When Home Bars Outperform Real Bars
A look at the Savage Seas bar area
The continued growth of the American neo-tiki community has reached such a fever pitch that even Vogue magazine published an article this week about the Tiki Bar Renaissance. What I think most major publications misconstrue about the tiki movement is the idea that the culture is inherently tied to a fixed network of thematic bars, when in reality it’s moved beyond those limited locations and into a much larger cross section of American life.
The tiki movement, while born in the early taverns of Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic, is now fully integrated with vintage clothing collectors, Americana preservationists, classic Hollywood fans, Disney adults, maximalist artists, and general enthusiasts of kitsch, and has extended far outside its Southern California roots. Conventions like Tiki Oasis in San Diego see tiki lovers from all over the world gather at a resort for a weeklong celebration of all the categories mentioned above. It’s so detail-oriented that you’ll find entire hotel rooms stripped of their furniture and replaced with truck-loads of bespoke and vintage pieces, setting up thematic private parties on-site for invitees of those in-the-know.
Hence, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the dedication and fanaticism these tiki fans devote to their wardrobes and lifestyles has spread to their own living rooms.
I’ve embedded my original Instagram post above so that you can more easily watch the videos I took while visiting what is without a doubt the most jaw-dropping and impressive home tiki bar I’ve ever encountered. Located in the greater Los Angeles area, Nick Petty’s Savage Seas is so incredibly ornate it’s tough not to just sit there in a stupor and take it all in. Adorned with real vintage artifacts from the most beloved historic tiki bars in American history, I would argue that Savage Seas is a more impressive feat of engineering and imagination than many of the “real” tiki bars I’ve traveled to over the years.
But is anyone really surprised at this point? Hobbyist culture in the internet age has long surpassed the devotion of industry professionals, whether its booze, fashion, film, comedy, art, or curation. If your inner desire is to spend every free moment collecting vintage tiki pieces, then it goes without saying that your home tiki bar has the potential to be far greater than someone simply collecting a paycheck.
The world of hobbyist home bars isn’t limited the tiki realm, however. Whether it’s a Scottish style whiskey lounge, or wild west-themed saloon, home bar curation has reached a point where it’s no longer fringe. If anything, it’s a glaring warning to the hospitality industry: innovate or die. Consumers are looking for an experience above all else. Atmosphere and vibes are now more important than anything, even the quality of the drinks. In the case of Savage Seas, Nick’s tiki recipes are also some of the best I’ve ever tasted.
-David Driscoll