Annual retrospectives always include some bittersweet news alongside the happy achievements, and 2024 was no different. We sadly said farewell to some legends as well as a few beloved watering holes. But there was much to celebrate as new Tiki establishments opened and events were launched. The good certainly overshadowed the bad at the top of the list. Three major storylines dominated the year in Tiki, and we’re happy to report that 2025 promises to be even better for three iconic names that are poised for their biggest years in recent history.
Related: The Year in Tiki 2024: A look back at the top events in photos, video
Bonus cocktail recipe: The Dirty Banana by Mike “Jetsetter” Jones
1. (TIE) CLASSIC TIKI REBORN: The Mai-Kai reopens after $20M restoration, Don the Beachcomber brand resurrected in Florida
It was impossible to choose one of these two highly significant events as the top story of the year, so we’re declaring it a tie. The importance of both cannot be understated. When all is said and done, this may qualify as the top story of the decade. Imagine a future without the Mai-Kai, and Don the Beachcomber just a figure in books and movies.
In mid-2021, we were still mired in the pandemic, the Mai-Kai had been closed for nearly a year and had yet to find new owners, and we had no clue that the historic Don the Beachcomber name had been acquired by a little-known restaurant group from Tampa.
By September of that year, the Mai-Kai was sold two a new ownership group, becoming the No. 2 story of the year. In 2022, the historic South Florida restaurant was in the midst of a multi-year, multimillion-dollar reimagination that grabbed the No. 5 slot. By 2023, Don the Beachcomber grabbed headlines (and the No. 2 top story) with an ambitious announcement of a revival of the brand by 23 Restaurant Services. The massive Mai-Kai renovation efforts, which we documented in great detail, was No. 4.
Which brings us to 2024, when both stories deservedly bolted to the top slot. Don the Beachcomber made news first, opening its first new restaurant Feb. 23 in Madeira Beach on Florida’s southern Gulf Coast. The full-service restaurant, located on the ground floor of the Cambria Hotel just blocks from the beach, was designed by Daniel “Tiki Diablo” Gallardo and a crew of artists and craftspeople. The cocktails are in the highly capable hands of beverage director Marie King.
• Previous coverage: Don the Beachcomber grand opening in Florida is a smashing success
In April, the team behind the ambitious brand re-launch took the stage at Tiki-a-Go-Go in Orlando to offer a sneak preview of new locations planned for Florida, plus a new “brand within a brand” called the Gantt Reserve Collection from Don the Beachcomber. These smaller, speakeasy-style venues will allow the company to more swiftly expand. While the next large restaurant – a flagship location just north of Disney World in Central Florida – isn’t expected until at least 2025, the company was able to turn the key on its first cocktail-centric bar just three months later.
• Previous coverage: Don the Beachcomber announces new bar concept, upcoming locations in Florida
Morgan’s Cove, featuring a whimsical seafaring design executed perfectly by Gallardo and his team, swung open its secret door on July 18 on downtown Tampa’s Morgan Street. The city’s long history of pirate lore makes the theme a perfect fit. King rose to the challenge with a menu of elevated classic cocktails and unique takes on Donn Beach’s vision.
• Previous coverage: Don the Beachcomber launches Morgan’s Cove speakeasy in Tampa
All that momentum came to a crashing halt in September. Hurricane Helene slammed the Gulf Coast, causing extensive damage to many homes and businesses, including Don the Beachcomber in Madeira Beach. The restaurant has not yet reopened, but an official statement in December promised a return in early 2025. We look forward to the reopening, along with other new Don the Beachcomber venues coming soon.
Don the Beachcomber restaurants: Official website | Online store | Facebook | Instagram | Morgan’s Cove on Instagram
• Previous coverage: Florida Tiki weathers an unwelcome 2024 hurricane season, poised for promising 2025
Meanwhile on Florida’s southeast coast just north of Fort Lauderdale, work was progressing on the Mai-Kai, built in 1956 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. It closed in late October 2020 after a roof collapse took out the 1970s-era kitchen and revealed an aging structure in need of a lot of TLC. And, it turns out, even more money and time than projected. Luckily, the new ownership group led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller of Miami’s Barlington Group has deep pockets and even more patience.
Far from your typical restaurant restoration, this project demanded a high level of expertise. Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller rose to the challenge, joined by a team of artists and longtime manager Kern Mattei. The excitement level started to build in June, when guests of The Hukilau received exclusive tours of some of the newly restored areas, including the Molokai Bar and showroom.
