Tiki Bars
Mai-Khi Lounge
West Allis, Wisconsin, United States (Closed)
Open at least as early as 1977.
Closed in 2000 and de-tikified.
This is now Bug N Out, a sports bar, as of 2021.
Some tell-tale bits of the old tiki bar remain -- the A-frame entrance, and some interior decor, including a few random lava rocks on some of the walls and routered Polynesian pattern decorative beams.
Bamboo that was salvaged when the Mai-Khi Lounge closed was used in The Leeward Lounge, a home bar in West Allis.
Tucano's - Surry Hills
Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia
Opened in August 2023.
From the Tucano's website:
"Where tropical breeze meets Italian seas.
Experience our version of Modern Tiki, where tropical and Mediterranean flavours meet. (Tucano is Italian for toucan!)
Whether you’re after dinner, drinks, or disco party vibes set to our funky soundtrack, Tucano’s is a colourful local Surry Hills bar where we encourage you to wet your beaks."
*Not to be confused with the popular Brazilian grill restaurant chain of the same name in the US.
Tucano's is a bit misleading with describing itself as "Modern Tiki" but at least they acknowledge that it is their "version" and that there is some fusion with other genres going on (zebra and leopard upholstered furniture, disco night, and original tropical cocktails that tilt more toward Miami than Polynesia).
"Tiki" seems to be the leading buzzword when people really just mean "jungle" or "tropical" or "beachy". However, Tucano's does seem like a fun place and the cocktails sound good as well.
Duke's Hideaway - at McCray's Tavern On The Beltline
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Opened July 26th, 2023.
This is sort of a reincarnation of Tiki Tango, which closed in June of 2022.
The upstairs space above McCray's Tavern on the Beltline (formerly The Baxter on the Beltline) provides plenty of seating and a great view of the city.
Many of the set pieces from Tiki Tango can be spotted, including the tiki that greets visitors at the entrance.
Tiki Rancher (Frank Simotics) was also essential to this build-out as well.
The bar serves a full menu of tiki cocktails in tiki mugs and has branded mugs and glassware for sale.
The Volcano Room - at Pinky's Westside Grill - Huntersville
Huntersville, North Carolina, United States
The Volcano Room opened December 17th, 2022.
The build-out was completed by Tiki Rancher (Frank Simotics).
Pinky's started in Charlotte, North Carolina (November 2010) and then added this second Huntersville, North Carolina location afterwards (December 2013).
Pinky's has been profiled on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (May 2015).
Their food includes hamburgers, hot dogs, and Southern twists on fast food staples. Their cocktails are mostly original creations inspired by Tiki or Tropical classics.
Pau Hana Lounge - Wood Dale
Wood Dale, Illinois, United States
This bar/restaurant opened in the beginning of 2022 in the site of the former Kona Kai Tiki Lounge (which ran @2013-2016?).
It is set in an unassuming strip mall, but the interior space is quite large, with plenty of seating to accommodate live music and other events which the hosts schedule regularly (as you can see through their social networks).
From the Pau Hana Lounge website:
"Pau Hana Lounge is your prime bar destination for authentic Hawaiian food with the freshest, premium ingredients and traditional, regional recipes. Located in Wood Dale, IL, our Hawaiian restaurant is proud to provide quality service, delicious food, and a warm, comfortable atmosphere. Our goal is to make sure that you have a memorable dining and drinking experience at our cocktail bar with your companions.
At Pau Hana Lounge, our bar and grill restaurant specializes in a wide range of Hawaiian cuisine made with fresh ingredients and expert techniques. In addition, we have a cocktail lounge and karaoke bar that offers premium drinks, live music, and even tarot readings for quality entertainment that you are sure to enjoy!"
The interior decor is a bit swallowed up by the space, but they have added some bamboo and thatching around the bar and some smaller tiki masks and other elements. The vast ceiling is broken up with some netting and lights but could use some swag lamps and maybe even an outrigger canoe. As with all tiki bars, they can certainly add more carvings, floats, lights, and art as time and budget permits.
Le Fern - at The Caliente Tropics
Palm Springs, California, United States (Closed)
Opened Summer 2022.
Le Fern was a tropically-inspired bar with midcentury drop lights, carved Tiki heads behind the bar, live plants and the Caliente Tropics’ original carved wood door.
“A la 70s, fern bars have always fascinated me,” Rory Snyder said. “It’s my generation. The term ‘yacht rock’ coined about 10 years ago, is the music of Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan. It has a huge history. Think TGIF’s as a typical fern bar.”
Catering to more feminine tastes, fern bars were inspired by the early feminist era when women, earning their own money, began going to bars where they felt safe to go alone.
“Typically, the drinks were sweeter, like Grasshoppers, Pink Squirrels, and modified Mai Tais,” says Snyder. “BLTs, cheese sandwiches, Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame were on the menus.”
Le Fern offered more modern fresh produce libations such as lime, basil and other juice and herb concoctions. Club sandwiches, cheese fondue and other 70s throwback eats were on the menu.
With the closing of Oceanic Arts, Snyder was able to acquire an original Ed Crissman carved tiki at auction (several of which already resided at the Caliente Tropics) and this Crissman tiki was prominently displayed at Le Fern and served as inspiration for one of their tiki mugs.
