These days there appears to be a new tiki bar opening every week. Tiki Tom’s in Walnut Creek CA is one of those new bars — but it’s an old bar, too. Tiki Tom’s owners took what was a vaguely tiki-ish dive bar, and, with the help of Bamboo Ben & Son, turned it into a proper tiki bar. And what a tiki bar — an instant classic that feels like it’s always been there.
Continue reading “Tiki Tom’s – Guest Tiki Bar Review by Stephen Curran (Walnut Creek CA)”
I have a thing for small tiki bars…
Tiki Ti and Hale Pele are at the top of my list and I really love the intimacy that a smaller tiki bar gives. When Julian and his wife Katie decided to turn a backyard shed into an tiki bar, they truly created a tiki experience that is cozy and tiki cool! It doesn’t take much to fill up a smaller tiki space but the Lujan Lagoon is filled top to bottom with incredible tiki décor. Here is how the Lujan Lagoon came to be…
Continue reading “Home Tiki Bar Spotlight #94 Lujan Lagoon – Concord CA”
The Bay Area has one of the greatest concentrations of Tiki Bars in the world, but once you leave the urbane confines of San Francisco and Oakland things get a little different. This is a look at tiki bars of the Bay Area Suburbs.
Continue reading “Bay Area Suburban Tiki is a Mixed Bag By Kevin Crossman (Ultimate Mai-Tai)”
One of my favorite tiki bars in the Bay Area has to be Pagan Idol. When I stepped inside this incredible bar, I could tell that the people behind it had a true love for tiki. I was right! Doc Parks has been loving tiki and had an interest in cocktails for most of his life. Here is his story …
And then there were two…
As I write this post, there are only two remaining Trader Vic’s locations in America. One in Atlanta, GA and the other in Emeryville, CA. Back in the ’50s/’60s during the height of Tiki popularity, there were around 25! What happened? Well, tastes changed. But if there is one word to describe a Trader Vic’s restaurant, that word would be HUGE! Imagine trying to maintain a large space with many rooms filled with various Tiki artifacts. It’s a miracle such a place is still around! That’s why visiting Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, CA was a big deal for me. It could all be gone tomorrow…
Continue reading “Tiki Bar Review #30 Trader Vic’s Emeryville, CA”
When I moved to Seattle from Pennsylvania over a decade ago, I told my parents I wouldn’t be coming home for the holidays. This wasn’t because I don’t love them, but because you always run the risk of dealing with snow and freezing rain during the winter. What I usually do is fly home during the spring or early fall. The weather is better and the flights are cheaper.
The holidays can be a little tough when all your friends are spending time with their families and my family is thousands of miles away. Instead of wondering how long to leave the turkey in the oven, I wonder where I’m going to put myself for the day. At first blush, this may sound depressing and lonely, but it’s actually quite liberating! I have a four days off during the Thanksgiving holiday. What should I do with them? Where should I put myself? I know: San Francisco!
Continue reading “Tiki Field Report #9 Tiki Rock Stars In San Fran! 11/25/16”
