Ventura is a solid hour-long drive heading North from LA (when traffic is good). It’s a hike, but if you make it up there, you’re in for a treat!
When I first arrived at VenTiki, my initial thought was that this place was a beach bar. The main bar is inside but it’s open air and most of the seating is outside, which is how most beach bars are, but I can assure you that VenTiki is defiantly a tiki bar and they check off all the elements of what a great tiki bar should be!
The Décor …
The décor of VenTiki is perfect. It feels like you’re in someone’s home tiki bar. VenTiki is cozy but doesn’t feel crowded, and every inch of the walls is covered in matting, bamboo and tiki masks. Even the ceiling has stuff to look at. Don’t forget to look up!
The Music …
Well, I can’t take a picture of music playing but I can assure you that it was a solid mix of surf and exotica!
The Drinks …
You’ve got a lot to choose from at VenTiki and the drinks at VenTiki are top notch and delicious! Here’s some of the drinks I had …
The Hurricane …
Kona Kooler …
… and a Reverb Crash.
The menu pictured above can describe what’s in each of these drinks better than I can, but I can say that each drink was incredible!
And last but not least, The Ohana!
What I loved the most about VenTiki was the people. There’s a Ventura tiki crew and I got to meet up with and hang with some of them. Here’s Josh Papuzza and Scott Steepleton…
Todd Sellers …
And last but not least, Chloe!
I hear that Chloe is VenTiki’s biggest customer! VenTiki has a challenge that if you have every drink on the menu, you get to go up on the wall. Chloe has finished this more than once!
I could tell that everyone here loves VenTiki and they care about each other. There’s nothing better than sharing drinks with people who love tiki just as much as you do. If you make it up to VenTiki, there will be a Tiki Ohana waiting there.
Here is the VenTiki website
And Facebook page
Try to stop in, every return trip back up to SF from LA. Their Spam loco moco is the best I’ve had.
Gotta agree on the spam loco moco – it’s an absolute must for me every single time. In fact, it’s the only place I find myself eating spam.
Ventiki really improved since its opening in 2013. Back then, it was a one and done joint for me, but after I heard there was a change in management/ownership (if I recall correctly) I decided to give it another shot and I’m so glad I did. The drinks expanded and the food grew into something I enjoy just as much. Their pulled pork makes great sliders, and if you’re in the market for sushi I’m told its not bad either (again, hard to pull me away from spam loco moco). They also have a great and elusive lobster bisque, whose reputation is strong and I’ve yet to time my visits for it.
Ventura is very lucky to have a small but thriving joint. Worth the 1 hr drive from inland Santa Clarita! Oh, and a no time-limit Passport/rum club is great too.