Tiki Bars
Traders Restaurant
Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, United States
Traders Restaurant is adjacent to the Aku Tiki Inn, and is sometimes called the Aku Tiki Traders Restaurant. There are a few pieces of tiki decor left, including some Witco carved furniture. It is just down the street from Hawaiian Inn.
The Polynesian Room at the Waldorf Hotel
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The Polynesian Room (now called The Tiki Bar) is located in the Waldorf Hotel.
The hotel was established in 1947 and is one of the most renowned tiki-themed hotels in North America.
For much of the '90s and '00s, it was available only as a rental hall for private events. The Waldorf came under new ownership in late 2010, and the new owners have re-emphasized the Polynesian Pop angle. The Polynesian Room was renovated and restored, and a new era-appropriate analog sound system was installed. It reopened to the public in early November 2010.
It is made up of three rooms, the Polynesian Room (now the Tiki Bar), Tahitian Room (now the Tabu Room), and Menehune Room (now the Hideaway). The Polynesian Room has a large collection of black velvet paintings by Edgar Leeteg, collected by one of the original owners of the hotel, Bob Mills. One of these, The Tahitian Drummer, was used on much of their early advertising, especially on their swizzle sticks.
The Alibi
Portland, Oregon, United States
Even through the darkest days of tikidom, The Alibi remained popular and busy -- probably due to the frequent karaoke nights. The Alibi is full of beautiful lamps and decor from Oceanic Arts, and has been cared for very well. The drinks for many years were on the weak and sweet side; that changed when new management took over in 2017, and the menu is now solidly-constructed classic tiki drinks and originals.
The Alibi has a long history that predates tiki. It began in the late 1800s as the Chat-n-Nibble, a horse & buggy stop along a dirt road. In later days it became a tavern called Max Alibi. The third owner, Roy Ell, took over the tavern in 1947 and renamed it The Alibi. Ell had travelled to Hawaii, and is responsible for changing the decor to reflect his own Polynesian tastes. The tavern was expanded to include the restaurant in the 1950s. The Witco-inspired rails and 3D hula-girl mural were 1970s additions. In the 1980s, Ell leased The Alibi with the agreement that the decor must stay as is. From 1992 to 2017 The Alibi was run by the White family. In 2017, well-regarded local historic bar managers Marcus Archambeault and Warren Boothby took over with a light restoration and a re-focused bar and food menu, including a flaming pu-pu platter.
Just across the street is The Palms motor hotel. While not strictly tiki, it does have a fantastic neon sign, and is within stumbling distance.
The Islander - Denver
Denver, Colorado, United States (Closed)
Opened in 1964 as the Tiki Kai Supper Club, which was one of two locations, the other located in Albuquerque.
In 1971, the Denver-based Vegas show-band the Glass Menagerie purchased the building and renamed it The Islander. The Islander lasted until 1975, and then it became Herb Wong's New China restaurant (which still served Polynesian drinks in their Kahuna Cocktail Lounge) until being demolished in 1992.
Today this location is the SafeSplash Swim School.
*NOTE: The Islander at this location is not to be confused with the Tommy Wong's Island (circa. 1977 -1983) which was about 11 minutes South of this location. That Tommy Wong's location now appears (as of 2025) to be a parking lot adjacent a kosher deli.
Oriental Luau
Old Tappan, New Jersey, United States (Closed)
The Oriental Luau was originally opened in 1965 as “Tiki” by none other than Bob Gaudio, part of the famous group “The Four Seasons”.
Soon after, in the late 1960s or early 70s, “Tiki” became “The Oriental Luau”, most likely with a new owner, and it lasted until almost 1995. It retained much of its previous decor but with the addition of a floor to ceiling waterfall feature in one room.
Waitiki - Linz
Linz, Austria (Closed)
Opened @ 10/2015 and closed @ 03/2020.
This Tiki Bar was located in the city center of Linz, close to river Donau.
Unfortunately it is closed now.
Aloha Bar - Moscow
Moskva, Russia (Closed)
Aloha Bar began as a project connected with Tiki Bar in Moscow, but the two appear to have separated well before Aloha Bar closed. Aloha Bar had a focus on craft cocktails. The rum list and cocktail menu were extensive. The interior was framed with bamboo, and included "Moscow's largest indoor waterfall," though the overall feel tended toward the sleek, modern end. Aloha Bar's Facebook page has ceased to advertise itself for some years but there are still recent posts, almost exclusively about Black Hat Shack Bar, a newer Moscow tiki bar which seems likely to have been created by some of the former principal owners of Aloha Bar.
The Bamboo Grove of Westwood
Seattle, Washington, United States (Closed)
The Bamboo Grove of Westwood is the home of Tiki Artist Dawn Frazier, also known as Sophista-Tiki. It was a single-apartment vacation rental for a time, from about 2008-2016.
It is located in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle. The unit is filled with vintage midcentury furnishings including a rattan couch, and has a built-in bar and tiki mural. The unit has a full kitchen, wireless internet, off-street parking and a private bamboo garden. Two twin beds can be pushed together to make one king-size bed, and a third person can be accommodated on a fold-away bed.
Since about 2016, Dawn no longer makes The Bamboo Grove available for rent, and today it is just her private residence. It is still as spectacular as ever and Dawn is continually making improvements and additions.
Trader Frank's
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
Trader Frank's restaurant was part of the Tiki Gardens theme park started by "Trader" Frank Byar in 1964. The restaurant sat 450 people and had a tall A-frame structure.
The head chef for many years since its beginning was "Papa Lee" who, along with his wife, Chui, and several other Chinese cooks worked to turn out all the varied menu items. They lived on premises from 1976 onward after a hit-and-run driver killed Papa Lee's cousin, Lawrence Lee, who had just moved from New Jersey to work at the restaurant and was living in an apartment just over a quarter mile away. To prevent this hazard in the future, a 2-bedroom apartment was built on premises for the Lees who had also been walking a short distance to and from the restaurant each day.
Trader Frank's and the rest of the Tiki Gardens complex was sold and closed in 1988.
Waitiki - Murcia
Murcia, Spain
Opened @2022.
This bar & restaurant is more tropical/Hawaiian styled and less classic Tiki.
However, they do serve a rotating list of tropical cocktails, including the Blue Hawaiian and Mauna Mama (coconut, pineapple, and orange). Some cocktails are served in Tiki mugs.
They are also famous for their pizza burgers, which are enclosed in pizza dough like calzones.
The Jungle Room - Richmond
Richmond, Virginia, United States (Closed)
Opened September 28, 2019.
This Tiki bar and club was located behind Sabai (a Thai restaurant) - Tiki Vibe until 9pm then Techno DJ.
April 5th, 2024, the club rebranded as LOSO, an EDM club and apparently stripped out all the plants and other decor that made the place "jungle-like".