This pre-tiki bar ran from the 1940s to the early 1950s. It was located just to the left of the entrance to the "International Settlement" in San Francisco.

Mitchell Lewis was the Pago Pago's proprietor and signage outside proclaimed this the "House of Zombie" and "Lure of the Islands".

Later, this location became the "Arabian Nights" in the mid 1950s.

Before International Settlement days, the street’s first incarnation was the "Barbary Coast", famed center of Gold Rush debauchery and vice. The 1906 earthquake demolished most of it, bringing an abrupt end to that chapter. Just before Prohibition, the area was known as "Terrific Street". "International Settlement" was the block’s exotic name from the late 1930s to its decline in the late 1950s. Jazz music, tropical clubs, and leggy stage shows were the style of the time, themes aimed at attracting sailors passing through town. The result was a potent mixture of glamour and grit.

Opened October 24, 1963.

In the 1970s, the Bali Hai was a popular Polynesian showplace, complete with bamboo mugs and native dancers.

The Cow Harbor Inn took over in the 80s and prospered – until competition from newer restaurants became insurmountable. Finally, the Cow Harbor Inn was shuttered and the space fell into dis-repair.

The building site included a two-story house built around 1790, according to information from the Northport Historical Society, and some residents expressed opposition to tearing it down, but eventually, that's what happened.

Currently, as of 2021, this location is home to a new modern building -- the TD Bank.

Circa 1940s to 1950s.

This pre-tiki bar and nightclub in the midst of "The Street" in New York was decked out in South Pacific style with bamboo and painted island murals, but the big draw were the three shows nightly of burlesque dancers.

Opened June 3rd, 2019.

Barista Parlor owner and founder Andy Mumma, Isle of Printing founder Bryce McCloud and longtime Husk Nashville bar manager Mike Wolf have taken over the former Bar Luca space, to create a neo-tiki bar with a "Jetsons" meets "Polynesian Pop" vibe.

The bar itself is trimmed out in bamboo, but the giant robot hovering over it and the sci-fi theming may scare away those looking for a more traditional tiki space.

Still, Chopper has a serious rum collection at hand and their cocktails look to be on-point.

The Hurricane was a hot pre-tiki era night club on the northwest corner of 49th & Broadway from about 1940 through 1944. It filled the second floor of the Brill Building, a historic landmark famous for nurturing the popular music industry from the 1950s into the 1970s; anyone who was anyone in the music industry at the time was seen there.

The name, Hurricane, was probably inspired by the 1937 film, starring Dorothy Lamour.

It was decorated with fake palm trees and other tropical flora and fauna.

Most notably, Duke Ellington headlined at the Hurricane in 1943. According to Ellington, it was at the Hurricane that night club audiences first began to be integrated.

The Hurricane was operated by lawyer David J. Wolper, but many speculated that he was actually the front man for the mob and that they actually ran the place.

After many conflicting reports towards the end, about whether the club would stay open or was simply closed for remodeling, the Hurricane did indeed close.

Meanwhile, another successful spot, Zanzibar, whose tropical/African theme welcomed both a black and white audience, was looking for a new spot. They had opened the previous year in a smaller venue and were looking to expand.

The Zanzibar owners paid more than $50,000 and apparently another $35,000 to redecorate the old Hurricane location in gold, beige and black and opened later in 1944 to instant success with headliners like Cab Calloway and other famous musicians who frequently squabbled over who would headline this new premier club spot.

Another pre-tiki classic...

Harry "Sugie" Sugarman, manager of Grauman's Chinese Theater, opened his first Tropics supper club in 1934 or '35 at 421 North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills (later it became The Luau). It was such a success that he opened this second location, the Hollywood Tropics, in 1939.

Around 1945, the Hollywood Tropics was bought by Glenn Billingsley. That same year, Tom Breneman bought-in and changed the Hollywood Tropics to a self-named restaurant.

Tom Breneman died of a heart attack in 1949. After Breneman's death, the building was occupied by the ABC Radio Center.

Opened in 1959, a few months after Hawaii was given statehood.

This hotel had a magnificent palm tree sign, 73 rooms, and a very nice pool. Appeared to have little theming beyond the sign, but the sign was spectacular.

Unfortunately, the Tahiti ditched its tropical theme to become the Airport Travelodge in 1977. The motel is currently a Days Inn by WyndhamAirport.

Opened February 14th, 1963.

This location billed itself as "The Splendor of the Polynesian Islands brought to the Niagara Frontier."

They had a volcano effect, a waterfall, and a "tropical" river.

This location appears to have been around for at least 10 years, into the 1970s.

Opened circa 1965.

This motel had 28 rooms and a heated swimming pool as well as an attached "Tiki Restaurant".

It was run under the Best Western banner as the Aruba until about 1999, when it was rebranded as the Tucumcari Inn.

The Tucumcari Inn became run-down and has been permanently closed for several years now, since at least 2019, if not earlier. The structure still stands but no sign of any tiki signs or decor.

Opened in 1964.

This oceanfront resort had 60 units in its 2-story motel, a heated swimming pool, and a restaurant. The front part of the motor lodge was shaped like a Hawaiian longhouse and had torches at either end. The front sign was also capped by a torch.

The site lost most of its beach during Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and was not well maintained. The property changed hands with the intention of building condominiums on site, and although the new owners made small improvements in the interim to upkeep the property, it was only for the short term.

Closed September 22nd, 2014. Demolished April 2016.

Open at least as early as 1963.

Bora Bora was part of Restaurant Square, an area in Encino, California that accommodated three restaurants: Bora Bora, The Dolphin, and Bill Baileys.

The restaurant was owned by Bernard Gordon.

Bora Bora had extravagant Polynesian decor provided by Oceanic Arts. Perhaps too extravagant...

When the Bora Bora went bankrupt because it couldn't recoup the costs of its decor, Benson Fong of Ah Fong's simply moved in a Cantonese kitchen staff and started raking in the cash. Fong, Charlie Chan's "number one son" in the 1940s movie series, became the number one 1960s Cantonese king with five Ah Fong's restaurants located throughout L.A. County.

Today this location is home to Sadaf, a Persian Restaurant.

Opened November 12th, 2021 in the space formerly occupied by BurgerFi.

This is Napa's first tiki bar, run by Nat Komes and family, who have deep roots in Napa and are known for Flora Springs Winery.

The name of the lounge is inspired by their family history and Uncle Wilfred in particular. Flora Cabral and her brother, Wilfred, grew up in Hawaii. Flora later married Jerry Komes and they started Flora Springs Winery.

This location pays homage to Wilfred, who often played the ukulele and entertained guests.

Their signature tiki logo was inspired by The Tiki-Jo logo tiki which was carved by Eli Hedley in the late 50s.

Interior work was done by Ben Bassham (Bamboo Ben, who is the grandson of Eli Hedley) and Billy Crud (Crud Tiki Polynesian Design).