• Previous coverage: Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of the Mai-Kai restoration
With a fall reopening in sight, hiring began in August, including performers for a rebooted version of the Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii). In September, Cory Starr (formerly of Tiki Tatsu-Ya in Austin and Three Dots and a Dash in Chicago) was named beverage director, overseeing one of Tiki’s most storied bar programs.
• Previous coverage: Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist
Even the parking lot received a creative makeover. Designed by the architects at Orlando’s Perry-Becker Design, whose resume includes Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the arrival experience became totally immersive with new waterfalls, lush foliage and a simulated volcanic caldera. The old porte-cochère was reimagined into the Bora Bora Bar with outdoor seating and another layer of story-telling for guests to enjoy.
The big day finally arrived on Nov. 15, when the bars reopened for a series of sneak preview events. On Nov. 21, a special grand reopening ceremony featured show performers and local politicians, who joined Fuller in officially opening the doors and enjoying the debut performance of the new Polynesian review, led by cultural arts & entertainment director Teuruhei Kalaniu’i Buchin.
• Previous coverage: Latest news and exclusive coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening
The Mai-Kai has been open every day since regular service began Nov. 26, including a 68th anniversary celebration on Dec. 28. The building and grounds look fantastic, but the $20 million project is far from complete. The expansive Tiki garden reopened for the anniversary, and several rear dining rooms are still being renovated. Allsmiller has more tricks up his sleeve as his work continues in 2025, but don’t hesitate to make a pilgrimage to Tiki’s mecca, a Polynesian paradise that defied the odds and returned bigger and better than ever in 2024.
More Atomic Grog coverage
• Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
• Answers to frequently asked questions about the grand reopening
The Mai-Kai: Official website | Facebook page | Instagram
Facebook group: Friends of the Mai-Kai
EXCLUSIVE: Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening Guide
Check out all past news, photos, video and deep details on the refurbishment and resurrection of the Polynesian palace.
2. THE DONN OF TIKI: Fans flock to premieres, boost film’s profile
The godfather of Tiki, Don the Beachcomber (aka Donn Beach), finally got his due in 2024 with the long-awaited public debut of The Donn of Tiki on the film festival circuit in April. By the end of the year, it had made the rounds at more than a half-dozen events and garnered numerous awards. In September, Kickstarter contributors were able to screen the movie at home.
Documenting Donn Beach’s life is another big story that has been building, with both the film and Tim “Swanky” Glazner’s book project earning the No. 5 story of 2021. In 2023, we combined these with the restaurant announcement into the No. 2 story of the year. Now, the producers and everyone involved in the The Donn of Tiki should take a bow for a well-deserved No. 2 story of 2024.
The trailer, sneak previews and all of the pre-release publicity pointed to the final product from producer Taryn Roraback and directors Alex Lamb and Max Well of Surf Monkey Films being a top-notch production. But the way it was embraced by the Tiki community exceeded expectations. The April 13 world premiere and an additional showing during the Florida Film Festival both sold out, earning the Audience Award in the Documentary Features Competition.
• Previous coverage: The Donn of Tiki honored after world premiere at Florida Film Festival
Later showings at the San Francisco DocFest (May 30), Dances with Films festival (June 28-29, Hollywood, Calif.), Chagrin Documentary Festival (Oct. 4, Chagrin Falls, Ohio), Newport Beach Film Fest (Oct. 21 and 23, California), and Calgary Underground Film Festival (Nov. 21, Canada) all sold out. Only a handful of the year’s 12+ screenings played to less than a full house. Some of the screenings were accompanied by meet-and-greets at local Tiki establishments. This interest only reinforced the grass-roots effort of the film’s incubation, funded by a Kickstarter campaign that raised $199,143 in 2021.
Contributors were rewarded with a free viewing of The Donn of Tiki via a special streaming link. As for everyone else, please be patient. The filmmakers have stated that they hope the film festival success attracts a distributor so they can release the film on streaming and video-on-demand platforms such as Amazon Video and Apple TV. In the meantime, check the official website for upcoming festivals. The producers are also open to private and special event appearances of the film, according to the website.
Glazner’s biography, Searching for Don the Beachcomber, should also be available this fall from Korero Press. It promises to be the most comprehensive – and accurate – exploration of Donn Beach, “the American original who crafted an unparalleled paradise through his innovative tiki bars and cocktails.”
