How to Find a Tiki Bar

The best tiki bars are self-contained tropical paradises, serving exotic drinks in an equally exotic setting. Cocktails served in elaborate mugs, carved tikis, primitive art and Hawaiian music combine to convey an idealized version of our fiftieth state, creating an escape into a tropical past. Read on to learn how to find a tiki bar.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Identify the hallmarks of a tiki bar. Tiki bars first became popular in the 1950s, when Hawaii was idealized as an exotic paradise. They were decorated in mid-century exotica fashion, often with large carved tikis, or Hawaiian god images, placed throughout the bar. Tropical drinks, especially those featuring rum, are the specialty of a tiki bar, and you will find classic drinks like the Zombie and the Mai Tai.
2. Visit Critiki, a website dedicated to tiki information. You can find a global list of tiki bars (and bars that sound like tiki bars), and can browse by location. The website also maintains a list of tiki bars that have closed down.
3. Seek out tiki bars locally. Look for names that sound Hawaiian and for exterior Hawaiian decor. Also look for older Chinese-sounding restaurants because many original tiki bars served Chinese food. Tiki bars have experienced a resurgence in the last decade, so you may find newer tiki bars as well as old ones.
4. Subscribe to Tiki News. Tiki News will keep you updated on any developments in the tiki world, and regularly includes reviews of tiki bars both old and new.
5. Attend the Tiki Oasis, an annual tiki weekender. At the Tiki Oasis, you can meet and mingle with people who share your interest in tiki bars, and you can get recommendations on where to find the best tiki bars. You will also have a chance to visit local tiki bars, listen to live surf exotica music and attend presentations on tiki culture.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if your first few excursions to tiki bars don't meet your expectations, keep trying. You will find one that fulfills all of your tiki dreams.
• Tiki bars idealize Hawaiian culture, so don't expect to find to find an accurate representation of the culture.
• Prepare to be disappointed. You will often find a bar or restaurant that began its life in tiki fashion but now looks sadly modern and tiki-less on the inside, and no longer serves tropical drinks. Think about what it used to be to make up for what it is.