A last round (or two or three…) at Bakersfield’s TIKI-KO

Saying goodbye can be difficult. Leaving without a proper goodbye is sometimes more painful. Tiki-Ko is my “neighborhood tiki bar,” even though it is two hours away. It’s the closest tiki anything to me where I live now, and I love the place. Tiki-Ko took its own, sweet time opening since being allowed to during the pandemic. It was undergoing updates and renovations. It’s sister bar, the new Sinking Ship down in the basement, has been open for several months. I got to “meet” it–then say “farewell” to it. But Tiki-Ko? It remained closed…

When I caught wind that Tiki-Ko had reopened, I was thrilled–but also exasperated. I am days away from moving, I just couldn’t afford the time. It’s not only two hours to get there—it’s also two hours back. It was frustrating.

Then I realized that one of my very dearest friends’ birthdays was coming up. I had gotten him a few piddly gifts–but hadn’t gotten him his main present. Time had gotten away from me while I was absorbed in my own personal moving drama and…I missed his special day. Damn!

It occurred to me that since John lives about 30 minutes south of Bakersfield and I live 2 hours north, I could meet him in Bakersfield. I could treat him to lunch and drinks and that might/would have to suffice for his gift.

John agreed to my plan. He brought his friend Brahma with him (as a designated driver–since Brahma doesn’t drink). At the last minute, I had to bail on lunch as I was running super late (I am such a bad friend…). John and Brahma went ahead without me. But we all came together–finally–at 1 pm inside of Tiki-Ko.

I got there a few minutes ahead of them, actually. That gave me a little time to take in the place. I hadn’t been there since before the pandemic, more than a year and a half earlier. I also wanted to see what the updates were.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was a nifty new water feature right inside the doorway. There was some sort of fog mechanism in it as well. Very cool.

The bar was decked out for Halloween. I found this very appropriate for my final visit. It had been decorated for Halloween on my very first visit several years ago.

The only thing missing was my fave bartender, Benny (aka Belisario). However, the man behind the bar, Mike, would prove to be a master mixologist in his own right.

John had texted. He and Brahma were on their way. I was looking at the menu when I got the message.

While the Dole Whip with Mango Cream Rum (lower right corner) sounded awesome, I waited on my decision until I saw what the back had to offer.

Whaaat!?! Count Druncula? O’ what a fang-tastic seasonal (and fun) drink special. Count me in. I went ahead and ordered one. John would just have to catch up when he got there.

Zowie! It came with a straw and a spoon, to get all of that drunken Count Chocula goodness. Ha! How bizarrely fun it was. It was like being a kid having cereal in the morning–but with a kick!

I was just starting on my Count Druncula and was already deciding that definitely I was doing that Dole Whip concoction next when… lo’ and behold, Mike laid one right in front of me, asking if I’d like it.

Was master mixologist Mike also a marvelous mentalist? Had he been (gasp!) reading my thoughts? No! The (I think) owner sent it over. I think they had just taken a photo of it to use on their Instagram account to advertise they were open for business.

A “used” Dole Whip cocktail? I’ll take it. I was gonna order one anyway…and this one was free. And what an interesting monstrosity it was. Unfortunately I didn’t realize I needed to unleash the mango cream rum from where it collided with the Dole Whip until the Whip was already pretty much whapped and gone.

As I was dealing with Count Druncula in one hand and my Dole Whip creation in the other, John and Brahma arrived. I must have really looked like the lush I am…

John and Brahma took seats on either side of me. When John walked in the door, I immediately realized I had left the few meager items I had for him at home. ARGH! (I had to mail them the next day.) That and missing lunch… Hopefully I wouldn’t bungle buying him some drinks.

John ordered an Eastern Sour and Brahma had a Coke.

When we were all sipping on something, I got up to take more photos. Even though this was my final visit to Tiki-Ko, I had limited my visit to only 1 1/2 hours. I had other things I needed to do and still had a long (dull) two-hour drive back home ahead of me. There was no time to waste.

I also took a peek down the not-so-secret staff-only stairs that lead to The Sinking Ship in the basement below.

I went back and sat for a bit, to catch up with John. I wanted to hear all about his birthday (which he’d spent in Texas). Brahma informed me that his birthday was the 7th and John ‘s was the 11th. Seven and eleven—easy to remember.

But all of the birthday talk got noticed, and the owners sent down shots of something they called The Kraken! Thank you so much. CHEERS!

By this time, I was ready my next drink, I decided to stick with the Halloween theme–and ordered a Zombie! It was a sipper–but tasty.

It was nice, sitting at the bar, talking to John, Brahma, and Mike (who was shaping up to be a great guy. We liked him a lot.). That is the one thing I missed the most when I visited The Sinking Ship while Tiki-Ko was closed—sitting at the bar and talking with the bartenders, friends, and other customers. You can’t sit at Sinking Ship’s bar.

At one point, I needed to visit the Enchanted Pee Pee Room. I checked out the display case and other decor in the alcove that leads to the bathroom. In addition to some mugs, hula girl figurines and a stuffed piranha, there was this cool glowing tiki. The whole thing had this weird, spooky, Halloween vibe to it.

The bathroom must have been spooked…as the toilet paper dispenser was already ready for Christmas! Ha! Mele Kalikimaka and a big Ho! Ho! Ho!

We thought that Brahma’s teetotalling in such a splendid yet alcoholic-based setting had to be awkward, even boring. So we got him to try a virgin something. Shocking!

That meant John and I could have one more drink–Ha! John tried a Zombie, while I ordered up a standard Pina Colada. (It was getting close to the time when I had to go—and I wanted something I could just suck down quickly, if need be.) It was delivered in style. Thank you, Mike.

And then it was time to go. O’ how I am going to miss this wonderful little bar. I took a last, quick look around to say my silent goodbyes.

Before we left, John wanted a photo of the three of us in front of the bar. I will probably never be back in Bakersfield, which means never back in Tiki-Ko. John I know I’ll see again, either when I fly down to LA or when he comes up to visit me. But Tiki-Ko? Oooo, it was good to the last drop.

Farewell.

Tiki-Ko
1919 K St.
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 493-0006
https://www.tiki-ko.com/