Between the new bars and restaurants, the film and the book, 2025 is destined to be another banner year for Don the Beachcomber, 36 after the namesake’s death.
The Donn of Tiki: Official website | Instagram | Facebook
Searching for Don the Beachcomber: Official website | Instagram | Facebook
More on The Atomic Grog: Don the Beachcomber cocktail recipes
3. TRADER VIC’S AWAKENING: Venerable brand marks 90 years with a return to its roots
It has been nine decades since Victor Bergeron opened his first bar and restaurant, Hinky Dinks in Oakland, Calif., in 1934. Four years later, he renamed his enterprise Trader Vic’s, assuming the persona of South Seas food and beverage maestro until his death in 1984. The empire he left behind continued to thrive, marking 90 years in 2024 with three days of special events at the flagship Trader Vic’s restaurant in Emeryville, Calif., in August.
Officials in Oakland later designated the Mai Tai – famously created by Bergeron in 1944 – as the official cocktail of the city. The ceremonial resolution was passed Oct. 1. Trader Vic’s may have deep roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, but it has long been a worldwide chain.
Besides the vintage restaurant in the Atlanta Hilton (est. 1976), the only traditional-style Trader Vic’s in the United States is the 3-year-old Trader Vic’s Outpost in the San Jose Airport. Two other classic restaurants still exist from Bergeron’s lifetime: Munich, Germany, and Tokyo, Japan (est. in 1971 and 1974, respectively). Trader Vic’s Tokyo joined the trend toward honoring its history by hosting a festive 50th anniversary event in October.
The majority of the expansion in the past 30 years has been in hotels and resorts in the Middle East. The corporate website touts 25 locations in 11 countries. In addition to traditional restaurants, the chain has added the Mai Tai Lounge and Tahitian Village concepts while also bringing back Bergeron’s old Mexican eatery, Señor Pico, in Dubai. For years, Mai Tai and Trader Vic’s fans in the United States have been clamoring: “What about us?”
Finally, we’re getting our wish, but in some totally disparate and unexpected ways. A new concept, Bamboo Room by Trader Vic’s, opened Sept. 13 in a Miami Beach boutique hotel. With a decidedly pre-Tiki look and feel, the bar’s design is a throwback to the 1930s as an homage to Hinky Dinks, which included a tropical-themed “Bamboo Room.” You can get a Mai Tai here, but the menu leans heavily into craft cocktail techniques and modern presentations.
• Previous coverage: Trader Vic’s blends pre-Tiki vibe with contemporary cocktails at new Bamboo Room in South Beach
Around this same time, we also learned that a new Trader Vic’s Outpost will be added to Oakland International Airport. Hawaii will also get its first ever official Trader Vic’s, a new Island Bar and Grill concept on Kona. Both of these could open as soon as this year. When we met him at the South Beach opening, Trader Vic’s Hospitality Group CEO Rhett Rosen also spoke of more intimate Bamboo Room bars on the drawing board.
Then things got really interesting. In November, it was revealed that Trader Vic’s will be returning to Los Angeles with a new full-blown restaurant set to open in late 2025 at 9091 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. “My dream was to bring a new flagship back to L.A.,” Rosen said. An iconic Trader Vic’s location opened in the Beverly Hilton in 1955, lasting until 2007.
Rosen, a West Hollywood resident and former bartender, said in an interview that he sees the revival as an opportunity to celebrate the chain’s rich history. The new location will incorporate salvaged treasures from previous Trader Vic’s restaurants, including décor from its Beverly Hills and London venues. Victor Bergeron’s granddaughter, Eve Bergeron, will serve as historian and marketing manager. “People like authenticity, and we’re going to lean into that,” Rosen said.
The 1920s era building has been vacant for decades. “The façade is going to stay the same,” Rosen told the Beverly Press. “The city of West Hollywood is really excited about bringing back that old look with a neon sign.” Also expect many Trader Vic’s signature touches, from the classic food and drinks to a new Tiki mug available only at the Los Angeles location.
Since taking the CEO job in 2019, Rosen told the newspaper, “this has been my dream, to bring this back to L.A., to do it right, to pay homage to the city – bring back something that I think was such a big part of this city for so long. It’s so important to so many people. I want to be a small part of the city’s history.”
