TIKI TIKI—The (Very) Little Tiki Bar That Could…

Recently I got to visit Chicago. Being a tiki freak, I tried to hit all of the tiki spots I could find in the greater Chicago area. There is one tiny place I almost passed over. I am so glad I didn’t.

Visiting Tiki Tiki at the Silver Palm was actually an accident. The night of my visit, I had planned to hit several tiki bars. Tiki Tiki (or what I thought was Tiki Tiki) had been my intended first stop. It was the furthest out (near the airport). My plan was to start there then work my way back towards town. However, I got a late start due to a prolonged dinner with friends. I decided to axe Tiki Tiki from the list and just start with the Hala Kahiki Lounge.

Hala Kahiki had been a very nice place that I had perhaps stayed a tad too long at. Next on my list was some other place. However, as I was preparing to head down there, I looked at the online pictures and thought I could do without it. But then I saw Tiki Tiki on the map just outside of Chicago. What? I must have gotten confused when I was planning my evening, I thought. 

It was late. I had only been to one (of the three planned) bar and had decided to pass on two others. But this one was on my way home… Why not stop in for a bit?

I had the Lyft driver take me to the address online. For some reason, my phone was showing me that the location of the bar was inside some sort of train car. As we approached the outskirts of Chicago, I didn’t see any train cars. But then the driver stopped and there was the entrance to Tiki Tiki (and it was not in a train as far as I could tell).

I was iffy. Perhaps I should just head back to the hotel? It wasn’t too much further away. But the outside of the place showed promise. There were two tikis flanking a doorway with glass float lights hanging just beyond it. Hmm, I thought. Okay. One drink wouldn’t hurt.

Inside the door there was a large tiki face on one wall and a set of stairs. Up I went to find that there really was a small tiki bar waiting for me. I admit it. I was a bit dismissive initially, but I wanted to give the place a try. I grabbed a seat at the otherwise empty bar and sat down. 

The menu (at least as far as the tiki cocktails went. There were plenty of beers available.) was kind of limited. That’s okay. I’ve been to many great bars with a modest number of drink options. I ordered a Painkiller. The mix of Pusser’s Rum, coconut syrup, with orange and pineapple juices was pretty good.

Things got even better when I started chatting with the bartender. Sam was the guy on duty that night and he was quite the conversationalist. Amazingly, he was from the Pacific Northwest, where I live now. 

As we chatted, I took a look around the place from my stool. It was a tiki bar, yes—but the theme was more beach-y than traditional tiki, with surf boards decorating the walls and cleverly being used as tables. The walls were bamboo, planks, and matting with one wall covered in faux tropical flowers. The bamboo bar with thatched roof looked right out of “Gilligan’s Island.” It was simple, small scale, but a nice attempt. (And truth be told, except for maybe the lack of dramatic lighting or a spectacular center piece at the entrance, it really wasn’t anymore sparsely decorated than the disappointing Three Dots and a Dash.) I knew this was never going to be mistaken for a tiki palace. It was a neighborhood bar—but a good one it seemed.

At some point, I had to go to the bathroom. They were located next to a doorway in the wall I could just see into. Aha! That seemed to be where the train car (the Silver Palm) was located—and it appeared to be another bar.

The bathroom was nothing spectacular, but the wallpaper was rather interesting. It was tiki cocktails—with legs. Ha!

Back at the bar, my Painkiller was pretty much out of its misery. I was only going to have one drink and be done, since it had been a long day and I’d already been drinking at Hala Kahiki. Still, I was having such a nice time. Jason was interesting. He was fairly new to the tiki scene, but was already embracing it. I didn’t have to twist my own arm before I ordered a Mai Tai. About the time it was placed in front of me, another young man, Jason came in and sat at the bar a few stools over. He obviously knew Sam. I wasn’t sure if he was a co-worker on his night off or just one of the neighborhood regulars. Jason was also a Chicago-area transplant, originally from Miami.

The three of us got to talking and laughing. I was having such a delightful time, I forgot to take a picture of my drink or pay attention to how it tasted. People (those working in a bar and sometimes those you encounter who just happen to be there) are a big factor in how a place is perceived and enjoyed. I felt totally comfortable as we chatted and chuckled. I was glad I had stopped in. 

I had noticed some mugs on a shelf. Most I could identify and knew were generic offerings from Munktiki back in Oregon. There was one mug I didn’t recognize. It was barrel shaped and on it I could read the words “Pete’s Tiki Tiki Rosemont (Chicago).” I have way too many mugs (way, WAY too many), but a souvenir from a place you’ll probably only get to once—especially a place you really like—is understandable (maybe). I asked about it and was told they didn’t have any for sale. The mug was used for their special Pina Colada. Hmm…

Jason had left. I was done with the Mai Tai and was thinking about leaving myself. It was late. But…I was intrigued by the mug and the drink. What was so special about a Pina Colada? Since all I was going to do was go to bed when I got back to the hotel, okay… I ordered the drink. 

Sam told me the drink that came in the mug was a drink for two. He could see, I think, that I was disappointed. He said he’d make me a single version and serve it up in the mug. How swell of him.

Sam served me the drink (Pete’s Harder Pina Colada—Hard truth Coconut Rum, pineapple and lime juices, and coconut cream, all topped with Hard truth White Oak Reserve). He may have just packed the mug with ice, but I don’t think so. I think I may have gotten the full-on double. While I’m not usually a Pina Colada person these days, I did enjoy it…and certainly did feel it by the time I left.

I sipped and chatted with Sam. Eventually a small group of friends came in. It was evident that they’d been out celebrating. I think one of them was having a birthday. They sat at the far end of the bar from me. At one point, one of them ordered shots all around. One of the girls walked over and handed me a shot, too. How nice. I took it graciously and downed it. I had no idea what it had been, and I later asked Sam to show me the bottle. It had been Kasama, a rum.

Eventually I finished the Pina Colada and it really was time to go. I’d had such a nice time, I hated to leave. I paid up and said my goodbyes to Sam. I also tried to thank the revealers, but they were to wrapped up in their fun to notice.

Back at my hotel, I realized I hadn’t gotten my credit card back from when I’d opened the tab. It was late, but I needed to get it. Fortunately, the bar hadn’t been that far away. I caught a Lyft back over and went in to get my card. Jason was back at the bar. Both he and Sam seemed surprised and delighted by my return. Alas, it was only a momentary reunion. 

There are apparently two, unrelated Tiki Tiki’s in the Chicago area. One (Pete’s Tiki Tiki—but I’ve been told that they apparently NOT connected, despite the name. Why the mug or the cocktail that comes in it have “Pete’s” on them is beyond me. Perhaps, at one time, they were owned by the same people?) is near O’Hare Airport in Rosemont and was the one I had originally intended to visit. The other is the one I did visit; the one connected to the Silver Palm just outside of town. While I can’t speak for the Rosemont bar, I can say that I am glad I (accidentally) stumbled into the Silver Palm location.  As a tiki bar, well… there are better ones out there. If you are looking for a true tiki experience, I wouldn’t make a special trip.

But…

When it comes to neighborhood bars, Tiki Tiki (at the Silver Palm) is the kind of place you wish all neighborhood bars could be. It was clean. It felt safe. The staff (well, at least Sam) was excellent. I just had a really nice time. My visit was so enjoyable, I found myself wishing I lived nearby. It’s a nifty lil’ bar. (The tiki aspects were an added bonus.)

Tiki Tiki (at the Silver Palm)

768 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Chicago, Il. 60642

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