Tiki Underground was opened in February 2017 by Sean and Jessie Coffey. The large space is lined with bac-bac matting and bamboo, with plenty of thatch. There are carved Witco pieces, and light-up moai. The initial drink menu is limited, with a planned expansion of the menu, including the addition of food, coming in March 2017.
the wife and i were traveling from new york to indiana and having a little tiki tour along the way. tiki underground did not disappoint. jesse the owner was super friendly and knowledgeable. even taking us on a guided tour of the whole place. really adding to the friendly feel of the place. carvings, lights, mugs, water display and furniture, this place transports you. they DO need to keep the place open so some compromise like beer and the 2 TVs, but they work well. leah the bartender was equally friendly and skilled. among others, the TU mai tai was superb. can’t wait to go back.
the wife and i were traveling from new york to indiana and having a little tiki tour along the way. tiki underground did not disappoint. jesse the owner was super friendly and knowledgeable. even taking us on a guided tour of the whole place. really adding to the friendly feel of the place. carvings, lights, mugs, water display and furniture, this place transports you. they DO need to keep the place open so some compromise like beer and the 2 TVs, but they work well. leah the bartender was equally friendly and skilled. among others, the TU mai tai was superb. can’t wait to go back.
testtrack321 is a semi-regular at Tiki Underground.
September 17, 2018, 7:12 PM
I'm not sure what I'm missing but Tiki Underground is good. Not great, it's good. I'm lost on some of the ratings giving it tops in Ohio and in the country. The food selection is bar food, they have a TV with Keno on it (last time I was there), and the drink selection is ok. I point people towards Porco first and foremost over Underground, I wonder if Underground's cultivating of the culture over being a bar plays into the rating.
I moved to the Cleveland area in December of 2017 and checked out the two Tiki Bars in the greater Cleveland area. At last count, I have been to 37 tiki bars in and beyond the USA.
Tiki Underground has become my favorite Tiki Bar in the Cleveland area and is a top 8 contender in my travels. The decor is getting more and more refined as they get more kitsch going. The staff are delightful people, friendly and lots of Aloha Spirit. The mixologists are quite excellent, with traditional drinks and variations on some old standards. They also have a few originals that are worthy.
Tiki Underground is also coming on strong with a lot of really cool tiki events. The size of TU allows for bands and other entertainment.
Sean and Jessie, the owners are doing a fantastic job of making this out of the way place a Tiki Destination.
As noted by another reviewer or two, they have a fair amount of local traffic, especially during daylight hours which kind of messes with the vibe, but that's not something that can be easily controlled and they need to stay in business.
I have come to really dislike Ohio's alcohol laws. The state closely controls the brands of alcohol, so the selection is limited and small-batch distilleries that are not based in Ohio are hard pressed to be state approved. This limits all of the bars in the state and it is a crying shame.
That aside, given the limited available rums, Tiki Underground is a must for any tikiphiles traveling through the Cleveland / Akron OH area.
My husband and I visited Tiki Underground in May. We were heading to Canton/Akron for a graduation but being tikiphiles, needed to stop at this spot in Hudson. We visited on a Friday afternoon and were the only guests. We met the owner and he was a delight! He got to know us and even let us add a pin to a map as we were their first visitors from Arizona. The space and drinks are legit tiki. A touch I really enjoyed was that one of the two large TVs over the bar was playing "Fantastic Voyage", a 60's classic. The other TV was showing sports, which is decidedly non-tiki but it was on mute. The music was lacking, but in talking with the owner I have a feeling that they have to appeal to some of the locals and their tastes. This was highlighted as we were leaving, because 2 regulars walked in and order Bud Lites. All in all, a good bar, great drinks and enjoyable eats. Oh and the Jet Pilot had an ice cube shaped like an airplane which was an awesome touch!
Jessie and Sean are such wonderful hosts, and gave this Tiki traveler a home away from home. Mahalo! Loved their collection of artifacts, and they do make a nice Mai Tai. Stop by whenever you have the chance. It is worth a detour.
Visited this place a few months after they opened. Pleasantly surprised! loved the old beach movies playing on the TV above the bar. Owners were super cool and interactive - great tiki people! Can't wait to stop by again this summer and check out how things have progressed!
This place reminds me a lot of The Omni Hut in Smyrna...a tiki bar in the middle of nowhere... but there's a bar! Chris the bartender is great and makes wonderful Mai tais and painkillers. Sean and Jesse who own this fine establishment have done a great job with the decor. They even have gone as far as seeking out pieces from the noe defunct Kahiki Room. If you are a tiki travelller and are in the Cleveland area this place is a must. They also have live exotica and surf music on some nights! Mugs are for sale and custom mugs have been ordered. I love this place. Highly recommended
This place is great! It's a little out of the way as it isn't really close to any major areas but that kind of adds to the mystique! The drinks are amazing! The TU team is really dedicated to tiki culture and it shows in the way every drink is carefully crafted. They also have many events going on throughout the month so there is always something cool happening. Do yourself a favor and check this place out!
Fantastic decor and "vibe", coupled with warm, friendly staff make it perfect!