Trader Vic’s Hospitality: Official website | Instagram | Facebook
More on The Atomic Grog: Trader Vic’s cocktail recipes
4. LEGENDS LOST: Tiki art world mourns deaths of Tiki Rob, Bob Van Oosting, Benzart
The were several notable deaths in 2024, especially saddening fans of the artistic side of Tiki culture. We lost three creatives who left an indelible mark over decades of work, all of them modest amid the acclaim they received (and deserved). Let them not be forgotten.
“TIKI ROB” HAWES: One of the most creative and popular artists in the modern Tiki mug world lost his battle with cancer in April at his home on the island of Maui. Announced by his wife on his Instagram page, the news generated an outpouring from fans and fellow artists on social media. “Rob’s tenacity for pushing the art of mugs will live on forever,” said “Tiki Tony” Murphy. “He’s an inspiration!” Fellow Maui mug-maker Scott Taylor called Hawes “a true warrior in every sense the word.” Despite his diagnosis, Hawes continued to create one-of-a-kind works of art until the very end. His unwavering commitment to quality and innovation was second to none.
BOB VAN OOSTING of Oceanic Arts: The co-owner of the legendary Southern California restaurant and theme park decor company joined his old business partner Leroy Schmaltz in Tiki paradise. Van Oosting, 89, passed away Oct. 13. The pair’s retirement and closing of Oceanic Arts (est. 1956) – along with the auctions and celebrations that surrounded it – were the top stories of the year in both 2021 and 2022. The latter year also sadly marked the death of Schmaltz, the prodigious Tiki carver who left his mark with a half-century of high-profile work. But that may not have been possible without Van Oosting’s business acumen, as well as his eye for authentic Polynesian art. The pair famously built their operation after travels they made to the South Pacific to see art being made firsthand, leading to the great historical accuracy of their products. Van Oosting’s death truly marks the end of an era.
• Listen: Schmaltz and Van Oosting on Inside the Desert Oasis Room (2020)
• Watch: Oceanic Arts and Van Oosting on A Moment of Tiki (2021)
BEN “BENZART” DAVIS: The 79-year-old Tiki carver passed away in late December in Port St. Lucie, Fla. A respected artist and mentor to many younger proteges, Davis built a following for decades on Tiki Central under his Benzart name. He may be best known for his work in 1989 at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where he carved a 13-foot Hawaiian Ku, among other large tikis. He was also known for his mug deigns and necklace carvings.
5. CHANGING OF THE GUARD: High-profile Tiki bars close, new venues launch
Volatility is expected in the restaurant and bar industry, but the past couple of years have been exceptionally difficult. In addition to quickly rising costs, extremely tight margins and staffing challenges, proprietors are now dealing with over-saturation following the post-pandemic boom and growing competition for the attention of customers. We sadly lost some well-known Tiki bars in 2024, but we’re heartened by the fact that the interest level remains high for Tiki establishments worldwide, and there’s still a healthy flow of new businesses throwing their hat into the ring.
CLOSINGS: We know the owners and operators put their hearts and souls into their businesses, so it’s not easy to see them go. We wish them all the best in future projects. Among the biggest losses:
• Previous coverage: Beyond Esotico Miami: Kaona Room and Daniele Dalla Pola’s cocktail and rum adventures
• Esotico Miami – Facing business and personal challenges, Italian master mixologist Daniele Dalla Pola closed his flagship restaurant and bar in early March after nearly five years of crowd-pleasing cocktails and cuisine. He left son Billy in charge of the adjacent Tiki speakeasy, Kaona Room, which remains open and thriving. Relocating to Tulum on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the elder Dalla Pola regrouped and by year’s end had announced his upcoming book, Daniele Dalla Pola’s Cocktail Extravaganza, a new spirits brand (Voyage Rum Co.), and his own barware from Cocktail Kingdom. He also said he’s close to opening a bar, restaurant and beachfront club in Tulum. ‘Okika is set to open in February, he announced on Facebook.
The Secret Tiki Temple (Jacksonville, Fla.) – This revivalist speakeasy located since 2016 inside the 49-year-old Pagoda restaurant was a casualty when the family decided to close the business in April. Operations manager Tommy Tam, whose late father co-founded the restaurant, is keeping the Secret Tiki Temple brand alive on Instagram and with continuing merchandise sales until he figures out the next step for his family legacy.
