Opened November 14th, 2022.

Flamingo Tiki is AHMM’s second project for client Humankind Hospitality, and it joins the Oso on Paseo bar in the thriving arts community of the Paseo District of Oklahoma City.

The interior features a large central bar with curved banquette seating and there is additional terrace seating outside. The new interior teams mid-century styling and materials with a tropical color palette that extends to its bright pink exterior. The tropical theme is further enhanced by the introduction of indoor planting, LED planted lighting, hanging planters and window boxes.

Although there is "tiki" in the name and they serve a number of traditional tiki cocktails, the decor and theming of this location is skewed towards "Baja Tropical" like the affiliated Oso on Paseo -- even serving the same menu of Baja tacos. The ambiance is not the traditional dark tiki room with layers of nautical and Polynesian artifacts, especially carved tikis, that originated with Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic. Rather, the exterior pink facade and subdued but tasteful interior call to mind an upscale beach resort.

They do serve drinks in a variety of tiki mugs, however, and their food and drink has garnered rave reviews since their opening. They also have a variety of swizzle sticks.

Opened September 2nd, 2022.

A collaboration between the team behind Liberty Street Bistro—chef/owner Michael Kelly, his wife Alex, and executive chef Maggie Lloyd—along with designer Pat Nunnari and beverage director Jessica Gonzalez. Located in the old Blue Martini space, next door to Primo Waterfront.

Inspired by a visit to the Fuschia Tiki Bar, who also did consultation on the initial cocktail list.

The name "Jet Set" harkened back to the glory days of air travel, with bartender as pilot.

Although there was decor you would normally see in a tiki bar, with lots of tropical foliage and thatch, fish floats, and tiki mugs, there were no carved tikis and the tiki decor was rather sparse by traditional standards set by Trader Vic and Don the Beachcomber.

“Tiki itself has its origins in post-war escapism,” Nunnari says. “These guys who came back wanted to think back on paradise. It’s an Americanized sort of thing—it’s kind of fake in that respect, which leaves a lot of room for you to put your own twist on it.”

“It’s very hard to talk about tiki history without the appropriation of cultural iconography, specifically tiki gods, coming up,” says Alex Kelly, another partner in the project. “We get that, acknowledge it, and are not looking to add to the fetishization of Pacific Islander culture with The Jet Set. We have leaned heavily into the idea of mid-century modern air travel. What we aim to do at The Jet Set is focus on the quality of the cocktails our guests will be drinking.”

Best intentions aside, the bar did use plenty of mugs with tiki iconography and one of the most prominent pieces of bar art was a flip-up gate with a western-style painting of a cartoony pin-up native with a bone stuck in her hair (and holding a tiki mug). So, there was a little inconsistency in the application...

There was lots of stuff to love, though. The Jet Set had a very cool 30' aluminum jet fuselage with lit-up passenger windows in their dining area and a large outdoor patio as well. Unlike many tiki bars, they also had a great deal of space to work with and there was plenty of seating.

As time went on, they added to their decor with vintage style lamps and other details. They also became known for their live music presentations.

Unfortunately, they closed September 28th, 2024. No official reason given for closing...

Established November 12th, 2020.

Formerly Peggy's, which appears to have been a divey but beloved disco nightclub.

This new Kiki's bar concept was developed to use the under-utilized space within Peggy’s. The team behind Kiki's promise “higher end” cocktails, a private entrance and a table-service only policy, and tell patrons of the former club to think of it as Peggy’s more sophisticated big sister.

The bars owners say they take inspiration from the legendary tiki bars such as Trader Vic’s and Don the Beachcomber. Visitors can expect that traditional tiki bar feel, coupled with a soundtrack of reggae, motown and disco classics.

Alex Lewthwaite, General Manager of Peggy’s and Director of Extra Fancy Limited said; “When we were brainstorming ideas for a new cocktail bar, we thought a tiki paradise in such troubling times where it’s no longer as easy to hop off on holiday would provide the Manx public with some much needed ‘sunshine’ and escapism!”

