Tiki had a moment a few decades ago. Whatever town you visited, there was at least one tiki restaurant or cantina. The look and vibe are entirely different from anything else out there. However, as is the case with just about everything, the trend evolved, and the restaurant industry moved into an industrial decor, with oversized garaged doors, exposed plumbing, and unfinished ceilings. But all good things come back around, including tiki, and now a new tiki restaurant and bar is in the works and will open in downtown Phoenix in the coming months.
You might not recognize the name Julian Wright, but chances are you have been to some of the restaurants he’s created. Pedal Haus Brewery is one of the most popular, though other spots like Lucky’s Indoor Outdoor is another attractive draw. All of his restaurants tend to lean heavily into the decor, and few restaurants fully embrace extreme decor like the world of tiki restaurants. In many ways, a good tiki restaurant is more about the decorations and vibe than anything else. Fall short in the decorations and the rest of the food and drinks simply don’t work.