Kon Tiki (Oakland, Calif.) – Citing a litany of issues, from spiraling costs to ambivalent city officials, the owners of this highly regarded cocktail bar very publicly aired their grievances in announcing the December closing after seven years. Kon Tiki serves as a perfect example of how despite its popularity and stellar food and drinks, other factors beyond their control continue to keep small operators from thriving in a competitive industry.
OPENINGS: There were more than a few new Tiki destinations that generated quite a bit of buzz in 2024. Here are some that most piqued our interest, in addition to the Don the Beachcomber, Mai-Kai and Bamboo Room by Trader Vic’s projects detailed above.
• Cabali (Tucson, Ariz.) – This speakeasy-style bar has more than 1,000 Tiki mugs on display and cocktails inspired by Southern Arizona flavors. Open since February, the venue inspired the upcoming film, Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession, which focuses on owner Doug “Fini” Finical.
• The Lucky Tiki (West Hollywood, Calif.) – This much ballyhooed Tiki speakeasy, originally opened in the early 2000s, was revived by the 1933 Group at the end of March in a new location above the historic Tail o’ the Pup restaurant. While the cocktails are modernized, the decor includes all of the original carved stools and vintage fish floats. The small, immersive space seats just 45, so reservations are required.
• Glitter Gulch Tiki (Las Vegas) – Paying homage to the historical nickname for the downtown area and its neon-lit past, the latest in a growing number of Tiki destinations in the area opened in October. Built by noted Tiki bar designer Bamboo Ben Bassham (and son Blake), the 90-seat lounge features much classic decor, flamboyant (fire and dry ice) cocktails, and Hawaiian-inspired plates.
• The Pacific Seas at Clifton’s Republic (Los Angeles) – Closed since the pandemic in 2020, the fourth-floor Tiki lounge in the 90-year-old Clifton’s Cafeteria building finally came back to life in November. A tribute to the original 1930s-era space, it features a 1935 Chris-Craft mahogany boat shipwrecked in the middle of the bar.
Other openings included: The Blue Palm (Kansas City), Starbird Lounge (Moorhead, Minn.), Pele Utu (Reno, Nev.), Ikto Tiki (Ontario, Canada), Tahula’s Tiki Shack (Nottingham, UK), and Uncharted (San Antonio).
EXPANSION: Shipwrecked Paradise Island Tiki Bar launched in Sacramento in November, a sister venue to the Shipwrecked Tiki Bar that opened in Davis, Calif., in 2023.
CHANGES: In March, owner Michele Rundgren announced that she and husband Todd are looking to sell their Tiki ‘Iniki on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i. A buyer has yet to be announced. … The owners of Archipelago – the Washington, D.C., bar that closed in 2023 – launched Lost Island Vibes in the city’s Farragut Square food hall in March. The weekly pop-up happens most every Saturday.
AWARDS & HONORS: Strong Water Anaheim was a James Beard Award finalist for Outstanding Beverage Program. The 5-year-old shipwreck-themed bar was also a Top 10 regional nominee for two Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail. … New York City’s Paradise Lost made the Spirited Awards final four in the Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar category.
MILESTONES: San Diego’s Bali Hai celebrated its 70th anniversary in September. Located on Shelter Island, the historic restaurant is still family owned and operated.
6. ECLECTIC EVENTS: New weekenders debut, regional gatherings grow
Several new events made a splash in 2024, from Tiki-a-Go-Go in Orlando in April to the Beachcomber Bash in Ocean Shores, Wash., in September. All the major Tiki weekenders remained strong and vital: Inuhele (Atlanta), Arizona Tiki Oasis (Scottsdale), Tiki Caliente (Palm Springs, Calif.), The Hukilau (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Exotikon (Los Angeles), Ohana: Luau at the Lake (Lake George, N.Y.), Tiki Oasis (San Diego), Tiki in Waikiki, et al. Meanwhile, smaller regional events continued to pop up and attract an audience. Among the more spirited events, rum festivals in particular seemed to be experiencing a boom. The lineup from The Rum Lab included eight events in the U.S., Spain and Puerto Rico. We also noticed an uptick in smaller marketplace events, reflecting the interest in the Tiki arts that never seems to wane.
The Year in Tiki 2024: Take a look back at the top events in photos, video
UPDATES: The Tiki Times: Exclusive events guide
Check the calendar for the latest upcoming live and virtual events in 2025.
