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Royal Hawaiian in 2024 This is how the old Royal Hawaiian looked when Don and I visited last fall!  My quick photo-snap failed to properly spotlight the carved tiki figures. It also didn't capture the giddiness Don and I were both feeling. One click and we rushed inside to see the iconic lounge, where we made good memories 4 decades ago. 2014 This is how Royal Hawaiian looked in 2014, when Don and I were back in Laguna Beach. The business had closed down and we couldn't pop in for Happy Hour, like we did as newlyweds in the '80s, living just blocks away.  The Cabang family still owned the biz. back in the '80s. Francis Cabang and his buddy Hal Hanna, originally opened the Polynesian style lounge in 1947. The Cabangs sold in 2006. Royal Hawaiian went through a few owners in the years that followed. All Fixed Up Our recent visit came a year after new ownership spiffed the place up. Thatched umbrellas and heaters welcomed October guests.  But who would want to sit facing the Coast Highway, when you could enjoy the Tiki decor just inside the door? The open door with the hefty porthole window, invited us in on that late autumn afternoon.
Where was the old door decor? The photo I took in 2014, showed a tiki figure.  I spotted this framed photo inside a little later. I guess that might be Francis Cabang standing beside the same door. Look at the palm tree? Only potted plants in front, today. Just inside It was about 4:30 when we entered the dimly lit waiting area.  The rock wall, rattan furniture and plants, helped me recall a few Tiki adventures from 4 decades ago. Conch Shell Seat You'd think I'd remember this crazy thing from back then.  Maybe it's a new addition.  We were way ahead of the TGIF crowds, so I paused for a fine photo. I pictured Tiki Fans, a few hours later, waiting in line to get their Instagram photos. Dining Area It was nice to be early before diners filled the tables. I could snap a few pics of the fresh new interior, without worry.  The built in dividers above the green seating, were impressive. They were created using jade tiles, salvaged from an ancient Chinese Temple! Should have snapped a close up photo. The cozy booths offered comfy seating for folks hoping to enjoy Mochiko Chicken Wings, or Chicken Dumplings or a Pu Pu Platter.  In fact I believe we sat in a similar booth and ordered a Pu Pu Platter in 1995. We were vacationing with young kids and they thought this place was mighty exciting. Colorful Lighting There was a lot to see, looking up towards the ceiling. Lots of bamboo... a ship's wheel and glowing green lamp.
Another light fixture shined red and green colors onto the palm thatched ceiling. Long Bar Don and I had a hard time remembering the old bar set-up. Was this the old location? The recent renovation left the bar looking a lot sleeker. No cluttering plants or TVs.  There were 22 stools at the glowing bar. Only about 6 seats were taken at 4:30. Back Lit Bar We took 2 seats by another couple, visiting for the first time from D.C. It was fun to chat with others who were enthused, like us.  We studied the 20 lit shelves, holding mugs and glassware, bottles liquor. Of course rum!  Above the shelves I spotted a draped skeleton. I was glad they hadn't gotten overly excited about Halloween decor. I'd rather gaze up and see a carved boat or clam shells than ghoulish delights.  And I'm always game for mid-century hula girl lamps. There were 2 and one had swinging hips! Retro Menu The menu design pleased me. I was wearing my 50s era flamingo dress and wanted to absorb as much Retro Tiki as possible.  I'm not sure how much a tropical drink would cost us in 1947, but there were 8 options on the menu, for $18. each.  I was disappointed for a moment that none of the drinks were served in Tiki glasses. But I guess glass allows you to actually see what you're drinking. Mai Tai and Lapu Lapu Our gold and brown drinks were served on the earthy sleek bar. My Mai Tai was half price at happy hour.  We had a full evening ahead and I didn't want to risk ruining it all by drinking the extremely potent Lapu Lapu. That's Royal Hawaiian's signature cocktail from 1947. Don's Lapu Lapu The 2-rum drink, with passion fruit and o.j. has changed a bit. There used to be a strict 2-drink limit. Don ordered just one, with the original recipe, which is not on the menu.  Maybe it was the original recipe, but it appeared to be smaller. Maybe that's a memory thing.  Don wore his bird of paradise shirt, to enjoy his cocktail.  We took a selfie. Which is something we obviously didn't do 40+ years ago. Old Photos Don had a good chat with the manager, when he inquired about t-shirts.  While he shopped, I studied old photos. Mr. and Mrs. Cabang This must be Mr. and Mrs. Cabang, standing near a billboard advertising Royal Hawaiian Charcoal Broiler.  I wish I could have learned more history about Francis and his buddy Hal. Both were born in the Philippines and both were WWII vets. They would be pleased to know their dream business is still delighting folks, 78 years after opening! Off By 5:15 The Happy Hour vibe was picking up by the time we headed out, just after 5. Musicians were arriving and yummy smells were wafting from the kitchen.  But 2 nights in Laguna isn't enough. We had a lot more to do.  I'm so glad this historic Laguna Beach landmark is back in the Tiki Biz!
