One of my favorite original creations (off-menu! 😆)
This is my hot-rodded take on the @the_maikai_restaurant Cobra's Kiss. I call it...
THE COBRA'S SMACK 🐍💋
.75 lime
.5 white grapefruit
.5 fassionola
.25 cinnamon
.25 falernum (anything but Velvet)
.25 real grenadine (not Rose's)
.25 Shrubb JM (or dry Curacao)
1 Coruba Dark rum
.5 Smith & Cross rum
.5 Hamilton 151
Dash Angostura bitters
6 drops Pernod
Add all ingredients to a drink mixer tin with crushed or pebble ice and flash blend for 5 seconds. Dirty dump into a 1940s small, footed, bamboo glass. Or, you know, whatever you want to drink out of. Garnish romantically.
I'm traveling to Nigeria 🇳🇬 for work for the next month so you're not going to see me around these parts for a bit. Here's a photo of the current state of The Cocoanut Canteen.
I hope everyone has a great month. Don't forget to tip your bartenders!
Thanks to a long layover in Chicago a few months ago (that I may have purposely scheduled), I was FINALLY able to visit the legendary @halakahikilounge And during their 60th anniversary weekend to boot!
While we were a bit rushed for time, we were still able to get a couple of rounds of drinks and explore all there is to see.
For those who haven't been, it's a VERY large property in the northwest suburbs, only about a 15 minute drive from O'Hare airport, operating out of what feels like a huge ranch house.
It's split into many rooms and feels akin to an old Trader Vic's.
Where it has EVERY other bar beat is its absolutely massive collection of Witco pieces. You literally can't look in any direction without catching one in your periphery.
The vintage vibes were great and you could tell that it's just as beloved as a tiki temple as it is a neighborhood gathering space. At the same time there was tiki drag bingo happening on the patio, there was also a formal bachelorette party taking up one of the dining rooms, all while locals in jeans and t-shirts hung out in the bar sipping beer and Mai Tais.
The drinks were right in the "pretty good" range while the bar features an extensive collection of high-end rums that I was pretty surprised to see in a historic venue outside the city.
@decotorial enjoyed one of their famous "ice cream cocktails," of which an entire page of the massive menu is dedicated.
All in all, this was a fantastic side quest on a travel day and I hope to return soon to spend some quality time with the cocktail and rum menu!
The Bora-Bora in Lisbon, Portugal.
This Bora-Bora is one of several locations throughout the Iberian Peninsula which all have extremely similar design and decor. I have also visited the much larger one in Madrid, Spain. On this trip, @decotorial and I were visiting like-family friends and newest Lisbon residents @coraceta and @brodas and the one and only @a.c.astaneda ventured down from Barcelona to join us for a few nights.
As I said, Bora-Boras are mostly the same: dramatic and vibrant 1970s decor, a massive list of drinks that are mostly the same combination of fruit juices and a splash of rum in a different crazy mug, and a vibe that varies from hookah lounge to nightclub to sports bar depending on the day and time.
Unfortunately, it was clear immediately upon walking in the lobby that there had recently been some type of serious water damage to the business. It was super muggy and humid and smelled like a combination of mildew and high school locker room. There is a downstairs/basement area that was blocked off by chairs, which is where I assumed the smell and dampness was coming from. Three of us ordered a scorpion bowl that had some dry ice bubbling into the drink, took a few sips, snapped some quick photos, and we were on our way within 30 minutes.
I don't know what the future holds for these Bora Bora bars with their legacy status but it was definitely a bittersweet visit, even going in with low expectations.
Like any other Bora-Bora location, only visit knowing that you are entering into some skewed-perspective version of a tiki bar and don't expect a serviceable cocktail. But they are like museums and absolutely worth stopping by if not for the spectacle alone!
The last photo is from its long-closed neighbor directly next door, a similarly striking facade that was in major disrepair. Hopefully Bora Bora never suffers the same fate.
Absolute 10/10 experience at @theinfernoroom , a crown jewel of the Midwest tiki scene. Great crew, killer drinks, extensive rare rum list for us nerds, and some decor that gives the best tiki bars in the world a run for their money.
I'm sad that I'm not at the event today, had to jet out this morning for a job in Mexico, but beyond grateful to finally scratch this one off the list. You know you had a great time when you realized you didn't get a single cocktail pic to share 🥲. And they're beautiful too!
Thanks to @thedonnoftiki crew for having me out and to @mahalo_max for indulging me in splitting fancy rum pours all night.
I hope I can get back here soon!
Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that @maxstiki exists and that I got to visit last night. What a triumph of an establishment that really feels like a celebration of all things tiki. Congrats and thank you to everyone that has had a hand in making this place what it is. Wow.
#1 on the "tiki bars I want to go to most" is finally checked off the list ☑️ #2 later this week!
SO psyched about this brand new (with tags!) 1950s/60s Duke Kahanamoku shorts gifted to me by @decotorial
These are in pristine condition and somehow managed to fit perfectly.
You will definitely see me wearing these around Honolulu during @tikiinwaikiki next month!
A quick trip to Maui FINALLY resulted in getting to organize a visit to the famous @the_lilikoi_lounge and the beautiful home of Robert and Joel.
Unfortunately, I was too distracted by the great company, drinks, and dogs to get more photos to do their perfectly-curated space better justice, but it immediately jumps to the top of the rankings of home bars I have gotten to visit.
Their space is an homage to both the tropical inspiration around them in their current home of Maui as well as all of the many places they have lived and traveled before.
My favorite aspect of The Lilikoi Lounge is that it is set up to ENTERTAIN with both a large indoor space as well as a lanai and a yard complete with a small stage. On that note, Robert and Joel host many fundraisers and industry events that benefit their community and celebrate the hard wording folks that take care of the locals and tourists alike, which I absolutely love. I hope to be back on the island to attend one one day soon!
Make sure to give these wonderful folks a follow to keep tabs on what they and their special senior pups are up to next!
Maybe a day late but still wanted to show off my first time fully decorating the Cocoanut Canteen for the holidays.
I present... The Christmas Canteen! 🎄🍹
I wanted to keep the 1940s theme so my wife and I had a fun time hunting for vintage (for the most part) decor.
The first step was obviously sourcing some @trutonebulbs , which thankfully are sold in-person right down the street at @bobbakermarionettes !
After that, some highlights include an original 1940s sheet music book for "Christmas Island", some vintage garlands, and a couple of Santa hats for my tikis that are actually dog hats.
Hope you like the look, we're looking forward to expanding it even further next year!
It's been a tough year for us with lots of heavy stuff happening behind the scenes, but hoping to be much more active around here in the new year and get to travel to some new locations and meet more of you fine folks. Wishing all of you and your families a happy holiday season.
