Tropic like its hot: The best tiki bars in metro Atlanta

Tiki bars are known for their extravagant cocktails and aesthetic ambiance inspired by Polynesian culture, combined with a retro feel. Donn Beach and Victor Bergeron originally pioneered the concept of a tiki bar not long after the Prohibition era ended, around the late 1930s and early 1940s. In fact, Victor Bergeron became known as “Trader Vic,” operating one of the most prominent tiki brand names in the world. Today, Atlanta boasts one of two Trader Vic’s in the United States (the other being in Emeryville, California).

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While Atlanta has seen many tiki bars come and go in the past few years (RIP to Tiki Tango and Tiki Iniki), the city still offers plenty of tiki-inspired getaways. We’ve gathered a list of tiki bars and tiki-inspired menus for you to sip back and relax.

Trader Vic’s

Located in the lower level of the Hilton Atlanta hotel, Trader Vic’s is a tropical getaway nestled in downtown Atlanta. Trader Vic’s is located in 17 countries around the world, and this location happens to be only one of two in the United States. Each location has its own local flair – in the Atlanta location, enjoy a Peachtree Punch, a fun fishbowl drink made of light rum, orange, coconuts and a “soft southern whisper of peach.” Sipping on a Mai Tai is also a must because the drink is based on its original recipe invented by Trader Vic himself in 1944. Pair the potent potion of your choice with a diverse fusion cuisine incorporating flavors of East Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

Location: Downtown - 255 Courtland St NE; Website: tradervicsatl.com; Contact: 404-221-6339

The S.O.S. Tiki Bar

Location: Downtown - 199 Walker St SW; Website: matchloungeatl.com; Contact: 404-228-1078

Margaritaville Atlanta

While not quite officially a tiki bar, downtown Atlanta’s Margaritaville aims to transport you to a tropical island getaway as an escape from the urban jungle. In addition to a plentiful array of margarita options (as the name would imply), Margaritaville’s drink menu offers many island-inspired rum concoctions, such as the Volcano Blast and Bahama Mama.

Location: Downtown - 155 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW; Website: margaritavilleatlanta.com; Contact: 470-781-2336