Tiki-Ti Cocktail Lounge

Won’t go back or recommend this place to anyone. Small overpriced drinks. Small bar. Large wait. Large tab.
Reason #1 that I chose this place.
I was really excited to read in the first «helpful hint» that they allow smoking in the bar and that was mentioned in 133 reviews. Well … They don’t! I believe it was because it used to be owner operated and possibly grandfathered in, but the bartender was an employee and seemed to act like he was the one that got them to no longer allow it. So that sucked.
Reasons #2 is that I was searching for dive bars which appearance wise it was. Dark dank kinda dirty I’m fine with that. What I was not so okay with was that everything on the menu averaged out to about $ 15 a drink. Remember this is supposed to be a dive bar.
Reason #3 is it was supposed to be happy hour and Wednesday which means they should have an assortment of cheaper drinks. When I asked about the specials I was told I could get what is basically the equivalent to a rum punch for $ 6 so I figured whatever fine I’ll take it. It was terrible, way too sweet and not strong at all, not very tiki actually. He also spilled a bunch all over the bar without trying to wipe up his mess. I cleaned it up myself with about 10 bar napkins. That was after waiting forever for our drinks. There were 10 people tops in the bar and two bartenders so there’s no excuse to wait so long.
Won’t go back or recommend this place to anyone. Small overpriced drinks. Small bar. Large wait. Large tab.
Two stars because the ladies bathroom was surprisingly clean and because I feel like an ass only giving one. Although they probably deserve it.

In a city where I pretty much didn’t like anything, Tiki Ti was like a mirage. We saw it in the distance, we heard the music and the laughter — could this be real? Could this Disneyland of bars truly exist?
It does. And I am a better human for having been there.
We had read about Tiki Ti along our USA journey and due to my love of tiki bars, obviously had to go. We squeezed ourselves in at the bar (the bar is ALWAYS the place to be) and immediately ordered a Mai Tai while my friend ordered a Blood and Sand — the infamous Bull drink.
As they make the Blood And Sand, a tiny mechanical bull is wound up and placed on the bar and everyone immediately screams ‘Toro! Toro! Toro!’ I don’t know why — IT DOESN’T MATTER WHY. You feel like a complete naff and an absolute legend all at the same time when this happens.
We made friends with the bartender. We made friends with a successful film producer who sat next to us. We made friends with the table of guys behind us. It was one of those nights that is absolutely epic and everything just goes awesomely.
After that, my night is a blur. Waaaay too many cocktails later, and forcing my birthday celebrating friend to drink «the worst shot you can possibly make», we stumbled home and found a burger on the way.
If I could give Tiki Ti ONE MILLION STARS I would.

I fell in love with this spot about 8 years ago. it was my go to local bar besides The Drawing Room. Everytime I come back to visit LA I make sure I make a stop here. Be sure to order the Blood and Stone and prepare for the TOOOORRROOOOOOOO! Also, bring cash!

Small, seemingly always crowded, but has good drinks and a fun atmosphere.
Remember that their drinks do have a lot of alcohol in them, and you’re not drinking virgin pineapple juice — just because they taste really good doesn’t mean that they make you invulnerable to alcohol poisoning.
Now non-​smoking, so that’s good or bad depending on what side your bread is buttered on. I imagine that this is a real bummer if you’re a smoker, because it’s usually full, so if you leave your seat to step outside for a smoke, you may lose it.

Tropical drinks you will adore. You’ll feel the tropical buzz after your first drink so be careful what your second choice will be. I stick to the rum drinks are my thang. They get the job done. I like sitting at the bar to see the little bull pass me and yelling toro each time someone orders a ray’s mistake… I think. Come with a friend or two. Not great for large groups because its a small spot and you may not get in all together at the same time. Parking can suck but you’ll find some meter parking or a short walking distance on the residencial streets. Just read the signs. They allow smoking inside because it’s privately owned. Just how that goes. You can bar hop around the area.

Okay place to hang out for one time visit only. The service was not bad but not excellent too… I was waiting for my bear more than 20 minutes…

So this is a cute unique little bar in silverlake. I was there for the first time this past weekend and I absolutely loved it! We got there past 6, so there was plenty of free parking. Just a reminder-​cash only.

Awesome dive bar!
Small bar, but this place gets super crowded. There is meter parking.
We ordered Ray’s mistake, and a Tiki Mary. We noticed when you order a drink called Blood and Sand they have a toro running around the bar! Its pretty cute and every gets involved and cheers the toro on.
Fun, friendly, and welcoming place. Drinks are strong and good.
Bring cash!

