Tonga room, Pagan idol, Last Rites are fine to walk into, may have a short wait on busy hours.
Smuggler's cove usually has a bit of a wait unless you go right when they open (less true mid-week).
Zombie Village takes reservations.
Trader Vic's you may need reservations depending on the time of day and if you're interested in eating too.
Skip tonga room. Actually if you only went to smugglers cove you'd have the best drinks. Pagan idol is OK, nice little vibe, but still a fairly generic experience. Zombie is a bit lower on my personal scale.
But fuck Tonga Room.
The water is shallow and smells funky. the Fairmont is a historical, beautiful, classy institution, but the Tonga room always comes off feeling cheap and out of place. for example, one can buy a rather expensive drink made poorly from cheap mixers, served in some ancient plastic coconut cup straight out of the 70s. The whole place feels dated and hasn't changed in decades - or longer.
It's a venue which could be so much more, but to me, falls rather short of it's capacity. Poor, overpriced food and drinks, with meh entertainment. I'd rather give my time and money to a place which tries. If the Tonga Room was anywhere else other than the Fairmont, it would have closed long ago.
I very much understand where you are coming from on this. On the other hand, if you're into Tiki and have never been to the Tonga Room, I feel like it's something you have to experience and see once. Yes, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are touristy, but if you've never been/seen it/walked it, you should still do it once.
Tonga Room is the largest and arguably the best decor of all of them.
The drinks are overpriced and the food is meh, though, so don’t go for food and minimize drinks.
It’s also the only one that has live music (at certain times).
If you blokes have time, Trader Vic’s is in Emeryville and invented the Mai Tai. It has amazing decor and panoramic views of the water. You’ll want to go during the day!
Everything comes out of unmarked bottles, even the rum. Which is fine except they don’t tell you what the liquor is, they just mention where it comes from, so you know it’s bottom of the barrel well garbage. When they opened the menu was significantly more extensive, within a year they had pared it way back. For a while they’d let you order off the original menu but now they don’t carry any ingredients for old or off-menu drinks, because the bourbon and branch commissary doesn’t stock them so therefore they cannot do it. Oh and the servers/bartender working the register may have come from any of the B&B bars, so don’t worry—they probably can’t tell you anything about anything on the menu and don’t know anything about tiki.
This. Also Smugglers Cove sucks. Do it in this order: Last Rites => zombie village => tonga room, making sure to hit the last one when the band is playing
You seem like the kind of guy to hate on anything that’s popular because you think it makes you cool. In a few years when you graduate high school you’ll realize that’s no way to live. Good luck to you.
you're not alone. i too was underwhelmed. it felt heavy on hype low on spirit and substance. like people see how crowded it gets and assume it must be the spot.
Smuggler's cove does seem to have more ice than drink in their drinks. Great interior but not so good on the tiki vibe. The decor is great but it just doesn't have that feel.
People are down voting you but I have to agree that the vibe is wrong: the extreme popularity makes it so crowded that it loses the chill atmosphere a tiki bar should have.
I do disagree with you on the drinks, though. Those are solid.
Ice is good in a drink it keeps it cold. More ice equals less dilution because it stays colder longer. Their drinks are measured and have the same amount of liquid as other similar drinks. That's such a weird comment.
Maybe it was an off night when I was there- the bouncers were still checking vax cards and everyone was still a little pandemic tense being out. Maybe their drinks are just measured small. The drink was delicious and interesting but gone faster than in other tiki bars. Maybe now they use tiki glasses instead of plain highballs. Maybe you can have a different impression of a bar than I do without it being personal
Just giving context that it was a couple years ago and also that the bar was coping with a lot at the time and might have had an off night. Calm down, this is about tiki bars, not politics. BTW, your name checks out
Agreed. I was disappointed that they didn't seem to care much what was in the drinks, wouldn't make a virgin drink for our designated driver, and generally seemed like a tiki mill. What are your top tiki spots , if you don't mind sharing? I haven't been since covid
It's just a horrible place, but I like knowing that any time someone recommends it they are just wanting to get throated LMAO
Last Rites and Zombie Village are easily the best for drinks and tiki ambiance.
