Arizona July 2026 - Hula's Modern Tiki

Friday, July 10, 2026

Went to the Phoenix Art Museum today and on the way home Dale and I stopped for happy hour and an early dinner at Hula's Modern Tiki. This is another place we stop just about every trip. We've really come to enjoy it. It's got lot's of windows and is bright and sunny. It looks out on a busy Phoenix city street and is in a very charming mid-century neighborhood. Service is always good here too.

Dale went with white wine. I started with the Painkiller. Yum yum yum. This is just about my favorite tiki cocktail. 

For food we started out with the Hawaiian ceviche. Delicious.

For my second drink I went with their Blue Hawaiian. Probably my other favorite tiki drink. This was the first tiki drink I ever had over at Bandana Square in St. Paul when I turned 19 years old. Back in the day that was the legal drinking age so it was also the first drink I had legally.

Dale and I both got Caesar salads for dinner. I had mine with shrimp and Dale had his with salman. We've had these here before and they're very delicious and filling. I also ordered a side of fried plantains to share. This could also work as a dessert.

The guy sitting next to us asked if we lived in the neighborhood. I told him no and where we're actually from. I asked him the same question. Turns out he's living in the Phoenix metro much farther out but that he was raised in the neighborhood Hula's is in. He said he loved it as a place to grow up. Dale and I have talked before about how if we lived in Phoenix this is where we'd like to live.

Kansas City April 2026 - Kon Tiki

Monday, April 20, 2026

Got into Kansas City in the afternoon. 

After getting settled into the hotel we headed straight for the tiki bar.

After getting settled into the hotel we headed straight for the tiki bar.

Dale got some beer and I started out with the Pain Killer. Very well made. Not syrupy and not oversweet.

We got a couple appetizers: brussels sprouts and deep fried shrimp. 

For round 2 Dale got some white wine and I got the Mai Tai. Also VERY well made. 

For dinner Dale got the grilled platter and I had the stir fry. 

For dessert I got the Cafe Lani which was a nonalcoholic drink made up of Cafe Corazon blend coffee, Coco Lopez, and coconut water. Very satisfying. 

The service was fantastic and very friendly. Our servers told us a new chef had been hired recently who revamped the whole menu. The food, by the way, was out of this world. The new chef actually stopped out to say hello to us. We let him know how much we loved the food. The decor of the place was fabulous. However, the music was not great although not terrible either. Instead of surf or exotica they played a kind of over-commercial sounding smooth jazz. It was all unShazam-able so I couldn't even find out what it was. That was the only thing I could find to bitch about. I'll still give the place an overall A+. We had such a great time. 

The Tipsy Tiki - Oklahoma City

 Sunday, April 19, 2026

Found a tiki bar on the Canal called the Tipsy Tiki.

Disappointing in that it turned out to be a really loud sports bar with just a few Polynesian drinks. There was a basketball game on the televisions and the bar was packed with people watching it. However, on the plus side, they had a large amount of outdoor seating and it all overlooked the canal. We found a couple seats and really enjoyed watching the boats go by. 

I ordered a Painkiller and Dale ordered a beer. We also got some chips and guac. Despite my reservations about the place's authenticity as a tiki bar and the noise I have to say the lovely weather and the charm of being on a canal made up for it. Once the game was over the place thinned out and got more quiet. 

The Painkiller I ordered was actually pretty well made. For my second drink I got a Mai Tai which was actually disappointing. It was over-sweet and syrupy. 

After the game was over a younger couple sat next to us. They were quite friendly and we had a nice chat with them. She was vivacious and talkative and quite delightful. He was very charming in a more subdued way. They really complimented each other. 

In short the place didn't quite measure up as a tiki bar but it was still quite enjoyable to be there. The service was incredibly friendly, the atmophere was incredible and the vibe was great. 

The Tiki Room el Paso

 Friday, April 17, 2026

Drinks and dinner tonight at The Tiki Room in El Paso. The place had great atmospere and a really fun vibe. 

The Navy Grog consisted of caribbean rum, nicaraguan rum, jamaican rum, lime, grapefruit, and allspice.

                       

We both had the poke bowl for dinner with spring rolls to start. Our poke bowls consisted of Ahi tuna, poke sauce, cucumber, avacado, green onion, fried garlic, sweet chili, sesame seeds, and sushi rice.

Summer 2025 - Arizona

 

Recent trip with Dale to Arizona to visit family. We stayed with John and Dianne and had a great time. 

Usually when in Phoenix we visit a couple of our favorite tiki bars. However, this trip did not allow it due to Ericka visiting and needing to just spend time with family.

Didn't partake in any rum drinks either, However, I spent LOTS of time by the pool with other cocktails and smoked a few cigars after dark when it was cooler outside. 

We'll be going back in September for about 10 days and I'm already looking forward to that!