Roka Hula - at Voodoo Bayou - Orlando

Orlando, Florida, United States

Voodoo Bayou and Roka Hula opened May 11th, 2024.

Voodoo Bayou is a cajun inspired restaurant and Roka Hula is Asian fusion.

Specifically, Roka Hula describes itself as "a Modern Asian Tiki Bar from the minds of True Grit Hospitality’s Carolina Sanchez and Curtis Peery".

This Orlando location is the first Roka Hula. A second location was built afterwards at Delray Beach.

To gain entrance to the bar you must enter Voodoo Bayou and sit in what first appears as a normal photo-booth alcove with a couple of fancy chairs, a wall of roses, a mirror, and two leopard statues. It is actually a turntable device which rotates the wall to gain entrance to Roka Hula.

The interior has leopard spotted carpet and leopard spotted chairs, a plethora of skulls on the walls, and a long pink and purple lit bar with an A-frame style shelf in the center. Tons of glass fish floats, tiki style lanterns, and flowers cover the ceiling. There is also some nicely routered wood trim with Polynesian style patterns. However, this is not a traditional Polynesian styled bar on the order of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vics -- and the usual tiki themed carvings and artwork are noticeably lacking.

The cocktail menu will not disappoint, however.

The bar features the expected array of tropical drinks, such as the "Freaky Franky" which comes in a Tiki Farm mug by Big Toe. To make your own "Freaky Franky":

1 oz Plantation Dark, 0.75 oz Plantation 3 Star, 0.50 oz Appleton 8yr, 0.50 oz Bacardi 8yr, 0.50 oz Boiron Lychee Puree, 0.50 oz Boiron Passionfruit Puree, 0.50 oz House Grenadine, 0.50 oz House Falernum, 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters, 2 Dashes Cocktail Kingdom Falernum Bitters, 2 Drops Saline Solution

The bar also features original craft cocktails like the "El Narco", a smoky-spicy cocktail garnished with a clothespin that attaches a fake rolled-up $100 bill and a tiny ziploc filled with what looks like coke (but is powdered sugar). It also has a large cube with the mugshot of Pablo Escobar on top. To make your own "El Narco":

1.50 oz 512 Blanco Tequila, 0.75 oz Pineapple Jarritos Super Syrup, 0.25 oz Giffard Caribbean Pineapple, 0.25 oz Yellow Chartreuse, 0.25 oz Ancho Reyes Verde, 0.25 oz Agave de Cortes Reposado Mezcal, 1 BSP St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, 2 Dashes Bittermens Burlesque Bitters, 260mg Activated Charcoal, 2 Drops Saline Solution