We Hit Every Tiki Bar in Orange County — Here’s the Best (and the Worst)

This past Saturday, my sister Teresa and I decided to chase rum and bamboo across Orange County.

We set out to hit three tiki bars in one night — Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Tustin — and came away with strong opinions, a few surprises, and a new favorite spot.

And since I’ve been to a couple more local tiki joints recently, I’ll fold those in too for a fuller picture of OC’s tiki landscape.

My ranking is at the end.

1. Strong Water, Anaheim

If you only do one tiki bar in OC, make it Strong Water. Walking through the door feels like slipping below deck on a sunken ship.

That’s no accident: owners Ying Chang and Robert Adamson built the entire concept around the story of the Clementine, a vessel that “sank” in 1884. Every inch of this place is intentional, from the upcycled bed frames repurposed as booths to the glowing Zombie King Grotto water feature.

Even the bathrooms are part of the adventure, with a door with multiple locks and nautical paintings filling up every space.

I ordered a mai tai, my sister went for 3 Dots & a Dash, and both were master classes in balance. Layered, nuanced, the kind of cocktails that evolve as you sip them.

The food held its own too. I went with the drunken noodles, a spicy, savory plate that would stand up in any Asian fusion restaurant, tiki or not. Service? Flawless. Every bartender we spoke with knew their spirits and their stories.

Strong Water is intimate (just 50 seats), and detail-obsessed. It’s also hard to get into, so book ahead. But if you’re serious about cocktails — or just want to feel like you’re on an adventure without leaving Anaheim — this is the crown jewel of OC tiki.

Strong Water
📍270 S Clementine St, Anaheim, CA 92805
📜 Make a reservation

2. Twisted Tiki, Santa Ana

Our second stop was… less impressive. Twisted Tiki had a ‘cozy’ layout, but the theme felt more like a shrug toward tiki than a full embrace. A few bamboo touches here, a mask there, but nothing that made me want to linger or explore.

The drink I ordered was my least favorite of the night — syrupy sweet, heavy on juice, and light on actual alcohol. It tasted more like a Capri Sun than a cocktail. Teresa’s wasn’t much better. To make matters worse, the bartender barely engaged. After coming from the high-touch service at Strong Water, the contrast was sharp.

If you’re keeping score: this one’s a skip. In a county with so many better tiki options, you don’t need to settle.

Twisted Tiki
📍515 N Main St Santa Ana, CA 92701
📜 Make a reservation

3. Stowaway, Tustin

Bigger than the others by far, this spot is a whole scene. The crowd skewed younger, the energy was buzzing, and it felt like the place to be. (Watch video at end of this section)

Stowaway has an interesting backstory. It first opened inside Union Market at The District, then was forced to close in 2022 after a messy landlord dispute.

Co-owners Leonard Chan and Dominic Lapello eventually found new digs in a former Marty’s Bar & Grill space on Newport Avenue.

The redesign also brought in some big tiki names. Legendary builder Bamboo Ben handled the immersive bamboo structures, while local mid-century pop artist Josh Agle (better known as Shag) — who actually lives in Irvine — lent his signature style to the bathroom wallpaper and even designed the Stowaway logo.

The cocktails here were solid — not quite as layered or surprising as Strong Water’s, but still a cut above your average bar.

I had another mai tai that hit all the right nostalgic notes. My sister bought the very cool tiki mug / angler fish.

The food menu is playful, with tiki twists on comfort food: spam musubi, wings, and group-friendly plates like spam nachos.

As someone who lives closer to Tustin, I’d come back here sooner just for the convenience. Bonus: it’s a lot easier to snag a table than at Strong Water.

💡 Insider Tip: The Belly of the Beast
Tucked inside Stowaway is a hidden bar-within-a-bar called The Belly of the Beast. You won’t see it unless you already know to ask — it’s that hidden.

The space is wildly decorated (think full-on set design, every inch covered), and the owners try to keep it super exclusive. But, when I went, it was completely empty. It feels like the coolest secret in the building, but maybe too secret for its own good. Watch the video below to see what it’s like it The Belly of the Beast.

@thesceneoc

Stowaway 14401 Newport Ave, Tustin, CA 92780 Subscribe to The Scene, a newsletter packed with fun things to do in Orange County #orangeco... See more

Stowaway
📍 14401 Newport Ave, Tustin, CA
📜 Make a reservation

4. Royal Hawaiian, Laguna Beach

I hit Royal Hawaiian recently, and while it wasn’t part of Saturday’s crawl, it deserves a mention. It’s a Laguna Beach classic with decades of history, reimagined with modern polish.

The real star is the setting: spacious, tropical, and just steps from the coast. The cocktails and food were good — not as mind-bending as Strong Water’s — but the atmosphere felt pure tiki escapism. If you want the full island experience without boarding a plane, this is it.

📍 331 N. Coast Hwy Laguna Beach
📜 Make a reservation

See what it’s like inside

5. The Lost Inferno, San Clemente

San Clemente’s Lost Inferno is a newer entry to the scene, and it leans campy. Think tiki with a dash of The Goonies — dark corners, quirky props, and a playful, adventurous vibe.

The cocktails are fun, the theme is immersive, and it feels less buttoned-up than some of the other OC tiki spots. It’s not as cocktail-driven as Strong Water or as sprawling as Stowaway, but it’s a good time, especially if you’re local and want something different.

Insider Tip: There is another speakeasy upstairs, a Japanese speakeasy. Hit them both in one night but for Momoku No Usagi you may need to reserve in advance.

📍425 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente
📜 Make a reservation

6. Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Disneyland Hotel

I’ve been to Trader Sam’s at the Disneyland Hotel, though I’ll admit I don’t remember much about the cocktails themselves.

What I do remember is the show. Every 15 minutes or so, the bar transforms into a mini interactive rainforest, with thunder, rain effects, and bartenders who throw themselves into the theatrics.

It’s Disney, so of course it’s polished, themed within an inch of its life, and fun to experience at least once. For serious tiki fans, it’s maybe more spectacle than cocktail artistry — but if you’re already at the resort, it’s worth ducking in for the rainforest storm alone.

📍 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, CA 92802
📜 Make a reservation

The Ranking

After hitting three in one night and revisiting three others, here’s how I’d stack OC’s tiki bars:

Best Cocktails - Strong Water (Anaheim) followed by Stowaway and Trader Sam’s
Best Food - Strong Water and Stowaway
Best Service - Strong Water
Best Atmosphere
 🌊 Polynesian/Hawaiian Vibe - Royal Hawaiian & Trader Sam’s
⛵Sailor/Nautical Vibe - Strong Water
 🗿Retro Mid-Century Tiki - Stowaway