Great Tiki Bars That Take You Far, Far Away

A haven in Palm Springs, Bootlegger Tiki is getting a lot of notice for its pristine décor (bamboo ceiling, blowfish light fixtures)—and expertly made drinks. In the same space that held the legendary Don’s Beachcomber Café for more than 30 years, the menu honors this historic spot with a carefully curated list emphasizing well-balanced, perfectly blended drinks.

Adults have happily embraced this respite from the crowds at Disney World. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto evokes the spirit of the South Seas with specialties like the Polynesian Pearl (RumChata cream liqueur, Grand Marnier, and cinnamon with tropical juices) and Castaway Crush (Leblon cachaça, cream of coconut, pineapple, cinnamon, and lime juice).

Little more than two years old, Three Dots and a Dash has generated—and kept—the buzz ever since. Last year, it won Best New American Cocktail Bar at Tales of the Cocktail, the Oscars of bartending. Crowds come throughout the week to sample its variations on classic and modern tiki drinks, or grab a few friends for the group drinks (for a splurge opt for Treasure Chest No. 3, a heady mix of rum and tropical fruit juices that comes with a bottle of Dom Pérignon).

Tiki Ti has long had a cult following, one that’s very happy to have its watering hole back after a fire put it temporarily out of commission earlier this year. Welcome this L.A. classic back with open arms by ordering its signature Blood & Sand.

This hot newcomer seems to the universal favorite among tiki fans. “Without a doubt, it’s one of the best right now,” Miller says. “It’s the tiki bar we’ve all been waiting for.” Latitude 29 is owned by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, a noted historian of “lost” exotic recipes. The menu boasts some 20 drinks, many originals, and many inspired by the classic recipes of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. “If you go in there and aren’t having a good time, I’m not sure you know how to,” Miller says.

Seemingly ripped from a scene in Mad Men, the Tonga Room inside the Fairmont San Francisco has pristine décor surrounding its 75-foot pool, hourly tropical storms, and a rightfully famous Singapore Sling.

This private marina and tiki bar blends perfectly with the surrounding Hawaii atmosphere. Nestled on the shores of Keehi Lagoon in Honolulu, La Mariana Sailing Club is known for its fresh-from-the-waters fish and popular Mai Tai.

Miller credits this bar, which specializes in “traditional drinks of the Caribbean islands, classic libations of Prohibition-era Havana, and exotic cocktails from legendary Tiki bars” for helping to launch the current tiki renaissance, largely owing to the talents of owner Martin Cate. “When it opened, Smuggler’s Cove was at the time—and still is today—the new mecca,” Miller says.

One of the original tiki bars in America, Don the Beachcomber is a mecca for tiki fans. “The place is beautiful, it’s like walking into a time warp,” Miller says. Décor includes rare old daggers, and live bands and luaus are regular events. Miller notes the Zombies here are delicious, authentic—and strong.

A tiki oasis in the Midwest, cheese curds are just as at home on the menu as the scorpion sting at Psycho Suzi’s. Here, the crowds come out when the steel winters thaw and they stay outside all summer long.

Forbidden Island offers happy hour all night on Mondays, and every other weekday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., so it’s fair to say the aloha spirit never really leaves. Just outside of San Francisco and Oakland in Alameda, the expansive space, its house specials like the China Clipper and Rusty Romero, and bar bites like crab Rangoon, make you feel far from home.

A relative newcomer on the tiki scene, Porco Lounge is gaining momentum fast. Fans come for the painkillers, whose alcohol level you can adjust per order, as well as Tiki Bob’s Concussion, a $35 drink served in an ample, and amply filled, goblet.

Owner Blair Reynolds makes small batch tropical drink syrups at Portland’s beloved Hale Pele, where drinks are categorized by such groupings as “strong ones” and “short hoists.” There’s are several rums of the day, out of a list of more than 200, perfect for sipping alongside a pu pu platter or kalua pork.

This Boerum Hill hideaway has been popular for years, and the Zombie Hut (273 Smith St., Brooklyn, NY) gets consistently high marks among groups and dates. “Here, it’s about more than the drinks,” Miller says. “It’s the atmosphere in which they serve them—this place is really fun.”