Came here this past weekend from out of town. EVERYONE told me to go here, and after looking into the Unilocal reviews too, I was decided on tiki ti :)
Coming from Vegas, I’m not used to things closing, like, ever. lol So if you’re an out of towner like I was, just be aware that last call is at 1:30
We got here just in time for one drink. My friend got Ray’s mistake and I got the Bayanihan. Both were nothing short of amazing. I have to admit I got a little scared watching the bartender make our drinks, they don’t shy away from the alcohol, that’s for sure! I wish we could have tried more drinks, but we’ll come back earlier next time. Strong drinks, cool vibe

The 2016 Unilocal 500, Review #155:
I dare you to find a pub in jolly ol’ England with a stickier floor than Tiki Ti’s. Seriously, that is the challenge I am posing to you. :-)
They had their 55^th Anniversary Party last night… It was a combination of bumper cars, an unkept movie theater floor and watching the record setting mile running race.
We entered, immediately got pushed around — completely free from aggression. Then our shoes almost came off due to the floor being coated with sugary drinks since maybe… the Lincoln administration? LoL… We were actually hopeful about getting close to a bartender to place a drink order. Well, it took forever and a day but, as we got close we suddenly found ourselves back outside. I asked if another «LAP» was desired but, the decline was a starch veto, so I didn’t poke the sleeping bear. Elapsed time? 3 minutes 59 seconds, short of the world record mile time… : —
So I departed with an anniversary t-​shirt, bound for other local haunts. Sometime during the evening a quote about Tiki’s fell upon my ears… and here it is «Tiki’s is no place for flip flops.»
I have much love for this place already and, to boot, my face hurt from laughing so much.
I will return on another day. Happy Anniversary Tiki peeps. I was proud to enter the aloha mosh-​pit last night! Best of luck for much success in the next 55 years.

I’ve been here a few times, and I always scratch my head… How is this a top ranked tiki bar on critiki? It’s small, crowded, and the cocktails are really overrated.
Case in point, a painkiller should be a bread-​and-​butter, tiki drink, but last time I went there, my pain killer was really acidic, the drink wasn’t frothy, and the nutmeg was like a scoop on top of the drink, rather than being sprinkled nicely across the top. F on presentation, C on taste.
Maybe I need to go a few more times and try ordering something else. So far, I make much better cocktails at home.

Ok. You can’t smoke inside there anymore. Who cares. i can actually see who I’m sitting next to now. My home away from home.
Over 90 drinks you can’t get anywhere else. Cash only. Family run since 1961. Has been listed in several publications as «best bar…» year after year. The regulars are friendly and the drinks are great. I would drive 100 miles to go to this place. Wait… I DO DRIVE 100 MILE ROUND TRIP TO GO TO THIS PLACE…

This place is still here! I was here years ago and finally made my way back. Just as busy as before. Super small bar but awesome drinks! I came here on the same week after my trip to Maui and with all the tiki-​bar decorations I felt like I was still in Hawaii. Got the Frank’s Mistake and Bayahanian! Bayahanian tasted more like pineapple juice with a bit of coconut, super tasty! These rum concoctions were tasty and had a good punch! Quite crowded on a Friday night but I still had a great time. Many drink choices on the menu (names but no description of what is in it) but just ask the bartender, he’s more than happy to recommend you a drink. CASH ONLY!

CASH ONLY!!! Don’t worry, they got an ATM inside. They even got a guy that comes in from time to time selling tamales too — expensive $ 3.00 a pop! (But hey, if you’re drunk enough, you’ll buy it, lol! ;)
Since I can’t come to Hawaii, I’ll bring Hawaii to me :) Love the cute and cheesy, tiki décor and fruity drinks for Happy Hour time with my coworkers, yay! :)
The drinks here are definitely strong, but pretty tasty! It’s worth the money, especially since the drinks here range from $ 10 to $ 18. Though some of drinks do look the same (along with the same garnishing too — pineapple and cherry), and so just try to pay attention to which one is yours, lol!
I got two drinks:
Tiki Kapu $ 12.00, which consists of banana, lime, pineapple and vodka. I can definitely taste more of the vodka and pineapple on this one, but it was good. Great start to my tiki drinks.
The second one I got was the Chi Chi $ 11.00 (aka the Boobies drink). This one is a creamier drink with coconut milk and vodka and something else, I forgot. This second drink definitely felt the alcohol kicking in, lol! I dig this drink too.
Thank goodness they had snacks (unlimited refills) to eat, otherwise, the drinks would’ve really kicked in quicker, lol!
I also got to sample my coworkers drinks such as the Baniyahan (rum and citrus); Blue Margarita; and something else. They were also yummy!
The ambience here — it was slowly getting packed by 630pm on Thursday. I stayed for 2 hours and then left. Funky lil dive bar, complete hole in the wall joint. One restroom per sex (Womens was clean and spacious!).
Parking and eateries: Metered street parking. If you’re craving real food: El Chavo Restaurant is right next door, and Acupulco Mexican Restaurant across the street as well as VONS on Sunset Blvd., and a McDonald’s down the street — just to name a few.
Overall, a cool lil dive bar — first time coming here, I dig it! :)

