Tucson, Arizona: Kon Tiki

The Kon Tiki (not Tiki Hut, as one contributor called it) is still around, and still packed on Friday and Saturday nights. The parrots appear to be gone from behind the bar, though. We failed to see one of them in our past several visits. I think the koi are gone from the moat also.

Different people like this place for different reasons, I suppose. For us it's the 44-year-old Polynesian decor (not all of it in great condition) and excellent food. For other people it's the quirky, themed selection of strong cocktails. The contemporary music and the noise from the hip young drinkers get in the way of pretending we're back in the days of Sinatra (or movie-era Elvis!) -- but we visit often anyway.

A very nice place to go when you are thirsty for something kitschy is the Kon Tiki. Entering the Parking lot you are greeted by a big Tiki head. You enter into the Tiki Hut by crossing a little tiny bridge and rock garden area. When you get inside you feel like you are on some strange episode of Gilligan's Island. Big Glass fishing pods hang from the ceiling, bamboo tables & chairs, real live parrots behind the bar, and a huge carved wooden Tiki head watches over you while you drink. I recommend the Banana Split, or the big-as-your-head Scorpion.