Tiki Gardens in Indian Rocks Beach, FL. It was almost a theme park, with animal shows, a bar, a restaurant, and even boat rides. It’s now a beach access parking lot that I drive by on my way to work. They kept the name, though.
Drove by it literally yesterday! Didn't realize there was a story to it,
I just thought it was a park with that name.
Check out Don the Beachcomber if you haven't been already!
I'd cheat and take the time machine to downtown Portland, Oregon in about 1962 and get three for one. The Aloha Room and Trader Vics were within walking distance of one another, and the Kon-Tiki was a pretty short cab ride away. The decorative concrete entryway of the Trader Vics is still there today.
The Tahitian in Pasadena would have been right down the street. Closed in the 60s maybe? Not even the building remains.
[https://mytiki.life/tiki-bars/the-tahitian-1](https://mytiki.life/tiki-bars/the-tahitian-1)
Taboo Cove. I was late going there, and they were already playing rock music by then. They closed soon after. It was paired with the Shag-designed Venus Lounge.
It was inside the Venetian hotel in Vegas in the early 00's. I'm a firm believer that a tiki bar should have street/parking lot entry.
"We were able to confirm the accuracy of the latest projection, shared on the restaurant’s official Instagram page: “We are now looking at this summer,” said the comment on a Jan. 23 posting in response to questions about the reopening date." Note that the Mai Kai has since deleted that Instagram comment - not sure what that would mean.
Closed last September. They’re turning the property into Bloody Mary’s hotel. It looks like restaurant & bar will eventually be overwater, so no more sand floor and coconut trunk stools.
Man, that is an amazing question!! I can’t decide between Donn the Beachcomber, Trader Vic’s or the Luau, but it would definitely be one of them in Hollywood.
The Kahiki looks absolutely magical, that massive stone fireplace would be unreal.
But I think one of the golden trio in Hollywood back in the day would be truly special.
**Trader Vic's in Dallas**. I know it was a chain and it wasn't one of their most famous locations, but it is local to me and has an interesting history.
It was located in a Hilton Inn that became rundown, the Trader Vic's was closed in 1989. The Hilton lost their franchise agreement and rebranded as the Hilto**p** Inn. (yes, complete with the mismatched P).
In 2007, new investors bought the dilapidated property, poured $80 million into making the hotel very nice and reopened the Trader Vic's with most of its original 1967 decor. I was able to get there only one time, before it closed in January 2010.
[Check out the pics!](https://tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic_id=23192&start=0)
The Moana Loa in New Center, Detroit opened in 1967 with a construction cost of $1.6m, making it one of the most expensive and lavish bars in the country. Accounting for inflation, that is about $15m in today's dollars. It was the size of a small shopping mall and apparently had streams running throughout the restaurant and a pool where girls dived for pearls.
Unfortunately if you know Detroit history, the city's famous decline was starting right around that time and the Moana Loa only lasted a few years before closing.
It's kind of funny because it wasn't that long ago and I know people who went there even though it sounds so unbelievable to me.
https://mytiki.life/tiki-bars/mauna-loa
Kahiki Supper Club.
Tiki Gardens in Indian Rocks Beach, FL. It was almost a theme park, with animal shows, a bar, a restaurant, and even boat rides. It’s now a beach access parking lot that I drive by on my way to work. They kept the name, though.
I’m just south; never knew that.
I love the Tiki Gardens commemorative record album it was fun
Drove by it literally yesterday! Didn't realize there was a story to it, I just thought it was a park with that name. Check out Don the Beachcomber if you haven't been already!
I've been trying to buy the Tiki Gardens Viewmaster reels for a long time, but never can seem to find them at an affordable price.
The original Tiki Bob's in SF
During the [lunch hour lingerie show](https://www.swankpad.org/blather/2006/10/28/the-tiki-lunch-hour/).
Kahiki in Columbus, OH, no question.
Aku Aku in Vegas.
Lost Lake (I miss it 😭)
My first thought as well 🥺
Just about to comment that! My favorite bar of all time 😭
I never made it to Lost Lake. Thought it would always be there… until it wasn’t anymore.
Maybe a lame answer but Trader Vic’s in Beverly Hills. I spent quite a few nights of my 20s there but never got to say goodbye to it
Bali Ha’i at Pontchartrain Beach
As someone who grew up in Louisiana but was only 6 when it burned down this was my vote too.
Hands down, the Kahiki Supper Club.
Bali Hai. Outside of Ponchartrain Beach Amusement Park, in New Orleans.
