If we’re making a list of the most important tiki bars of the 21st century, Alameda’s Forbidden Island is a sure bet for the top 5. Opening in 2006, the bar set a new standard for the genre by combining the friendly confines of a neighborhood bar along with deep and traditional decor and a focus on craft cocktails. It made an immediate splash and set the template for the next decade of tiki bars.
Forbidden Island has had a week of special events this week, and while we didn’t participate in any of the evening events or Sunday’s luau style event, we wanted to make sure to visit sometime this weekend. So Mrs. Mai Tai and I dropped in Saturday afternoon for a drink in between other things. We sat at the bar and enjoyed one of Miami Dave’s original creations called the Disco Ball, juicy, complex, and made with several rums. I tried the Infinite Coastline, a Blue Hawaii riff that now uses Mexican rum and is still fantastic. It was even better with a little pour of The Funk Jamaican rum that I checked off on my latest Kill Devil Club rum list.
Thank you to Michael and all crew members past and present for leading the tiki revival and keeping the flame burning though the rough waters of COVID, changing tastes, and local bureaucracy. Things have changed over the years (I loved the old jukebox), but Forbidden Island is still doing things right. From special events to Tuesday Ohana nights, plus friendly staff and great hospitality, Forbidden Island is one of the greats. Cheers!