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Arizona Tiki! In the past decade or so, Don and I have hit about 8 tiki bars in half a dozen states.  I'm pretty sure this is the first Tiki Adventure we've had in Arizona! Desert Oasis We discovered this little tropical paradise, on the way to our vintage hotel on the east side of Tucson.  It was about 2 pm, when we spotted the colorful sign. The 61-year-old building was tucked back, between businesses in a shopping center. Quick Peek Don pulled into a mostly vacant parking lot and I ran inside. I just had to get a peek at this place.  I followed the pebbled path over a bridge, which crossed a mosaic river, which seemed to flow from a pastel wall mural... with volcano, sea turtle and ship! "Kon-Tiki" Expedition I should have studied the mural better as I headed for the entrance. But I was distracted by those bright red doors. Worthy of a fairytale castle.  I didn't even capture the ship image in my photo. It was actually the Kon-Tiki raft, which sailed across the Pacific in 1947, from Peru to the Polynesian Islands. Evidently there's a good story! Dim and Quiet The words above the red doors invited me in. "Welcome to Paradise" But would this tiki joint really be open at 2 pm?  I've had a few mid-day visits to vintage bars in my day. (Reconnaissance missions like this) It can be a little eerie with day drinkers. The windowless lounge was dim and quiet, but not creepy. The place serves food as well as drinks, so there were some legitimate diners along with a couple of solo drinkers. No Greeter I didn't see anyone working behind the bar, so I felt free to snap some pics without explaining myself. The entrance to the restrooms had a nice spotlighted piece of art.
There were cases holding vintage tiki mugs and souvenir platters. Options I was surprised to find so many different areas for seating. I'm guessing this place must have been a hopping, popular place when it opened 6+ decades ago.     I made a quick sweep and was staring at a giant see-through fish tank, when a young woman returned to her place behind the bar. Aurora greeted me, then shared a bit about the fish tank. All the fish were descendants of the original 1963 fish. I told her that I was just stopping in to check the place out. But her welcoming vibe allowed me to make a speedy decision. "I'll be back a little later with my husband!" Minutes Later Don and I headed over to "Lodge on the Desert", but were unable to check in early. So I dug a flowered shirt from my suitcase and changed in the car.  We drove a mile back to Kon Tiki. What a fun place to kill an hour. I posed with the sign before heading inside. Cozy Corner Aurora was behind the bar when we entered around 2:45. There was music playing this time. It wasn't exactly Island or Hawaiian music, but at least the place felt like it was waking up.  Aurora invited us to sit anywhere and we chose a corner with interesting textures and designs on the walls. We sat at the table closest to the Tiki Head. Menu Aurora brought us menus and I was amused by the artwork. Was that really what the Kon Tiki building looked like? The palms had blocked my view.  Inside the menu we found about 30 cocktail options. Most for less than 10 dollars. Painkiller and Original Pyrat Mai Tai I told Aurora I wanted a drink that looked festive. She suggested the Painkiller.  Don ordered the Original Mai Tai, using a special Kon Tiki recipe, of course. He was pleased, which says something. Don can be pretty critical about Mai Tais. We weren't served in giant tiki mugs, but the drinks were actually displayed better in glassware. My frothy Painkiller tasted like a coconut kiddie cocktail. I mean that in the best way.