*NOTE: All that said, the interior design of this bar is still closer to a dive tiki bar than to early Trader Vic's or Don the Beachcomber. There is some thatch and natural fiber on the ceiling and walls, some inexpensive Indonesian style masks, and some tropical pillows strewn about, but it appears a bit thrown together. The cocktail menu does look well thought-out and has some tiki classics on it that look very promising, however.

Opened in 2012. This is a rum and craft cocktail bar that makes, by all accounts, fantastic tiki cocktails.

Though the interior design is not tilted as heavily toward tiki aesthetics as some of its more immersive cousins, they do have tiki decor, including several small tikis behind the back bar, tropical fern wallpaper in areas, and vintage prints that often find themselves inhabiting both home and commercial tiki bars -- such as Vladimir Tretchikoff's Green Lady (a.k.a. Chinese Girl) in the lounge and J. H. Lynch's Tina (1964) by the front bar.

They also serve drinks in tiki mugs and glassware and have several collectible mugs on display in their cabinets.

From Collage:

"Since its foundation in 2012, in the Born district of Barcelona, ​​the Collage cocktail bar has opted for signature creations. Creativity, research and respect for raw materials are the pillars on which we base our work. Always looking for new techniques, flavors and ingredients to provide a unique experience. We are specialized in rum and our sources of inspiration are in classic cocktails, in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and in the Tiki universe.

In our Born Cocktail Bar we have a curated selection of almost two hundred rums of different origins and styles. We travel around the world looking for old treasures hidden in bottles and barrels of rum. We have achieved a collection of Rums that could almost be a museum. We value unique collection pieces and limited editions. Let yourself be guided by our team of bartenders who are passionate about rum, if you want to travel through this wonderful world."

Long before Waikiki was developed as a tourist destination, it was a favorite residence and recreational center for Hawaiian kings and chiefs. King Kamehameha I had his home where The Royal Hawaiian stands today, and Queen Kaahumanu’s Summer Palace was previously located on what is now the resort’s Coconut Grove.

The opening of The Royal Hawaiian on February 1, 1927, ushered in a new era of luxurious resort travel to Hawaii. The resort was built with a price tag of $4 million, and was completed in 18 months. The six-story, 400-room structure was fashioned in a Spanish-Moorish style, popular during the period and influenced by screen star Rudolph Valentino. The first general manager of the hotel, Arthur Benaglia, presided over a staff of 300, including ten elevator operators and lobby boys dressed in “Cathayan” costume. At the grand opening’s black-tie gala celebration, members of the Honolulu Symphony entertained over 1,200 guests at the $10-a-plate event-of-the-year. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin described the newly opened Royal Hawaiian as “the first resort hostelry in America.” Built on 15 acres of beautiful beach frontage, the luxurious hotel with its distinctive Moorish-style architecture, painted pink, was promoted world-wide as a premier visitor destination. Elaborate opening ceremonies and festivities included dinner and dancing, concerts, and pageants.

The era of opulence came to an abrupt end on the morning of December 7, 1941 when Japanese planes flew alongside Waikiki Beach on its way to the US fleet berthed at Pearl Harbor. The Navy recreation and morale office leased The Royal Hawaiian, transforming the resort into a major rest and relaxation center for the Navy personnel. The resort was restored to its pre-war elegance in 1947.

Since then, the Royal Hawaiian has always remained pink, but has nonetheless undergone many changes over the years.

One such change is reflected in the quiet removal of the hotel's one and only tiki statue. This cement tiki was moulded by Homer Merrill, an island artist, and was a representation of the Shark God Kamuualii or Kamohoali'i, brother to Pele and known as the Fisherman's Friend. This mammoth version, six feet high on a three-foot base, stood on the lawn of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel since the 1910s, although in his final years the hotel was embarrassed about the sculpture and allowed vegetation to grow around it -- then finally ordered a contractor to knock it over one night and dispose of it during a round of renovations in 2009. Today, only the feet of the tiki remain, hidden behind some plants. The full and original tiki can be seen below...

