Each year we celebrate the best Mai Tais that we had the pleasure of tasting in the last twelve months. The list includes commercial restaurants and bars, plus Mai Tais we had at home tiki bars and events. For this list the rating is solely about what’s in the glass and does not factor in other elements such as ambiance, food, service, or decor.

Each Mai Tai is only listed once, otherwise Dr. Funk and Smuggler’s Cove would have dominated the top 30, but variants do get listed separately.

Some of the Mai Tais involve rum substitutions from what the bar would normally serve. This presents the reader with more to consider when visiting these places, but highlights that making rum substitutions is often what changes a good Mai Tai into a great one.

Summary of the Top 10 of 2025

A January visit to Smuggler’s Cove set the bar with a great Mai Tai that somehow was bested there later that spring. After the 2023’s “Year of Appleton 17 Legend” we thought that we’d never have another Mai Tai with this rare rum, but I had not one but two including a truly excellent one at Kona Street Market where they amazingly sold this rum at cost! Trips to The Cellar and Oculto showed that ‘please and thank you’ can make for an amazing custom Mai Tai if the bartender has the talent and right ingredients.

A March trip to Tacoma started with an unexpected, amazing Mai Tai at Devil’s Reef, made by owner Jason Alexander with Rare Cane Jamaica Pot Still rum and served unprompted. This bold rum really punched through and delivered an amazing Mai Tai, a testament to Alexander’s bartending skills, and immediately shot to the top of my running list for the year.

Specialty rums are fun, but I was pleased to see that standard issue Mai Tais at a bunch of bars ranked so highly, including Inside Passage, Strong Water Anaheim, and The Fink. Dr. Funk’s Mai Tai is only $8 on Mondays and we drank a ton of these in 2025 and found the quality to be very consistent.

The “Just Missed” list grows larger each year, and the quality of Mai Tais across the globe continue to improve. You can see I really tried to find a Mai Tai to top the one from Devil’s Reef, and while many came close none could actually beat it. The drinks at Devil’s Reef tend to lean more complex than the Mai Tai, and there’s more than a little irony to salute Alexander who once cheekily called the Mai Tai “pedestrian” but there’s no doubt this was the best of the year. Cheers.

Number 10

Mexican Rum Mai Tai at Oculto 477 (August 8, San Diego, CA)

This craft cocktail speakeasy was so great, and I saw that orgeat was used in other cocktails so took a chance asking for an off-menu Mai Tai made with Mexican rum in honor of the venue’s cultural roots. The savory Mexican rum was perfectly paired with some delicious sweet orgeat.

Number 9

Strong Water Anaheim (May 25, Anaheim, CA)

The cocktail program here is stellar, including the standard issue Mai Tai that’s rich and nutty with some flavorful but approachable rums from Jamaica and Guyana. The quality at Strong Water has been consistent since the day they opened.

Number 8

OG Mai Tai at The Fink (February 15, Napa, CA)

Our favorite cocktail spot in wine town is still making them great, including a formidable tiki section curated by longtime tikiphile and bar owner Judd Finklestein. The quality orgeat is delicious and staff are trained to deliver consistent results.

Number 7

Appleton 21 Rum Mai Tai at Make and Drink Studio (February 8, YouTube)

This was part of a blind test of all of Appleton’s core expressions, where Derek and I both picked this one over our beloved Appleton 12 rum. Only 43% ABV, but with heavy aging notes that cut through and tasted wonderful.

Number 6

“Xaymaca Mai Tai” at The Cellar (June 17, Fullerton, CA)

The standard Mai Tai here is made with expensive rums and I asked for one made with less expensive Planteray Xaymaca rum. The bartender was so used to including Martinique rhum that they didn’t consider I wanted a single rum Mai Tai, but the result was still amazing, resulting in a balanced Mai Tai that had a great orgeat and rum flavor.

