Tiki in Philadelphia?

I'm heading to Philly in a few months and was wondering if there were any tiki hotspots there that anyone is aware of?

I don't know about Tiki, but I highly recommend Cuba Libre: http://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/philly_index.php
They made the most amazing Mojitos. I've recently learned they have a great rum selection as well and that their secret in the Mojitos is the guarapo (sugar cane juice) they import.
We plan to make it an annual tradition when visiting family since the food was tasty too.

[ Edited by: Sgirl 2007-09-20 19:45 ]

Thanks. I'll only be there for 3 days, but I'll put this one on my short list.

Greetings- There are no tiki bars in philadelphia. Tiki Bob's IS NOT TIKI...trust me. There is tatto shop on 4th street just off South st that has some nice tikis and a great giant mural of a wahini, but thats it. The only tiki bar that I am aware of is the Temple of the Gnarled Monkey...my home bar. With about 700 ft of bamboo, 2 thatched roofs, rattan walls and ceiling, water fountain, almost 200 mugs, and stuff from many different bars around the country I feel clean in saying that the Gnarled Monkey is the only authentic tiki bar in Philly. If you want, shoot me an email and maybe we can arrange a visit. Any tikiphiles in the philly area with home bars feel free to drop me a line as well and maybe we can swaps visits to each others bar. BEST OF LUCK
Potash [email protected]

Have you posted any photos on any other link? Sounds tikiriffic!

Gnarled Monkey,

I'll put you on the list for the next luau in my tiki room up here in Allentown. Did you check out the tiki's at Neri Antiques on South St.? They are from Pub Tiki mostly and a few from Langerman's Luau. Keep in touch there are about 4 TCer's up here in the Lehigh Valley now.

Matt

Hello! I am a new member, and thought I would share this info, which may be of interest of Philly/ PA tikiphiles:

Tonight is the debut of Tiki Tuesdays at Rum Bar. Enjoy $5 Tiki drinks, a special Polynesian menu, free Tiki chachkas and no one named Bob!

there is a list of the drinks and food they are offering at the link below.

http://foobooz.com/2008/01/tonight-tiki/#more-3858

I missed it yesterday but may have to investigate in the coming weeks!

Betty- who loves Kowloon,Mai Tais and Pupu platters, and over the holidays dragged the family to the South Pacific in Newton with the help of you all- thanks!! Now back in Tiki-less Pennsylvania....

[ Edited by: modbetty 2008-01-16 10:05 ]

Betty,

Thanks for the 411. I've been meaning to get down and check out the Rum Bar anyhoo.

Definitely thanks for the info. Nicole and I may be in Philly in early April and I have no idea of the tiki scene. Cuba Libre and Rum Bar sound like a solid starting point. Gnarled - your place sounds fantastic as well - would love to see some pictures.

Philly's greatest tiki temple The Kona Kai is long gone, but if you PM Tikinomad maybe he'll sell you an artifact from his collection.

On 2007-12-28 06:30, Tikinomad wrote:
......well as long as I still have these pieces (and others from the Kona Kai) any TC'er who is ever in the area is welcome to visit! Just drop me a line.....

Are there any good liquor stores in Philly that stock hard-to-find things like Lemon Hart (80 and 151), Velvet Falernum, or Fee Brother's bitters?

This seemed as good a place as any to let the Philly area tiki folks know about the Jacob Stelman photo exhibit at the Philadelphia Atenaeum. It runs until 11/7 and has a couple of really great photos of the Kona Kai as well as other fabulous and long gone storefronts and signage in the city. You can read more about it on Retro Roadmap here:

http://retroroadmap.com/2009/09/30/retro-roadmap-philly-meetup-at-vintage-photo-exhibit-103/

and scroll up to see a snapshot from my phone that shows the big photo of the Kona Kai exterior.

It's a neat exhibit and FREE!

On 2008-08-13 14:33, paranoid123 wrote:
Are there any good liquor stores in Philly that stock hard-to-find things like Lemon Hart (80 and 151), Velvet Falernum, or Fee Brother's bitters?

all booze is controlled in pa by the pa liquor control board; we have a very limited selection of anything.
on the bright side you can browse the catalog and order anything that is available:
http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/Product_Management/psi_ProductDefault_inter.asp

On 2008-01-16 10:03, modbetty wrote:
Tonight is the debut of Tiki Tuesdays at Rum Bar. Enjoy $5 Tiki drinks, a special Polynesian menu, free Tiki chachkas and no one named Bob!

unfortunately rumbar has chosen to discontinue tiki tuesdays in favor of a more college friendly $2 tuesdays (bah)
you can still get many delicious classic and new tiki cocktails served in a tiki mug by request, and they still have volcano bowls for groups of 4 or more.
http://www.rum-bar.com/index.php

At least they're trying to save the daquiri!

vietnam in chinatown still serves drinks in tiki mugs
http://www.eatatvietnam.com/cocktails.cfm
the food is excellent as well.

there is a pretty cool flea market/sale going on today and tomorrow in south philly; rain or shine.

here is what i picked up:

lots more mugs; mostly tiki farm, hawaiian ashtrays, tiki candles; statues nodders and such; if you are close you should check it out.

