I recently spent a week in Rome as part of a big European trip. And when one is in Rome, you do as the Romans do. You tiki it up. What!?! A tiki bar in Rome? Yeah, baby. It's the Makai Surf & Tiki Bar and it is awesome.
The website proclaims it is the first tiki bar in Rome. No tiki bars in Rome until recently? No wonder the Roman Empire fell. Fortunately they may been able to rebuild that empire with the help of the Makai Surf & Tiki Bar. It is top notch all of the way and not to be missed.
When you visit any tiki bar in a foreign land (or sometimes even here in the USA), you know you are going to be in for an "iffy" experience. How will the tiki thang translate into other cultures? It could be a wonderful experience or it could be a big bad disaster. The cool lettering on the sign over the door looked good and a peek in the windows on the way to the door showed promise...
Stepping in to the place, though.... WOW! You could tell that this place was a labor of love. Here you are in Rome and you are instantly transported to an idealized version of an early 60's Californian beach front surfer hangout.
The bar is a cool focal point in the main dining area. It really does look like it could have been pulled from a ramshackle beach bar (well, an upscale ramshackle beach bar, that is) somewhere along the early 1960's Hawaii or California coast.
The kitchen is house behind bamboo walls, a thatched roof, and is adorned with nautical decor.
There is a restaurant menu as well as a nifty cocktail menu shaped like a surf board. And the drinks are pretty adventurous. Be careful you don't end up getting hit by a tsunami of alcohol by the end of the night.
There are various tacos on the menu to get started with.
There's also the Big Makai (clever) with tropical fries.
It was a pretty groovy place. Fun vibe, good drinks and awesome food. It's an awesome tiki bar, right? WRONG! The Makai Surf & Tiki Bar is actually TWO bars. The main floor is the SURF portion. The TIKI part resides downstairs.
Through this tiki-mouthed doorway and down these stairs awaits paradise...
See the sign? Welcome to Paradise. I wasn't kidding...
As nicely done as the upper floor is, the downstairs tiki bar blows you away. It is incredible, going way beyond your expectations. And before you can say "Aloha" in Italian, suddenly there is the bar.
Zowie! The decor is fun. There are interesting tidbits all over on display to add to the experience.
Cargo netting, colored floats, skulls, and puffer fish lamps.
Rattan furniture with tropical print cushions and throw pillows make up the seating.
The seating section is tiered, kind of flashing back to the way they used to arrange night clubs of the 40's
This place is classic tiki...and it has only been open a few years.
These photos are not doing the place justice. It is just an incredible place. It puts many stateside tiki bars to shame.
The menu, rolled like an old pirate map, features great tiki drink classics...and is in English.
What about souvenir signature tiki mugs? Makai has a nifty mug in two finishes.
When in Rome, forget the Colosseum. Forget the Vatican. The thing you really want to experience is the Makai Surf & Tiki Bar. Upstairs in the Surf Bar or down in the wondrous subterranean Tiki Bar, this place offers you two great places to hang ten and relax or get your tiki on. Kowabunga, baby!
CHEERS!
Makai Surf & Tiki Bar
Via dei Magazzini Generali 4-a-b-c
Rome, Italy 00154
+39 375 556 0903
Website: http://www.makaitikibar.it/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakaiSurfAndTikiBar/
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