The pineapple slice, cinnamon stick, agave leaf and cherry made it extra fun. The Caribbean Rum was powerful. I did not slurp it down like a kiddo, although I wanted to. In fact I only drank half, since we had plans an hour later. No to-go cups with tiki drinks! Wandering After finishing up, Don and I toured around the dining areas, taking in all the decorative details. While studying the clam waterfall, I noticed a winking face, with dripping teeth! Was that supposed to be a face?  There were more obvious faces, like the one Don posed with.  We asked Aurora a few questions about the place. She wasn't old enough to have too many of her own memories, but she collected a few stories from long-time regulars. Smoking Days The wood floors were spotless on a Wednesday afternoon. Aurora told us the carpets had been removed at one point. Along with all the smells of cigarettes and spilled drinks.  I never spent much time in bars, but back in the day you didn't have to spend more than a minute, before your hair and clothing absorbed the odors of Marlboros and Winstons. Bird Aviary Aurora showed us the outdoor patio, that was once a bird aviary.  She heard from some old timers that there were other critters besides parrots in this space. Some kind of dragon lizard and rumors about a jaguar. Aurora was skeptical. Long Ago Aurora said she'd talked to some locals who remembered when the tiki lounge was first built. They claimed Broadway was just a dirt road then. That was hard to imagine in 1963.
We thanked our chatty bartender and headed out, I took one more photo of the little stone building dwarfed by palms and bigger buildings. Then I found an old photo on the internet. What fun to compare! The old image shows an isolated building and hazy mountains in the background!
What a fun quick Tiki Adventure! I hope Kon Tiki is around for another 61 years! Tiki Break in Breck Don and I headed to Breckenridge last May.
It was a surprise to find Tiki Mana, in my search. Finding It Don and I arrived a few days before our kids joined us. We decided to locate the place early, so we could do some celebrating with the youngin's later. They love tiki adventures, too.  We walked over from our condo and found Tiki Mana, in the lower level of a hotel. The place wasn't open, but we could see some tropical decor through the windows. The patio faced the creek and looked pleasant in the sunshine. Memorial Day Weekend Weather
We hadn't exactly expected snow for our visit. By the time we were gathered with our kids and their spouses, we were ready for a warm escape, to a tropical environment. Tuesday Tiki Time We concluded the bar/restaurant was open on Tuesday afternoon. We headed over for Happy Hour, at 4.
The entrance by the creek was much more festive than entering through the hotel. There was a cute little gathering space, right inside the door. Bright We stepped into the main bar and dining area and I was surprised with the bright lighting. Usually my aged eyes go into shock, when I enter dimly lit, tiki bars.  On a chilly Tuesday at 4:00. I wasn't too surprised that we were the first. It gave me a chance to peek around and snap a few pics.  There were cozy booths and thatched roofs.  There were bamboo walls and plants and windows. I'm not sure I've ever been to a tiki bar that had windows.
There were lots of Aloha Girls in the art and carved faces.  And carved Polynesian masks...  Our group of 6 could have fit into this sweet booth with seaside pillows.
Menus and Water
You know you're visiting a high altitude Tiki Bar, when the bartender hands you big glasses of water with your menu. He did not give us the leis.
I packed the leis, because I am always prepared with props, for dining or tiki adventures! Luckily the kids went along with my silliness. The Tiki Gang Only two of us were willing to brave the cold and wear a tropical shirt, for our outing.  I failed to get close ups of our tiki cocktails. Besides the colors, they weren't really all that exciting to look at. I guess I had my hopes up, because we were sitting at the bar staring at some typical tiki cups. Oh well, we did enjoy our Mai Tais and Blue Hawaiians. We had a few toasts, while flurries blew outside. Food
Tiki Memories Our tiki time was brief and then we were off, to other things.
Mana Tiki just was not cozy enough. It needed better music and a happier bartender... which would have brought more customers and a better vibe. Maybe Breckenridge needs to stick to the mountain theme that it does so well.
Hmm? A Yelp search says that Mana Tiki has closed. Not sure. Denver's Only Tiki Bar Don and I had a Denver Tiki Adventure, in June 2017. Maybe it was the powerful cocktail that made me forget to add Adrift to the tiki list!  This is what I saw from our Uber, when we pulled up to the little bar on South Broadway. The gray brick and spotlighted sign, had no Polynesian flair at all. Entrance However, the entrance welcomed us with two grand carvings!
The door was propped open and we headed right in! Let There Be Light!  I was delighted right away, because the interior was nicely lit! Don and I have had some crazy moments in dark tiki bars. When entering from daylight, it takes my old eyes minutes to adjust. There was no stumbling and no need for cellphone guidance, at Adrift. We headed for a seat where we had a view of the island village mural. Rounded Booth  We slid into our avocado green booth and sighed at our surroundings. There were lovely tropical plants that we could actually see. There were carved faces, staring down at us...