Sorry I missed that sale. If anyone in Philly wants to make the run up to the Lehigh Valley I am having a get together on the 9th. Here is the thread link:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=34953&forum=4&0

On 2009-12-18 13:08, rugbymatt wrote:
Sorry I missed that sale. If anyone in Philly wants to make the run up to the Lehigh Valley I am having a get together on the 9th. Here is the thread link:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=34953&forum=4&0

i think proff. ouch has a sale once or twice a year. i'll try and give a better heads up next time.
i'll come up, schedule and weather permitting.

On 2009-12-18 14:15, exquisitecorpse wrote:

On 2009-12-18 13:08, rugbymatt wrote:
Sorry I missed that sale. If anyone in Philly wants to make the run up to the Lehigh Valley I am having a get together on the 9th. Here is the thread link:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=34953&forum=4&0

i think proff. ouch has a sale once or twice a year. i'll try and give a better heads up next time.
i'll come up, schedule and weather permitting.

It'll be great to get some Philly ohana up here for the party.

A new indoor antique mall (Black Rose) opened up inside South Mall on Lehigh St. in Allentown (just south of I-78). They had a nice set of siesta wear polynesian theme mugs and a lot of retro barware.

selling a bunch of tiki mugs this weekend in philly
at our semi annual sidewalk sale on 4th & federal 10am-6pm sat & sunday
there will be a huge fleamarket across the st. in jefferson square park saturday.
mention tikicentral and get $1 off each mug you buy.

Everyone in the area is welcomed to come up to Allentown for my birthday luau on Saturday 19 June. Last blowout before I pack up everything to sell the place and permanently relocate to NorCal.

Tiki in the Lehigh Valley!?!?!?!

I wish I had found this thread last week. I was just home visiting my parents in Allentown.

I live in Oregon, where I've had a series of lite-duty home tiki bars and we're working on other nifty tiki projects. Like this one!

http://dangerislandtikitradingcompany.com

Square 1682 is doing "Waitiki Wednesdays" I probably won't get a chance to go for a few weeks, but i am looking forward to checking it out.

"Hula Through Your Hump Day" at Waitiki Wednesdays.

While the winter blues away at Hotel Palomar’s Square 1682 with their new Waitiki Wednesdays, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., featuring Hawaiian-inspired bar specials.

With drink names like the Honi Honi, the Nui Nui and the Sneaky Tiki, you’ll be breaking out the cowrie shells in no time.

While you’re there, Square 1682 also runs a standard Monday to Friday 5 to 7 p.m. happy hour — Rittenhouse Squared — with $7 cocktails, $5 wine and half-price bar bites.

Stop by for a drink or three, and stay for dinner. Chef Guillermo Tellez will also be providing new seasonal additions to the restaurant menu, including confit Amish chicken and truffled potato dumpling consommé, or roasted pork chop with Pennsylvania apples and brussels sprouts."

Square 1682
121 S. 17th Street
http://www.square1682.com

Ok, now there are two Tiki in Philadelphia threads! Can we combine them?

Sounds like Rum Bar isn't doing the Tiki thing anymore. Guess I'll get my Tiki fix when in Ft. Lauderdale in January!

On 2011-10-19 16:38, tikifred wrote:
Ok, now there are two Tiki in Philadelphia threads! Can we combine them?

Sounds like Rum Bar isn't doing the Tiki thing anymore. Guess I'll get my Tiki fix when in Ft. Lauderdale in January!

they do tiki thursdays.
vietnam also has some good tiki drinks served in mugs & bowls

Thanks....I will check it out. Vietnam is one of my fave restaurants in Philly.

Tiki and Beer Coming to 6th and Spring Garden
http://philadelphia.foobooz.com/2012/01/03/tiki-and-beer-coming-to-6th-and-spring-garden/

"The as yet unnamed project would turn the main floor into an beer hall. The basement would be converted into a windowless tiki bar with a drink menu designed by cocktail whizzes Phoebe Esmon and Christian Gaal. Pan-Asian flavors would supplement the tiki drinks downstairs while upstairs Southern barbecue would be the cuisine."