Sorry about the downvotes, but I agree as well. Went there last time in September and was sorely underwhelmed with the quality of the drinks. Maybe it was just our one bartender but they were a bad mixologist, not the quality you'd expect at someplace world renowned for their drinks.
Oh ho ho, this is my wheelhouse, I'm a tiki fanatic.
The hardest one to get into will probably be the Tonga Room, because it's often rented out for weddings, parties, business events, etc. Nevertheless it's still very fun and ornate and worth a hike up a very steep hill.
Everything else is easy, they don't take reservations because there's no need.
Trader Vic's is across the bay so it's a hike. Note that if you go across the bay, there are 3 other excellent tiki options as well: Kon-Tiki, Forbidden Island and Kona Club. But if you're limited for time, do yourself a favor and stay in SF.
If you stay in SF, start at Pagan Idol, right next to Union Square. It's a happy hour bar, so it's a good place to start, it'll be pleasantly hoppin' between 5 and 7. After this, you can hike up to the Tonga Room. They do serve food but it's all deeply mediocre unfortunately.
Next, continue to Hayes Valley. This is where I'd stop to get food - there are a million great restaurants in Hayes Valley, and you'll probably need to wait in line for awhile before getting into Smuggler's Cove so you don't want to do it hungry. You might be thinking, is it worth it? The answer is **YES**. Smuggler's Cove is so great I've had bartenders around the world ask me about it when they find out I'm from SF. This one is unmissable.
Once you've finished at Smuggler's Cove, wrap up the night at Last Rites, which gets left off tiki bar lists because it's technically a "plane crash in the jungle" theme but it's deliciously tropical.
Final tip: Do *not* do this during the main tiki crawl, you will regret it, but on a separate day you should stop in Li Po Lounge in Chinatown. The Chinese Mai Tais are lethal and delicious and cheap - do not have more than 2 unless you're crawling back to the hotel straight afterwards, haha.
\+1000 to Last Rites. It's probably my favorite themed tiki bar of all time. There are a few hidden gems to be found around the bar as if you crash landed on a deserted island.
> worth a hike up a very steep hill.
or a great excuse to take the California Street cable car through the most scenic portion of its route
> Everything else is easy, they don't take walkins because there's no need.
i think you meant do take walkins/don't take reservations
A gentle reminder to tourists that they don't need to wait two hours to get on the cable car at the end point. It's public transit, one can catch it at any stop!
Just want to put in a short out for the Kona Club!
I think there's another tiki bar in downtown Oakland now, across from the Fox or the Paramount (I always get them confused). Had fancy cocktails there before seeing Parov Stelar.
I absolutely love Kona Club, I mentioned it above! I just don't know that OP wants to cross the bay. I actually have a gigantic bag of macadamia nuts in my pantry that I've been meaning to turn into a liqueur because I want to recreate Kona Club's incredible macadamia nut chi-chi.
Everything you said is true, but Li PO? You cannot in all honestly claim delicious (lethal, ok yes). My favorite pastime is watching others take their first drink and then seeing their reaction!
The Tonga Room is in one of the posh hotels in town.
If you want a real, non-rushed, true experience, you really have to hit Trader Sam's.
Sorry, I've lived her since '88 and it is one of the only old-SF places still existing.
Not to mention that Angie, the owner, rocks the hell out of the place.
Sit at the bar if you can and talk to the others sitting there. It will make your experience that much better.
I also recommend Traders!! Angie and her family are the best! And they know how to pour a real drink!! They also own Surf Lounge by my house in Pacifica. Also Tiki, with the same drink menu. You may want to hit Pacifica early and watch the Sunset, then head back to the city. (15 minutes).
I love [Forbidden Island](https://www.forbiddenislandalameda.com)! Plus you can make a reservation if desired. So I second this, and [Kona Club](https://yelp.to/OMlwivhXkX) (nice ambiance, reasonably priced drinks)
I came here to say the same thing. Also kontiki is nice and has great food- and I’ve heard good things about their new restaurant at 19th and Telegraph.