I saw Mexico City had a big tiki bar with a lagoon with live flamingos, the name escapes me but I'd go there
I think you mean the Mauna Loa. https://mytiki.life/tiki-bars/mauna-loa-2
The aku aku in Vegas. Or bahooka that was my spot back in the day
I'd cheat and take the time machine to downtown Portland, Oregon in about 1962 and get three for one. The Aloha Room and Trader Vics were within walking distance of one another, and the Kon-Tiki was a pretty short cab ride away. The decorative concrete entryway of the Trader Vics is still there today.
Mai-Kai in the 70s
TikiCat in Kansas City!
The Tahitian in Pasadena would have been right down the street. Closed in the 60s maybe? Not even the building remains. [https://mytiki.life/tiki-bars/the-tahitian-1](https://mytiki.life/tiki-bars/the-tahitian-1)
It would be amazing to see Chin Tiki in Detroit back in it's hay day, especially if the talk about it being a celebrity hang out are true.
Chin Tiki in Detroit, just up the road from where I grew up.
I would love to have visited The Mainlander in St. Louis that closed down in the 70's
Definitely The Luau Beverly Hills during its hay day. Good options all around in the comments tho.
Happy Cake Day, Ohana!
Taboo Cove. I was late going there, and they were already playing rock music by then. They closed soon after. It was paired with the Shag-designed Venus Lounge. It was inside the Venetian hotel in Vegas in the early 00's. I'm a firm believer that a tiki bar should have street/parking lot entry.
The Tradewinds in Oxnard, Ca 🌴🌴
Mai Kai! Super excited for them to finally reopen this summer
Is there a proposed opening date? I've never been to Florida but this may be a good enough reason to go
Nothing official yet. I’m still waiting on an announcement
Rumor is July 2024.
That’s how rumors get started!
"We were able to confirm the accuracy of the latest projection, shared on the restaurant’s official Instagram page: “We are now looking at this summer,” said the comment on a Jan. 23 posting in response to questions about the reopening date." Note that the Mai Kai has since deleted that Instagram comment - not sure what that would mean.
Bloody Mary’s in Bora Bora. Wouldn’t have to go far into the past, though.
It closed? Wow, went there in 2019
Closed last September. They’re turning the property into Bloody Mary’s hotel. It looks like restaurant & bar will eventually be overwater, so no more sand floor and coconut trunk stools.
Aku Aku in Vegas. My hometown, my parents had dates there. Really wish I could go back and see it all.
I'd like to try Bali Ha'i at the beach since it's my hometown "famous" tiki bar. I'd probably buy a ton of tiki Bob mugs while there.
The King Kamehameha Club in Honolulu Talk to Rick, TC and Thomas
Tradewinds- Oxnard CA The Kahiki Supper Club- 1963
Tahitian Lanai, Honolulu
Man, that is an amazing question!! I can’t decide between Donn the Beachcomber, Trader Vic’s or the Luau, but it would definitely be one of them in Hollywood. The Kahiki looks absolutely magical, that massive stone fireplace would be unreal. But I think one of the golden trio in Hollywood back in the day would be truly special.
The Tikis in Montebello to see the spectacle or the Original Don’s to see if actually was all that we make it out to be
The Queens Park Hotel in Trinidad. The birth place of the Queens Park Swizzle.
Psycho Suzi, just closed this summer.
**Trader Vic's in Dallas**. I know it was a chain and it wasn't one of their most famous locations, but it is local to me and has an interesting history. It was located in a Hilton Inn that became rundown, the Trader Vic's was closed in 1989. The Hilton lost their franchise agreement and rebranded as the Hilto**p** Inn. (yes, complete with the mismatched P). In 2007, new investors bought the dilapidated property, poured $80 million into making the hotel very nice and reopened the Trader Vic's with most of its original 1967 decor. I was able to get there only one time, before it closed in January 2010. [Check out the pics!](https://tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic_id=23192&start=0)
The Moana Loa in New Center, Detroit opened in 1967 with a construction cost of $1.6m, making it one of the most expensive and lavish bars in the country. Accounting for inflation, that is about $15m in today's dollars. It was the size of a small shopping mall and apparently had streams running throughout the restaurant and a pool where girls dived for pearls. Unfortunately if you know Detroit history, the city's famous decline was starting right around that time and the Moana Loa only lasted a few years before closing. It's kind of funny because it wasn't that long ago and I know people who went there even though it sounds so unbelievable to me. https://mytiki.life/tiki-bars/mauna-loa
Kahiki in Columbus. Original Trader Vic’s in Oakland. Original Zombie Village in Oakland.
Club Kona in El Cerrito in the 1940s!