Mai Tai's in Waikiki??? -- Tiki Central

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Mai Tai's in Waikiki???

Rum Balls
Grand Member (7 years)

Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 829
From: Portland, OR

Posted: 2012-03-16 07:11 am Permalink

Just got back from a week-plus of mostly nasty weather on Oahu

Didn't get out as much as hoped, but did have Mai Tais at 3 locations. Tiki's Grill & Bar in Waikiki made a 1944 Mai Tai that was (suprisingly) very good. La Mariana's was fine, but the setting more than made up for it. And Germaine's Luau was OK, though I wasn't expecting an outstanding MT there anyway. If you do Germaine's, go to the gift shop first and buy a tiki mug, and then the bar will pour your 3 "free" drinks into that instead of a much smaller plastic cup.
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VanTiki
Grand Member (5 years)

Joined: Nov 25, 2005
Posts: 929
From: Hawaii

Posted: 2012-04-19 4:44 pm Permalink

Ms. VanTiki and I sneak away to the Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian whenever we can. They have an off-menu Trader Vic's Mai tai which I love dearly, and it ranges from yummy to FANTASTIC depending on who is working the bar. Ms. VanTiki loves their Mai-Tai degeneres with ginger. We love to park at the Zoo, stroll through Waikiki, and explore the grounds of the Royal Hawaiian. They have some fantastic paintings on display (including the original oils used to make those iconic Matson menus), and sometimes have neat historical exhibits.

Henrik "VanTiki"
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TikiTie
Tiki Centralite

Joined: May 24, 2012
Posts: 73
From: 'bonedale, CO

Posted: 2012-05-24 11:09 am Permalink

La Mariana Sailing club was an amazing tiki bar! I was there 2 years ago. 50 Sand Island Road, Honolulu, HI

SizzlePixels
Tiki Centralite

Joined: Feb 08, 2007
Posts: 14
From: Cypress, Texas

Posted: 2012-06-07 8:29 pm Permalink

While drinking our way around Hawaii last summer we tried our best to find the best drinks. I do not recall having anything bad.

[ Edited by: Hakalugi - rearranged images - 2012-06-07 20:54 ]

SizzlePixels
Tiki Centralite

Joined: Feb 08, 2007
Posts: 14
From: Cypress, Texas

Posted: 2012-06-07 8:31 pm Permalink

Sorry for the super wide post. I guess I did something wrong. I thought the photos would wrap.

Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable

Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2417
From: Boogie Wonderland

Posted: 2012-06-07 8:35 pm Permalink

You could edit and stack the image links but either way it's a great post.

1961surf
Grand Member (3 years)

Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1896
From: Newport Beach, Ca .

Posted: 2012-06-07 9:07 pm Permalink

So who had the best Mai Tai's ?

SizzlePixels
Tiki Centralite

Joined: Feb 08, 2007
Posts: 14
From: Cypress, Texas

Posted: 2012-06-08 11:44 am Permalink

Thanks very much for the edit.

We actually enjoyed La Mariana Mai Tai the best with those at the Don The Beachcomber in Kona coming in a close second. We set out on a mission to hit all the drinking establishments and I think visited the majority of them. The bar at the Royal Hawaiian was good also.

SizzlePixels
Tiki Centralite

Joined: Feb 08, 2007
Posts: 14
From: Cypress, Texas

Posted: 2012-06-08 12:57 pm Permalink

We enjoyed these at the Mai Kai also.

Careless Navigator
Member

Joined: Mar 10, 2012
Posts: 9
From: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: 2012-06-08 7:12 pm Permalink

