Tiki Bars: A Tropical Escape with Rum-Soaked History
San Francisco, Cal. - Tiki bars offer a romanticized escape into Polynesian culture, featuring vibrantly colored interiors, fruity cocktails adorned with elaborate garnishes, and a heavy focus on rum-based libations. These immersive experiences transport patrons to a tropical paradise, often devoid of windows to the outside world. Carved statues, both decorative and symbolic, become vessels of the tiki mystique.
One such establishment is San Francisco's Zombie Village, opened in 2019 by the team behind Pagan Idol. The bar pays homage to a previous tiki bar of the same name in Oakland.
Stepping inside, guests are greeted by a starry night sky ceiling and ornately carved wooden decorations depicting mermaids, villagers in canoes, and other Polynesian motifs. Private tiki huts, reservable online, enhance the immersive experience. [Video of a tiki hut at Zombie Village can be found online.]
For those seeking a more secluded escape, a dimly lit cave in the corner features skulls and flickering vermilion candles. Even the restroom door echoes the theme, adorned with Polynesian wood carvings.