There were blowfish lamps and bamboo walls and a cocktail menu full of tropical cocktails, all made with hand-squeezed juices. Drinks
I made sure to order a cocktail that looked extra fun. My Rum Punch came in a proper tiki mug, with a few fruit garnishes. Don's Mai Tai looked less festive, but worked well with his outfit. Drinks with a View  Our table allowed us to keep an eye on the bamboo bar and the people coming and going. It was too early for any wild people watching. I took in a little more scenery when I ventured to the restroom. I peeked at the back patio, which had some fun murals. The restroom was the cleanest I've seen, of any tiki bar! Cheers!  Our tiki-time at Adrift didn't have any outlandish characters or creepy-crazy decor. We've had more memorable tiki bar experiences. But, this was probably the most relaxing, clean and comfortable of our tiki adventures. Cheers to that!
Fairmont San Francisco When Don and I learned about the Tonga Bar, we were so excited we switched our evening plans and had an Uber take us to The Fairmont Hotel, instead.
Our driver drove us to the top of Nob Hill, but instead of taking us to the classy front entrance, he dropped us on the side. We walked in a side door and got pretty lost. But that was no problem. It was 5pm and the popular lounge had just opened. We weren't in too big of a hurry. The Grand Lobby The Fairmont is a fun place to get lost in.  The swirling columns in the lobby did not look very Polynesian. We moved on. Hidden Down Below We found the entrance to the exotic lounge in the basement. There was a crowd, even though the bar had only been open for 5 minutes.  There was a line of people, hoping to dine beside the lagoon, when the food service began at 6. The Fairmont Plunge In Pre-Tonga Room days, things looked a little different in the lower level of the hotel. In 1929, a 75-foot swimming pool was added to the hotel.
Traveling guests and movie stars, like Ronald Reagan and Helen Hayes, were lured to the new hotel pool! Tropical Paradise By 1945, the pool became a lagoon.  That's when MGM set designer, Mel Melvin transformed the area into a tiki themed paradise. A Floating Boat/Bandstand It took a while for our eyes to adjust when we first made our way inside.  The blue-green water surrounding the boat, reflected the playful light display above. The Bar It took us a while to figure things out. The tables on both sides of the water were reserved for diners.
The bar, housed inside what looked like a pirate ship, had a few available tables. We attempted to grab one, but learned there was a system for bar seating. No seats for us. Hanging By the Lagoon We were totally fine with standing at the railing, near the lagoon. We had a great view of the water.  The diners, under their palapas and the mostly younger-than-us-crowd at the pirate bar, gave us some good people watching. And of course we had some very yummy drinks in coconut cups and tall tiki glasses, with lots of umbrellas and fruit. Empty Boat I was very curious about the lagoon's best feature. Back in the day, the boat acted as a floating stage, with an orchestra.  The boat was empty and quiet during our visit, but I'm sure it gets put to use on weekends. My Pirate My very own pirate kindly posed for me, so I could capture a little of the bar area, with all its bamboo and ropes.  Don was pretty delighted with the place, that he'd just read about hours before. If only we'd had more planning time, we would have dressed in our tropical best. Next time. Rainstorm! We hadn't been in the bar long before we experienced our first storm. There were many of them and the thunder and lightening and rainfall, made us crack up each time.  It was very clear which guests were visiting for the first time. They were the ones grinning and attempting photos, like us. Enjoying the Decor Don and I kind of loved our little spot right on the railing, where we could take in all the carved decor and thatched roofs.
We were busy taking it all in, when a young couple, asked to share a little of the railing space. They turned out to be a delightful pair and we swapped lots of stories. Sharing the Railing We were glad to that our new friends were just as giddy over all the tropical gimmicks, as we were. They had seen The Tonga Bar featured on Anthony Bourdain's show and were excited to finally make a visit, themselves.
They couldn't stay long, since they were going to see a friend perform Flamenco at another club. They invited us along and we were tempted to add Spain to our international evening. But we had plans for dinner in Chinatown. Next Time We hardly had time to scratch the surface at The Fairmont, but it was time to move on. We waited for our Uber, under the blowing flags.  We will definitely come back for some Polynesian dining next time. Maybe we can stay the night... if we win the lottery.
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
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