is an homage to the Navy’s USS Water Witch that was taken by the Confederates during the Civil War. Eventually, the Water Witch was burned to prevent recapture and still remains underwater off the Savannah coast.
The bar serves classic and original tiki cocktails and does have a small food menu also, including a pupu platter.
Tropicana Lanes & the Kon-Tiki Room
Inglewood, California, United States (Closed)
The Tropicana Lanes was a 56 lane bowling alley with an attached cocktail lounge called the Kon-Tiki Room.
This location was opened around 1959 and closed around 1975.
The original structure has been leveled and is now home to the Crystal Inn Suites & Spas.
Brass Monkey Tiki Bar
Esbjerg, Denmark (Closed)
The first Brass Monkey Tiki Bar opened at the end of 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 2018, this new sister location, Brass Monkey Esbjerg, opened its doors.
From their website:
"At Brass Monkey Esbjerg, we are proud to offer one of Denmark's largest assortments of rum, consisting of selected spirits from around the world. Come by and taste some of the finest rum the world has to offer, or relax with one of our popular cocktails. We have something for everyone, and even if rum is not for you, of course we also have a small selection of other delicious and refreshing things on the menu.
If you are involved in a little party and trouble, we regularly hold small Limbo competitions. How low can you go?"
Appears to have closed some time at the end of 2021 and then re-opened in August 2022 under a new name as The Tiki Hut.