Each year we celebrate the 10 best Mai Tais that we had the pleasure of tasting in the last 12 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.

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 spirit substitutions is often what changes a good Mai Tai into a great one.

Summary of the Top 10 of 2024

I was completely blown away by the amazing Mai Tai at the Sinking Ship at Tiki-Ko that used Rhum J.M Terroir Volcanique as a rum substitution, with the grassy and smoky flavors balanced by the lime and sweeteners so well. This rum was ordered on January 6 and sat at the top of the list for most of the year, fighting off formidable competitors to keep the top slot.

Meanwhile, The Kon-Tiki in Oakland sat at number two since January with a great entry made with Hamilton Pot-Still Blonde, a lightly aged rum from Jamaica. As the year progressed, I had Mai Tai after Mai Tai at Kon-Tiki and could not quite beat the J.M. But in October I had an Appleton 12 Jamaica Rum Mai Tai that was so smooth and flavorful I designated it for the top slot.

But the best Mai Tai I had was the last one at Kon-Tiki on the night they closed. This was their world-class standard with a custom rum blend, offering a perfect balance of sweet and savory notes. The Kon-Tiki’s Mai Tai topped the list in 2019 and 2020 and does so again for the last time.

With Kon-Tiki closing, we need to amend our list of Top 10 Mai Tais in the World. Both Cane & Table and The Copper Room showed that great Mai Tais don’t have to be at tiki bars and are strong contenders to take the slot.

Number 10

Matiki (June 13, Vienna)

I was totally blown away by Matiki’s amazing Mai Tai. Billed as having rhum agricole and Jamaica rum, I pretty much guessed at the same Appleton 12/Smith & Cross notes I’ve had at other tiki bars – and sure enough that’s what they were using in addition to Saint James aged agricole.

Number 9

The Beachcomber (June 4, London)

I was really impressed by the off-menu Mai Tai that has rich flavors of Rhum Agricole, the specialty of the Beachcomber, but is fantastically done and has balanced sweetness.

Number 8

Strong Water Anaheim (January 2)

The Mai Tai features Demerara rum and Jamaica rum and found it once again to be an excellent cocktail, very well-balanced with the rum shining through.

Number 7

Dr. Funk (May 13, San Jose)

The Mai Tai is only $8 on Mondays and is not a sub-par version for that low price. It’s the standard version that uses Appleton 12 and Smith & Cross rums from Jamaica and is quite delicious and the best value by a mile.

Number 6

Cane & Table (October 28, New Orleans)

The upscale Cane & Table Mai Tai includes a bold blend of three rums which were Appleton 12 Jamaica rum, Rivers Antoine from Grenada, and Paranubes aged from Mexico at the time of our visit. I didn’t miss the Martinque rhum that’s supposed to be in here at all, since there’s still a ton of sugar cane juice rum flavors to work with.

Number 5

The Copper Room (December 28, Yucca Valley)

Terry’s Mai Tai is made with a “secret blend of four rums” and I’m sure homemade orgeat, the brainchild of Terry Six who was a legend at The Kon-Tiki in Oakland. The rum blend has rich flavors and this cocktail has an amazing mouthfeel that is great to the last drop.

Number 4

Trader Sam’s 1944 Mai Tai with Smith & Cross by Maddie (January 5, Anaheim)

Daytime at the Disneyland Hotel was going great when I ordered a Mai Tai with Smith & Cross rum which was truly outstanding. Maddie knew I wanted it in an original 1944 Mai Tai format and it came out exceptionally balanced and so flavorful. Its nice that a hotel bar has so many great rums to choose from and that bartenders are willing to make a cocktail with a called spirit.

Number 3

The Ultimate Mai Tai at Tiki Tom’s (September 14, Walnut Creek)

Tiki Tom’s still has the Ultimate Mai Tai on the menu, a $5 premium over the standard Mai Tai but totally worth it. They continue to do a great job with this, and boy the bold flavors of that Jamaican-led four rum blend really hit me in the right way. I have this all the time at home, of course, but Tiki Tom’s did it so good.

Number 2

The Sinking Ship at Tiki-Ko with Rhum J.M Terroir Volcanique (January 6, Bakersfield)

I spotted a bottle of Rhum J.M Terrior Volcanique and thought this aged agricole rhum might do in a Mai Tai. Terrior Volcanique is aged in barrels with a double char process that results in a smoky and spicy rum. I haven’t loved this rhum neat in a glass but it was absolutely fantastic in a Mai Tai even at only 43% ABV. Like really, really amazing.

Number 1

The Last Mai Tai at The Kon-Tiki (December 21, Oakland)

I had so many great Mai Tais at The Kon-Tiki not just this year but ever since they opened in 2017. Their house Mai Tai was still amazing on their last day, a great blend of rums and some super tasty orgeat.

Runners Up

11. Smuggler’s Cove
12. Latitude 29
13. Bootlegger Tiki
14. Stray Pirate
15. My Tie, Youse Tai
16. Mister, Might I… by Doc Parks at The Kon-Tiki
17. “Impress Me” Mai Tai at The Lucky Tiki by Skipper Christian
18. Mai Tai with Appleton 15 at Rumpus Tiki Budapest
19. Tai-Lo by Pagan Idol at Trader Vic’s Mai Tai Day
20. Brujo’s Mai Tai at The Kon-Tiki
21. Frozen Mai Tai at Make & Drink Studio
22. Mai Tai with Appleton 17 at Kona Street Market (shhhh…)
23. Sugar Plum Mai Tai (Sippin’ Santa) at 55 South
24. Original Mai Tai with LH 151 float at Trader Vics’s Emeryville
25. Zombie Village with Saint Benevolence Rum Clairin

Just Missed:
California Gold, Lost Inferno, The Fink, Trader Vic’s SJC, Frozen Mai Tai at Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, Trailer Happiness, Equiano Rum Mai Tai at The Shipwreck, Boo Loo Lounge, Kamalatai at Forbidden Island.

Honorable Mentions:
Wilfred’s Lounge, Our Big Luauski, Damn Fine Mai Tai by Greg Smith/Becca Morris, Trader Vic’s Munich, The Formosa Cafe, Red Dwarf, Hula Hoops (Lilikoi Tai), Kapu Bar, Golden Tiki