Although some purists may decry fern bars as "tiki adjacent" at best or, at worst, part of the much lamented tiki devolution that took place in the 70s and 80s, Le Fern had some pieces (including the Ed Crissman carving) that far outshone those in other tiki bars.
Le Fern was also bigger than the sum of its parts when considered as part of the greater Caliente Tropics complex.
It closed Sunday, April 28th, 2024 with Rory promising that the space would not remain vacant for long...and indeed, it didn't. The Le Fern space was quickly incorporated into the adjacent Sancho's Restaurant as a Cantina. Some tiki pieces can still be seen here, including quite a few mugs behind the backbar.
Ohana - Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Opened in January 2020. This space boasts that it is Dublin's only Tiki Bar!
Taken from Third Mind Design, who designed the space, which holds 200 people and is divided into 5 separate sections:
"Ohana Tiki Bar is located on Harcourt Street in Dublin, Ireland. The colour palette is a combination of teal, crystal blue and natural bamboo. Oversized palm leaves and pineapples are printed onto custom wallpaper and cover sections of the walls. The exterior is defined by a block colour of crystal blue, wayfinding strip from steps to entrance. The exterior walls and floor are painted black with bamboo cladding and live bamboo plants to bring a softer element. The entrance into the bar begins with a vortex style transition - characterised by mirror panels and neon-style lighting. The reception hallway uses a volcanic effect wall with a vibrant pink ‘Aloha’ greeting. The key design features of the venue are colour block sections, bamboo cladding and a mixture of contemporary and tiki furniture. Tiki heads and Easter Island style statues adorn the corners of the teal colour block rooms. The cove takes on a Caribbean element and the colour palette changes to a monochromatic tan and black. The walls are bedecked with black skulls and a hanging bamboo feature. The copper port lanterns and premium rum feature cabinets complete this look. The outdoor area features an ‘Ohana’ sign made completely from natural bamboo and decorated with soft green foliage."
The bar boasts over 200 rums, and also has a DJ booth across from the bar, so can go from lounge to nightclub space as needed.
After their initial opening, they had barely found their footing when the Corona Virus hit and they had to close for 2 years, opening once again at the end of February 2022.
Kawenzmann
Bamberg, Germany
Opened December 2016.
From their website:
"Kawenzmann means in sailor slang "Monsterwelle" (Monster Wave) and thus alludes to the origins of the Tiki culture of the ancient seafaring peoples of Polynesia. For us, Tiki means one thing above all else: exotic, completely casual and also a little ironic bar and drinking culture - so don't be too serious. In addition to iconic Tiki drinks, our own cocktail creations and some Colada variants, we also serve you over 60 types of rum from all over the world to enjoy."
Tropical Hideaway - Disneyland
Anaheim, California, United States
This open-air dining area opened in December 2018 and is nestled between the Jungle Cruise and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland's Adventureland.
It replaces the space that had previously been Aladdin's Oasis, although there is one small section to the left as you wait in line that is still decorated with lanterns and barrels filled with Persian rugs from the Aladdin era - hearkening back to the street vending of Agrabah.
This was not a full turning back the clock to the original Tahitian Terrace, which had live shows and occupied the space before Aladdin's Oasis, but it is a significantly better use of the space - diverting traffic from the Enchanted Tiki Room's Dole whip line and providing a pressure relief valve from an area that was growing more and more congested each year. Before this, the Aladdin's Oasis was only opened sporadically as a character greeting site.
The Tropical Hideaway features an open-air dock where patrons can sit back and relax on the Jungle River waterfront while enjoying sweet and savory bites (bao dumplings or chilled ramen shaker salads) or enjoy a Dole whip. As the sun goes down, flickering torch lights illuminate the area. Rosita is also hanging out with the visitors, awaiting a Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. boat (which is running uncharacteristically late) to take her on a journey towards a solo career. She spends her time telling jokes and reminiscing about the Hideaway from way back when.
Souvenirs from this location include collectible sporks - each with Adventureland inspired imagery on their handles - occupying an ambiguous collector niche adjacent to swizzle stick collecting.
Arnold's Beach Bar
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Opened in 1992, Arnold's is a good old-fashioned Honolulu Tiki dive bar.
This hidden spot off Saratoga Road was once a horse stable, but today Arnold’s is lined wall-to-wall with lauhala, decked in vintage photographs of hapa-haole hula girls and protected by tiki totems everywhere you turn.
You’ll also find locally made rum and drafts. Their mai-tais are touted as being pretty good and inexpensive.
Open daily. Live music 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. All day $5 cocktails.
Ken's Hula Hut
Los Angeles, California, United States (Closed)
Originally called just the "Hula Hut" when it opened 10/30/1936. This pre-Tiki south seas inspired nightspot had little decor but plenty of music and dancing girls.
It modeled itself on the success of Bob Brooks and his 7 Seas nightclub in Hollywood.
Ken Young took over the Hula Hut circa 1940. As “Ken’s Hula Hut,” it lasted for about two years. The building was demolished in December 1965.
The site is now home, as of 2020, to the Beverly La Jolla Tower, a 6-story building with high-end office spaces for lease.
Breakers Roar
Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
Opened in Spring 2020.
From the Breakers Roar Facebook page:
"Breakers Roar is an authentic nautical Caribbean Tiki Bar located on the waterfront of Christiansted, St Croix USVI. Featuring 30 unique and flavorful Tiki cocktails made from local juices, rums and spices."