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Where to Sip Tropical Tiki Cocktails in Houston

These cocktails are like a vacation in a glass

by Baylea Jones
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by Baylea Jones
Courtesy Kanaloa

If you like pina coladas, Houston has you covered. The tiki craze that dominated cocktail, furniture, and fashion trends in the middle of the last century has officially retaken its place in the American bar scene. That’s especially true in the Bayou City, where rum bars with bamboo interiors and tropical cocktails have been steadily cropping up in the last 5 years.

With summer fast approaching, these 12 tiki cocktails will transport drinkers to exotic locales when a beachy escape just isn’t in the budget.

Is your favorite tiki-themed cocktail missing from this map? Shout it out in the comments.

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Lei Low Bar

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Houston’s vanguard tiki bar has paved the way for every Polynesian themed paradise that followed. The mai tai here, nutty and stout, is the city’s best, but Lei Low has a multi-page menu of creative drinks like El Tiburon which trades a traditional rum base for smoky mezcal and adds mango, chile, salt, and lime for a briny bite.

6412 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 380-2968
(713) 380-2968
Lei Low/Facebook

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Better Luck Tomorrow

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Though not traditionally tiki, Better Luck Tomorrow’s Mr. Sunshine with pineapple and satsuma, the passion-fruit imbued Long Story Short, and hurricanes (which are half off any time it’s raining) all have summertime appeal.   

544 Yale St, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 802-0845
(713) 802-0845
Baylea Jones/Eater

Also featured in:

HandleBar Houston

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This Washington Corridor nightlife mecca has a Magnum P.I. themed speakeasy. Hawaiian-inspired pours include the Aku Aku with rum, peach, and mint and the HB rum punch: a dangerous concoction of rum, bourbon, gin, and grapefruit liqueur. But since the bar is hidden, you’ll have do some investigating of your own to find it.

5219 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 831-1630
(832) 831-1630

Also featured in:

Decatur Bar & Pop-Up Factory

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This experimental concept new to Old Sixth Ward hosts a rotating chef-in-residence every 9-12 months. Current Chef Evelyn Garcia curated four island-inspired cocktails including the Thai Good, Like Shirt—a blue hued blend of gin, rye, lime, orgeat, and Blue Curaçao. On the main menu, the frozen forecast fuses fire and ice as habanero vodka and thirst-quenching cucumber combine.

2310 Decatur St, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 389-5008
(713) 389-5008
Decatur Bar/Facebook

Kanaloa

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A rum-soaked oasis with bamboo paneling, Kanaloa serves sparkler-topped libations out of ukulele and treasure chest shaped vessels. The menu features standard tiki drinks, classic cocktails with a twist like a rum old fashioned or pineapple Manhattan, and vintage Donn Beach creations like the bittersweet Sumatra Kula with orange juice, grapefruit, and honey.

311 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002
(832) 582-6764
(832) 582-6764
Courtesy Kanaloa

High & Dry

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With over 200 rums, house made syrups and tinctures, and imaginative garnishes like banana chips and fruit leather, High & Dry takes tiki to new heights. The Coco Loco delights and the Bajan Brew (combining rum, cold brew coffee, and coconut) provides a delicious pick-me-up. Head to the secluded second story patio complete with an ambient waterfall to experience Downtown’s own slice of paradise.

306 Main St #200, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 728-6851
(713) 728-6851
High & Dry/Facebook

Also featured in:

Boheme

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Boheme’s frozen mojito, a house specialty, is quite the crowd pleaser. The frosty mix of lime juice and muddled mint is a soothing balm on sweltering days.

307 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 529-1099
(713) 529-1099

Also featured in:

Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive

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Daiquiris dominate at Voodoo Queen, but don’t sleep on the massive selection of mixed drinks. Order a mai tai, hurricane, rum barrel, or go big with a flaming scorpion bowl or the cursed mermaid, a hollowed out pineapple swimming with fruit juices and lots of rum.  

322 Milby St, Houston, TX 77003
Amy McCarthy/Eater

Anvil Bar & Refuge

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Anvil’s famed 100 list has an entire section devoted to tiki and tropical drinks. The 9 offerings include classics like the mai tai, painkiller, and blue Hawaiian. For something fruity, smooth, and refreshing, try the Missionary’s Downfall, a rum based drink with pineapple, peach liqueur, honey, and mint.

1424 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 523-1622
(713) 523-1622
Baylea Jones/Eater

Also featured in:

Night Heron

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Night Heron has a few tropical drinks on hand including a serrano spiked daiquiri and the jungle bird with tart lime and pineapple mellowed by chocolate and cinnamon spiced mole bitters, but the piña colada, a less cloying version elevated with grated nutmeg, shines.

1601 W Main St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 527-8010
(713) 527-8010
Baylea Jones/Eater

Also featured in:

Nobie's

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The Toasted Coconut, a new tiki bar from the Nobie’s team is slated for a Montrose opening this summer. Until then, the Rum Away With Me—a meld of aged rum, herbaceous gran classico bitters, banana, and blanc vermouth adding sweet, floral notes—should hold you over.

2048 Colquitt St, Houston, TX 77098
(346) 319-5919
(346) 319-5919

Also featured in:

Tropicales

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A newcomer to Boulevard Oaks, Tropicales cafe has the lush ambience and rich flavors of a Caribbean vacation. Standout options include the pink and white Baby Moon with silky guava creme, a tequila based pina colada with buttery avocado, and the robust bourbon, cinnamon, and citrus tinged Distant Beaches.

