Wakamba - Tiki Dive Bar in New York? - General Tiki

I ikitnrev Tiki Socialite D.C. / Virginia Joined: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1325	I ikitnrev Posted posted on Tue, May 23, 2006 6:52 PM Anthony Bourdin, the author and star of the Kitchen Confidential TV show, recently named a New York Garment District bar, the 'Distinguished Wakamba Cocktail Lounge' (that's its real name), as one of his favorite dive bars in the country. These are the words Bourdin used to describe the place ...... "Tiki decor and ultra-cheese kitsch with an element of danger. I believe people have died there." No word on if there are actual tikis in this bar. In 2003, the Village Voice named the Wakamba Lounge the 'best undercover-cop' bar, partly because an undercover cop actually killed an unarmed man, after an attempt to buy crack cocaine, outside the front door. Another reason for the Village Voice vote was that the bar has no listed telephone number. There are a couple flickr shots of the Wakamba on-line..... http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad/1404666/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad/1405671/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad/1405674/in/photostream/ I do see some palm frond/grass skirt material, and a nautical net hanging from the ceiling -- is that the silhouette of a tiki on the right hand side of the inside interior?? The lengthiest, and most entertaining article I could find about the Wakamba was this piece http://www.nypress.com/17/50/food/bernstein.cfm So, has anyone here on Tiki Central actually been in this place? and manage to walk out alive? Vern
D donhonyc Tiki Socialite The Quiet EAST Village Joined: Jan 13, 2003 Posts: 1196	D donhonyc Posted posted on Tue, May 23, 2006 9:12 PM Holy shit! I guess I should bitch less and look more. I have never been to this place. From the photos though, I think I may somewhere in the past looked in the window, it looks vaguely familiar. But I can tell you this, I will be going there TOMORROW. I was just near that block a few days ago...just when you think you've seen all of New York City...
J jyscorp Member Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 1	J jyscorp Posted posted on Wed, Mar 7, 2007 7:51 AM I was just at Wakamba lounge last night-its a few doors down from my office. It is a classic tiki dive, mostly patronized and managed by latinos. The bartenders are scantily dressed, however most of them are slightly older (mid to late 30s) and most appear to have undergone breast enhancement surgery. They are very friendly and the service is good-they do a decent job pushing drinks too. Overall the ambiance is relaxed and laid back, typically latin. I was sitting next to an African gent who told me he has been coming to the lounge for 30 years. He said the place used to be very popular--"jumpin'""rockin" choose your adjectives. He said Tito Puente used to play there. So apparently the place has a storied past. And yes, cops do frequent this place-there is a station around the block. My one criticism is that they do not have any happy hour specials-so watch what you spend.

I

ikitnrev Posted posted on Tue, May 23, 2006 6:52 PM

Anthony Bourdin, the author and star of the Kitchen Confidential TV show, recently named a New York Garment District bar, the 'Distinguished Wakamba Cocktail Lounge' (that's its real name), as one of his favorite dive bars in the country. These are the words Bourdin used to describe the place ...... "Tiki decor and ultra-cheese kitsch with an element of danger. I believe people have died there."

No word on if there are actual tikis in this bar.

In 2003, the Village Voice named the Wakamba Lounge the 'best undercover-cop' bar, partly because an undercover cop actually killed an unarmed man, after an attempt to buy crack cocaine, outside the front door. Another reason for the Village Voice vote was that the bar has no listed telephone number.

There are a couple flickr shots of the Wakamba on-line.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad/1404666/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad/1405671/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad/1405674/in/photostream/

I do see some palm frond/grass skirt material, and a nautical net hanging from the ceiling -- is that the silhouette of a tiki on the right hand side of the inside interior??

The lengthiest, and most entertaining article I could find about the Wakamba was this piece
http://www.nypress.com/17/50/food/bernstein.cfm

So, has anyone here on Tiki Central actually been in this place? and manage to walk out alive?

Vern

D

donhonyc Posted posted on Tue, May 23, 2006 9:12 PM

Holy shit! I guess I should bitch less and look more. I have never been to this place. From the photos though, I think I may somewhere in the past looked in the window, it looks vaguely familiar. But I can tell you this, I will be going there TOMORROW. I was just near that block a few days ago...just when you think you've seen all of New York City...

J

jyscorp Posted posted on Wed, Mar 7, 2007 7:51 AM

I was just at Wakamba lounge last night-its a few doors down from my office. It is a classic tiki dive, mostly patronized and managed by latinos. The bartenders are scantily dressed, however most of them are slightly older (mid to late 30s) and most appear to have undergone breast enhancement surgery. They are very friendly and the service is good-they do a decent job pushing drinks too. Overall the ambiance is relaxed and laid back, typically latin. I was sitting next to an African gent who told me he has been coming to the lounge for 30 years. He said the place used to be very popular--"jumpin'""rockin" choose your adjectives. He said Tito Puente used to play there. So apparently the place has a storied past. And yes, cops do frequent this place-there is a station around the block. My one criticism is that they do not have any happy hour specials-so watch what you spend.