Number 5

Kiki’s Premier Mai Tai at Inside Passage (March 27, Seattle, WA)

We’ve loved the Mai Tai at Rumba for years, but sister bar Inside Passage now has one with premium rums that’s even better. It’s $26 but is worth it, featuring house barrel-aged Rivers Royale, Appleton 15, Chairman’s Reserve 1931, Rhum JM Terroir Volcanique, and Saint James 110 – plus two orange liqueurs.

Number 4

Dr Funk $8 / “Mai Tai Monday” (July 21, San Jose, CA)

I lost count of how many $8 Mai Tais I had during frequent visits to downtown San Jose’s best tiki bar, and the team really has this dialed in with quality results all year long. The Mai Tai uses Appleton 12 and Smith & Cross rums from Jamaica, so you’re getting a great deal along with an amazing drink.

Number 3

Smuggler’s Cove (April 26, San Francisco, CA)

We rolled into The Cove on a busy Saturday night, followed by a loud group of young people. We took our drinks from the basement level up two flights and savored perfectly balanced cocktails with rich, bold flavors. Last year was a “down” year for Smuggler’s Cove, ranked just out of the top tier for the first time in years at number eleven. But there was no doubt this one would challenge the top spot.

Number 2

Appleton 17 Mai Tai at Kona Street Market (April 16, San Francisco, CA)

Kona somehow ended up with another bottle of the rare Appleton 17 Legend Rum, and the Mai Tai was sold basically at cost. The bartender used bad limes during an initial run at the drink, but thankfully offered to remake it. We’re so glad because it was great and additionally might be our last chance at this rum that initially sold for $500 a bottle and now fetches two or three times that amount at auction.

Number 1

Rare Cane Jamaica Pot Still Mai Tai at Devil’s Reef (March 21, Tacoma, WA)

The original Mai Tai was made with Jamaican rum, no it’s not shocking that a bold and higher proof rum from Jamaica was the cornerstone of the best Mai Tai of the year. Devil’s Reef owner Jason Alexander knew exactly what I wanted without even needing to ask. The venue is well-known for mostly using Planteray rum products, plus Rum Fire, so the use of a limited edition independent rum brand is somewhat ironic.

Rest of the Top 25

11. “Punchy Mai Tai” at Club 33
12. Appleton 17 at Wilfred’s Lounge
13. Nightcaps at Rosetta
14. Matiki
15. Frozen Mai Tai at Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar
16. Now that’s a fucking Mai Tai at Little Hill Lounge
17. Original Mai Tai at Mai Tai Day Trader Vic’s Emeryville
18. Mata Hari Bar
19. Pagan Idol
20. Okole’ Maluna Mai Tai at Da Tiki Hut
21. Bitter Mai Tai at Strong Water Anaheim
22. Menehune Juice at Trader Vic’s Munich
23. Boo Loo Lounge
24. Tai Gam at Wilfred’s Lounge
25. Mai Tai with Rhum Traditionnel from Mike Hooker

Just Missed:

Ultimate Mai Tai at Tiki Tom’s
Pusser’s Bar
Dublin Tai at Trader Vic’s Emeryville
Haole Tai at Wilfred’s Lounge
Passion Tai at Trader Vic’s Emeryville
Rumba
Rex’s Mai Tai at Pearl’s Hideaway
Frozen Mai Tai at Trader Vic’s Mai Tai Day
Trader Vic’s San Jose Airport
Trader Vic’s Munich
Tiki Tom’s Mai Tai
Trader Sam’s with Appleton 12
Mai Tai with Jamaica Rum at Alex Lounge and Bar
Ultra Chill Mai Tai at Bahama Breeze
Hula Hoops
Clarified Ultimate Mai Tai by DJ Ship Rex
China Live
Mai Tai with Kō Hana Rum at PCH
Reserve Mai Tai at False Idol
Dave’s Special Mai Tai at Lucky Tiki
Clifton’s Pacific Seas

Honorable Mentions:

District San Jose, Fog Harbor Fish House, The Tonga Room, Luau Lounge 1944 Mai Tai