With the recent closings of Chin’s in Livonia and Mutiny Bar in southwest Detroit, here’s an updated list of tiki bars and bars that serve tiki drinks in Metro Detroit.
The Skip: Similar to a tiki bar, this open-air bar in the Belt in downtown Detroit specializes in “island vibes.” Celebrating a decade of business this year, the Skip has fun with the weather and offers half-off piña coladas when it rains or snows. Right now it’s only open weekends. 1234 The Belt, Detroit. (313) 724-3145. theskipdetroit.com.
Tocororo: This Eastern Market bar has a superb rum collection, killer cocktails and great food, too (try the lamb burger). There’s also a ton of board games and a full room of pinball machines. 1416 E. Fisher Service Drive, Detroit. tocororodetroit.com.
Eastern Palace Club: Opened three years ago last month, this Hazel Park bar attracts people of all ages for karaoke, dance nights, fruity drinks and a beach-y vibe. The drink menu has classic tiki drinks, fun stuff like rum buckets, wine, beer, margaritas and mocktails. EPC just launched a new restaurant within the bar, called Calico Jack’s, that serves elevated bar food that pairs well with the tropical cocktails. 21509 John R, Hazel Park. (248) 850-8165. epchp.com.
Mai Tiki: Inside the Tigerlily restaurant, Mai Tiki seats a few dozen and has a classic 1960s tiki look, with strong tropical drinks. It’s also used for culinary classes and private events. It’s only open Friday and Saturday nights. 231 W. Nine Mile, Ferndale. (248) 850-2534. Maitikibar.com.
Port: This outdoor bar near Woodward Avenue Brewers and the Loving Touch is more Ferndale-themed than tiki-themed, but the drink menu has a lot of tropical fun. Think fruity, frozen and strong. Because it’s all outside, Port is also a popular spot for people to bring their dogs. It is reopening for the season this spring. 22646 Woodward, Fendale. portferndale.com.
Waycaster Tiki: The most authentic and cohesive tiki experience in the tri-county, this cozy lounge has been a magnet for tiki fans from all over Metro Detroit since it opened in December 2024. It has everything one would want in a tiki bar: very strong rum-based drinks, nonalcoholic tropical cocktails, a mid-century touch to the decor, lots of Polynesian flair and a kaleidoscope of colorful artwork set off by blacklights. Owner Jon Hole makes a lot of the tiki lighting and decor himself. There are some bar snacks here, but no cooking kitchen, so don’t arrive too hungry or those painkillers will go right to your head. 228 S. Lafayette, South Lyon. (313) 533-2292. waycastertiki.com.
The Beach Tiki Bar & Boil: Open daily for lunch and dinner, the Beach Tiki Bar in Walled Lake is known for seafood boils, tropical drinks, “tiki tizers” (appetizers) and tons of other bar food and draft beer. 142 E. Walled Lake, Walled Lake. (248) 669-3322. thebeachtikibar.com.
Octopus’ Beer Garden: There’s definitely a tiki bar element to this riverside destination in Mount Clemens where locals go to pretend they’re in Key West or Margaritaville. True tiki connoisseurs will balk at the plastic cups, but it is a great, casual outdoor place to get a frozen drink and some fish tacos on the fly. They’re currently closed for the season, with a grand re-opening bash planned for St. Patrick’s Day. 152 N. River Road, Mount Clemens. (833) 367-8900. octopusbeergarden.com.
Te Fiti Tiki: A splash of the South Pacific in Frankenmuth, Te Fiti Tiki is a super cute space serving tiki drinks and shareable plates like edamame, gyoza, coconut shrimp and beef skewers (order just one, or get all of them on the pu pu platter). Serving Thurs.-Sat. plus a Sunday brunch, with coconut cream pie French toast, vegan hash, omelets and more. 525 S. Main, Frankenmuth. (989) 272-8454. tefititiki.com.
Max’s South Seas Hideaway: With the number of tiki bars in Metro Detroit in flux right now, many enthusiasts are branching out across the state. Max’s in Grand Rapids is considered a hot and authentic destination, with cozy booth seating, multiple bars and a fascinating collection of tiki mugs. Also, there’s food here: sushi, pu pu platters, drunken noodles, chicken and waffles and much more. Reservations are recommended. 58 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids. (616) 551-0016. maxstiki.com.
Tiki pop-ups this week
Model T-iki at Evening Bar: For the second time, this immersive pop-up has taken over the Evening Bar inside of the Shinola Hotel. It’s a mix of homages to tiki bars and 20th century American car culture. The last day is Saturday. Reservations are recommended. 1400 Woodward, Detroit. (313) 246-9800. eveningbar.com.
Regal Craft Food: Inside this chef-driven Macomb County hot spot is a bar called Addendem. This week it is hosting a tiki takeover with Polynesian-inspired bar snacks, cocktails and vibes this Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 6 p.m. Reservations are encouraged. 48810 Hayes, Macomb. regalecraftfood.com/reservations.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tiki bars in Metro Detroit
Reporting by Melody Baetens, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