Another change is the closing of the famous Surf Room - replaced by the Surf Lanai on the same footprint.

After passing through the colonial-style Royal Hawaiian lobby, one will find the property's Mai Tai Bar nestled in back, the bar itself a small hut sitting against the ocean. The Mai Tai bar was once a large outside dance floor back in the day. You'll still have to watch your footwork, though, especially if you work your way through all the menu's mai-tai variations!

The previous restaurant had a bad fire in 1954, killing 2 employees, then another fire on January 28 1961, which destroyed the building during the end of a Polynesian themed remodel of the previous restaurant.

They kept going, however, with their original plans, and the Polynesian remodel was completed. Saxony South Seas opened in early September of 1961.

From an October 25th, 1961 review:

"The Saxony South Seas boasted authentic South Seas decoration, including 48 carvings of various sizes from exotic places such as Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii. Behind the bar stood a massive 1300 pound Tiki idol, while the back bar was inlaid with mother of pearl - 3000 pieces - all hand inlaid, weighing 65 pounds. The manager Richard Tierney said the restaurant incorporates what the management considered the best elements of famous Polynesian restaurants throughout the country. 'We used native materials, imported trough a San Francisco agent, then refined the atmosphere to what we thought would be attractive to our Milwaukee patrons.' The restaurant sat 170.

Leon Garces was the Filipino chef who came from the Beachcomber's in Chicago. 'The forte of the bar, of course, is rum drinks. Most come in exotic containers, such as the Tonga, called a sorcerer's blend and served in a ceramic miniature Easter Island figure. The Volcano is served in a real coconut and consists of gin, brandy, rum and pineapple juice, garnished with an orchid.'"

This elaborate South Seas theme only lasted 3 years until 1964 when the restaurant changed back to serving "American" cuisine...

Today, as of 2023, this site appears to be home to The Shul Center, a synagogue.

Founded in 1884, the Pitt Rivers Museum is housed within an atmospheric building holding more than 500,000 objects, photographs and manuscripts from all over the world, and from all periods of human existence. Within are exceptional objects of ritual significance, and objects made for tourists or trade.

Those interested in "Tiki" or Polynesian Pop have often been guided here to see the Maori display and the "Treatment of Dead Enemies" display (with its shrunken heads). Photos of both displays are shown below along with some close-ups.

Since the museum is not necessarily arranged by geographical area, but by type of item, there are often several cultures represented in some areas. There is much more than just these two displays to interest visitors.

It appears that since 2020, this museum (like many) has grappled with a call to repudiate or at least better contextualize their colonial past. For the Pitt Rivers, this means a modernization of their display tags and a retiring of some display pieces to storage. The shrunken head exhibit has been removed and that case has been wrapped with an explanation of the institution's efforts to not dehumanize colonized peoples or display human remains if possible. You can see some before and after photos below.

As with most museums, their collections are often updated and never meant to be a static or unchanging time capsule. However, the changes above have fueled quite a bit of debate.

Opened February 2022.

They tout themselves as being the first and only tiki bar in Colorado Springs, but Tommy Wong did have an Island Restaurant in Colorado Springs (not much evidence remains today). Still, for today's customers, this is definitely the only place in town.

Audriana Crane co-owns Shrunken Head Tiki in Colorado Springs along with local entrepreneur Joe Campana.

They were inspired by visiting Golden Tiki and Frankie’s Tiki Room in Las Vegas and wanted to bring something like that to Colorado Springs.

The main entrance is a door between Oskar Blues Grill & Brew and Bell Brothers Brewing entrances. There’s an elevator or stairs to take you down.

The focal point of the bar is a bubbling fountain with a fog machine and greenery.

The center bar has swings for seating and a whimsical Light Brite peg game.

The back bar has skulls embedded into the divider walls.

Drinks are served in an assortment of tiki mugs.

The Tropic Bowl began in 1955 at another location, across from Bilotti's Italian Village, at 309 3rd Street SW (where the Third Street Ramp is now).

