Tiki Bars
Don the Beachcomber - Oxnard
Oxnard, California, United States (Closed)
This Don the Beachcomber opened at the former Trade Winds around 1976 or so. It operated for a few years and closed in the late '70s. In later years, this location briefly became Coconut Joe's Warehouse and Hawaiian Cowboy, and the building was demolished in 1984.
Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge
Alameda, California, United States
Forbidden Island is a tiki bar on the island of Alameda just east of San Francisco. It opened April 22nd, 2006, but it has the look and feel of a classic old tiki bar. The bar was the creation of Martin "Martiki" Cate, a longtime tiki devotee, rum expert, and former Trader Vic's bartender, and brothers "Conga Mike" and Manny Thanos, who are part-owners of the nearby Conga Lounge. In early 2009, Cate left the Forbidden Island partnership, and opened his own Smuggler's Cove in San Francisco.
Forbidden Island has a commitment to quality, with only fresh-squeezed juices and premium spirits used. The drink menu features dozens of tropical cocktailsa mix of classics such as the Sidewinder's Fang and the Zombie, and new creations like the China Clipper and the Fugu for Two. There is also an extensive list of premium rums.
The decor is filled with many layered details, and was crafted primarily by Bamboo Ben and Martin Cate. There is an abundance of bamboo and thatch, and the walls are lined with wood, giving the appearance of the inside of a ship. There are several artifacts from tiki lounges of the past, including a war club from the Kahiki in Columbus, floats from Eli Hedley's Island Trade ship, which were used at the Pago-Pago in Tucson, Koa wood tabletops and large pieces of bamboo from the Lanai in San Mateo, and several carved pieces including two large carved poles by Ken Pleasant that were used at the Kahiki Moon in Burlington, Vermont. The logo tiki was carved by Tiki Diablo, and presides over a water feature in a cozy corner. There are three hut-like booths, and a long bar with comfortable seating. A rear patio is open until 9p.m. (after 9 it closes to minimize noise for the surrounding residential neighborhood).
Music on the jukebox is predominantly pre-1964, and was specially selected to fit in the vintage lounge environment, with no shortage of Exotica available. A small selection of snack food is available.
Some parking is available in back, and there is plenty of free parking on the street. Alameda has a speed limit of 25 MPH throughout the whole island, and it's strictly enforced.
The Beachcomber - Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (Closed)
Opened in the late 1960s.
Advertising lunch specials at least as early as 1966 and architectural plans were submitted to the city the year prior in 1965.
The Beachcomber was a Canadian chain of elaborate Polynesian restaurants in the same vein as other popular chains like Kon-Tiki, Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. Other restaurants in the chain were located in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
This location was demolished to make way for the Broughton Tower in the 1980s, the ground floor of which housed a Fogg & Suds location.
Munktiki
Astoria, Oregon, United States
This listing is describing a physical location for the Munktiki business.
Munktiki is a father-son outfit that started in early 2000, and their specialty is crafting beautiful, high-quality tiki mugs. Paul Nielsen (the Dad) has been selling his ceramic crafts since he was in high school in the '60s; his son Miles "Stuckie" Nielsen has similarly been dabbling in clay since he was a child. Paul made his first tiki mug in 1997.
Most Munktiki mugs are of their own design; each mug has a character name on the back, and a number and date on the bottom. Many Munktiki mugs are fiercely collected limited editions, notably the "Shecky" mug based on the Tiki Central mascot designed by Tikifish.
There is also a Munktiki Imports line with their designs crafted in China and then imported to the United States. These are more commonly used with large wholesale orders. These are marked as such on the bottom and are less expensive than the pieces crafted in-house.
Additionally, there are non-tiki lines affiliated with Munktiki, including Münkstein and Yakimon.
Munktiki's original location was in Pacific Grove, California (near Monterey), at 561 Junipero Ave. In 2009, Munktiki moved to Portland, Oregon. In 2017, the business again moved to Astoria, Oregon.
Munktiki also owns and operates Dead Man's Isle, a tiki/nautical bar in Astoria that opened July 14th, 2022.
Munktiki items can be purchased through the Munktiki website, eBay, and a limited number of retailers.
The Beachcomber - Lake Oswego
Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States (Closed)
The Beachcomber existed at least as early as 1966 and appears to have closed shortly after 1996 (after a big flood that same year). It was on the shore of Lake Oswego -- one could enter the restaurant from either the lake side (if traveling by boat) or the street side.
Virginia (Bevans) Smith bought the Beachcomber after her husband's death. Previously, she and her husband had been partners in Eugene, where they ran Bev's Bar-B-Q, the first drive-through in Eugene.
Chinese food was served here.
The location is now home, as of 2022, to Stickmen's Lakeside Smokehouse & Brewery.
Marco Island Marriott Resort and Kane Tiki Bar & Grill
Marco Island, Florida, United States
Originally a 50-room hotel when it was built to greet the modern-era’s first visitors in 1965, island developers Elliott, Robert and Frank Mackle Jr. would go on to expand the property to 100 rooms in 1967.
