Escape To The Top Tiki Bars Across The Country
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Flickr/Sam Howzit/CC BY
It doesn’t matter how cool you are, you’re never too good for a tiki bar. Whether you live on the east coast and you desperately need to escape the tundra or you’re just in the mood for some flaming torches, tropical decor and shamelessly drinking fruity cocktails out of hollowed-out pineapples, a tiki bar is always the answer. It may be hard to believe, but tiki culture actually originated in the U.S. with the opening of Don the Beachcomber, a Polynesian-themed bar and restaurant in Hollywood.
We can thank Louisiana-native Ernest Raymond Beaumont-Gantt (who later changed his name to Donn Beach) for sailing all over the South Pacific. Don the Beachcomber introduced Californians to the combination of Cantonese cuisine, exotic rum punches, and the idea of rattan furniture, flower leis, flaming torches and vibrant fabrics. A couple of years later a man named Victor Bergeron, AKA Trader Vic, adopted the concept and opened a restaurant in Oakland which went on to become the international chain Trader Vic’s.
Since then, restaurants and bars across America have also adopted tiki culture and made it their own. Below are the top tiki bars across the country where you can escape to a tropical oasis.
The Tonga Room And Hurricane Bar
Located in the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, you’ll find The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar. This destination has become a symbol of “tiki’s pop culture heyday of the 1940s and 1950s.” There are tribal wall coverings, eco-friendly bamboo tabletops and a thatch-covered barge floating on a 75-foot swimming pool in the middle of the bar, where a top-40 cover band plays regularly. The dance floor is pretty authentic, built from the actual remains of a cargo ship. It also periodically rains inside the bar, along with realistic sounding thunder and lightning effects. Go get your buzz on with rum punches and get in the island spirit!
Réunion
Underground in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan is Réunion (named after the small volcanic island off the coast of African nation Madagascar in the Indian Ocean). Marked by a surfboard on street level, Réunion is down a few flights of stairs. The cozy paradise is French-accented and complete with surfboard decor, twinkly lights, a fish tank, TV screens playing videos of beachy waves, creole bar food and tiki drinks. Get the classic mai tai, frozen mojito, Painkiller and try some of their infused rums. The spot also offers double strong drinks like the Jamaican Sazerac and the Zombie. Don’t forget to say what’s up to Big Wave Dave while you’re there.
Three Dots And A Dash
There’s a sleek tiki den underneath a country-western bar in the River North neighborhood of Chicago called Three Dots and a Dash. Flaming tiki drinks run the show here and you’ll find all of the classic Polynesian bar decor like massive tiki idols, a bamboo accented bar and skull-shaped punch bowls flowing with dry ice. You can jam out to surf rock tunes while you explore the 150 rum options.
Forbidden Island
Forbidden Island is a retro-oasis in Alameda, Calif., located just outside San Francisco and Oakland. The bar was opened by a former Trader Vic’s bartender and the space embodies “World War II-era South Seas romanticism.” There’s happy hour all night on Mondays and every weekday from 5-7pm. Don’t miss the bowl-sized tiki drinks designed for sharing.
Rockaway Beach Surf Club
A few subway rides away in Far Rockaway, Queens, is Rockaway Beach Surf Club. This beachy hangout is more about surf culture than tiki culture, but the chill vibes are equally as inviting. The whole place is dedicated to the love of surfing, supporting the community and preserving the environment. It’s even open during the winter to support those brave souls who go surfing all year round. You can get your tropical cocktails, margaritas and lots of beer. There’s also a killer menu with ramen, spicy noodles and veggie snacks, plus amazing fresh tacos during the warmer months (including fish tacos that can compete with the best of ’em). The outdoor area is like a tropical oasis that turns into a party zone in the summer. If you’re willing to make the trek, it’s a guaranteed good time.
Mai-Kai
Opened in 1956, Mai-Kai has become a Fort Lauderdale staple and a community institution. Known for its live Polynesian dance shows, tiki torches, garden waterfall and flaming scorpion bowls, Mai-Kai is a must-do when you’re in the area. The cocktail menu is divided into a few categories: mild, medium, strong and after dinner drinks. There’s also a Mai-Kai famous mystery drink that serves four if you’re feeling adventurous. Every year the bar hosts the annual Hukilau, known as the most authentic tiki event in the world, which is a four-day-long celebration. The bar is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pacific Seas
Concealed behind a mirrored door at the historic Clifton’s, in downtown Los Angeles, is an extravagant tiki scene known as Pacific Seas. The whole space is lavishly designed as a tropical paradise by Bamboo Ben, a professional tiki bar designer. You’ll have to climb a hidden staircase to get there, but once you’re in, you’ll be entranced with hand-painted murals, tiki mugs, Polynesian paraphernalia, vintage fixtures, palm trees and a full-sized boat that doubles as a DJ booth. Get your drink on with Singapore Slings, mai tais, rare varieties of rum and all the frozen drinks you can handle.
Tiki Tolteca
Hidden on the second floor of Felipe’s Taqueria, in the French Quarter of New Orleans, is the Latin American-themed tiki lounge called Tiki Tolteca. The secluded thatch-covered bar serves flaming boozy bowls like the Zombie punch that comes with a rum-filled gummy brain. The menu combines both tiki culture and Latin American influences and the cocktails are each made with special ingredients like Amazonian flowers. The vibe here is dark and moody with a little bit of Mad Men-era style.
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