A Tropical Escape Rooted in Hollywood History, Polynesian Cocktails, and Desert Cool
Tiki culture isn’t just a novelty in Palm Springs—it’s part of the city’s cultural DNA.
Born in the United States during the 1930s, tiki culture blended Polynesian-inspired décor, escapist fantasy, and rum-forward cocktails into an immersive experience that transported guests far from everyday life. After World War II, the movement exploded as returning servicemen brought home memories of the South Pacific, fueling a nationwide fascination with tropical design, music, and mixology.
Palm Springs—already a playground for Hollywood elites, embraced tiki wholeheartedly, becoming one of the most important desert outposts of the movement. Today, the city’s tiki lounges honor that legacy while keeping the cocktails flowing and the vibes high.
The Origins of Tiki Culture: Don the Beachcomber and Hollywood Escapism
The tiki movement began in 1934 when Don the Beachcomber opened in Los Angeles. The bar was created by Donn Beach, born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt in 1907 in New Orleans.
As a young man in the 1920s, Gantt traveled extensively through the Caribbean and South Pacific, absorbing flavors, aesthetics, and stories that would later inspire his bars. Adopting the name Donn Beach, he transformed those experiences into something entirely new: a theatrical, immersive bar concept built around exotic décor, secret rum blends, and meticulously crafted cocktails.
Hollywood quickly took notice.
Stars flocked to Don the Beachcomber not just for drinks, but for escapism—an imagined tropical paradise during a time marked by economic uncertainty and global conflict. Signature cocktails like the Zombie and Mai Tai became legendary, setting the foundation for tiki mixology nationwide.
Palm Springs and Tiki: A Desert Love Affair
By the late 1940s and early 1950s, tiki culture followed celebrities east from Los Angeles to Palm Springs. The city’s resorts, lounges, and private clubs embraced the style, blending midcentury desert architecture with bamboo, thatch, lava rock, and rum-soaked menus.
Few places illustrate this better than Don the Beachcomber’s own Palm Springs outpost.
Don️ Don the Beachcomber of Palm Springs (1953–Present-Day Legacy)
In 1953, Don the Beachcomber Palm Springs opened under the ownership of Sunny Sund, Donn Beach’s former wife. It immediately became one of the most glamorous dining destinations in the desert.
The guest list read like a Hollywood history book.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz dined with Mayor Frank Bogert. Frank Sinatra attended parties hosted by Jimmy Van Heusen. Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Warner, Clark Gable, Dinah Shore, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Jack Benny, and William Holden were all regulars.
Sinatra hosted dinner parties here. Marilyn Monroe dined in December 1954 with photographer Milton Greene. Clark Gable visited in 1955 with his new wife, Kay Spreckels. The Queen’s Table became legendary.
Palm Springs tiki wasn’t kitsch—it was elite, glamorous, and central to celebrity life.
Palm Springs Tiki Lounges You Must Experience
Bootlegger Tiki : A Modern Revival in a Historic Location
Today, Bootlegger Tiki occupies the exact location of the original Don the Beachcomber, making it one of the most historically significant tiki bars in Palm Springs.
This modern tiki lounge honors its roots with:
- Blowfish light fixtures
- Thatched palm walls
- A hidden side-street entrance
- An intimate interior and mountain-view patio
While not a speakeasy, it feels like one. The cocktail menu rotates seasonally, but tiki purists can still order the legendary Donn Beach 1934 Zombie, featuring gold rum, dark rum, Hamilton 151, lime, grapefruit, falernum, grenadine, cinnamon, and Herbsaint bitters.
The adjacent Ernest Coffee Co, was named after Don's real name, Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt.
Address: 1101 N Palm Canyon Drive
Toucan's Tiki Lounge : High-Energy Meets Palm Springs Nightlife
Toucan’s Tiki Lounge delivers a high-energy, nightlife-driven tiki experience. Known for its vibrant décor, tiki masks, bamboo accents, and Polynesian artwork, it’s one of Palm Springs’ most lively and inclusive LGBTQ+ venues.
A favorite for:
- Bachelorette parties
- Drag shows
- Theme nights, including Latin Night
Toucan’s blends classic tiki visuals with modern entertainment, making it a standout in Palm Springs’ after-dark scene.
Address: 2100 N Palm Canyon Drive
Tonga Hut Palm Springs: Classic Tiki, Done Right
Tonga Hut has an extensive appetizer menu. Their famous Pu Pu Platter includes coconut shrimp, potstickers, eggrolls, Chinese pork ribs, and beef or chicken skewers. Other classics include pineapple fried rice, fish and chips, and Loco Moco, a beef or spam patty served over steamed rice with gravy and a sunny-side-up egg.
The original Tonga Hut opened in Los Angeles in 1958 and is the city’s oldest tiki bar. Its Palm Springs location faithfully recreates that vintage magic.
Expect:
- Curved booths under dim lighting
- Black velvet paintings
- A communal fireplace lounge
- A hidden Tonga Room, tucked inside a phone booth
The cocktail menu is a masterclass in tiki classics, including the Mai Tai, 1934 Zombie, and the Pi Yi, a tribute to Don the Beachcomber. For serious rum fans, the Navy Grog—a blend of three rums, citrus, and honey—is a must.
The food menu leans into comfort and nostalgia. Highlights include:
- The famous Pu Pu Platter
- Pineapple fried rice
- Fish and chips
- Loco Moco, served with rice, gravy, and a sunny-side-up egg
Address: 254 N Palm Canyon Drive
The Reef at Caliente Tropics: Poolside Tiki
Set poolside at the historic Caliente Tropics Resort, The Reef offers one of the most authentic midcentury tiki settings in Palm Springs.
Originally opened as the Tropics Motor Hotel, the property featured lush tropical theming and carved tikis throughout. Its original dining venue evolved into today’s Reef Bar—still overlooking the pool.
Highlights include:
- Colorful tiki décor and bamboo accents
- Classic and modern tiki cocktails
- Mocktail options
- Signature Painkiller, rich with rum, coconut, pineapple, and orange
The menu includes salads, burgers, and Hawaiian-inspired dishes like coconut shrimp, Kalua pork sliders, and Loco Moco.
Address: 411 E Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs tiki lounges aren’t just bars, they’re living history.
They represent postwar optimism, Hollywood escapism, and a uniquely American interpretation of Polynesian fantasy. From historic celebrity hangouts to modern cocktail temples and high-energy nightlife spots, tiki remains a vital part of the Palm Springs experience.
Cheers to the tiki life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tiki Lounges in Palm Springs
Are there tiki bars with food in Palm Springs?
Yes. Tonga Hut Palm Springs and The Reef at Caliente Tropics both offer full food menus alongside their tiki cocktails. Expect classic tiki and island-inspired dishes such as Pu Pu Platters, coconut shrimp, Kalua pork sliders, fried rice, and Loco Moco.
Is there a tiki bar in Palm Springs with live entertainment?
Yes. Toucan’s Tiki Lounge is known for its energetic nightlife and live entertainment, including some of the best drag shows in Palm Springs, themed nights, Latin music, and karaoke, all set within a colorful tiki-inspired environment.