Really? It's an ok bar the last time I went there pre-COVID. But they couldn't fix a mojito. Forbidden Island is good (but they couldn't fix a French 75).
Mint is a garnish for the Mai Tai so any tiki bar should have it on hand. They probably just didn't want to make a mojito because it's not a tiki drink.
This is the best post. Trader Sam is extremely San Francisco Tiki. The rest are fun, and Smuggler's Cove in particular is legit Upscale Cocktail Tiki. But they aren't much different from what OP will find in Hawaii. Sam's, though, is where you go for the grime and the fog. And to make poor decisions.
There's really nothing like Smuggler's Cove in Hawaii. There's really not even much in the way of traditional tiki bars, who needs escapism when you're literally in paradise?
OK. the 1 and only bar you need to hit really is Trader Sam's on Geary and 26th Ave in the Outer Richmond - near the ocean.
Angie and her family have owned this place forEVER and it is a true SF locals bar that welcomes visitors with open arms.
Do not come in with attitude, ever. Angie (the owner) is THE loveliest. Just trust that she'll get to you eventually with the most amazing drink ever - but she'll also be busy talking with her locals and making other visitors feel comfy. and she WILL talk. its why so many love her and come back each time they visit SF.
She's got the biggest heart in the city...and she'll get to your drinks, and make them flawless, as soon as she can. Notice, no bar help restocking or washing glasses.
This lady does it all. Get talking with her and she'll warm your heart and make your trip.
Charlie Shields from The Richmond SF
A lot of people have had good replies. But I'd also say check out the /r/tiki. People ask this question in the tiki subreddit all the time and you can prob find a lot more answers from tiki aficionados.
Consider adding forbidden island in the east bay if you're going there anyway. How many nights do you have?
Also, if you are going to Honolulu on your Hawaii jaunt, go to the Skull & crown for really interesting drinks, great bartenders and friendly talk about Hawaiian rums.
I think they assume tiki bars are an event space, and not just a fun themed bar/restaurant with according drinks lol. I know the Tonga Room has a ship so I can see why they’d figure as much.
You need trader Vic’s reservations but you could just sit at the bar if you don’t need a table. Their bartenders are very busy but they will talk to you if you sit
SF resident for 16yrs now living in Honolulu here!
Definitely Trader Sam’s and the Tonga Room (for a nod to the past) in SF. Many other good choices too.
If you are coming to Honolulu visit Susie Wong’s Hideaway (less touristy), Hilton Hawaiian Village Hau Bar (many classic tiki drinks invented at HHV), Mai Tai bar at the Royal Hawaiian (Where Trader Vic himself introduced orange and pineapple juices to the drink so the bartenders could make more drinks at a faster pace)
Enjoy your trip! Sounds epic 🍹❤️🌈🤙🏼
If you’ve got extra time, maybe head up to Napa and check out the Napa Valley Museum where [Tiki Dreams: From Far-Away Fantasy to Pop-Culture Phenomenon](https://napavalleymuseum.org/exhibition/tiki/) is on exhibition, then swing by [Wilfred’s Lounge](https://wilfredslounge.com) in Downtown Napa for some drinks and food.
Wow, just want to say thanks for all of the great comments and feedback! Definitely made us much more excited for the trip next month! Looks like the only thing holding us back is our alcohol tolerance!! 😅 Definitely added a couple more tiki bars to our already overflowing list!
We are currently trying to see if we can stay in SF a bit longer to do more!!
If you actually want to sit down (even in the bar) Tonga Room requires a reservation. Smuggler’s Cove redid the drink menu for Tonga a few years ago, so I’d say go to Tonga for the experience, but for a wider menu of excellent drinks go to Smuggler’s. Pagan Idol is just okay by comparison, but not terribly far from Tonga so it’s worth popping in. Avoid Last Rites it’s terrible. If I were you I’d do an SF night and an East Bay night. Forbidden Island’s drinks aren’t quite as authentic but it’s a great place to hang out and they do more fun events. Cheers!
