ZOMBIE VILLAGE in San Francisco: O*M*G!!!!!

Though it opened 11 months ago, it was only recently I got to visit Zombie Village…and all I can say is OMG! This place is a modern tiki masterpiece.

Run by the folks who created Pagan Idol (and a personal fave non-tiki speakeasy Bourbon & Branch) and named after a long-gone tiki palace that was in Oakland, I knew that this place already had a credible pedigree behind it. I was eager to go. But as I made my way into San Francisco’s Tenderloin District where the bar is, I was a bit wigged out. Though it was only about 5:20 pm as I exited the BART station on Powell Street. I headed down Cyril Magnin and then up Ellis Street. Despite the early hour, it was just starting to get dark and the homeless were setting up camp for the evening all along the sidewalk. As bad as I felt for their plight, I was also nervous for myself. Here I was, an out-of-shape middle-aged guy out alone. Maybe this was a bad idea? As I made my way to Jones Street and started walking towards the bar, I became aware that the area reeked of urine. Gawd. I almost turned back. But then I spied Zombie Village. It was so nondescript but had a definite (yet subtle) tiki vibe. If you didn’t know what it was, you might pass on by.

When I walked in, I was just awed. The place is beautiful.

It was a Monday evening, lucky for me. It wasn’t too crowded when I arrived. This allowed me to take my time, look around and snap photos.

Aside from the stunning interiors, another positive sign I had fallen into a true tiki wonderland was spotting a small collection of tiki mugs. Perhaps that meant Zombie Village would have its own mug as well? I hoped so.

But first things first. I needed a drink. I picked up the menu and gave it a good looking over. I saw something called a Disco Banana and remembered reading positive things about that particular drink somewhere before visiting Zombie Village. I decided to have that drink…but then at the last moment, I spotted something called a Coco Pandan that seemed heavy on coconut. Ooooo. That sounded more up my alley. I ordered that and decided to have the Disco Banana as a chaser.

The Coco Pandan arrived and…oh my stars! The drink came complete with a creamy homemade coconut popsicle that, as it melts, adds to the flavor of the cocktail. Amazing.

The bartender who was helping me was a friendly guy. He guided me to the other side of the bar where there was seating (on some uniquely carved “bar stools”). I asked if he minded if I took some photos. He said I was free to. So, while I nursed my drink I snapped some shots from my seat. There was a row of tiki “huts” for more cozy seating behind the bar. Very cool.

Soon my Coco Pandan was done. I was given the regular cocktail menu (instead of just the flyer standing up on the bar) and perused it. It was much larger. Wow! I wanted to try everything.

I opted for my original choice, the Disco Banana.

As it turned out, the fantastic and friendly bartender, Sam, who had been helping me was also the bar manager. He recognized that I was not just some guy in off of the street; that I was a bona fide tiki enthusiast. He offered to show me around. With my Disco Banana in hand, he led me to a staircase to the closed off upper level of the bar. I knew that section was there–and had been keenly aware that it was closed off when I walked in. I had been wondering HOW I would get up there during my visit (I had to see it, right?). I never dreamed I’d get a personal tour…

The most impressive feature of the upper level is the skull bar. Golly, I was so impressed. Sam said he had moved to San Francisco from Hawaii to become the bar manager. He had arrived before the bar was ready to open and he became involved with the creation of the upper bar. The detail was amazing.

The upper bar is a smaller space and is generally open only for private events and on busy weekends. I was beyond thrilled to get to experience it on a slow Monday. Lucky me. The upper and lower sections were all so well done.

There were just so many details to see up there, every where you looked.

Coming back down the stairs offered another impressive view of the cool bar below on the main floor.

I, of course, got more shots of this beautiful place as I made my way back to my seat.

My Disco Banana was gone. My bladder was full. I had asked Sam what his favorite drink on the menu was. He said he was partial to the bar’s take on the classic Zombie cocktail, the Jamaican Zombie. Sold! I told him I would take one, but I had to excuse myself to the, uh… Big Kahuna room first. My “tiki” needed to take a leaky. He directed me down a hall to where the bathrooms are.

