The Grass Skirt

The Grass Skirt has found a special identity that neither clumsily copies and pastes the saturated decorative style of False Idol nor does it slap on a thin veneer of Tiki like the Cat Eye Club. Instead, this new PB Bar has found its own vibe, and while it does emulate some shtick like the walk through refrigerator - speak easy style - as well as atmospheric effects reminiscent of Trader Sam's Grog Grotto, it has some tiki elements of its own to claim. For example, the color changing neon is tastefully and reservedly used, often perched behind unique decorative ideas like the bronze pineapple skulls. The midcentury fireplace in the middle is a gorgeous centerpiece, but contrasts a little with the oversized Tiki heads both near the entrance (it's maw accommodating a room-facing table) and out on the balcony. I have a special love for the lava-rock backdrop at the bar, which reminds me of an older school approach to decorating Tiki bars, though it is somewhat of a mixed bag after that. The water vapor lava effect is nice, warm and soothing, but I have mixed feelings about letting a television into a tiki space, even if it is veiled and obscured by large tiki heads.

Service and drinks are both good. Our bartender was a real mensch, making sure we always had something to sip on, and answering my barrage of questions throughout the evening. And the drinks were delicious, and never too sweet. More affordable than False Idol, this is an awesome alternative, especially if you want to avoid the hassle of parking downtown and wading through the trendier crowds choking the refrigerator door at FI.

The Grass Skirt is well lit so you can actually see the decorations. Their seating is such that you feel very comfortable and not crammed in. It's quiet enough that it's possible to enjoy a conversation with your entire table without yelling or straining to hear. For the less hipster and more into lounging this is the place to go.

Great new tiki bar that fits Pacific Beach. PB is full of bars, lots of them, and they can be crowded and loud at times. Grass Skirt is very cool, has its own individuality and having spent my time as a PB local I felt it really fit in well with the vibe awhile bringing something fresh and new. Bartender was super cool and drinks were well made. The place is fun, well done and we'll be back,

Went on a Sunday night without reservations, so our group of 4 was seated at a communal table. This was nice, because we got to chat with a group visiting from out of town. The drinks we tried were all tasty and well-balanced, the Fog Cutter was a standout. The food was good, but seemed a tad over-priced for the quality of the fish (definitely not sashimi grade). The lighting seemed way too bright compared to all the pictures I've seen, not sure why it was turned up because that kind of ruins the vibe. Another vibe killer was the music, which was a mix of oldies more suited to a 50's diner. All that being said, we had a good time and would go back. This place has more of a bright, party atmosphere than other San Diego tiki spots, which isn't a bad thing.

Entering in through refrigerators seems to be a common theme here in San Diego. The night I was there, they played a mix of surf and indie rock.