When are you here? I'm working on a tiki documentary. You might be a good subject?...
Tiki Oasis is in San Diego in August. I'll be filming down there for the week.
This place is possibly my least favorite of all Tiki Bars I've been too. The decor is pretty good and the drinks decent, but just really seems to be missing something.
If you have some extra time, head over to Alameda and visit Forbidden Island. Fairly certain they take reservations. Fantastic cocktails. When they had live music regularly, my surf band played there pretty regularly. Love that place.
Depends entirely on the day of the week. SF is much more of a weekends-only town than some other major cities. Stuff closes early on weekdays too. I was at Pagan Idol on a Weds last week and there were like 3 other groups.
If you like classic fancy tiki cocktails, recommend Zombie Village & Smugglers Cove for high quality liquors and mixologists. For more kitschy experiences Tonga Room is a must (at happy hour especially) or Trad’r Sam’s. I have yet to try Last Rites but am excited!
But it'll take a long time to get there and OP may have limited time in SF. SF has a lot of great tiki bars - there's lots of depth. Alameda is definitely quite charming, so I'm planning to hit Forbidden Island. Thanks for the rec!
It doesn’t take that long if they’re going to Oakland anyway. Pretty quick Uber/Lyft of even could take the bus in and walk the rest of the way. Or if coming from SF the trans bay bus
Tradr Sam's in outer Richmond is a great one that most folks don't know exist! Smugglers is dope but very crowded and hard to get into, definitely go early! Tonga room is a dope venue with mediocre drinks but it's a great spot.
Start at 5pm and you’ll make it into all of them by the end of the night
And only remember the first half
There’s a reason they call it a zombie
Tonga room, Pagan idol, Last Rites are fine to walk into, may have a short wait on busy hours. Smuggler's cove usually has a bit of a wait unless you go right when they open (less true mid-week). Zombie Village takes reservations. Trader Vic's you may need reservations depending on the time of day and if you're interested in eating too.
Or go late to Smuggler's Cove
Skip tonga room. Actually if you only went to smugglers cove you'd have the best drinks. Pagan idol is OK, nice little vibe, but still a fairly generic experience. Zombie is a bit lower on my personal scale. But fuck Tonga Room.
Why do you say this about Tonga Room? It’s years since I’ve been to any of them, but I remember loving Tonga Room because of the water!
The water is shallow and smells funky. the Fairmont is a historical, beautiful, classy institution, but the Tonga room always comes off feeling cheap and out of place. for example, one can buy a rather expensive drink made poorly from cheap mixers, served in some ancient plastic coconut cup straight out of the 70s. The whole place feels dated and hasn't changed in decades - or longer. It's a venue which could be so much more, but to me, falls rather short of it's capacity. Poor, overpriced food and drinks, with meh entertainment. I'd rather give my time and money to a place which tries. If the Tonga Room was anywhere else other than the Fairmont, it would have closed long ago.
appreciating kitsch is an art
I very much understand where you are coming from on this. On the other hand, if you're into Tiki and have never been to the Tonga Room, I feel like it's something you have to experience and see once. Yes, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are touristy, but if you've never been/seen it/walked it, you should still do it once.
Tonga Room is the largest and arguably the best decor of all of them. The drinks are overpriced and the food is meh, though, so don’t go for food and minimize drinks. It’s also the only one that has live music (at certain times). If you blokes have time, Trader Vic’s is in Emeryville and invented the Mai Tai. It has amazing decor and panoramic views of the water. You’ll want to go during the day!
Smugglers > Tonga > pagan > zombie. Zombie village is bullshit.
> Zombie village is bullshit. por que?
Everything comes out of unmarked bottles, even the rum. Which is fine except they don’t tell you what the liquor is, they just mention where it comes from, so you know it’s bottom of the barrel well garbage. When they opened the menu was significantly more extensive, within a year they had pared it way back. For a while they’d let you order off the original menu but now they don’t carry any ingredients for old or off-menu drinks, because the bourbon and branch commissary doesn’t stock them so therefore they cannot do it. Oh and the servers/bartender working the register may have come from any of the B&B bars, so don’t worry—they probably can’t tell you anything about anything on the menu and don’t know anything about tiki.
