Tiki Tolteca in New Orleans, LA

VintageVixen
visiting on
Sunday, October 28, 2018
for the first time

We will be in town Halloween weekend. Looking forward to exploring NOLA . Can't wait!

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Regulars & Visitors

View all 164 Tiki Tolteca regulars & visitors

Humuhumu’s description

When Tiki Tolteca opened in May 2013, it was the first tiki bar to operate in New Orleans in decades. It sits within a Mexican taqueria called Felipe's, and as such is a blend of Tiki and Latin American influences. They make their own syrups and use fresh juices, and incorporate south-of-the-border spirits like mezcal, pisco and cacha�a beyond the expected rum. Food is available from Felipe's below.

The space blends exposed brick with bamboo and thatch, and there are many beachcomber lamps. Drinks are served in tiki mugs, or in the heavy, blue-rimmed glasses that are familiar in Mexican restaurants.

Beachbum Berry's Latitude 29

New Orleans, LA

Bar & Restaurant

9.2

is located right next door.

Comments

UnreachableShelf

UnreachableShelf has visited Tiki Tolteca.

June 25, 2018, 5:28 PM

Went there just after opening on a Monday and was the first person in the bar except for a tour of some kind that seemed to be getting started on the other side of the divider. I had a seat at the bar and was happy to establish that it was possible to get food from Felipe's Taqueria there (from my online research I wasn't sure if statements like "food is available from Felipe's downstairs" meant "food from Felipe's downstairs is available at Tiki Tolteca" or "food is available downstairs from Tiki Tolteca at Felipe's). The bartender said this was a recent development. I decided to keep things simple and have a mai tai, and it was good, as were the tacos which quickly arrived from downstairs. The atmosphere was dark and relaxing. The music was 80s rock, which was a bit odd. For me, the bartender's service was sufficient, but I was in the mood to be left alone with my drink, the atmosphere, and a book (at the bar it was light enough to read- it probably wouldn't have been in much of the rest of the room). While I was drinking, another customer came in and had a seat at the other end of the bar. I overheard him asking for recommendations and the bartender simply said he always recommends the most expensive thing on the menu because he didn't know what the customer likes. The customer then said he didn't like coconut, and the bartender named the one cocktail on the menu with coconut and said to order anything else. As somebody in a profession that also sometimes has to make suggestions that vary widely based on taste, I can understand not wanting to make one size fits all recommendations, but would think that the more appropriate course of action would be to ask what kind of thing the customer likes or is in the mood for, or perhaps to describe a favored drink and then ask if it sounds like the kind of thing the customer likes. (Note: were were the only two people in the bar area at this point and the bartender had just taken a tray of whatever drink the tour was having over to them, so he had some time to chat.) So while I got the service I wanted at that moment, somebody who wanted a more personal touch or to discuss the drinks would be likely to have been disappointed.

GeekyTiki

GeekyTiki has visited Tiki Tolteca.

June 11, 2018, 4:26 PM

My wife and I were in New Orleans for the first time this weekend and made sure to indulge in some tiki. We stopped by Tiki Tolteca Friday around 5 or 6pm. Its located above Felipe's Mexican Taqueria directly next door to Latitude29 which means you're spoiled for choice. The entrance is not on Peters street, but rather just around the corner on Bienville. After climbing a couple short flights of stairs to the second floor you're greeted on your left by a pair of peacock chairs and the dimly lit bar to your right. The bar-space is fairly large for a modern Tiki spot and is divided into lounge-type seating in the space with the bar and a few tables on the other side of the room divider. The windows were covered and the space is lit with float lamps overhead and a few scattered table lamps with bark cloth shades. Overall while the room wasn't heavily decorated, all of this created a really great dark, relaxed, escapist environment in which to imbibe some tropical cocktails. We took a seat at the bamboo bar near the front entrance and started our orders. My wife likes to try a Mai Tai first when checking out a new bar just to help gauge her expectations of the drink quality, so she ordered that and was very pleased (I had a couple sips and even though I don't typically order Mai Tais I was a little jealous of it). I had their signature drink, Another Layover in Tula, and am glad I did as it was delicious. This drink can be purchased on its own ($12), or you can order it with their signature mug ($35) which you absolutely should do as it was designed by the late Stephen "The Pizz" Pizzurro, is produced by Tiki Farm, and is a really great mug design (its available on its own for $30). Round two was a Layover in Tula for my wife while I opted to try their 3 Dots which was fine, but not really for me (I'm slowly realizing the only 3 dots I actually like is off Paul McGee's old Three Dots and a Dash menu). Not dinging them for that as its my own fault for ordering a drink I only occasionally like. The music was exotica and surprisingly none of the streetnoise below leaked in to spoil the atmosphere. The fellow patrons the first (of two) visits were great; a fellow tiki-phile followed by a couple who hadn't had tiki before but were really into trying something new. The second time we tried to visit (sunday around 5:00pm), however, there was a small group in there for a French Quarter cocktail tour and the introvert in me just wasn't up for that level of energy or social interaction so we noped out before ordering. Again, not the bar's fault, just my own preference and something you should be prepared for should you visit. Bartenders were great; super busy but as friendly as they could manage. Its a worthy neighbor to the more famous Latitude29 and absolutely worth a visit.

Corbin

Corbin has visited Tiki Tolteca.

May 29, 2018, 7:00 PM

I accidentally stumbled into this place and I'm so glad I did. The bartender made me the best drink I had all week during my stay in New Orleans. I can't tell you what it was, as it was custom made, I just asked for something with rum agricole in it and a few minutes later he created something I'd travel back to New Orleans for at a moments notice! This place is above a mexican restaurant just around the corner from Lattitude 29 Tiki Tolteca does a much better job of blocking out the New Orleans crazy. Windows are all blacked off and the lighting and mood are right. There was a bachlorette party in the next room which caused a bit of a disturbance, however when I watched the Bartender make 30 Mai Tai's from scratch in about 5 min. I was gobsmacked. He was fast and talented. The drinks were not very pricey at all, about mid range $$ compared to the area. Drink garnishes are kept to a minimum, but they use luxardo cherries a lot (favorite!) They have a good heavy house signature tiki mug for sale ($30) but not much else. I will return when I can and am saddened I only found this place at the end of my trip.
second floor, but there is an elevator
Mexican restaurant with cash machine below
Big jug of ice water kept by the door for those hot days

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