7. TOO HIP FOR THIS WORLD: Mike “Jetsetter” Jones catches last Pan Am flight back to the mid-century
Sadly, the Florida Tiki community lost a trendsetter as well as a jetsetter in 2024. Mike “Jetsetter” Jones left a lasting influence even greater than his larger-than-life personality. From 2006 to 2016, Mike was a dynamo, operating his own bar/restaurant (Jetsetter Lounge in Lake Worth) for two years, hosting his own event (Mod Miami), then transforming into the world’s swankiest DJ.
You might have seen him at The Hukilau, the Mai-Kai, or numerous other events over the years. Mike lost a battle with lung cancer on Nov. 15 and, we presume, is now hosting the hippest party in the afterlife. Okole maluna, my friend! Among all of the lives lost during the past year, this one is the most personal for me. Forgive me if I wax a bit nostalgic.
After all, nostalgia is what Mike Jones was all about. Not in a folksy or sentimental way. He was no Walt Disney. No, Mike embraced the edgier side of mid-century modern culture by the horns and never let go. This especially included all the absurdities in style and fashion. As Mike’s daughter Morgan posted on Facebook after his death, “He wore the most unforgettable vintage shirts everywhere.” Besides Morgan, Mike is survived by his wife Natalie, sons Ian and Dylan, and brothers Steve and Jude.
Beyond fashion, Morgan summed up her father’s life perfectly: “My dad was the type of person who made connections with people everywhere he went. He was so charismatic, kind, friendly, and compassionate. He lived an extraordinary life.” Indeed he did, and I’m happy to have been in it for just a short time. I was honored to know Mike and work with him at several events over the years.
But it was his Jetsetter Lounge that left the biggest impact on me and, I’m sure, others who were lucky enough to stumble upon this timewarp of a bar and restaurant during its brief but colorful run. The impact of Mike and the Jetsetter on me and my entry into the world of Tiki culture was enormous.
We met before Mike opened the Jetsetter, introduced by mutual friends, and we hit it off immediately. He hosted a party at his house in Lake Worth, which was outfitted with the most spectacular tropical grotto north of the Mai-Kai. His quick wit and sometimes gruff, native New Yorker demeanor could be off-putting to some, but I embraced him like a long-lost cousin.
I grew up in New Jersey in he ’60s and also attended the New York World’s Fair, though I was just 3 in 1964 and have no recollection of the Unisphere or Futurama. Mike was two years older, and I’m guessing he soaked in the surroundings of our youth like nobody else. Jetsetter Lounge opened at 1132 N. Dixie Highway in sleepy Lake Worth, just south of West Palm Beach, in December 2005. It sadly closed less than two years later in October 2007.
But for those glorious 22 months, the Jetsetter was a bastion of mid-mod style meets modern lowbrow and Tiki culture. Through Mike, I was introduced to everything from Shag to Tiki Farm to the Disasternauts. So were hundreds of other impressionable patrons who, like me, ended up hooked for life. Remember, this was 2006, when there were few modern Tiki revival bars across the country, let alone one that brought such a unique flair and total authenticity to the table.
James Teitelbaum devoted nearly an entire page to the Jetsetter Lounge in the second edition of Tiki Road Trip: A Guide to Tiki Culture in North America, published in 2007. Like me, the author of the authoritative guide to vintage and revivalist Tiki destinations was smitten with Mike and his creation. [Read the full review]
![[Read the full review]](https://www.slammie.com/atomicgrog/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Jetsetter-Lounge_Tiki-Road-Trip.jpg){kind=link}
He quotes Mike on his vision: “During the space age, we had aspirations for interplanetary travel, there wasn’t a war going on, and there wasn’t the sense of pessimism in the world that we have today. It was the dawning of a new era, and it was an era of optimism. I wanted to capture that spirit.” Indeed he did.
The book describes the venue in great detail, starting with its front room “filled with a wish list of mid-century vintage designer furniture.” I’ll never forget that space, a room in which you’d expect to bump into Peter Maxx or Andy Warhol, decorated with iconic pieces including an egg chair, marshmallow sofa, swan chair, boomerang tables, and an Eames freeform sofa. Mike also sold reproductions of these pieces in an adjacent shop.
