Post #259321 by milligna on Thu, Oct 5, 2006 11:53 PM

I tried to keep my description above as objective as possible coz I work in this bar!

I'm a fairly new convert to Tiki - I've been into it for about 2 years, and I've been into Cocktails for much longer, more as a home bar hobby than working in a fully fledged venue (I'm often referred to by cocktail bartenders as "that annoying tiki-obsessed cocktail geek" :D). Due to my well known tastes, when the owners of Melbourne's Tiki Lounge and Bar were looking for someone to mix drinks for them, several local bartenders told them that I would be perfect.

I got in touch with Dave and Dianne (Argentinian Dance specialists and owners of Tiki Lounge and Bar), and was introduced to their bar. It's got such a great vibe - pretty much everything has been scavanged or lovingly hand-built by these two, and their enthusiasm is infectious.

Throwing modesty to the wind, I have to say I'm very proud of the drinks we produce - Dave has been more than willing to let me bully him into buying premium ingredients, and I think our cocktails are not only great tasting, but great value considering the top-notch alcohol and fresh fruit going into them.

Our little library has got some pretty cool books (we've got Night of the Tiki, a copy of Hawaiian Dick, various other Oceanic art books, and south Pacific novels all scrounged from second-hand markets where we can find them), and there's lots of cool stuff to keep your eyes busy.

We play a range of Exotica, bossa nova, Lounge and other random music, and we have floor-shows most weeks (last week we had an awesome burlesque-style performance from a local Hula Hoop dancer who has performed a few times at the bar).

Our bar is a very "Melbourne" bar - you have to know where to look, or be lucky to stumble upon a lot of Melbourne's quirky bars, but most of the time your curiousity will be rewarded with a unique and friendly experience.

Cheers,

Cocktail Kev.