Smuggler Rob doesn’t have a name for his home tiki bar yet but that isn’t going to stop me from doing a spotlight on his bar! You can find Rob’s tiki bar hidden in an add-on shop in his garage. It’s small and cozy and it’s the place you want to retreat with Spokane’s cold and snowy winters. Spokane is a five hour drive from my place in Seattle and once the weather gets nicer, I’m heading out to check out Smuggler Rob’s Tiki Bar!
What is the tiki scene like where you live?
Rob- To my knowledge there’s not a very big tiki scene in Spokane, but it seems to be growing. The Tiny Tiki is a local bar that closed during the pandemic but should be finally reopening soon. There’s some great spots that make tropical cocktails but none of them really have a tiki atmosphere. The Frozen Pineapple is a home bar in a shed in someone’s backyard, but I haven’t been able to visit and I think they may be closed to visitors now.
What brought you into the tiki lifestyle and how long has it been part of your life?
Rob- I’ve always been a casual fan of tiki, probably since I watched Pee-Wee’s Playhouse as a kid and got umbrellas in my Shirley Temples at Chinese restaurants. Trader Sam’s is the first tiki bar I can remember specifically going to for a destination (and to get a mug)! In 2013, I moved to Los Angeles and lived within walking distance of Tiki Ti. I loved getting $5 Ray’s Mistakes on Wednesday nights with friends.
Can you give a little history of how it all came together?
Rob- My home bar came together after my girlfriend moved into a new house and I noticed a weird little add-on shop space in the garage. During Covid I had delved into learning more about tiki while sitting on the couch (especially from weird guys on YouTube) and started making it a goal to travel to more tiki bars around the country. Experiencing more places in person, tasting great drinks, and seeing other’s home bars online made me decide to turn the small space in the garage into a little tiki shanty.
My goal was to do everything as affordably and easy as possible. I found a vintage bar and stool set from the Philippines on Facebook marketplace for $175 and drove to Idaho to pick it up. Instead of using expensive bamboo for the walls and ceiling I got free coffee sacks from a local roaster and cut up cheap straw beach mats from Grocery Outlet. I used a china hutch as the back of the bar, printed off photos at Walgreens and put them in cheap frames, found decor at local thrift stores and antique malls, and got some deals on used lighting and other items from Amazon. A friend even donated a vintage Capiz shell hanging lamp. It’s not the most traditional tiki bar, but I do abide by the rule that there should be no natural lighting. The dim, atmospheric lightning not only sets the mood but obscures how thrifty some of the decorating may be!
Any story behind the name of your bar
Rob– Actually the bar still doesn’t have a name! But I’ve narrowed it down to a few options. I like to feed crows and squirrels peanuts outside of the bar in the yard, so maybe I’ll incorporate that somehow.
What is your favorite Tiki drink?
Rob- My favorite tiki drink would probably have to be any expertly crafted, well-balanced zombie. When it’s done right the combination of complex flavors really work for me. Plus, I love anywhere that offers their own zombie mug! My favorite that I’ve had, is Strong Water’s Zombie King. It put me on to Black Walnut Bitters, which are now an essential for my cocktail crafting.
What is your favorite Tiki bar? Not including your own!
Rob- It’s tough to pick a favorite tiki bar. I’ll keep it local-ish and separate them into modern and vintage. Devil’s Reef in Tacoma is definitely my favorite modern spot for the great decor, Lovecraftian/nautical theme, and excellent yet very strong drinks. The first time I went there I was delighted that one of the stronger cocktails made my mouth numb. For vintage places, it’s got to be The Sip ‘n Dip Lounge in Great Falls Montana. The drinks are trash but the weird, kitschy tiki dive bar with mermaids vibe really makes up for it. I’ve been there a few times and was lucky enough to see Piano Pat perform live not too long before she passed.
Outside of great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect Tiki environment?
Rob- I mentioned lighting before, and I think it’s a pretty common belief that an ideal indoor tiki environment shouldn’t have any natural light. A dimly lit space with a large variety of hanging lamps really sets the mood for that escapism people desire. On top of this you need layers, not just with lamps but with every aspect of the decorating. It should look like all kinds of treasures and trinkets have been added to the space over years of adventuring.
What does the future hold for you and your home tiki bar?
Rob- I hope to continue to learn more about crafting delicious drinks and making new friends in the process. I really want to do a weekend tour of all of the Bay Area tiki bars sometime this year. How about a Tiki Goth Club field trip?
