Clifton's Pacific Seas, Los Angeles, CA (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

K kevincrossman Tiki Socialite Fremont, CA Joined: Jun 19, 2017 Posts: 275	K kevincrossman Posted posted on Sat, Jan 5, 2019 8:26 AM Mrs Mai Tai has wanted to visit The Broad in Downtown LA for some time and I have wanted to visit Clifton’s Pacific Seas for some time so we made a two-fer. I had heard nightmares of the “particular” procedures to get into Pacific Seas, including the dress code. On this particular Thursday this seemed loosely enforced but we were prepared. We entered at opening and were asked what were we’re interested in and were promptly given explicit instructions to how to get to Pacific Seas. No doubloons. No feeling random walls for speakeasy entrances. Go up, then up again. Then left and left again, press into the mirror (see photo 10 in this set). Then through a maze of rooms not unlike the queue at a Disneyland attraction. Finally the bar! Pacific Seas is a “order at the bar” bar. We grabbed a menu to review then ordered our first round of a Mai Tai and a Chi-Chi. I also had the Navy Grog. None of my drinks were awesome (the Mai Tai is made only with Appleton Signature rum, not terrible but not very bold either) though Julie thought the Chi-Chi was pretty good. The Navy Grog was boozy for sure, following Don the Beachcomber’s recipe. Music in the bar was a no-show until about 30 mins after opening. I never appreciated music in a bar until I didn’t have it. Once the music came on it was what I would call modern lounge. Definitely exotic leaning but contemporary music. And it was a couple settings too high on the volume side. At least it wasn’t thumping... Decor here is A-MAZING. Museum quality. Seriously awe-inspiring and immersive. If you haven’t visited it is worth a visit. The downstairs lounge has a forest theme and is also very interesting. Cliftons is an amazing space but does present some obstacles, some of which we didn’t experience when it was slow on a weeknight. The neighborhood for sure is pretty rough. The temperature inside was quite hot when we visited (kept us from staying longer). Still, worth visiting with the proper mindset. Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/BsMxopgAB4R/

Mrs Mai Tai has wanted to visit The Broad in Downtown LA for some time and I have wanted to visit Clifton’s Pacific Seas for some time so we made a two-fer.

I had heard nightmares of the “particular” procedures to get into Pacific Seas, including the dress code. On this particular Thursday this seemed loosely enforced but we were prepared. We entered at opening and were asked what were we’re interested in and were promptly given explicit instructions to how to get to Pacific Seas. No doubloons. No feeling random walls for speakeasy entrances. Go up, then up again. Then left and left again, press into the mirror (see photo 10 in this set). Then through a maze of rooms not unlike the queue at a Disneyland attraction. Finally the bar!

Pacific Seas is a “order at the bar” bar. We grabbed a menu to review then ordered our first round of a Mai Tai and a Chi-Chi. I also had the Navy Grog. None of my drinks were awesome (the Mai Tai is made only with Appleton Signature rum, not terrible but not very bold either) though Julie thought the Chi-Chi was pretty good. The Navy Grog was boozy for sure, following Don the Beachcomber’s recipe.

Music in the bar was a no-show until about 30 mins after opening. I never appreciated music in a bar until I didn’t have it. Once the music came on it was what I would call modern lounge. Definitely exotic leaning but contemporary music. And it was a couple settings too high on the volume side. At least it wasn’t thumping... Decor here is A-MAZING. Museum quality. Seriously awe-inspiring and immersive. If you haven’t visited it is worth a visit. The downstairs lounge has a forest theme and is also very interesting.

Cliftons is an amazing space but does present some obstacles, some of which we didn’t experience when it was slow on a weeknight. The neighborhood for sure is pretty rough. The temperature inside was quite hot when we visited (kept us from staying longer). Still, worth visiting with the proper mindset.

Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/BsMxopgAB4R/

Post #792265 by kevincrossman on Sat, Jan 5, 2019 8:26 AM