Forbidden Island, Alameda, CA (bar) - Locating Tiki

T tikivixen Tiki Socialite Vallejo CA Joined: Aug 28, 2002 Posts: 726	T tikivixen Posted posted on Sat, Apr 22, 2006 8:48 AM What they said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, my sacred trinity of tiki bars is now Forbidden Island, the Mai Kai, and the Alibi. And FINALLY, FINALLY, one of my all-time favorites is within driving distance!!! I couldn't be happier about this place. From the incredibly intricate, fascinating decor to the brilliant drinks to the awesomely vintage chic cocktail server (go Thayer!!!), everything is spot-on perfect. Three of my favorite things apart from the obvious: The dim, aka "kind" lighting. Thank you. Nobody wants a bright light in the face after six Painkillers. Nobody. The amazing jukebox, thank you so much Jab and Conga Paul! I wish you guys could "do" jukes for a living. The world would be a better place...no wars, no plagues, no heartbreak of psoriasis...if only Paul and Jab were in charge of the soundtrack. The atmosphere. Critiki calls this "tilt" and that's a good term, and in this case I'm not just referring to "tikiness". My theory is that because FI (in its former incarnation as the charmingly divey "Lincoln's Address") already has a good thirty-plus years of vintage neighborhood bar goodness under its belt, it just doesn't have that shallow, trendy, uninteresting "new" feel to it. There's character and history here and you can feel it. What makes me happiest of all is that this lounge can clearly succeed EQUALLY with vintage tiki bar lovers, serious drinkin' folk and the public at large. (I still think the locals are gonna talk you guys into vodka tonics at six a.m. yet...:lol:) Plus the fact that it's situated in a comfortable Alameda neighborhood is likely to both keep the frat-boy jerks away AND really bring in the more sophisticated crowd that will totally appreciate Forbidden Island on all levels. Not to mention, there's a great late-night Mexican place just minutes away AND ample, safe parking. Did anyone mention the nifty outdoor patio yet?!? Well, I just did. :wink: This is my local tiki bar dream (going back ten years and more) come true and I thank Martiki, Mike and Mano from the bottom of my heart! You guys are the BEST. XOX tikivixen

What they said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, my sacred trinity of tiki bars is now Forbidden Island, the Mai Kai, and the Alibi.

And FINALLY, FINALLY, one of my all-time favorites is within driving distance!!! I couldn't be happier about this place. From the incredibly intricate, fascinating decor to the brilliant drinks to the awesomely vintage chic cocktail server (go Thayer!!!), everything is spot-on perfect. Three of my favorite things apart from the obvious:

The dim, aka "kind" lighting. Thank you. Nobody wants a bright light in the face after six Painkillers. Nobody.
The amazing jukebox, thank you so much Jab and Conga Paul! I wish you guys could "do" jukes for a living. The world would be a better place...no wars, no plagues, no heartbreak of psoriasis...if only Paul and Jab were in charge of the soundtrack.
The atmosphere. Critiki calls this "tilt" and that's a good term, and in this case I'm not just referring to "tikiness". My theory is that because FI (in its former incarnation as the charmingly divey "Lincoln's Address") already has a good thirty-plus years of vintage neighborhood bar goodness under its belt, it just doesn't have that shallow, trendy, uninteresting "new" feel to it. There's character and history here and you can feel it.

What makes me happiest of all is that this lounge can clearly succeed EQUALLY with vintage tiki bar lovers, serious drinkin' folk and the public at large. (I still think the locals are gonna talk you guys into vodka tonics at six a.m. yet...:lol:) Plus the fact that it's situated in a comfortable Alameda neighborhood is likely to both keep the frat-boy jerks away AND really bring in the more sophisticated crowd that will totally appreciate Forbidden Island on all levels.

Not to mention, there's a great late-night Mexican place just minutes away AND ample, safe parking.

Did anyone mention the nifty outdoor patio yet?!? Well, I just did. :wink:

This is my local tiki bar dream (going back ten years and more) come true and I thank Martiki, Mike and Mano from the bottom of my heart! You guys are the BEST.

XOX tikivixen

Post #228026 by tikivixen on Sat, Apr 22, 2006 8:48 AM