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Where to Find Tiki Drinks in San Diego

Live out eternal sunset at these 12 bars and restaurants

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It should come as no surprise to anyone that San Diego is one of the perfect destinations for tiki bars—with an “eternal sunset” vacation-as-lifestyle vibe permeating through our beachside city, it only makes sense that we’re outfitted with many high-quality tropical watering holes, from dedicated tiki bars like 2017 Eater Award winner The Grass Skirt to cocktail spots with weekly tiki nights. Here are 12 of the best tiki bars in San Diego.

Restaurants and bars are listed from north to south. Map points are not ranked.

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Campfire

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Known for having one of the best cocktail lists in the county, Campfire has been known to take tropical inspiration from time to time, whether in-house at the restaurant’s bar or with various takeovers, including collaborations with Pacific Beach’s The Grass Skirt.

Carlsbad’s New Campfire Sets Off Sparks in North County’s Food Scene

Duke's La Jolla

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The La Jolla offshoot of the original Duke’s in Waikiki captures proper tiki vibes with sweeping ocean views and their special Mai Tai made with passion fruit, orange and guava.

Duke’s La Jolla

The Grass Skirt

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Known as one of the most tricked-out tiki bars in San Diego, The Grass Skirt serves a full updated pupu menu, with dishes like Skuna Bay salmon cones and pork belly bao buns, alongside classic and reinvigorated tiki drinks, alike. A particular favorite is the Fire & Ice, which comes with serrano infused tequila, overproof Jamaican rum, lime, pineapple, coconut, pomegranate and is topped with a lime rind housing a flaming shot of 151.

The Grass Skirt

Miss B's Coconut Club

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Miss B’s is particularly known for its creative selection of serving glasses, which run the gamut from classic tiki mugs to copper flamingoes. It also has a healthy dose of Cuban influence, bringing a little Caribbean flair into the South Pacific. Miss B’s is perfect for daytime imbibing, owing to its location near the beach.

Miss Bs Coconut Club

Sycamore Den

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Normal Heights’ Sycamore Den always has a few tiki drinks on its rotating menu, usually served in a special tiki mug. One example is the Nice Mangoes, which is served in a tiki mug and features a house rum blend, mango, lime, falernum, bitters and absinthe.

Sycamore Den

Bar Pink

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North Park’s Bar Pink plays host to Tiki Tuesdays, which features special DJs alongside a selection of tiki drinks not usually served.

KINDRED

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South Park’s very own heavy metal vegan restaurant also boasts a variety of tropical drinks on its menu, especially on Permanent Vacation Thursdays, when Polynesian-inspired food and rum soaked libations take over for the evening.

Kindred

False Idol

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San Diego’s other tiki speakeasy is from CH Projects and rests behind Craft & Commerce in Little Italy. The left side of its menu features classic tiki drinks while the right side features creative updates, like a Chartreuse Swizzle.

False Idol

Bali Hai Restaurant

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San Diego’s original tiki bar is Bali Hai, which offers some of the best downtown and bay views in the city and its no-juice, booze-only Mai Tai, which is legendary far beyond San Diego’s borders.

Bali Hai

Turf Supper Club

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Everyone’s favorite late-night, grill-your-own-steak spot also manages to squeeze a few tiki drinks on its menu—especially its particularly lethal Mai Tai, which is served in a pint glass.

Sneaky Tikis & Seared Meat: A Night at the Turf Supper Club

Fairweather Rooftop Bar

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Overlooking Petco Park, the rooftop bar opened under management of CH Projects but has since changed hands. Not to worry—it’s still churning out classic and reimagined tiki drinks in a lush, tropical and outdoor atmosphere.

fairweather

Cat Eye Club

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This retro-style East Village lounge boasts a lively interior with tiki carvings, lava lamps, a fern wall and hand-drawn menus featuring a variety of tropical, rum-filled drinks that served in colorful mugs and other vessels.

Cat Eye Club

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Campfire

Known for having one of the best cocktail lists in the county, Campfire has been known to take tropical inspiration from time to time, whether in-house at the restaurant’s bar or with various takeovers, including collaborations with Pacific Beach’s The Grass Skirt.

Carlsbad’s New Campfire Sets Off Sparks in North County’s Food Scene

Duke's La Jolla

The La Jolla offshoot of the original Duke’s in Waikiki captures proper tiki vibes with sweeping ocean views and their special Mai Tai made with passion fruit, orange and guava.

Duke’s La Jolla

The Grass Skirt

Known as one of the most tricked-out tiki bars in San Diego, The Grass Skirt serves a full updated pupu menu, with dishes like Skuna Bay salmon cones and pork belly bao buns, alongside classic and reinvigorated tiki drinks, alike. A particular favorite is the Fire & Ice, which comes with serrano infused tequila, overproof Jamaican rum, lime, pineapple, coconut, pomegranate and is topped with a lime rind housing a flaming shot of 151.

The Grass Skirt

Miss B's Coconut Club

Miss B’s is particularly known for its creative selection of serving glasses, which run the gamut from classic tiki mugs to copper flamingoes. It also has a healthy dose of Cuban influence, bringing a little Caribbean flair into the South Pacific. Miss B’s is perfect for daytime imbibing, owing to its location near the beach.

Miss Bs Coconut Club

Sycamore Den

Normal Heights’ Sycamore Den always has a few tiki drinks on its rotating menu, usually served in a special tiki mug. One example is the Nice Mangoes, which is served in a tiki mug and features a house rum blend, mango, lime, falernum, bitters and absinthe.

Sycamore Den

Bar Pink

North Park’s Bar Pink plays host to Tiki Tuesdays, which features special DJs alongside a selection of tiki drinks not usually served.

KINDRED

South Park’s very own heavy metal vegan restaurant also boasts a variety of tropical drinks on its menu, especially on Permanent Vacation Thursdays, when Polynesian-inspired food and rum soaked libations take over for the evening.

Kindred

False Idol

San Diego’s other tiki speakeasy is from CH Projects and rests behind Craft & Commerce in Little Italy. The left side of its menu features classic tiki drinks while the right side features creative updates, like a Chartreuse Swizzle.

False Idol

Bali Hai Restaurant

San Diego’s original tiki bar is Bali Hai, which offers some of the best downtown and bay views in the city and its no-juice, booze-only Mai Tai, which is legendary far beyond San Diego’s borders.

Bali Hai

Turf Supper Club

Everyone’s favorite late-night, grill-your-own-steak spot also manages to squeeze a few tiki drinks on its menu—especially its particularly lethal Mai Tai, which is served in a pint glass.

Sneaky Tikis & Seared Meat: A Night at the Turf Supper Club

Fairweather Rooftop Bar

Overlooking Petco Park, the rooftop bar opened under management of CH Projects but has since changed hands. Not to worry—it’s still churning out classic and reimagined tiki drinks in a lush, tropical and outdoor atmosphere.

fairweather

Cat Eye Club

This retro-style East Village lounge boasts a lively interior with tiki carvings, lava lamps, a fern wall and hand-drawn menus featuring a variety of tropical, rum-filled drinks that served in colorful mugs and other vessels.

Cat Eye Club

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