Tiki Bar – Page 56 – The Search for the Ultimate Mai Tai

August 17, 2022August 17, 2022

Relaxing Sunday Lunch at Trader Vic’s

Had an impromptu trip to Berkeley and we stopped in at Trader Vic’s Emeryville for a late lunch on Sunday. We were seated in the lounge and had a great time with our favorite appetizers Crab Rangoon and Cheese Bings. I had the Trader Vic’s Salad with chicken for lunch.

Went a little beyond the norm by having the E’Ville Awa cocktail, a very fine Trader Vic’s-style cocktail with pineapple, rums, gin, and brandy. I went with the no-booze Coral Reef for desert, a sweet blended drink with strawberries, pineapple, and coconut cream. Yummy, and sure to give you a brain freeze.

Meanwhile Mrs. Mai Tai tried the Golden Grog, which is a grog-riff using Rhum Agricole, pineapple juice, and honey. Quite nice, and the agricole definitely helps this lean in a different direction than many of the Vic’s cocktails. She also tried the Mango Mai Tai, having tried the Guava last time. That’s made with light rum and while it tastes tropical it doesn’t really have a lot of “Mai Tai” taste to me. Which might be a plus or a minus, depending on who you are.

Always lovely to look at the scenery inside and to soak in the history of this Vic’s location that opened 50 years ago this year.

August 16, 2022August 15, 2022

The CanTiki in Glendale

I heard about this new Cantina/Tiki hybrid bar opening a few months ago, and CanTiki was right on the way back from dinner so we stopped in to check it out. It’s located on Glendale’s busy Brand Blvd, though a few blocks down from where most of the restaurants and bars are. Thus might explain why it was kind of slow when we visited.

Service at the bar was friendly nonetheless and we explored the menu. First things first, this isn’t a tiki bar. It’s a bar with a tiki inspired cocktail program. There are lots of choices and you can tell they’re trying to do something different with the cocktails.

I had doubts about the Mai Tai/Painkiller hybrid Kill Mai Pain that featured a hodgepodge of ingredients and also had a float of Cruzan Blackstrap rum (had I realized that was there I would have asked for a sub or chosen a different cocktail). It wasn’t bad but not that memorable. I should have tried the Fly for a Mai Tai available on tap, which seems like a more traditional take.

Much better was Mrs. Mai Tai’s Banana Hammock, an inspired Daiquiri riff that included a couple rums, Giffard Banana liqueur, and Aztec Chocolate bitters. It was quite good.

There are a few tables and a few booths, and everything inside is painted black. All the pillows in the booths had some sort of Nicolas Cage imagery on them, which we found interesting. The Christmas tree was left over from a Christmas in July promotion. There were a few drink specials and it does seem like they frequently partner for food pop-ups, so check their social media for the latest updates.

August 13, 2022August 13, 2022

Tiki Ti: Still Packing in the Crowds

I has been a few years since we last visited Tiki Ti and we made a point to go this time. We arrived 30 mins before opening and after sweating outside in line we finally made it in. Super crowded at opening especially with the long line, but luckily we knew what we wanted to order and so I went to the far end of the bar where bartender Greg Bansuelo was waiting for orders.

Service is at the bar but Greg got our drinks going quickly. I wanted to try a Ray’s Mistake and Mrs Mai Tai had the Lemon Head that had been recommended and one to try. Honestly I didn’t feel either were life changing but a couple cool tropical drinks inside after being out in the hot LA sun for a half hour definitely helped. There was some good energy inside, but also kind of crowded and warm so we only stayed for the one drink.

We congratulated Mike Buhen Sr on still being able to pull in the crowds after all these years. There are so many things to look at inside, and you can feel the history here. Glad we made it this trip and I hope to visit again soon – maybe later in the evening when it’s dark and cooler.

August 12, 2022March 30, 2025

Trader Sam’s: Different on Saturdays

I had a great time popping into Trader Sam’s in the early afternoon last January. I breezed into the bar with essentially no wait. There was hardly anyone inside and had plenty of time to shoot the breeze with Skipper Nate.

Our visit last Saturday was different.

We arrived 30 mins before opening and put our name on the waitlist, told it would be 5-10 mins past opening at 11:30. A little relaxing strolling around the Disneyland Hotel isn’t bad but we didn’t get called in until nearly noon. Not too bad for a Saturday, obviously, but a bummer that expectations weren’t met.

Inside it was quite crowded but we were able to get our orders in for lunch and some drinks. We sure love it inside. It’s really one of the best tiki bars to sit inside, looking at all the different treasures and elements on the walls and shelves and ceiling. Plus music that is on point and those Trader Sam’s special effects.

I really enjoyed my Poke Bowl with Salmon, and a fantastic 1944 Mai Tai with El Dorado 8. Very nice, and it is always appreciated that even on a busy weekend day that the skippers are willing and able to go off menu slightly and still deliver a great cocktail.