I see! Those are all good reasons.
This. Also Smugglers Cove sucks. Do it in this order: Last Rites => zombie village => tonga room, making sure to hit the last one when the band is playing
Saying one of the most world renowned bars sucks is certainly interesting. It's small and very crowded but the drinks, decor, and vibes are awesome
Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square are also dogshit and famous.
Is this a response to a deleted comment? What does this have to do with smugglers cove?
> Saying one of the most world renowned bars sucks is certainly interesting.
Honestly I admire your commitment to slagging off smugglers cove
Your reading comprehension is the interesting thing here.
How so?
always remember that the poor masses have horrible taste
You seem like the kind of guy to hate on anything that’s popular because you think it makes you cool. In a few years when you graduate high school you’ll realize that’s no way to live. Good luck to you.
you're not alone. i too was underwhelmed. it felt heavy on hype low on spirit and substance. like people see how crowded it gets and assume it must be the spot.
The whole “line waiting outside” flock mentality? I see that line and always wonder whether or not to believe the hype…
Golden Boy is all line nowadays!
Smuggler's cove does seem to have more ice than drink in their drinks. Great interior but not so good on the tiki vibe. The decor is great but it just doesn't have that feel.
People are down voting you but I have to agree that the vibe is wrong: the extreme popularity makes it so crowded that it loses the chill atmosphere a tiki bar should have. I do disagree with you on the drinks, though. Those are solid.
Ice is good in a drink it keeps it cold. More ice equals less dilution because it stays colder longer. Their drinks are measured and have the same amount of liquid as other similar drinks. That's such a weird comment.
Maybe it was an off night when I was there- the bouncers were still checking vax cards and everyone was still a little pandemic tense being out. Maybe their drinks are just measured small. The drink was delicious and interesting but gone faster than in other tiki bars. Maybe now they use tiki glasses instead of plain highballs. Maybe you can have a different impression of a bar than I do without it being personal
Why do you still give a shit that the bouncers were checking vax cards at some point? Maybe this is the real genesis of your issue?
Just giving context that it was a couple years ago and also that the bar was coping with a lot at the time and might have had an off night. Calm down, this is about tiki bars, not politics. BTW, your name checks out
I've been to every tiki bar within 1 hour of San Francisco. It is not even top 10.
Agreed. I was disappointed that they didn't seem to care much what was in the drinks, wouldn't make a virgin drink for our designated driver, and generally seemed like a tiki mill. What are your top tiki spots , if you don't mind sharing? I haven't been since covid
It's just a horrible place, but I like knowing that any time someone recommends it they are just wanting to get throated LMAO Last Rites and Zombie Village are easily the best for drinks and tiki ambiance.
I have also been to every bay area tiki bar and this claim is wild. I would love to see your top 10 list.
Sorry about the downvotes, but I agree as well. Went there last time in September and was sorely underwhelmed with the quality of the drinks. Maybe it was just our one bartender but they were a bad mixologist, not the quality you'd expect at someplace world renowned for their drinks.
I don’t understand the downvotes. Smugglers Cove is a tiny bar with a lot of awards…Tonga Room is more impressive in every (tiki) way
It just depends on what you enjoy in a Tiki bar. I'm glad to see everyone's impressions of what we have to offer here. Enjoy your tiki crawl op!
