Tiki Bar Renaissance: Immersive Cocktails and Cultural Revival

A resurgence of tiki bars is marking a new golden age, fueled by a return to traditional recipes and engaging experiences. This movement can be traced back to Don the Beachcomber, established by Donn Beach (originally Ernest Gantt) in Hollywood during the early 1930s, which drew in celebrities like Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Marlene Dietrich. Following a downturn in the late 1970s due to the use of artificial ingredients, the tiki scene was revitalized by Jeff “Beachbum” Berry in the 1990s and 2000s, who researched and recreated original cocktails with his wife Annene, published his first book in 1998, and launched Latitude 29 in New Orleans. Contemporary neo-tiki bars, such as Brooklyn's Sunken Harbor Club, focus on fresh juices and homemade syrups, featuring a variety of spirits like gin, whiskey, cachaca, pisco, tequila, and mezcal. Prominent figures in this revival include Garret Richard, Martin Cate, and Alex Lamb. Noteworthy establishments comprise Tiki-Ti in Los Angeles, Hala Kahiki in River Grove, Illinois, and Mothership in San Diego, which embraces a sci-fi theme. The revival seeks to rectify previous cultural appropriation by creating immersive experiences that avoid insensitive imagery.