Bikini Lounge

Tiki snobs need to check their attitudes at the door. Comfortable, kitschy, unpretentious, fun, and friendly are all words that come to mind as I try to sum up the place. Yep, it's a dive and that adds to the charm. If you can't appreciate that then you don't belong there. We arrived shortly after it opened at 3 p.m. so it wasn't anywhere near crowded which allowed our bartender, Michelle, to give us lots of attention and tell us stories about the history of the place. It's been around since the 1940s and my understanding is that it's the oldest continually operating bar in Phoenix. Can't wait to return...

Fun and perky dive bar! And that’s what it is, a dive bar with tiki decor. It actually has the makings of a fabulous tiki bar if the owner would just invest a little bit more money. Every year he makes an amazing custom tiki mug that he sells on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately were never in town for New Year’s Eve and they’re sold out before we can get back 😩. He’s a great artist it’s a shame he does such a small limited number and then that’s all he does for the rest of the year. Please please invest more money in this bar and bring it up to the standards that it could/should be. I’d go all the time if that were the case!

This was my #53 tiki bar I’ve visited. Thought this place was great. It’s got good bones that have withstood decades of bar patrons. It’s got character and a dark moodiness only a truly old, classic tiki bar can have. We hit every place in Phoenix and this and Undertow were my favorite. Yes, it’s a beer bar and plays GnR but that’s why it’s still standing since 1949. The drinks were nothing special but chatting with the bartender Mike about the place’s history and aliens made up for it. Don’t miss this diamond in the rough. It’s a piece of tiki history.

I have to say that I loved this place. It was unexpectedly and amazingly tiki. So, yeah - maybe not full of tiki people, but I love the vibe of a good everyday bar.
The bartender was great. I appreciated her annoyance at some people who put a bunch of money into the jukebox and kicked some other patrons music back. ( pretty righteous bar etiquette held up to high standards) I know most people wouldn’t agree, but this is a place I would go to everytime i’m in Phoenix. No snobbish attitudes here, just real people... And our Lyft driver had nothing but good things to say about it too.

I walked into BIKINI LOUNGE not expecting much at all. In fact, I almost skipped it (especially after a rotten experience at the nearby GILIGIN'S in Scottsdale). However, BIKINI LOUNGE was the oldest tiki bar in town (1947) even though it was apparently only tiki in appearance and just a beer bar. I decided to have a look-see. WOW! It was love at first sight.

Don't get me wrong. The place IS run down and dive-y. But it also has a charm about it. Age has given the place character. Despite it being a neighborhood dive bar that locals frequent for beer and a game of pool, the tiki aspect of it is ripe and just waiting to be savored.

Apparently the revitalized interest in tiki has had tiki tourists coming out to the place more and more (thanks, in large part I am sure, to sites like Critiki). That new-found interest has had the bar step it up a notch or two to bring back its tiki former glory and add to it. There is a small but decent list of tiki cocktails available. The owner has taken it upon himself to create tiki mugs of his own for the place. Vintage tiki booths are available for lounging and enjoying quiet conversations. (They remind me of those at Trad'r Sam's in San Francisco, just a little less ornate. ) The place has so much hidden and underutilized charm. It is a shame it isn't more widely regarded.

My experience was totally enhanced by the cool bartender serving us that day. She had a decent handle on the re-emerging tiki thang and had kind of gotten into it a bit herself. She'd made trips to Tucson to sample cocktails at tiki bars there to help with the creation of them back at the lounge. And she did well in reproducing them for our visit.

There was so much coolness tucked away here and there, everywhere you looked. They were little bits of the bars history (such as an etched window that had been discovered behind a wall after several years) that had you wondering and guessing. For a closer look at my experience (with lots of photos and a look at other Phoenix-area tiki locations), feel free to take a gander at my blog HERE:

https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2019/01/im-freaky-for-tiki-18-by-time-i-get-to.html

CHEERS!

Driving by on NYE 2018 we found the lights were off but the door was wide open. Walking in we found that they had no power but that didn't slow them down at all. The bartender had a small light that she shone on the menu for us to review.

We learned that the owner makes a special mug every year for the NYE party and that they were pre-order only - and all sold out. We got to see some of the previous year's mugs and one of them had a 1947 date on it. One of the gentlemen in the bar said he had been researching the bar and the earliest confirmed date he could find was in the '60s. But if the 1947 date is true then that makes this about the same age as the Alibi in Portland.

The power finally came on before we left and we were able to see the bar in its full glory. The decor is perfectly old-school tiki with ultraviolet paintings and beautiful design elements both inside and out.

The drink menu may be limited, and the music selection may not be entirely what you are looking for, but if you are in the area this is a MUST STOP! This is a neighborhood watering hole. Go in with an open mind and enjoy the truly beautiful tiki history of this place.

We will go back every time we are in the Phoenix area.

They don’t play surf rock or exotica music. It’s a little more dive bar than tiki, but a fun place to check out

2 visits in 2 year. not the best tiki atmosphere but a super nice underground bar with a nice touch of tiki ! I ll be back

The only negative I will add is that they are cash only and of course there is a $3 ATM fee.

This is MY KINDA PLACE!!!!!My God I don't want to live in a world where there aren't tiki bars that are dark, covered with naked Hawaiian chicks, and employ bartenders like David who doubles as a stand up comedian. The owner makes (yes makes) his own personal mugs. I got the last 2017 mug for $10!!!!!! $10!!!!!!! For a handcrafted mug! My God! This place is the greatest! There are tiki drinks, great taps of craft beer, cheap pitchers of cheap beer, an awesome pool table, and a touch tunes juke box. This is the BEST tiki bar in AZ.

The barkeep was friendly and welcoming. The drinks were well poured and strong enough to be considered ideal tiki. The decor is not over the top but works for the amount of space they have. Music could be more towards tiki/exotica but that is easily overlooked.

03.2016, if you drink at the bar you do not really feel the tiki, but in the rooms it well decorated, super nice selection of tropicals drinks.

As of November 2015, the Bikini Lounge is selling a limited edition tiki mug (I'm told there will be others in the future) and has introduced a menu of tropical cocktails. Mai Tai, Dark & Stormy, etc., but no Navy Grog.

Doug Horne recently added some art to Bikini Lounge making it even more fun. Local artist Tom Cooper's work also contributes to the tiki atmosphere . The owner is very accommodating to our local tiki group when we meet there. If you haven't visited in awhile go check it out!

So much potential... Sadly it is all unrealized. From the Belinda Carlisle on the jukebox to the "sad bastards" on the left side of the bar and the (what I am pretty sure were) homeless guys on the right, there was nothing that made we want to spend any of my time (or money) here. One drink and I was out. So sad that some pretty cool tiki decor is being wasted in this place.

I hear the owner might be looking to sell...

Agreed - a Dive bar indeed.