Laka Lono Rum Club - Omaha, NE (bar) - Locating Tiki

P Potato. Tiki Socialite Lincoln, NE Joined: Jun 09, 2010 Posts: 113	P Potato. Posted posted on Sun, Nov 6, 2016 5:55 AM Laka Lono has only been open two weeks as of this post. When I went, they didn't even have a sign out front since they are still waiting for city approval. I was told that, when approval comes, the Laka Lono sign will be an octopus that stretches across the wall. Laka Lono is hard to find right now - it is in the lower underground level of the Old Market, next to Homer's music store and across from Plank seafood. They have put a lot of work into this place. Every inch is covered with bamboo and moss, or carved cavestone. The floor is a deep blue, with a sheen that makes it feel like water. There isn't much in the way of "authentic" tiki, but there are tikis on the walls and two kind of goofball tiki in the cave room (see pictures below). The cave room is great - booths line the walls, and a giant amoeba table sits in the middle for large groups. Two wicker swing chairs are against the near wall. Or, you can sit next to the dripping waterfall. There is also a second bamboo bar in the cave room for when the business picks up and getting to the main bar would be difficult. We had a Fog Cutter, Painkiller, Zombie, and a Puddle Jumper, one of Laka Lono's original creations ( http://www.lakalono.com/menu/ ) I'd give the drinks all about a 7 right now. Sweet, mixed well, where you can taste the booze, but it doesn't jump out at you. My only complaint was too much crushed ice for the drink. The mix, to me, should be that everything ends up empty by the time you finish the drink, and there shouldn't be a half drink full of ice by the time I'm done. Laka Lono is so new that two of their group drinks haven't even had recipes finalized yet, and the ceramics aren't complete for the bowls. There were nice touches all over - speakers dedicated just to nature sounds, and the lights flashed on and off along with thunder noises to simulate lightning. My biggest complaint was the music - it was mostly '50s surf and rockabilly, which I would love anywhere else, but it took away from the mood. If you've created such an awesome tropical scene, complete it! That's why people go to a place like this - for the feeling of being taken away. It felt odd being in a mood-lit cave with a waterfall, listening to Link Wray. I would really really like some authentic "tiki" exotica music in this place and I think the other customers would too, even if they don't know what exotica is, to sell the scene Laka Lono has created. I spoke with the owner and he said they are always interested in new ideas and suggestions. If you get to visit, please let them know what you think on their facebook page (and let them know to play exotica!). http://www.lakalono.com/home The cave room:

Laka Lono has only been open two weeks as of this post. When I went, they didn't even have a sign out front since they are still waiting for city approval. I was told that, when approval comes, the Laka Lono sign will be an octopus that stretches across the wall.

Laka Lono is hard to find right now - it is in the lower underground level of the Old Market, next to Homer's music store and across from Plank seafood.

They have put a lot of work into this place. Every inch is covered with bamboo and moss, or carved cavestone. The floor is a deep blue, with a sheen that makes it feel like water. There isn't much in the way of "authentic" tiki, but there are tikis on the walls and two kind of goofball tiki in the cave room (see pictures below). The cave room is great - booths line the walls, and a giant amoeba table sits in the middle for large groups. Two wicker swing chairs are against the near wall. Or, you can sit next to the dripping waterfall. There is also a second bamboo bar in the cave room for when the business picks up and getting to the main bar would be difficult.

We had a Fog Cutter, Painkiller, Zombie, and a Puddle Jumper, one of Laka Lono's original creations ( http://www.lakalono.com/menu/ )

I'd give the drinks all about a 7 right now. Sweet, mixed well, where you can taste the booze, but it doesn't jump out at you. My only complaint was too much crushed ice for the drink. The mix, to me, should be that everything ends up empty by the time you finish the drink, and there shouldn't be a half drink full of ice by the time I'm done. Laka Lono is so new that two of their group drinks haven't even had recipes finalized yet, and the ceramics aren't complete for the bowls.

There were nice touches all over - speakers dedicated just to nature sounds, and the lights flashed on and off along with thunder noises to simulate lightning.

My biggest complaint was the music - it was mostly '50s surf and rockabilly, which I would love anywhere else, but it took away from the mood. If you've created such an awesome tropical scene, complete it! That's why people go to a place like this - for the feeling of being taken away. It felt odd being in a mood-lit cave with a waterfall, listening to Link Wray. I would really really like some authentic "tiki" exotica music in this place and I think the other customers would too, even if they don't know what exotica is, to sell the scene Laka Lono has created.

I spoke with the owner and he said they are always interested in new ideas and suggestions. If you get to visit, please let them know what you think on their facebook page (and let them know to play exotica!).

http://www.lakalono.com/home

The cave room:

Post #770023 by Potato. on Sun, Nov 6, 2016 5:55 AM