Beyond this lounge area was a large dining room, separated by a bar that you could envision in a mod 1960s rec room, cocktails served in Tiki Farm and Munktiki mugs. A full dinner menu (“a notch above the standard bar food,” Teitelbaum notes) could be enjoyed while sitting at Saarinen tables amid mood lighting and dozens of prints by Shag and other artists (Doug Horne, Derek Yaniger) who were just starting to make a name for themselves. After dinner, some of the tables were removed and one end of the dining area became an impromptu stage.
The icing on the cake was the massive outdoor garden, decorated with three giant moai and other Tiki accoutrements. “Tiki style was also absorbed into Mike’s consciousness at the World’s Fair, and forms a key element of the Jetsetter,” Teitelbaum wrote. That was the hook for me. Mike connected the dots between mid-mod style, which I remembered well from my youth, and the burgeoning Tiki subculture of the early 2000s.
The lounge received critical praise locally, as well, earning write-ups in both The Palm Beach Post and Sun-Sentinel, the two major daily newspapers. But the unique concept failed to catch on in a big way. The upcoming wave of millennial hipsters was still years away, and there weren’t enough of us discerning Boomers and Gen X guests who appreciated the Jetsetter for the gem that it was.
The Jetsetter never felt forced or kitschy thanks to Mike and his unique vision. Call it integrity, call it a single-mindedness, it may have been his downfall but it made for one helluva experiential space. “As an owner of a business that dabbles in things Tiki, I am all too familiar with the uncertainty that a newbie feels when entering my establishment, trying to make sense of their unique surroundings,” he wrote on Tiki Central in June 2007.
“There are those that delight in their discovery, while others shake their heads and trod on to surroundings more familiar to them and their personal comfort zone (usually in search of a bucket of Bud Lights!). If I had a nickel for every ‘this place is like the Jetsons meets the Flintstones’ comments, I perhaps would be a rich man!” But Mike never wavered, and I thank him for it. It might have been the stubborn punk-rocker in him. Another connection to many of his loyal guests was his immersion in the early New York punk scene.
Mike’s DIY style was also the downfall of the Jetsetter, as he explained on Tiki Central in October 2007. He had total control over the design, decor and menus, but he was also burdend with a totally self-financed business. When the Great Recession hit, the Jetsetter was ill-prepared like many other small businesses.
The experience left Mike with a bittersweet memory: “It’s rewarding – and frustrating – to read the many accolades given to the Jetsetter during our semi-brief existence. That’s the frustrating part – having a place ‘that oozes cool’, yet NOT making it. I kind of feel that closing shop let our supporters and fans down, to which I apologize profusely.” But there was no need to apologize. The Jetsetter went out with style and grace, a venue truly ahead of its time. Or more accurately, wrong place AND wrong time. I could see the lounge existing happily today down the street from the new Shag House in Palm Springs.
During its brief run, the Jetsetter was the nerve center of the South Florida Tiki revival scene. Sure, we had the Mai-Kai and its incredible decor and throwback experience. But in those early days of The Hukilau and other events, the Jetsetter embraced not the mainstream, but the underground Tiki community. As Mike would say in his many invitations to his special events: “Calling all hipsters, tikiphiles, swanksters, lounge lizards, ultra-mods, and other jetsetters …”
Jetsetter Lounge is where I was first introduced to one of those tikiphiles, Christie “Tiki Kiliki” White, organizer of The Hukilau. So began my association with the annual event that continues to this day. The Jetsetter was the site of two Hukilau after parties (dubbed the “Intergalactic Grand Finale” by Mike). He also hosted several memorable “Jetsetfest” events featuring bands, vendors, and artists. At the Jetsetter, many of us were first exposed to bands that would become mainstays in the local Tiki and retro scene: Slip & the Spinouts, the Haole Cats, the Intoxicators, and many more. [See photos] (Mike had a particular bond with the Disasternauts, a side project of the Intoxicators with the conceit that the costumed band members were refugee apes from a failed NASA experiment in the 1960s. He gave them their first gig, and he often joined the fun by dressing up as Dr. Zaius, his favorite character from the classic 1968 film Planet of the Apes.)
In March 2011, Mike hosted a multi-day event he called Mod Miami, “a swankadelic weekend experience (with a touch of Tiki!)”. Held in the historic MiMo Boulevard District, it included the Superions (featuring Fred Schneider of the B-52’s), DJ Ursula 1000, plus many bands from the Tiki scene (Gold Dust Lounge, Stolen Idols, et al.). Like the Jetsetter, Mod Miami may have been too far ahead of its time and went down in history as a one-and-done experiment.