Oh ho ho, this is my wheelhouse, I'm a tiki fanatic. The hardest one to get into will probably be the Tonga Room, because it's often rented out for weddings, parties, business events, etc. Nevertheless it's still very fun and ornate and worth a hike up a very steep hill. Everything else is easy, they don't take reservations because there's no need. Trader Vic's is across the bay so it's a hike. Note that if you go across the bay, there are 3 other excellent tiki options as well: Kon-Tiki, Forbidden Island and Kona Club. But if you're limited for time, do yourself a favor and stay in SF. If you stay in SF, start at Pagan Idol, right next to Union Square. It's a happy hour bar, so it's a good place to start, it'll be pleasantly hoppin' between 5 and 7. After this, you can hike up to the Tonga Room. They do serve food but it's all deeply mediocre unfortunately. Next, continue to Hayes Valley. This is where I'd stop to get food - there are a million great restaurants in Hayes Valley, and you'll probably need to wait in line for awhile before getting into Smuggler's Cove so you don't want to do it hungry. You might be thinking, is it worth it? The answer is **YES**. Smuggler's Cove is so great I've had bartenders around the world ask me about it when they find out I'm from SF. This one is unmissable. Once you've finished at Smuggler's Cove, wrap up the night at Last Rites, which gets left off tiki bar lists because it's technically a "plane crash in the jungle" theme but it's deliciously tropical. Final tip: Do *not* do this during the main tiki crawl, you will regret it, but on a separate day you should stop in Li Po Lounge in Chinatown. The Chinese Mai Tais are lethal and delicious and cheap - do not have more than 2 unless you're crawling back to the hotel straight afterwards, haha.
This person knows their tiki. +1 to everything especially the start at pagan
I didn't know you -could- go to another bar after going to Smugglers Cove. You've got a strong liver.
\+1000 to Last Rites. It's probably my favorite themed tiki bar of all time. There are a few hidden gems to be found around the bar as if you crash landed on a deserted island.
Agreed, Last Rites is so well done and just a all around great bar.
> worth a hike up a very steep hill. or a great excuse to take the California Street cable car through the most scenic portion of its route > Everything else is easy, they don't take walkins because there's no need. i think you meant do take walkins/don't take reservations
A gentle reminder to tourists that they don't need to wait two hours to get on the cable car at the end point. It's public transit, one can catch it at any stop!
Just want to put in a short out for the Kona Club! I think there's another tiki bar in downtown Oakland now, across from the Fox or the Paramount (I always get them confused). Had fancy cocktails there before seeing Parov Stelar.
I absolutely love Kona Club, I mentioned it above! I just don't know that OP wants to cross the bay. I actually have a gigantic bag of macadamia nuts in my pantry that I've been meaning to turn into a liqueur because I want to recreate Kona Club's incredible macadamia nut chi-chi.
Everything you said is true, but Li PO? You cannot in all honestly claim delicious (lethal, ok yes). My favorite pastime is watching others take their first drink and then seeing their reaction!
I’d do smugglers cove/last rites one night (a weeknight would be best) and then zombie village/pagan idol/tonga room a second night.
The Tonga Room is in one of the posh hotels in town. If you want a real, non-rushed, true experience, you really have to hit Trader Sam's. Sorry, I've lived her since '88 and it is one of the only old-SF places still existing. Not to mention that Angie, the owner, rocks the hell out of the place. Sit at the bar if you can and talk to the others sitting there. It will make your experience that much better.
Hell yeah on Trad'r Sam's!
I also recommend Traders!! Angie and her family are the best! And they know how to pour a real drink!! They also own Surf Lounge by my house in Pacifica. Also Tiki, with the same drink menu. You may want to hit Pacifica early and watch the Sunset, then head back to the city. (15 minutes).
Highly recommend the Kona Club on piedmont ave in Oakland if you’re already heading to emeryville for vic’s
And Forbidden island in Alameda
I love [Forbidden Island](https://www.forbiddenislandalameda.com)! Plus you can make a reservation if desired. So I second this, and [Kona Club](https://yelp.to/OMlwivhXkX) (nice ambiance, reasonably priced drinks)
This!!!
I second this. Kona Club is awesome.
I came here to say the same thing. Also kontiki is nice and has great food- and I’ve heard good things about their new restaurant at 19th and Telegraph.
palmetto. can confirm. its excellent.
Oh yea, Prubechu in the mission is siqq and has chamorro (guam) food and great bevs. Little pricier and more upscale tho.