Thanks Exquisite! I'll check it out and report back.

On 2012-01-03 12:14, exquisitecorpse wrote:
Tiki and Beer Coming to 6th and Spring Garden

This didn't happen either.

From the local CBS news station.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/top-lists/top-tiki-bars-around-philadelphia/

Top Tiki Bars Around Philadelphia
June 6, 2013 7:00 AM

Tiki bars are the essence of summer. Tropical drinks, a beach-like feel and Polynesian decor are their primary characteristics. They offer an escape to an exotic location without the expense of flying. Unfortunately, Philadelphia hasn’t had a full-fledged tiki bar since Pub Tiki closed in 1977 and Konai Kai followed in 1985. There are still, however, many options for the tiki-like experience of outdoor seating and Caribbean drinks in and around Philly. So, before Duke’s Surf Bar finds the funds to open, here are the top tiki bars close to the area.

Silk City Diner
435 Spring Gardent St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 592-8838
http://www.silkcityphilly.com

Silk City Diner is a diner, dance club and outdoor beer garden all working out of one classic diner car built in 1952. The beer garden was added in 2007 after new ownership and is 3,000 square feet, allowing for plenty of room to roam around or enjoy the night sky from your seat. The best part about Silk City is that it also has an actual tiki bar outside made of faux bamboo. The garden is surrounded by a wrought-iron gate and lights strung around the area brighten up the place at night. Silk City also offers multiple cocktails made up of rum and tequila, as well as an extensive beer list.

Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant
4120 Main St.
Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 482-8220
http://www.manayunkbrewery.com

Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant, which is located in an old wool and cotton mill that was part of the Manayunk manufacturing boom of the 1800s, has a tiki bar outside on its dock that overlooks the Schuylkill River. The menu here is full of options, from fish to burgers to pizza, and there’s an extensive cocktail list with many tropical drinks. The Brewery brews its own beer here, and those are the only selections available on tap. Along with the outside tiki bar, Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant also has many other places to sit and relax, including the jazz room and the upper deck.

Romarcos Italian Restaurant
451 E. Baltimore Ave.
Clifton Heights, PA 19018
(610) 626-7414
http://www.facebook.com/Romarcositalianrestaurant

Romarcos Italian Restaurant, located eight miles away from the center of Philadelphia in Clifton Heights, has an outdoor patio and tiki bar. Come here for happy hour and have one of the bartenders create a tropical cocktail to put you in an island mood. The live music will keep you entertained as you enjoy the summer air. Romarcos serves many Italian dishes, including an assortment of pastas, sandwiches and seafood. While Romarcos has coupons floating around for discounts on food and beverages, unfortunately, they do not include alcohol.

Villari’s Lakeside
2375 Sicklerville Road
Sicklerville, NJ 08081
(856) 228-5244
http://www.villarislakeside.com

Villari’s Lakeside is located in Sicklerville, NJ — about 25 minutes away from the center of Philadelphia. The outside bar is decorated with island decor and features a thatched-hut roof along with 360-degree seating, creating the ultimate tiki experience. If you’re hungry, small bites and appetizers are served. The beverage list is extensive with tropical cocktails, beer and wine. Live music is performed five days a week for those wishing to dance. Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. is happy hour, where $2 beers and $3 cocktails are the norm.

Tiki Bar At Spring Mountain
757 Spring Mount Road
Spring Mount, PA 19478
(610) 287-3233
http://www.tikibarpa.com

Tiki Bar at Spring Mountain is open every day from May through September starting at 4 p.m. It offers a selection of raw meats (including alligator tail!), vegetables and kabobs that you cook yourself on one of its many grills. Fake palm trees, Caribbean-themed trinkets and thatched huts make up the Tiki Bar’s perfect tropical vibe. Located in the Spring Mountain ski area, the Tiki Bar allows for enjoying an outdoor picnic in a wooded environment. It also has an excellent view down the slope of the mountain and is a great place for a large group, or even for a two-person date. Don’t forget to try the hurricanes, the Tiki Bar’s signature drink.

Kelly Neilson is a freelance writer living and working in Philadelphia. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

[ Edited by: tikilongbeach 2013-07-17 10:27 ]

unfortunately none of these places could even be remotely considered tiki bars. you can't even get a mai-tai at any of them (silk city does make a good pain killer though).

On 2013-07-17 10:23, tikilongbeach wrote:
From the local CBS news station.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/top-lists/top-tiki-bars-around-philadelphia/

Top Tiki Bars Around Philadelphia
June 6, 2013 7:00 AM
[ Edited by: tikilongbeach 2013-07-17 10:27 ]

From looking at their websites I found it interesting that the writer considered any of them tiki.