Los Angeles, CA
The Ultimate Tiki Bar Crawl Through Los Angeles
Los Angeles didn't just borrow tiki culture — it invented it. Don the Beachcomber opened in Hollywood in 1934 and lit a fuse that turned mid-century California into ground zero for rum-soaked escapism, carved idols, and flaming punch bowls. From the oldest surviving tiki bar in America to secret reservation-only lairs hidden inside bowling alleys and hot dog stands, this Gen X-approved crawl maps every worthy temple of tropical kitsch still standing across the LA basin — because some things from the '50s and '60s are absolutely worth preserving.
8 places
Tiki-Ti
Bar · Los Feliz / Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA
The undisputed godfather of LA tiki — a family-run 12-seat bar on Sunset Blvd open since 1961, where 94 exotic drinks are poured with legendary heavy hands and the entire room chants 'Toro!' when someone orders a Blood and Sand.
Tonga Hut
Bar · North Hollywood / Valley Glen, Los Angeles, CA
The oldest surviving tiki bar in Los Angeles, open since 1958 and still commanding fierce loyalty — sign up for the legendary Grog Log challenge (76 drinks to complete in one year) and earn your plaque on the wall among the Drooling Bastards.
The Lucky Tiki
Bar · West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
A reservation-only semi-secret tiki lounge perched above the iconic Tail o' the Pup hot dog stand in WeHo, accessed through a pickle barrel intercom — intimate, theatrical, and pouring cocktails like the Elvis in Hawaii with showstopping presentation.
Tiki No
Bar · North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
NoHo's high-energy late-night tiki destination with open-until-2am hours, karaoke on Sundays, a patio fireplace visible from the street, and proper full-rum Zombies and Lapu Lapus that reviewers say are never watered down.
Lucky Tiki Highland Park
Bar · Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA
Hidden inside Highland Park Bowl behind an out-of-order fortune teller machine, this reservation-only tiki speakeasy dazzles with beaded entryways, dark alcoves, original craft cocktails by expert mixologists, and Tiki-style appetizers to match.
Purple Orchid
Bar · El Segundo, Los Angeles, CA
The rare tiki bar that doubles as a genuine neighborhood dive — pool tables, sports on TV, weekday happy hour $10 mai tais from 3–7pm, and a relaxed South Bay crowd that keeps this El Segundo institution feeling like a well-kept locals' secret.
Secret Island Tiki Restaurant and Lounge
Bar · Downtown Long Beach, CA
A dimly lit tiki lounge buried underground beneath a Pine Avenue restaurant in Long Beach, complete with a themed entrance that sets the mood before you even order — beloved by serious tiki hunters for strong Navy Grogs and a genuine Polynesian-escape atmosphere.
Tiki Kai
Bar · Hermosa Beach, CA
The most beautifully designed modern entry on the LA tiki circuit — a stunning build steps from the Hermosa Beach pier with a serious mixologist approach to fresh-ingredient cocktails, a full Polynesian-inspired dinner menu, and a modern post-modern aesthetic that nails the vibe without feeling like a theme park.
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