They have dreamy island decor, a healthy dose of fire and enough brightly colored drinks to form a boozy rainbow. So we’re wondering: why the heck aren’t we going to tiki bars more often? There’s certainly no shortage of options. In addition to reliable standbys like Otto’s Shrunken Head and Zombie Hut, the City has been inundated with a new wave of tropical watering holes. Below are some of the best places to drink your island blues away.
New Bars
Nightlife
The Happiest Hour
With the working motto, "You pick 'em, we pour 'em," the drinks in this tropical bi-level space fall into two categories.
Restaurants
El Cortez
A block or so from the Morgan Avenue L train stop in Bushwick is a destination tiki bar and old-school Mexican restaurant.
Classic Bars
Nightlife
Tiki Island Bar
This tiki mecca is more than just your average retro bar slinging frothy drinks with umbrellas—the massive outdoor waterside complex offers sippers 300 cubic yards of sand, cascading showers and fountains, a menu of tropical-inspired snacks like pineapple-topped burgers and a menu stocked full of long-forgotten tiki classics like the Tiki Tai and the Zombie.