Tarantula Tiki Lounge in Fort Worth, TX

Another Tiki Lounge!

​Don and I have visited about 10 tiki lounges since I started blogging.

We found Tarantula Tiki Lounge in Fort Worth's New Southside neighborhood.

Actually, Don and I didn't find it at all. Our friends Alan and Christy drove us right to it when we visited last June.

Quiet at 5

It was bright outside at 5, on that summer evening. It took a while for eyes to adjust when we entered the dimly lit lounge.

We were the first guests to arrive for happy hour.

The barstools were empty, just as they were in 2020 when the tiki lounge first opened for business.

Our bartender said that wasn't exactly ideal timing for opening this kind of business, but he said they were cautious. Masks were required and no guests were allowed to sit on the bar stools at that time.

The other 3 sat down and I quickly peeked around while the lounge was quiet. I.don't like to intrude with the camera when folks are enjoying cocktails!

I found quite a display in a case near the door. 

I found some cozy seating towards the back, that showed off the exposed brick wall. Evidently this space held a barbershop before it became a tiki lounge.

I headed towards the back to check out the decorated ceiling and bamboo framed albums. Gotta love some exotic tiki vinyl records! Don and I have a few.

I headed back towards our table and stopped to ask our bartender about the TV that was showing a retro island themed movie. We had a quick converstaion about island themed movies and tv shows.

​Back at the table I joined the others to study the menu.

Luckily my eyes had adjusted, so I could take in all the options inside the colorful menu with the skull and tarantula.

I appreciated the skull rating system in the menu. The night was young and I didn't want to overdo too early. 3 skull drinks are the most powerful.

​I asked our bartender for suggestions. "I want something that looks festive...  like in a fun glass." 

He could tell I was a serious drinker.

Alan actually got the most festive, (or maybe silliest) glass of all! 

You have to love a drink served with a straw coming out of a shark's mouth!

My glass wasn't too unusual, but my one skull Painkiller was just right. The creamy mix of rum, pineapple and  coconut was just perfect!

Cheers to hitting one more tiki bar!

​Cheers to heading off at 6, with the evening ahead of us. 

Next time we'll have to check out the patio and I hear there's a collection of 1,000+ swizzle sticks. Who knows maybe I'll go for 2 skulls next time.
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