On my way back, I snapped some shots of the cave-like grotto seating area near the main bar, just below the bar on the upper level.

When I returned to my spot, there was Sam with a Jamaican Zombie for me. Awesome!

The Jamaican Zombie came complete with a pineapple ball covered in spice on the end of a Zombie Village swizzle stick (which instantly went into my pocket. Tiki tourists like me love their silly souvenirs, after all). The was very tasty, too.

While sipping my drink (which was going to be my last drink… Well, actually, I was originally only going to have two drinks, but I was having such a great time…) and feeling more comfortable, I felt free to walk about and snap a few more photos of this amazing place.

Of course, before I was ready to go, I spotted a flyer for a special Day of the Dead cocktail they had called Fantasma Amistoso. Among its ingredients was…FIRE! Yowza! How could I miss that? Day of the Dead had already come and gone, but several of the flyers were still sitting out. Was it still available? Hmm…

Sam was busy doing other things, but a lovely bartender by the name of Sydney kindly helped me. Yes, she said. I could still order a Fantasma Amistoso. In fact, she said, the drink had proven so popular with the customers and staff that it was being added to the menu permanently. Wow!

Here is Sydney serving up the flaming beverage.

While I savored my drink (this HAD to be my final one, after all), Sydney told me that if I wanted to visit the second floor, there was a DJ up there and I could look around. Wow! A second trip upstairs? I wasn’t turning that down. Up I went (taking photos along the way…including shots of a whale skeleton suspended overhead).

I was again awed by the incredible detail of the skull bar.

And there was still more to see up there that I had missed the first time.

The DJ was spinning old, vinyl 45s. I was so impressed. I thought that, up until that point, I had been hearing a cool play list of vintage instrumental mood music from some streaming site or possibly a CD. It had been the DJ the whole time. His name is Neil (Neal?), but he goes by the name Hi-Tone when he DJs. I was very impressed by his choice of music, the quality of the records (not scratched up but very new sounding) and the fact that someone so young was so in tune with such older music. Wow! Zombie Village has a rare find in him.

My Fantasma Amistoso was soon empty. How did that happen? Oh well, four drinks was two more than I planned on. But before cashing out with yet another friendly bartender named Jeff, I needed to inquire about tiki mugs. Jeff and Sydney showed me two mugs that the bar used to have—but were currently sold out of. The one on the right was the first mug, but it had long been out of production. The taller mug on the left was the 2nd mug the bar had released, but only 200 had been produced and it was also gone. Sam was within ear shot and he told me he thought he could get me one of the newer mugs. He disappeared and then soon returned with a box numbered 188. I, of course, bought it. Jeff seemed amazed, saying that they only offered those remaining few to VIPs. A VIP is the last thing I am, but I certainly felt like a VIP that night. I had had such a wonderful time thus far thanks to Sam, Sydney, Neil and Jeff and the incredible surroundings around me.

As Sam handed me the box with the mug in it and Jeff rang up my bill, Sam told me that the original mug was going to be re-issued and would be for sale during the bar’s 1st anniversary which he thought was this coming January 8th, 2020. Yowza! I might be able to go-go.

As I signed my bar tab, Sam also told me that they usually offer a complimentary cocktail to those who buy mugs. Did I want one? Oh my… a 5th drink? Uh… SURE! Ha! Jeff was going to help me on this one. He suggested something called a Sparkle & Froth.

I thanked them and took my cocktail up the stairs again to sit, sip and listen to Neil, er… Hi-Tone spin some more vintage 45s. Jeff came up eventually on a break and I got a picture of him as well.

It had been a magical evening. The staff was friendly. The drinks were tasty and the bar itself was jaw-droppingly beautiful. I knew I would be impressed by this place, but I had no idea that it would zoom to the top o’ my list of favorite tiki bars of all time, possibly even nabbing the number 1 spot? It could very well be. I will definitely have to make a return visit or two to make sure. But I can say that this place is hands down my favorite tiki bar in San Francisco.

CHEERS!

Zombie Village
441 Jones Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 474-2284
Website: https://www.thezombievillage.com/