Tiki-Ti Cocktail Lounge

This is a great bar. Yes, it’s a tiki bar but forget about that for a second. It’s just a great bar, period.

Take your out of town guests here. If you’re visiting from out of town, try and carve out some time to come here.

You need to know it’s tiny. It’s one room and it’s really small. That’s both good and bad. It’s bad because only so many people can be inside at any one time, maybe 35-40ish. Otherwise, you’re waiting outside until others leave and make some space.

But it’s good once your inside. You’re going to talk to a lot of strangers and the camaraderie is off the charts. There is a lot of energy here, partly because you’re jammed in together.

The drinks are good (and good-sized) and the bartenders are fun.

You should pay homage to Jim, the fellow in the rasta cap sitting in the middle of the bar. He’s been coming here for over 20 years. He’s personable and even has a drink on the menu named after him (“Jim’s Special”).

Someone in your party should order an Uga Booga or a Blood and Sand and let the fun begin. This is why you came here. You’ll see what I mean when everyone starts yelling UGA BOOGA or TORO or OLÉ at the top of their lungs or a black bull starts running on the bar counter–really.

I tried a Ray’s Mistake and a Bayanihan. They were both good but honestly, after awhile, all tiki drinks sort of blend together.

Parking is rough. By sheer miracle, we found street parking literally outside the front entrance. You probably won’t be so lucky.

It opens at 4:00 p.m. and I guarantee there will be 20-30 people already in line when they open. So either get there earlier or stand in line. It’s up to you.

They take credit cards. They may have been cash only once upon a time but they take credit cards now.

No food so I would get something solid in your stomach before throwing back a few sugary alcoholic drinks. Or just pillage a taco shop immediately afterward, I guess.

This is a great bar.