Post #165091 by ikitnrev on Fri, Jun 10, 2005 10:04 PM

Last evening I thought of one of the differences between Buffet style tiki and the more vintage-style tiki - I'm not sure if this has been discussed here before.

I associate the Buffet-style tiki with outdoor thatched bars, with an open view to some body of water, where one can watch the sunset. These tend to be located in warmer climates, on the beach, and thus have a 'Spring Break' or a 'I'm on vacation' or a 'I'm rich and retired' vibe to it all.

On the other hand, what I will call the vintage-style tiki bars tend to be rooms with no windows, with a self-contained tiki decor within. Thus the Kahiki, the Mai Kai, D.C.'s former Honolulu, the Tiki Ti, the Omni Hut, and many others would fit within this category. Rather than a 'Spring Break' feel, there is more of the feeling of a local restaurant where you can go and treat yourself to some cocktails and perhaps a meal at the end of a work week, and do that on a regular basis without spending big dollars on a formal vacation. These are the places you could visit year-round, even if it was snowing outside, and have no idea of what the weather or sun conditions were outside.

There are some tiki places that straddle the two - the Emeryville Trader Vics comes to mind. The indoor decor is great, but there are many windows that you can look out and see all the yachts outside, which during the daytime gives more of a Buffet-like vibe to the place. Perhaps the vibe is a bit different at night.

I'm curious - has Buffet ever written a song that takes place entirely within the walls of a more vintage-like tiki bar?

Vern