The Luau

Bar & Restaurant
421 N Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills, California, United States
This location is not open.
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Opened in 1953
Closed in 1978
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Defunct tiki not included,
distances are as the crow flies.
Trader Vic's Lounge, Beverly Hills 0.6 mi
1.0 km
Rock-a-Hula, Los Angeles 3.0 mi
4.8 km
Cacao Coffee House, Los Angeles 3.4 mi
5.5 km
Mar Vista Lanes, Los Angeles 4.7 mi
7.5 km
C. P. Three Prop House, Los Angeles 5.1 mi
8.2 km
ad, 99
menu, 101-102, 204
mug, 158-159
picture, 100, 102
swizzle, 100
tableware, 100
text, 47, 82, 98-103, 105, 159, 165, 169-171, 204
bowl, 62
Nov 22, 2006
Sep 6, 2006
Aug 26, 2005
View all 6 mugs & other items
Postcard from The Luau in Beverly Hills
date unknown, from the collection of Tim Haack
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Humuhumu’s description:
Steve Crane's original restaurant; after the success of the Luau, he eventually went on to open the popular Kon-Tiki chain of Polynesian restaurants.

Steve Crane's Luau was one of the Hollywood/Beverly Hills restaurants (along with Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's) that established Polynesian cuisine (and more importantly — drinks) as de rigueur in the 1950s and '60s. The Luau produced some of the most beautiful and highly desired serveware objects (designed by Gabe Florian) to come out of midcentury Polynesian restaurants.

There is no connection between this historic restaurant and a new restaurant operating with the same name in Beverly Hills.

There are 5 comments.
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marinermc
September 23, 2008, 7:33 AM
What's the address of this location (former if it is no longer in existence)

Humuhumu
September 23, 2008, 8:18 AM
Hi marinermc - This is the 1950s restaurant run by Steve Crane, it was on Rodeo Drive. It was a legendary part of the uprising of upscale Polynesian Pop restaurants in the middle of the last century, along with Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's. It's been gone for a long, long time now.

There is a new restaurant being opened soon in Beverly Hills, also called "Luau" but with no connection to this historic restaurant. Early reports are that it's not going to have much in the way of flotsam-and-jetsam bedecked Polynesian Pop in the way Critiki users love. Instead, it's going to be more sleek, modern and Asian-inspired. And expensive. You can learn more about the new "Luau" in this thread on Tiki Central.


Marteeni
June 30, 2009, 1:23 AM
The original Luau was incredible and I'm so thrilled Critiki is
here. Don't let this new Luau fool you. Critiki is bringing back
the original Luau that I loved. You never new who you would be hanging out with and it is a hang out. One day it would be Fleetwood Mac and Mel Brooks the next day Rod Stewart. It's so cozy and and a polynesian "Cheers" where you feel so comfortable.
The food and drinks are fab! Steve Crane is a genius. I still have original Luau matches!

wlw_81
September 11, 2009, 1:20 PM
I have a plate from the Luau should I post it? How?

wlw_81
September 11, 2009, 1:20 PM
and by the way is it worth anything?

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Former Glory
Average critiki for
The Luau:
10
 
Scores are from
8 Critiki visitors

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