Love me a tiki bar AND a dive bar and Tiki Ti checks both boxes. The drinks are fruity and strong. Loved the Penang and Mai Tai. Place is super tiny, so go early to try and get a seat at the bar. The place is full of interesting momentos and history. You feel transformed to a 1960’s Trader Vic’s. Next door to a Mexican place if you get hungry. If you are in the area, I definitely recommend.

Friend from Hong Kong was in town so I wanted to take her somewhere every different and fun. So magazines named Tiki Ti one of the best bars in America or top 10 bars someone must visit before they die, and I agree! This place is really fun, so different, cute, chill, and drinks aren’t that expensive. It is packed inside, but you end up to really chill people. It’s an older adult crowd, dudes and ladies, and they’re all super friendly. At one point the bartender, who might be the owner, let out this toy pig and everyone started chanting and saying. I was so confused but it was really fun and awesome. I’m sure locals and people who go often would know what that was about.
I’ll definitely go back and take visitors there! Oh and parking isn’t so bad in the area. I parked RIGHT outside on a Friday night.

I had heard this place was legendary. I missed it the last time I was in L.A., and I was determined that I would not miss it this time around. I got there around 4:30 on Wednesday, and apparently that is when all the regulars like to go, so I did have to wait a little bit to get in. No big deal!
Without knowing, it was a special night at the Ti. Danny Gallardo (aka Tiki Diablo) was there to share in the celebration of the release of a cool new ceramic tiki mug he designed for the bar. That explained why there were so many people there with cardboard boxes under their arms. So I made some new friends, ordered the Ray’s Mistake ($ 6 all night… WHAT!!), and settled in for a couple of hours of pure fun. Everyone was super nice, the drinks were strong, and I got to watch what happens when you order an Ooga Booga (just do it). I ended up buying myself a cool new tiki mug, and Danny was nice enough to sign it for me and take a picture. Super cool stuff.
I can’t wait to go back. I effing love the Tiki Ti so much!

I don’t particularly like tiki drinks or crowded bars, so it took me much longer than it should have to make it to Tiki-​Ti. I’ve lived within walking distance of the place for about five years, and only went in for the first time last month. I feel kind of silly about this – it was as delightful as everyone promised.
I went with Matt B., my brother, and his girlfriend for Thursday night drinks, and we stayed for a solid two and a half hours, starting at around 8:30. We made sure to get there on the early end, and the place was already pretty crowded. It’s a tiny shack with limited seating, so it doesn’t take many people to fill up. We were lucky in that a table with four seats – one of maybe two or three in the whole bar – opened up minutes after we got our first round of drinks. Pretty painless all around. I did find myself wishing it weren’t cash only. Felt kind of ridiculous forking over like $ 60 in cash for a round. (Luckily, the ATM is one of the only ones in Los Feliz that doesn’t charge a transaction fee for our bank.) Otherwise, no complaints. Once we sat down, I had no desire to leave until my brain got soggy.
I’d passed by Tiki-​Ti countless times and always enjoyed the charming exterior. The interior was just as colorful, fully decorated in festive tiki style. I guess Tiki-​Ti is one of the oldest bars in L.A., and it felt very well loved and steeped in its own set of traditions, with a dense, vibrant atmosphere. (Though apparently, it’s now a no-​smoking bar. Fine by me, but I’m sure this will make some sad.) The bartenders were friendly middle-​aged men in Hawaiian shirts who poured out drinks with easy speed. We got a couple drinks that invoked Tiki-​Ti rituals – the bartenders shouted «Uga Booga!» and «Toro! Toro! Toro!» while pouring out the hard liquor portions of the Uga Booga and the Blood and Sand. The whole bar joined in the chant each time someone ordered one of these drinks. The «Toro!» chant also cheered on a wind-​up toy bull, which marched along the bar as the alcohol flowed.
We stayed for two rounds, and any more might have been straight-​up dangerous. The drinks were big and potent, all of them heavy on both fruit juice and alcohol. I was kind of confused at first because the menu was just a list of cocktail names with no breakdown of ingredients, but we quickly figured out that it didn’t really matter what we ordered – the drinks were more or less interchangeable, with prices going up with the booze to juice ratio. We ordered: an Uga Booga, a Chief Lapu Lapu, a Ray’s Mistake, a Mai Tai, a Puka Punch, a Rum Punch, a Blood and Sand, and a Bayanhian. Tons of rum, some whiskey, and plenty of juice, mostly passionfruit, pineapple, and orange, in various proportions. I can’t recommend one drink over another, so might be best to cancel your plans for the next day and just get them all.
I like nice wine and fancy cocktails as much as the next yuppie eastsider, but Tiki-​Ti must be the most irreplaceable bar in the neighborhood. Now that I’ve been, I’m excited to go back, hopefully in the near future. It wasn’t as much of a hassle as anticipated, and I had a tremendous amount of fun.