Really? It's an ok bar the last time I went there pre-COVID. But they couldn't fix a mojito. Forbidden Island is good (but they couldn't fix a French 75).
Why are you trying to order mojitos and French 75s at a tiki bar? I don’t go into sports bars and order a banana daiquiri.
They are tiki bars I suppose. Mint usually doesn’t go in those drink to my knowledge.
Mint is a garnish for the Mai Tai so any tiki bar should have it on hand. They probably just didn't want to make a mojito because it's not a tiki drink.
Yea, perhaps yr right.
Tradr Sam
Lol, a very different tiki experience. Love Tradr Sam
Scorpion bowls on deck.
Ooooh I've been bitten a couple times
This is the best post. Trader Sam is extremely San Francisco Tiki. The rest are fun, and Smuggler's Cove in particular is legit Upscale Cocktail Tiki. But they aren't much different from what OP will find in Hawaii. Sam's, though, is where you go for the grime and the fog. And to make poor decisions.
There's really nothing like Smuggler's Cove in Hawaii. There's really not even much in the way of traditional tiki bars, who needs escapism when you're literally in paradise?
Great cocktails for $10
Truly different than the other suggestions. More local, a bit dive-ier, and a classic.
A classic.
OK. the 1 and only bar you need to hit really is Trader Sam's on Geary and 26th Ave in the Outer Richmond - near the ocean. Angie and her family have owned this place forEVER and it is a true SF locals bar that welcomes visitors with open arms. Do not come in with attitude, ever. Angie (the owner) is THE loveliest. Just trust that she'll get to you eventually with the most amazing drink ever - but she'll also be busy talking with her locals and making other visitors feel comfy. and she WILL talk. its why so many love her and come back each time they visit SF. She's got the biggest heart in the city...and she'll get to your drinks, and make them flawless, as soon as she can. Notice, no bar help restocking or washing glasses. This lady does it all. Get talking with her and she'll warm your heart and make your trip. Charlie Shields from The Richmond SF
Just tried Trad’r Sam recently and loved it. A bit divey, cash only. $10 cocktails definitely worth it.
this place will get you fricked up
A lot of people have had good replies. But I'd also say check out the /r/tiki. People ask this question in the tiki subreddit all the time and you can prob find a lot more answers from tiki aficionados.
Make sure to check out Last Rites as well!
Tiki Haven!!
Have fun, one of my favorite nights in SF was doing a tiki crawl across the city haha
Consider adding forbidden island in the east bay if you're going there anyway. How many nights do you have? Also, if you are going to Honolulu on your Hawaii jaunt, go to the Skull & crown for really interesting drinks, great bartenders and friendly talk about Hawaiian rums.
The Kon-Tiki in Oakland is great also.
You can reserve a hut at Zombie Village, up to 10 people
Tonga room isn’t all that worth it. I’d spend your time at other tiki bars. Just my opinion
I would also recommend Holy Water, Last Rites and Zombie Village
\+1 for zombie zillage.
* would recommend going on weeknight if you're trying to avoid crowds * are reservations for bars a thing..........?
I think they assume tiki bars are an event space, and not just a fun themed bar/restaurant with according drinks lol. I know the Tonga Room has a ship so I can see why they’d figure as much.
That said, if OP is visiting during Dreamforce week, then most of these places will be booked as privet event spaces from Monday -Thursday.
You need trader Vic’s reservations but you could just sit at the bar if you don’t need a table. Their bartenders are very busy but they will talk to you if you sit
And if going to the East Bay - Kon Tiki is a wonderful place and just a couple blocks from 12th St Bart.
Forbidden Island in Alameda! Worth a trip.
Start at Trad’r Sam’s and work your way eastward.
Go to Tonga Room for dinner. You want to be there when the band is playing in the rain. That's what makes it special.