The bowling alley was moved to 430 Fifth Ave. S.E., in 1963, and its lounge was dubbed "The Outrigger."

In 1978, Rochester had a huge flood, which filled the entire site with 4 feet of water. They opened 4 days later when the waters receded.

The Outrigger was eventually changed to a Country-themed bar (In Cahoots) in 1985.

Eventually, the city began a massive flood control project and this necessitated buying out the Tropic Bowl. In the end, the city paid $2 million for the Tropic Bowl, the In Cahoots lounge and the property around the businesses, plus some accrued interest. At the time, it was the largest single purchase the city made in connection with its flood control project.

The Tropic Bowl and the In Cahoots lounge closed its doors May 13, 1993. By the end of the month, the items from the alley and lounge were auctioned off, and the final ball was rolled down the lane.

Opened in 1999.

Paddy's Beach Club is located right on the beach and is relatively quiet during the winter but explodes into action during Spring and Summer, becoming a Spring Break/Beach Festival destination for thousands of scantily clad young people who visit every Sunday while the season lasts.

The Tikki Bar is located directly opposite the DJ entertainment stage on the other side of the dance floor. This dance floor is flanked on the sides by cabana private areas that you can rent for your friends. There is also a large drinking and dining area behind the main building and beach access onto the main beach as well.

Often regarded as New England's premiere dayclub.

They do have at least a couple of large carved wooden tikis outside. But the Tiki theme is applied pretty lightly overall.

Their cocktails are not the refined Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber cocktails that send the taste buds of most Tiki Fans quivering. If you want a ton of blue drink in a fish bowl to get buzzed on, though, they have you covered!

The Roosevelt Hotel opened in 1930, named after the 26th U.S. president, who’d visited Seattle in 1903. Its architect, John Graham Sr., was one of the city’s most prominent: the firm he'd founded was behind iconic city structures like the Seattle Exchange Building, the Frederick & Nelson department store (now the downtown Nordstrom), and, under his son’s leadership, the Space Needle. Graham’s designs account for the hotel’s distinctive, modernist Art Deco style. The 18-story building remained Seattle’s tallest hotel for decades, with 234 rooms and an ornately furnished lobby detailed in the French modern style. In contrast to the hotels that catered to residents (the norm at the time), the Roosevelt Hotel positioned itself as a traveler-oriented hotel.

The Lanai or Lanai Room as it was called, flourished in the 1960s. It was known for its "musical fountains" seen in photo below and their cocktail menu is notable for sharing tiki mug designs seen at the Kalua Room in Seattle and commonly associated only with the Kalua Room. In 1962, both the Roosevelt Hotel (the Lanai) and Windsor Hotel (Kalua Room) were managed by Gwynne Austin. Gwynne Austin had previously managed Hawaii's Kona Inn, the Halekulani and opened Kaisers Hawaiian Village... he left Hawaii to take over the Windsor in 1954.

In 2015, Provenance Hotels purchased the hotel, and began floor-by-floor renovations, spearheaded by Seattle-based Susan Marinello Interiors. Fully refreshed, the hotel reopened in 2017 under the name Hotel Theodore, a nod to its historic namesake.

*NOTE: Exact dates on the opening and closing of the Lanai are unknown but it was definitely open from 1962-1965.

Opened in 2016.

This Asian inspired restaurant has a cozy and classic lounge feel with its black tufted booth seating and tufted red chairs throughout.

Tiki decor is sparse, but there are some very well-done hula girl murals (although one or more might actually be better recognized as Art Nouveau paintings by Alphonse Mucha -- such as "Summer" with red poppies in her hair) on the exposed brick walls.

Behind the bar are a couple of Gothic style alcoves with small carved tiki statues instead of Catholic saints.

They feature a rotating menu of classic and signature tiki cocktails which have received rave reviews, and are served in tiki mugs. They do have a unique signature tiki mug created just for their location as well -- "Big Poppa" by Tank Standing Buffalo and Tiki Farm.