Mike and I collaborated on one of my all-time favorite events at The Hukilau, the 2010 room crawl (it was his idea to name it after 2001: A Space Odyssey, his favorite film). I made sure he DJ’d my first major Mai-Kai event in 2012 (see story). Mike’s DJ sets, which he liked to call “swankadelic sounds for modern minds,” were always a hit whether it was at The Hukilau or the Mai-Kai or the local craft cocktail bar near his Palm Beach County home. During The Hukilau 2014 at the Bahia Mar hotel, he hosted a memorable Jetsetter reunion party (aka Intergalactic A-Glo-Glo) featuring the Disasternauts.
Undoubtedly, Mike was a colorful character. But I’ll always remember him for his simple kindness and generosity. I celebrated two birthdays at Jetsetter Lounge, and both times went home with gifts from Mike: Limited edition Tiki Farm mugs (by Von Franco and Shag) that I still display on a top shelf in their original boxes. After the closing, Mike knew I was building out my home Tiki bar, so he offered me a deal on furniture and decor from the restaurant. He even tipped me off to a cool bamboo bar he saw for sale in a local antique store.
Today, The Atomic Grog still proudly sports that bar and boomerang table (see photo below), plus a Shag print and other treasures from the Jetsetter Lounge. I like to think the spirit of Mike and the Jetsetter live on here as well.
BONUS COCKTAIL RECIPE
If you knew Mike “Jetsetter” Jones, or read the tribute above, you’ll know that he enjoyed making a splash with his artistic creations, but he didn’t go for anything too fancy. And he got a kick out of tongue-in-cheek references to the 1960s. Hence, his signature drink at Jetsetter Lounge, The Dirty Banana.
The menu description included the iconic artwork by Andy Warhol, a nod to Mike’s New York rock ‘n’ roll roots. The mod artist created the simplistic banana graphic for the cover of the classic 1967 album, The Velvet Underground & Nico. The cocktail, however, is much less controversial than that inspiration.
“It’s a variation of something I had in Jamaica,” Jones told The Palm Beach Post, which published the recipe as part of a special feature on rum cocktails. “I just watched the bartender and then attempted it on my own. With all the bananas, it’s like a meal in a drink, but it’s refreshing at the same time.”
(What many people don’t know is that Jones was in charge of opening one of the original Banana Republic stores in the late 1970s on Bleecker Street in SoHo/Village. He went on to open the one in Princeton, N.J., then worked for the company’s founders, Mel and Patricia Ziegler, after they sold out to the Gap. The simple banana likely had additional meaning for Jones.)
Even after his Jetsetter Lounge (2005-2007) closed, Jones kept The Dirty Banana alive as his signature drink at parties, special events, or wherever there were monkeyshines going on. It’s fitting, therefore, to toast the end of 2024 and dawn of 2025 with this primitive yet tasty classic.
THE DIRTY BANANA
By Mike Jones (Jetsetter Lounge, circa 2006)
• 1 ounce Appleton Estate Signature rum
• 1 ounce Wray & Nephew Overproof rum
• 1 ounce dark Jamaican rum (Coruba, Myers’s, et al.)
• 1/2 ounce Tia Maria coffee liqueur
• 3 very ripe bananas
Cut a one-inch section from one banana (to save as garnish). Combine ingredients and remaining bananas in a blender with one-half cup of crushed ice. Blend thoroughly until smooth. Garnish with a speared cherry and banana slice.
Pre-dating Tiki’s banana liqueur craze by more the a decade, this simple frozen treat is heavy on the rum and bananas, light on nuance. But it’s a wonderful homage to a Jamaican classic featuring stellar rums from that island. (Jones definitely knew his rums. I would often see him at the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, where he also DJ’d.)
I like to use Coruba, which is also produced at the Wray & Nephew distillery in Kingston along with the Appleton brand, to provide a cohesive rum profile. It’s also interesting to note that Appleton’s longtime master blender, Joy Spence, got her start in the industry as a chemist at Jamaica’s Tia Maria before she was hired by Appleton in 1981. Jones, an astute fan of Spence and her rums, likely knew that.
• Related: What we learned at Appleton master blender Joy Spence’s rum tasting at the Mai-Kai
Okole maluna!
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY!
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