Trader Sam’s is still one of my favorites.

August 10, 2022March 30, 2025

Strong Water Anaheim: Orange County’s Best Mai Tai

We tried to go here back in January, but our reservation was cancelled at the height of the omicron surge. So we tried again for a reservation at opening last Friday. Thankfully, we were able to make it in.

Strong Water is a nautical themed tiki bar, which made three nautical bars in a row for us, after The Sinking Ship and The Warehouse. Strong Water’s decor is more set decorated and leans a little more Victorian in style, but it is still quite impressive. We were sat in the Captain’s Quarters in the back, and thanks to our 5:00 reservation we shared the space with only one couple on the other side. This deep immersion was a complete “leave the outside world behind” scenario including music that was was on point, including some 40’s era standards.

There is a strong bar and food program here, and we enjoyed the meal (I had the Loco Moco Burger). We also indulged with the Thai Tea Cheesecake and Caramel Ice Cream. So decadent.

Our cocktails were also quite excellent, including Orange County’s finest Mai Tai featuring Hamilton 86 and Pot Still Black rums. I also enjoyed the Tales from the Black Lagoon which combined butterscotch and banana flavors so well. Mrs. Mai Tai like the Meihana and the Taro Colada.

Staff were super friendly and we did have a few moments to talk to our bartenders, always nice if it happens. The destination is popular, so reservations are essential to be seated indoors. There’s a parklet outside, but isn’t nearly as immersive.

So glad we finally got to visit Strong Water Anaheim.

August 7, 2022August 7, 2022

Cocktails at The Sinking Ship

We’d had great experiences with the cocktails at Tiki-Ko in the past, so had high expectations for the ones at their newish downstairs sister-bar, The Sinking Ship. The cocktails were great, and the attention to detail from bartenders @bell_uh_sorry_hoe, @_spongibob, and another bartender who’s name I didn’t catch was outstanding.

My Mai Tai was totally “out of this world,” using Denizen Merchant’s Reserve for the rum. I followed up with a Navy Grog that was nearly as good, and I appreciated the additional honey upon request.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Mai Tai started with the “Mary Ann” cocktail, which is Tiki Ko’s version of the Tradewinds. I’ve had this before and it’s still really great. She followed it up with the top-notch El Duderino, with rum, vodka, coffee liqueur, and coconut cream.

We wanted to stay longer but were driving so we did two “virgin sacrifices,” Julie liked The Chai-Lite, with a non-alcoholic cane spirit and chai tea concentrate. While I had the tart but still tasty Peachy Keene featuring peach nectar. Both of these were quite wonderful.

As far as I can tell the cocktail program at The Sinking Ship is the same as upstairs at Tiki-Ko, which in my mind is sort of a bummer but not really an issue. With 18 cocktails including some made for tiki newbies (Pina Colada and Blue Hawaii) but also some for savvy craft cocktail fans (Three Dots and a Dash, 151 Swizzle), there’s enough choice but doesn’t lead to analysis paralysis. I only wish they’d have a few more original recipes to try, but there ain’t nothing wrong with what’s being offered. The back bar offers some additional spirts choices, but a vast rum collection isn’t really a focus. There are some beer choices and a monthly rotation of slushy cocktails, so there’s something for everyone.

With fabulous decor, great music, impressive service and also some great cocktails, The Sinking Ship ranks amongst the best tiki bars I’ve visited. Totally worth making a trip to Bakersfield to check it out – along with Tiki-Ko upstairs of course. We’ve heard the nearby Padre Hotel is a good option that’s walking distance away. Be sure to check current hours before visiting, as there are some days where either Tiki-Ko or The Sinking Ship are open. Or go on a weekend when both are open.

August 6, 2022August 7, 2022

The Sinking Ship at Tiki-Ko

We finally made it down to Bakersfield to see the basement addition/expansion/sister bar to longtime local heroes at Tiki-Ko.

The Sinking Ship features an immersive nautical and trader design with different sections and booths. Really amazing work from @tikidiablo and @_spongibob. The ceiling is a map and there are so many elements to look at, including masks, crates, nautical equipment, and displays of artifacts.

A notable element is how you order drinks at the bar, complete with a roped off line, though there a few seats at the bar, too. The chairs feel like vintage pieces even though we know they’re new. The music was top notch, including exotica, surf, and Hawaiian. It all feels organic and well-put together, without feeling like it is a movie set.

The entrance is just a couple doors down from Tiki-Ko and leads you down a staircase with inspired decor. So while the staff and menu are the same, this truly is a separate space.

We’ll discuss the drinks in tomorrow’s post, but suffice to say that The Sinking Ship is one of the finest spaces in any tiki bar anywhere.