The origins of the tiki bar on the mainland date back to the 1930s. As vacationing in the “South Seas” became more popular, so too did this exotic island culture. Soon, bars and nightclubs began to open, especially in southern California, in order to capitalize on this rising trend.

It is said that the first “tiki bar” was Don the Beachcomber’s Restaurant, a Los Angeles restaurant that opened in 1933 with a beach theme. After proprietor Donn Beach decorated his new restaurant with starfish, seashells, and tiki nets, he began to add more exotic island-themed touches, from diving masks and spears to carved wooden tiki gods from all across Polynesia. These artifacts of an unusual culture ushered in the era of tiki bars. Donn’s menu of exotic rum drinks and food combining Asian, Polynesian, and American influences would be mimicked by nearly every tiki restaurant to come.

As other restauranteurs took notice of his wildly successful establishment, they began to copy the idea. In the tiki bars of the day, artifacts could be found from nearly any island across the globe, from Hawaii to New Zealand. Anything exotic and ocean-themed instantly transported guests to a beautiful tropical oasis where they could escape their modern concerns. The mai tai and other fruity tropical drinks were invented in the earliest tiki restaurants. Both Victor Bergeron of Trader Vic’s and Donn Beach of Don the Beachcomber’s once claimed to have invented the mai tai, touching off a rivalry that would last many years.

As World War II broke out, the tiki craze grew even more popular. American soldiers returned from fighting in the Pacific to Don the Beachcomber’s and copycat tiki restaurants. As Hawaii became a state in 1959, Americans fell in love with the romanticized depiction of the islands. “Tiki” soon became a term to describe almost anything that looked as if it belonged in an exotic tropical locale, from the carved wooden sculptures to brightly colored ceramic “tiki mugs.”

At one point, a tiki bar could be found in nearly every city across the country. Donn the Beachcomber’s chain of tiki restaurants flourished into 160 locations across the country. His top competitor, the Trader Vic’s chain founded in 1934, boasted 35 at the height of their popularity in the 1960s. Of course, there were countless other independent tiki bars and restaurants.

Although there are no longer quite so many tiki-themed bars, the idea remains quite popular. In fact, in the 1990s a resurgence of interest in tiki culture led to the opening of several tiki-themed bars. The theme is also quite popular for those building a home bar. Everything from tiki mugs to carved wooden tiki statues and even surfboard-shaped shelves can be found for those furnishing a tiki bar. This over-the-top style remains a favorite by those looking for something a bit more unusual than the typical bar environment. Whether indoors or out, a bamboo bar outfitted with relics of tropical islands will instantly transport guests to a faraway destination.

Author Bio: Royal Tiki has a wide range of Tiki, hand-carved on Hawaii. Also check for current specials on Tiki hut masks

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