NYC Tiki Bars circa 1960? - General Tiki

BM Blue Moose Member Maine and New York Joined: Apr 02, 2004 Posts: 28	BM Blue Moose Posted posted on Thu, Jun 3, 2004 2:33 PM Does anyone know the most luxurious tiki bar in the New York area in 1960? I'm writing an historical novel set from 1958-1962, and I want to have some politicians talking in a NYC tiki bar. I understand Trader Vic opened in New York in 1958. So was that the most upscale tiki temple in the city? Does anyone have any pictures of it? Thanks.
TC Tiki Chris Member London Joined: Mar 24, 2002 Posts: 1542	TC Tiki Chris Posted posted on Thu, Jun 3, 2004 2:53 PM the hawaii kai near times square Hawaiian Room of the Hotel Lexington keep us posted, chris
BM Blue Moose Member Maine and New York Joined: Apr 02, 2004 Posts: 28	BM Blue Moose Posted posted on Sun, Jun 6, 2004 8:36 PM Thanks for the info, Chris.
D donhonyc Tiki Socialite The Quiet EAST Village Joined: Jan 13, 2003 Posts: 1196	D donhonyc Posted posted on Sun, Jun 6, 2004 11:30 PM Blue Moose- Interesting. Yes, Tiki Chris is right, Hawaii Kai and the Hawaiian Room were two big NYC Tiki hot-spots back in the day. And I heard that the film director Stanley Kubrick used to frequent the Trader Vic's in the basement of The Plaza Hotel back then also. I have a great postcard of Hawaii Kai, and also a decent one of the Hawaiian Room, unfortunately I don't have a flat-bed scanner otherwise I would scan them in for you. If you check on Ebay you may find a Hawaii Kai postcard for sale which would give you an idea of what the place looked like, which was awesome! Good luck with the book.

BM

Blue Moose Posted posted on Thu, Jun 3, 2004 2:33 PM

Does anyone know the most luxurious tiki bar in the New York area in 1960? I'm writing an historical novel set from 1958-1962, and I want to have some politicians talking in a NYC tiki bar. I understand Trader Vic opened in New York in 1958. So was that the most upscale tiki temple in the city? Does anyone have any pictures of it? Thanks.

TC

Tiki Chris Posted posted on Thu, Jun 3, 2004 2:53 PM

the hawaii kai near times square

Hawaiian Room of the Hotel Lexington

keep us posted,
chris

BM

Blue Moose Posted posted on Sun, Jun 6, 2004 8:36 PM

Thanks for the info, Chris.

D

donhonyc Posted posted on Sun, Jun 6, 2004 11:30 PM

Blue Moose-

Interesting. Yes, Tiki Chris is right, Hawaii Kai and the Hawaiian Room were two big NYC Tiki hot-spots back in the day. And I heard that the film director Stanley Kubrick used to frequent the Trader Vic's in the basement of The Plaza Hotel back then also. I have a great postcard of Hawaii Kai, and also a decent one of the Hawaiian Room, unfortunately I don't have a flat-bed scanner otherwise I would scan them in for you. If you check on Ebay you may find a Hawaii Kai postcard for sale which would give you an idea of what the place looked like, which was awesome! Good luck with the book.