Tiki Haven is a tiki bar in the Inner Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco. The decor is beachy-tiki, and drinks are from blending slurpee-type machines, or from a Jaegermeister dispenser. Speaking of dispensers, there is a Pringles machine. The decor is mainly mass-market tikis and lauhala matting, and there are about a half-dozen glaring video screens throughout the space.
I wasn't expecting much when I walked into Tiki Haven but I found myself utterly delighted in this little neighborhood tiki bar. Sure its regular customers are probably there for beer and I am sure the place pays the bills by doubling as a sports bar (judging by the many large TVs up along the bar--that were thankfully not in use yet in my just-after-opening visit), but I'd be more than thrilled to have something like this in my neighborhood (My town seems to be in a tiki-free zone...so it does NOT take much to do it for me). The decor isn't all that original---most of it looks like it was purchased from a restaurant supply place . Nothing by tiki masters such as Bamboo Ben or Tiki Diablo. But, for what it is, I thought it was swell. My drink wasn't bad at all either.
For more details on my visit (along with photos and stories of other tiki spots in the area), you can visit my blog. The link is here:
It's a neighborhood bar with a Beach-Tiki veneer. Wall surfboards. TVs tuned to sports dominate. While they do make a nod to classic Tiki fare--Mai Tais, Scorpion Bowls, etc.--it's really more a "shots of Jaeger and Captain Morgan" kind of place. Drinks are simplified and not exactly nuanced: Their Zombie, for instance, is "four types of rum, OJ and pineapple juice" --no herbsaint, falernum or Donn's Mix here. They do use tiki mugs, paper umbrellas and festive straws, but the atmospherics are more neighborhood bar than an immersive Tiki aesthetic.
Still, it's a friendly place, conducive to hanging out. They have a broad selection of board games. It's worth noting that on weekdays, if you show up in "island attire," you can drink at happy hour prices all night.
Bottom line. if I were in the neighborhood and had time to kill, I'd happily drop in there again. But I don't know if I'd make a pilgrimage.
Was sad to see the Pringles dispenser was gone but they do have a vending machine. We got free drinks because the Sharks won and fan bought everyone a round. My maitai was strong and not so great. Our other drink was ok. Very nice people working there though.
I wasn't expecting much when I walked into Tiki Haven but I found myself utterly delighted in this little neighborhood tiki bar. Sure its regular customers are probably there for beer and I am sure the place pays the bills by doubling as a sports bar (judging by the many large TVs up along the bar--that were thankfully not in use yet in my just-after-opening visit), but I'd be more than thrilled to have something like this in my neighborhood (My town seems to be in a tiki-free zone...so it does NOT take much to do it for me). The decor isn't all that original---most of it looks like it was purchased from a restaurant supply place . Nothing by tiki masters such as Bamboo Ben or Tiki Diablo. But, for what it is, I thought it was swell. My drink wasn't bad at all either.
For more details on my visit (along with photos and stories of other tiki spots in the area), you can visit my blog. The link is here:
It's a neighborhood bar with a Beach-Tiki veneer. Wall surfboards. TVs tuned to sports dominate. While they do make a nod to classic Tiki fare--Mai Tais, Scorpion Bowls, etc.--it's really more a "shots of Jaeger and Captain Morgan" kind of place. Drinks are simplified and not exactly nuanced: Their Zombie, for instance, is "four types of rum, OJ and pineapple juice" --no herbsaint, falernum or Donn's Mix here. They do use tiki mugs, paper umbrellas and festive straws, but the atmospherics are more neighborhood bar than an immersive Tiki aesthetic.
Still, it's a friendly place, conducive to hanging out. They have a broad selection of board games. It's worth noting that on weekdays, if you show up in "island attire," you can drink at happy hour prices all night.
Bottom line. if I were in the neighborhood and had time to kill, I'd happily drop in there again. But I don't know if I'd make a pilgrimage.
Was sad to see the Pringles dispenser was gone but they do have a vending machine. We got free drinks because the Sharks won and fan bought everyone a round. My maitai was strong and not so great. Our other drink was ok. Very nice people working there though.
very brightly lit. decor is sort of cheap tiki-tacky but they at least made an effort. it is an asian bar catering to primarily asian customers but both bartenders were very friendly and welcoming. drinks are very heavy on the alcohol and less on the taste.
For more details on my visit (along with photos and stories of other tiki spots in the area), you can visit my blog. The link is here:
https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2018/01/im-freaky-for-tiki-10-great-san.html
CHEERS!