whoa… how am i just finding out about this place now!!! this place is awesome!
we ended up here before a show at the greek theater. kygo was performing, and we left like we needed to get an tropical drink in his honor.
parking is a bit tough. i actually parked at the crossroads down the street, but i’m not entirely sure if that’s safe to do… so be warned.
anyways, this place is really tiny. like no more than 50 people can fit inside at one time…
Bayanihan: their own take on a piña colada. it has a strong pineapple overtone.
ray mistake: the best drink on the menu. i highly recommend it. it’s sweet, fruity and strong.
be careful, these drinks creep up on ya… they taste all sweet and fruity, but they pack a punch.
the interior décor is really cool. lots of old tiki and hawaii items litter the room and ceilings.
there was also a bull that comes around and runs around the table. i know it sounds crazy, but you gotta check it out for yourself.
this place is cash only… so make sure you bring lots of green. they do have an atm inside though.

Chapter 1: Tiki-​Ti History, Etiquette & Lines
No one likes a line, but for some, exceptions can be made. The Tiki-​Ti is an LA institution. Est. in 1961 by Ray Buhen, Tiki god. Ray was the OG that helped establish Don’s Beachcomber and worked in all of the bars back in the heyday of the Tiki world. Michael and Mike Jr. have continued the legacy.
You will wait in line and you’ll be thankful you did. Be patient, be kind, have fun.
While you’re there, respect the process.
Take in the sights and smells. Decades of collected tiki memorabilia adorn every nook and cranny. «Why do I catch a whiff of ashtray here and there?» The Tiki-​Ti used to be a smoking establishment up until a few months ago (2015). «Mmm… is that fresh fruit I smell?» It sure is. The boys spend all morning cutting up fresh fruit for your cocktails. Legit passion.
CASH ONLY. There’s an ATM inside.
— — — —
Chapter 2: !¡TORO, TORRRROOO, OLÉ, OLÉ, OLÉ¡!
What would a tiki bar be without some showmanship? Certain cocktails will get you chants and maybe a little motorized bull running across the bar.
See video.
Hint: BLOOD & SAND, UGA BOOGA
— — — —
Chapter 3: Getting LIT
Balling on a budget? See Chapter 2, order Blood & Sand and chug as fast as possible. Smooth sailing after that, chief. I usually follow up with a Ray’s Mistake afterwards.
Or, if you’re feeling super adventurous (and I normally am), order both the Blood & Sand and Uga Booga back to back. Things get interesting after that.
— — — —
APPENDIX:
1. Navigate to the Tiki-​Ti website (
) and hover over the different mugs for a good time.
2. Wednesdays are the closest thing to a happy hour. Ray’s Mistakes go for $ 6.
3. 8:30pm on Wednesdays, a toast is raised to Mike’s dad, Ray.
4. If you plan on giving the Tiki-​Ti anything less than 5 stars, go away.

My favorite tiki bar in the world. Family owned and operated by sweet people who are passionate and knowledgeable of tiki bars/​culture and cocktails!
Their drink menu is massive, so it is always a tough choice what to order. My personal favorites are the Painkiller, 151 Rum Swizzle, Mai Tai, Ray’s Mistake, and if you want to get really twisted, the Blood and Sand. It is $ 18 for a reason-​every sip is basically a shot. All the drinks here are strong and incredibly well made, using classic recipes.
Tiki Ti is really tiny and cash only, so on a busy night, be prepared to wait for a seat. Thursday nights are their slowest night, so if you don’t like crowds, this might be the best day for you to visit. Awesome décor and really great authentic tiki vibes. Cash only!

Ambiance: Cute, little bar. It’s little Hawaii in the city. Just bring your own sand. Venue’s small so there’s a wait.
Drinks: Good tiki drinks but I never got the mechanical bull. Cash only!
People are very friendly so check your ego at the door. The owners have been there 50 years and love sharing stories. A table of strangers ordered pizza delivery to the bar and shared it with us.
Good drinks, good people. No pretentious d-​bags here.

Très bon bar, avec des supers cocktails et une bonne ambiance. Problème: voiture recommandée car il n’y a rien autour!