2132 Bissonnet St Suite 100, Houston, TX 77005
(832) 649-7974
(832) 649-7974
Baylea Jones/Eater

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Lei Low Bar

6412 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009

Houston’s vanguard tiki bar has paved the way for every Polynesian themed paradise that followed. The mai tai here, nutty and stout, is the city’s best, but Lei Low has a multi-page menu of creative drinks like El Tiburon which trades a traditional rum base for smoky mezcal and adds mango, chile, salt, and lime for a briny bite.

6412 N Main St, Houston, TX 77009
(713) 380-2968
(713) 380-2968
Lei Low/Facebook

Better Luck Tomorrow

544 Yale St, Houston, TX 77007

Though not traditionally tiki, Better Luck Tomorrow’s Mr. Sunshine with pineapple and satsuma, the passion-fruit imbued Long Story Short, and hurricanes (which are half off any time it’s raining) all have summertime appeal.   

544 Yale St, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 802-0845
(713) 802-0845
Baylea Jones/Eater

HandleBar Houston

5219 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007

This Washington Corridor nightlife mecca has a Magnum P.I. themed speakeasy. Hawaiian-inspired pours include the Aku Aku with rum, peach, and mint and the HB rum punch: a dangerous concoction of rum, bourbon, gin, and grapefruit liqueur. But since the bar is hidden, you’ll have do some investigating of your own to find it.

5219 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007
(832) 831-1630
(832) 831-1630

Decatur Bar & Pop-Up Factory

2310 Decatur St, Houston, TX 77007

This experimental concept new to Old Sixth Ward hosts a rotating chef-in-residence every 9-12 months. Current Chef Evelyn Garcia curated four island-inspired cocktails including the Thai Good, Like Shirt—a blue hued blend of gin, rye, lime, orgeat, and Blue Curaçao. On the main menu, the frozen forecast fuses fire and ice as habanero vodka and thirst-quenching cucumber combine.

2310 Decatur St, Houston, TX 77007
(713) 389-5008
(713) 389-5008
Decatur Bar/Facebook

Kanaloa

311 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002

A rum-soaked oasis with bamboo paneling, Kanaloa serves sparkler-topped libations out of ukulele and treasure chest shaped vessels. The menu features standard tiki drinks, classic cocktails with a twist like a rum old fashioned or pineapple Manhattan, and vintage Donn Beach creations like the bittersweet Sumatra Kula with orange juice, grapefruit, and honey.

311 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002
(832) 582-6764
(832) 582-6764
Courtesy Kanaloa

High & Dry

306 Main St #200, Houston, TX 77002

With over 200 rums, house made syrups and tinctures, and imaginative garnishes like banana chips and fruit leather, High & Dry takes tiki to new heights. The Coco Loco delights and the Bajan Brew (combining rum, cold brew coffee, and coconut) provides a delicious pick-me-up. Head to the secluded second story patio complete with an ambient waterfall to experience Downtown’s own slice of paradise.

306 Main St #200, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 728-6851
(713) 728-6851
High & Dry/Facebook

Boheme

307 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77006

Boheme’s frozen mojito, a house specialty, is quite the crowd pleaser. The frosty mix of lime juice and muddled mint is a soothing balm on sweltering days.

307 Fairview St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 529-1099
(713) 529-1099

Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive

322 Milby St, Houston, TX 77003

Daiquiris dominate at Voodoo Queen, but don’t sleep on the massive selection of mixed drinks. Order a mai tai, hurricane, rum barrel, or go big with a flaming scorpion bowl or the cursed mermaid, a hollowed out pineapple swimming with fruit juices and lots of rum.  

322 Milby St, Houston, TX 77003
Amy McCarthy/Eater

Anvil Bar & Refuge

1424 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006

Anvil’s famed 100 list has an entire section devoted to tiki and tropical drinks. The 9 offerings include classics like the mai tai, painkiller, and blue Hawaiian. For something fruity, smooth, and refreshing, try the Missionary’s Downfall, a rum based drink with pineapple, peach liqueur, honey, and mint.

1424 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 523-1622
(713) 523-1622
Baylea Jones/Eater

Night Heron

1601 W Main St, Houston, TX 77006

Night Heron has a few tropical drinks on hand including a serrano spiked daiquiri and the jungle bird with tart lime and pineapple mellowed by chocolate and cinnamon spiced mole bitters, but the piña colada, a less cloying version elevated with grated nutmeg, shines.

1601 W Main St, Houston, TX 77006
(713) 527-8010
(713) 527-8010
Baylea Jones/Eater

Nobie's

2048 Colquitt St, Houston, TX 77098

The Toasted Coconut, a new tiki bar from the Nobie’s team is slated for a Montrose opening this summer. Until then, the Rum Away With Me—a meld of aged rum, herbaceous gran classico bitters, banana, and blanc vermouth adding sweet, floral notes—should hold you over.

2048 Colquitt St, Houston, TX 77098
(346) 319-5919
(346) 319-5919

Tropicales

2132 Bissonnet St Suite 100, Houston, TX 77005

A newcomer to Boulevard Oaks, Tropicales cafe has the lush ambience and rich flavors of a Caribbean vacation. Standout options include the pink and white Baby Moon with silky guava creme, a tequila based pina colada with buttery avocado, and the robust bourbon, cinnamon, and citrus tinged Distant Beaches.

2132 Bissonnet St Suite 100, Houston, TX 77005
(832) 649-7974
(832) 649-7974
Baylea Jones/Eater

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