We are just about to head back to Waikiki for our fifth visit. Boy have l pondered the Waikiki Mai Tai quest over the years and l have to agree with most of what has been previously written here. Maybe l could add my summary.
First of all l have this theory that there is an extra ingredient in a Mai Tai that can make it good or bad and that is location. The most average Mai Tai can taste better than it is in a great bar or for that matter watching the sun go down on Waikiki Beach. Everyone is right, it's not easy to find a great Mai Tai in Waikiki but you will have some of your most memorable Mai Tai drinking experiences there. I hate busy vacation destinations but l love Waikiki...go figure.
So here goes my top ten.
1. The Chart House Guy Tai... good value, taste, location, great bar staff and old world charm. l believe it's the only independently run Chart House and it is owned by legendary surfer Joey Cabell.
2. House Without a Key. Not cheap but great taste and location. If you are into the romance of days past, have a Mai Tai under the Banyan tree listening to the Hawaiian band as the sun goes down.
3. La Mariana. Technically not Waikiki but all great Mai Tai crawls start there in the afternoon. Ok drinks but boy oh boy, for everyone who's into Poly Pop this is a spiritual home.
4.The Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian. Since they had the make-over a couple of years back they have added several Mai Tai's to the menu (Why? l really don't know). Pricey, but great career bar staff and the history of the place are hard to beat.
5. Dukes, noisy and busy with a mid-priced solid tourist Mai Tai. It's a party in that joint all the time.
6. Wailana Coffee House Cocktail Bar. I don't think this has been mentioned here before. This is a great find if you are short of cash. It is on the side of the entrance to the Wailana Coffee House and opens at midday. It's a local hang out. The Mai Tai is sweet but ok. Best part is they are $3.50 all day and most of the ingredients have Tader Vic on the label. Also great bamboo interior.
7. Top of Waikiki revolving restaurant. This place changes all the time (no pun intended)but their Mai Tai was created by a Barman who worked at Don's in Las Vegas. Can be inconsistent but make the effort to go up there, fantastic view from the bar.
8. Jimmy Buffett's At The Beachcomber. Yes l know this is a controversial choice considering Jimmy's the enemy BUT they have a Mai Tai called something like "Vic's Original". It's not cheep but if you hit the place at happy hour it's affordable. Enough said.
9. Princess Kaiulani. The bar by the pool has an almost typical bar by the pool Mai Tai. It tastes a little different to others along the strip and the barman told me thet it is based on a Don's Mai Tai. Tastes like it's got grapefruit in it to me, But What do l know.
10. Its a toss up between the Moana Surfrider and Tiki's. The Surfriders Mai Tai should be better because of it's history ( it's older than the Royal Hawaiian) but you can sit around the bar and pretend you are watching Wembley Edwards doing "Hawaii Calls". Tiki's is not my favorite place. The Bar staff always seem to have something better to do than serve you. Prices are Ok and most of the time they have mugs.
There you go, l hope it wasn't too rambling.
Also you should check out The Hideaway Bar (great dive bar) Nashville Waikiki (coz it's such a feakin' stupid idea) and the Mai Tai Bar above Ala Moana Centre (decent Mai Tai when you need a break from shopping and they have cool t shirts)

[ Edited by: Bora Boris - Removed some "Edited by"s - 2012-07-23 15:19 ]

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lunavideogames
Grand Member (first year)

Joined: May 09, 2012
Posts: 391
From: San Diego

Posted: 2012-07-23 3:06 pm Permalink

I agree with Rum Balls. Tiki's has the best Mai Tais in Waikiki. 1944 Mai Tai is real strong and tasty! I had 6, but not in one sitting. 2 max for me so that I am not wasted in 2 hours. Very good. My wife really enjoyed their Polynesian Prince. Made with rum, strawberries and champagne.

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lunavideogames
Grand Member (first year)

Joined: May 09, 2012
Posts: 391
From: San Diego

Posted: 2012-07-23 3:12 pm Permalink

Oh yeah and Duke's is DOOKIE! Some stupid hippie with a guitar kept playing sublime songs. We had to storm out of there. I have to hear sublime 10+ times a day here in SoCal. When I am on vacation I should not have to deal with that crap!!!

Trailerpark Tiki
Tiki Socialite

Joined: Mar 27, 2010
Posts: 321
From: Las Vegas

Posted: 2012-07-24 08:52 am Permalink

Just returned from Waikiki. I also enjoyed Tiki's Bar and Grills "1944 Vic's Mai Tai". No pineapple juice but I think there was a little bit of passion fruit. Anyway, it was good and I had several. My wife really enjoyed the Lycheetini and Fruit Loop martini that tasted like the cereal.

We went to the Royal Hawaiian bar and asked for the original Vic's mai tai. I was expecting the worst but she made it. It was great and after two, I can't remember much after that.

[ This Message was edited by: Trailerpark Tiki 2012-07-24 08:55 ]

[ This Message was edited by: Trailerpark Tiki 2012-07-24 18:53 ]

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christiki295
Tiki Socialite

Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3621
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is

Posted: 2012-09-18 07:56 am Permalink

Quote:

[i]On 2009-12-07 12:34, Tonga Trader wrote:
Rumfire was a surprise hit for us, we were getting happy hour Mai Tais for $5, and they were perfectly passable. Great spot for sunset, too, which happens during happy hour this time of year.