By 1971 the brothers and their company, the Deltona Corp., spent a then-staggering sum of $18 million to further improve their beachfront showplace. A new 10-story tower — the first of two — 400 beautifully appointed rooms, much-needed convention space, and Quinn’s restaurant on the beach ushered in a new era for the Mackles and their fledgling island paradise.
Once opened, the hotel became the largest on Florida’s entire west coast. More than 400 employees were hired. Each and every guest enjoyed a Gulf view.
Marriott purchased the property in 1979 and soon built a second tower.
The work was not yet completed, however.
Beginning in 2016, Marriott began a 3-year and $320 million transformation project, to bring us what we currently see today (as of 2021) -- a completely modern and no expenses spared adults only resort.
This gulfside resort may not be Polynesian themed (despite the name of the new "Lanai" tower), but they do have a Kane Tiki Bar & Grill which serves cocktails in tiki mugs.
The Waikiki - Avalon
Avalon, California, United States (Closed)
This was a 20-unit hotel with bar and restaurant in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island.
Group photo below dates to 1948.
Some time after 1955, it appears the site changed hands and underwent a name change from "Ted Enoch's Waikiki" to "The New Waikiki".
It burned down in a fire on March 5th, 1979 along with the Hurricane Cove Bar (a pre-tiki bamboo bar).
Tonga Hut - North Hollywood
North Hollywood, California, United States
Established in 1958, the Tonga Hut is a small bar in the middle of the San Fernando Valley with some absolutely fantastic tiki decor, lovely green booths and some great carvings. "Big Mo" the moai lurks just inside the front door. Towards the back is the "Drooling Bastard" tiki fountain which is overseen by the many placards from patrons who have passed the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard test to drink every cocktail in Beachbum Berry's Grog Log (at the Tonga Hut) within one year. Black velvet nude paintings by Jason Sallin grace several of the booths.
In May 2021 the back parking lot was transformed into a garden area with tent canopy and the back entrance was graced with a new Kirby tiki mask.
@2023, the space next door on the east side became available, and Tonga hut now leases it as well. So far, it hasn't been completely remodeled to match, but it is utilized during marketplaces and special events and they have hung some swag lamps and a few art pieces to begin the transition.
In 2013, the owners opened a second location in Palm Springs. See separate listing.
Tiki Cocktail Lounge
Modesto, California, United States (Closed)
Opened by Johnny Ramos in April of 1964.
The Tiki Cocktail Lounge was 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 fared a bit better than the barely-operational motel--and while it became more of a beer joint (despite its full bar), it managed to retain some of its tiki charm.
They did a remodel in later years and removed the bamboo and thatched roofed booths inside. Probably to open the space up for dancing.
There was still 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 were removed although there was a framed mural in back that was left.
In recent years, the Tiki Lounge became a LGBTQ focused site, and they stated 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 was just down the road from Minnie's Restaurant (not walking distance, however).
Closed suddenly without much warning on July 1st, 2025 by owner Tammy Maisetti.
Hawaii Fountain
Middletown, New York, United States (Closed)
Opened around 1975.
Hawaii Fountain was a Chinese/Polynesian restaurant with the typical New England-style painted tikis. It served tropical drinks in tiki mugs and served the classic "Polynesian" dishes, including a Pupu Platter.
In mid-2006 the restaurant's interior was gutted, and reopened as the non-Polynesian You You.
Despite this, they decided to leave the exterior standing tiki and a couple of side-support tikis in front. The tikis now share space with a couple of Foo Lion additions, but they are still there as of 2021.
And while the interior may have been redesigned entirely, You You has a number of tiki cocktails on their bar menu, still served by the same bartenders that worked for the previous owners, and they serve them in tiki mugs, so you can still sample a bit of that Hawaii Fountain magic after all.
El Polinesio - Havana
La Habana, Cuba
Opened in 1958.
This government-owned restaurant used to be a Trader Vic's.
It was barely finished when Castro took over, and only open for a few months as Trader Vic's.
It's located in the Tryp Habana Libre hotel, also known as the Cuba Libre Hotel. It's been reported that the decor is still in decent shape. Decor borrowed from the Havana Trader Vic's can be seen in the 1964 film "I Am Cuba."
There is another El Polinesio in Cienfuegos.
Kitchen 5315 Restaurant & Tiki Bar
Lahaina, Hawaii, United States
Opened around 2017.
This is a restaurant and tiki bar inside the Napili Shores Resort in Lahaina.
The restaurant dining area is a large open room bordered by windows with spectacular island views.
The interior of the restaurant and bar are not decorated in an immersive classic style like you might expect from classic tiki bars like Trader Vic's, etc. Instead, the restaurant has white ceilings and their tropical accents mainly consist of bamboo trim and faux greenery throughout with a few inexpensive tiki masks. The tiki bar is a smaller, darker, and cozier space with more tiki masks and a tiki mural on the back wall.
Solid food offerings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A small number of classic tiki cocktails, and other more modern cocktails with a tiki spin - and a couple of non tiki drinks renamed to be tiki-ish.