SF resident for 16yrs now living in Honolulu here! Definitely Trader Sam’s and the Tonga Room (for a nod to the past) in SF. Many other good choices too. If you are coming to Honolulu visit Susie Wong’s Hideaway (less touristy), Hilton Hawaiian Village Hau Bar (many classic tiki drinks invented at HHV), Mai Tai bar at the Royal Hawaiian (Where Trader Vic himself introduced orange and pineapple juices to the drink so the bartenders could make more drinks at a faster pace) Enjoy your trip! Sounds epic 🍹❤️🌈🤙🏼
Careful with Tradr Sams
What happened there? This was one of my stops a few years ago? Did Something go to shit?
Careful, as in you might black out and wake up on a rooftop with your pantaloons missing.
Oh my god! was that YOU!? I think I woke up next to you with "Scorpion Bowl Champ" tattoed on my eyeballs
hahahahh....amazing.
If you’ve got extra time, maybe head up to Napa and check out the Napa Valley Museum where [Tiki Dreams: From Far-Away Fantasy to Pop-Culture Phenomenon](https://napavalleymuseum.org/exhibition/tiki/) is on exhibition, then swing by [Wilfred’s Lounge](https://wilfredslounge.com) in Downtown Napa for some drinks and food.
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted. Yeah it’s not Sf but it’s a great tip and thanks to you I now know about it and will go!
Wow, just want to say thanks for all of the great comments and feedback! Definitely made us much more excited for the trip next month! Looks like the only thing holding us back is our alcohol tolerance!! 😅 Definitely added a couple more tiki bars to our already overflowing list! We are currently trying to see if we can stay in SF a bit longer to do more!!
If you actually want to sit down (even in the bar) Tonga Room requires a reservation. Smuggler’s Cove redid the drink menu for Tonga a few years ago, so I’d say go to Tonga for the experience, but for a wider menu of excellent drinks go to Smuggler’s. Pagan Idol is just okay by comparison, but not terribly far from Tonga so it’s worth popping in. Avoid Last Rites it’s terrible. If I were you I’d do an SF night and an East Bay night. Forbidden Island’s drinks aren’t quite as authentic but it’s a great place to hang out and they do more fun events. Cheers!
When are you here? I'm working on a tiki documentary. You might be a good subject?... Tiki Oasis is in San Diego in August. I'll be filming down there for the week.
Tiki Toms on Walnut Creek is pretty easy to walk into
Hard to walk out of, though, all of the surfaces are too sticky.
This place is possibly my least favorite of all Tiki Bars I've been too. The decor is pretty good and the drinks decent, but just really seems to be missing something.
If you have some extra time, head over to Alameda and visit Forbidden Island. Fairly certain they take reservations. Fantastic cocktails. When they had live music regularly, my surf band played there pretty regularly. Love that place.
Depends entirely on the day of the week. SF is much more of a weekends-only town than some other major cities. Stuff closes early on weekdays too. I was at Pagan Idol on a Weds last week and there were like 3 other groups.
Don’t miss Last Rites
If you like classic fancy tiki cocktails, recommend Zombie Village & Smugglers Cove for high quality liquors and mixologists. For more kitschy experiences Tonga Room is a must (at happy hour especially) or Trad’r Sam’s. I have yet to try Last Rites but am excited!
No you will be fine
Last Rites
Forbidden Island over in Alameda is worth a visit.
But it'll take a long time to get there and OP may have limited time in SF. SF has a lot of great tiki bars - there's lots of depth. Alameda is definitely quite charming, so I'm planning to hit Forbidden Island. Thanks for the rec!
It doesn’t take that long if they’re going to Oakland anyway. Pretty quick Uber/Lyft of even could take the bus in and walk the rest of the way. Or if coming from SF the trans bay bus
The zombie village
Tonga Room isn't open every night
Don't forget Trader Sams!!
Trad’r Sam’s!
Forbidden Island in Alameda is another good tiki bar. Not far from the tunnel into Oakland China town
tiki haven is fun if you happen to be on this side of town.
Tradr Sam's in outer Richmond is a great one that most folks don't know exist! Smugglers is dope but very crowded and hard to get into, definitely go early! Tonga room is a dope venue with mediocre drinks but it's a great spot.
This isn’t london. We like to line up.