#1723 - Surly Wench, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

424 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705 - (520) 882-0009
Est. 2004
Web site: surlywenchpub.com - facebook
Best reviews: tucsonunderground - yelp

#1722 - The Hut, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

The Hut is really more of rock club than a tiki bar, and the vibe is less exotic than college beach party. But it does the college beach party well, with a large patio and filling an airy, old metal fabrication plant which once turned out bomb casings for World War II with tiki mugs, a raffia-topped bar, and various tropical themed trappings.  But what dominates the place from the moment you see it is the 42 foot Moai head that now serves as the entrance -- the largest replica of the Easter Island figures in north America.

In 2009 the Moai, constructed in 1969 and weighing in at a reported 55,000 lbs, was rescued from Magic Carpet Golf, and relocated with considerable effort and tens of thousands of dollars of donations.  (The Hut owners and other supporters used the slogan "Keep Tucson uniquey, save the tiki.") 

The Hut also has a special connection to Seattle Mariner fans like myself.  The M's current closer, Tom Willemsen, worked there as a bartender after leaving baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers, and before hooking up with Mariners management to try and get back into the game.


The drinks are hit and miss and the Hut does not serve food, but it's a fun place and fits in great with Tucson's undeniably uniquey vibe.

305 N 4th Ave. (8th St.), Tucson, AZ 85705 - (520) 623-3200
Est. 2001

Web site: huttucson.com - facebook
Best reviews: metromix - critiki - tucsoncitizen  - yelp - tiki central - espn - urbanspoon - tucsoncitizen - tucsonazrealestateblog

#1721 - Mr. Head's, Tucson, AZ - 3/23/2012

 A funky bar and art gallery that fits perfectly into Tucson's 4th Avenue scene.  Mr. Head's has a nice, large patio with live bands and karaoke where singers can get booed and gong'd off.

513 N 4th Ave, Tucson, Arizona 85705 - (520) 792-2710     
Est. Dec. 2010
Web site: facebook
Best reviews: tucsonweekly - tucsonweekly - metromix - tusconnightout - yelp

#1720 - Delectables, Tucson, AZ - 3/23/2012

Nice Italian and American dishes with very friendly service and a comfortable, artsy vibe (in an old Harley Davidson showroom).

533 N 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705 - (520) 884-9289        
Est. 1979 - Building constructed: 1945

delectables.com - tucsonweekly - urbanspoon - yelp

#1719 - Taggia (Firesky Resort), Scottsdale, AZ - 3/22/2012

Cocktails and authentic Italian food on the poolside patio of the swanky Firesky resort.

4925 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 424-6095
taggiascottsdale.com - urbanspoon - phoenixmag - azcentral - yelp

#1718 - Flicka's Baja Cantina, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/22/2012

2003 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257 - (480) 945-3618
Est. June 1997

flickascantina.com - facebook - azcentral - yelp

#1717 - Village Tavern, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/22/2012

8787 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 - (480) 951-6445
villagetavern.com - facebook - urbanspoon - yelp - azcentral - gayot

#716 - The Social Tap, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/17/2012

7318 E Stetson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 947-4202
facebook - yelp

#1715 - Barney's Boathouse Scottsdale, AZ - 3/17/2012

7341 E 6th Ave Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 949-6535
Est. Sep. 2011

barneysboathousescottsdale.com - facebook - azcentral - yelp

#1714 - Firehouse, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/17/2012

Popular hip-hop and after hours dance club.

4312 North Brown Avenue Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 265-6989
Est. Sep 30, 2010
Previous bars at this location: Mickey's Hangover

ilovefirehouse.com - facebook - azcentral - newtimes - yelp

#1713 - El Encanto, Cave Creek, AZ - 3/22/2012

From the outside, El Encanto looks rather uninteresting, but you enter to find a large shady patio that absolutely merits the name. Small waterfalls splash into a large pond with turtles basking on the surrounding rocks. They also serve very good Mexican food, offer a wide range of tequilas, and serve some good margaritas.

6248 E Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek, AZ 85331 - (480) 488-1752
Est. 1989

elencantorestaurants.com - urbanspoon - gregfellin - yelp

#1712 - Hideaway Grill, Cave Creek, AZ - 3/21/2012

One of the most popular biker bars in the country. 

6746 East Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 - (480) 595-0358
Est. 1997

hideaway-usa.com - bikeweeknews - azcentral - yelp

#1711 - Cave Creek Tap Haus, Cave Creek, AZ - 3/21/2012

 A large seafood and pasta family restaurant with 50 beers on tap and an odd hodgepodge decor.

6900 E Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 - (480) 488-3300
Est. Nov. 2011
cavecreektaphaus.com - phoenixnewtimes - ratebeer - urbanspoon - yelp

#1710 - Cocomo Joe's, Cave Creek, AZ - 3/20/2012

Update: Cocomo Joe's closed in April 2014

A big sports bar in the guise of a tiki bar.

28244 N. Tatum Blvd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331 - (480) 538-8008


cocomojoes.com - facebook - critiki - yelp - azcentral -

#1709 - Dirty Drummer, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/19/2012

Pleasantly divey.
 
2730 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85257 - 480) 949-2797
dirtydrummer.com

#1708 - En Fuego, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/19/2012

A pretty typical hotel restaurant and bar with pretty good food and not so good cocktails.

5401 North Scottsdale Road Scottsdale, AZ 85250 - (480) 947-5400
web site - yelp -  azcentral

#1707 - Bikini Lounge, Phoenix, AZ - 3/18/2012

I had few expectations of the Bikini Lounge -- I envisioned just a dive bar with a cardboard thick devotion to the tiki theme. I was delightedly surprised.

It certainly is divey, as many of the best tiki bars are, and it has its insensate, day-glo tiki after-thoughts. But it also has aged charm and quirky appeal. Duane, the bartender (and member of the band Iconoclast, although I imagine they spell it differently), happily told us a few stories of the place, with many of the items dating back to its 1947 founding. The centerpiece hula girl painting behind the bar is said to be to have the head of the original owner's wife and the body of his mistress. While it was owned by a gay couple, the hula girl apparently had her breasts painted over and the grass skirt added, then the subsequent owner restored the bosom to its former glory.

 The New Times claims that this is the oldest bar in Phoenix.  Basically, it has an earnest quantity of tiki, and everything a you need for a dive bar of integrity, including the location in a dicey neighborhood. I don't imagine that I will ever go to Phoenix again without stopping in.

1502 Grand Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85007 - (602) 252-0472
Est. 1947
thebikinilounge.com - tikicentral - critiki - azcentral - yelp

#1706 - Hula's Modern Tiki, Phoenix, AZ - 3/18/2012

Hula's is a swank, mid-century place with good tiki drinks and very good food.  We met fellow tiki aficionados Mike M. and his wife, who were very friendly, as tiki people generally are, and compared notes on Phoenix and Tucson (from whence they had just come and we were just heading).

Hula's has some familiar sites for the tiki crowd -- glass cases of Munktiki mugs under the bar, a Tiki Tony carving, a Bosko shield.  It's romantically lit and as full of mid-century shapes and angles as a Shag painting.  The concept is well executed and the people are friendly.  It's a great exception to the strip mall, chain store dreariness of so much of the valley of the sun.

4700 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85012 - (602) 265-8454
hulasmoderntiki.com - facebook - critiki - thetikichick - backpage - centralphoenixfood -  phxrailfood - phoenixmag - yelp
Est. 2009