The Shameful Tiki Room — Restaurant in Vancouver

The Shameful Tiki Bar is the very definition of a hidden gem. The Shameful Tiki Room is located on the southern part of Main Street in Vancouver BC. The neighbourhood feels like it could be the next Commercial drive with all the restaurants and cool little shops opening up.

When you step into the Shameful Tiki Room it feels like you are stepping into another world. You open the door and step through the black curtains into a perfectly decorated and accessorized Tiki Bar.

The people who entered just before us were turned away because the place was booked so make sure you make reservations. They do take tables on a first come first serve basis however if you call ahead you won’t risk being disappointed.

We started off with the Mystery Bowl. I’m not sure what was in it but there was definitely a lot of rum. It was tasty and fun and arrived at our table in a large shell with two burning limes accompanied by crash of a gong that started off a song lead by our server. Entertaining, showy and tasty!

We followed the Mystery Bowl with a Skull & Bones and a Day of the Dead. Spoiler alert here, the Day of the Dead was my favorite. If I could get this every night I would be happy 🙂 reminded me of an adult version of a Dole Whip from Disneyland and with the music, the huts and the decor I felt I will I was right back there in the park.

Round three consisted of a couple of classics. The Hurricane and the Blue Hawaii. Strong and fruity cocktails that brought about the inevitable conversation about Elvis movies and Surfer Rock.

The Shameful Tiki Bar was packed the entire night and I think the entertainment had something to do with it. Performing the night we were there were three different Go Go Dancers that were amazing. The performances really took the evening over the top and really turned a great evening into an experience.

We ordered the crab dip. Crab and artichoke covered in cream cheese & baked with lots of cheddar cheese. It was tasty and cheesy and the tortillas were fresh and salty and the perfect way to scoop up the dip.

We watched a number of dishes come out of the kitchen and we will definitely be back for dinner.

Again, tables go quickly so we recommend reserving a table early. You can reserve directly on their website so there are no excuses! check out The Shameful Tiki Room...

After over 10 years of visiting Shameful Tiki Room (Vancouver) with my significant other, I’m finally leaving a review. Long overdue for a place that’s become such an important part of our lives. This is the bar I actively reserve time off for. It’s not just a night out, it’s a full-on escape from reality.

Booking a reservation is highly recommended to avoid disappointment, but even if you walk in on a busy night, the staff always go above and beyond to try and fit you in. Our favourite spot is “the throne,” and whenever I request it in the reservation, they do their best to make it happen. Little touches like that really stand out.

From the moment you walk in and see the “please wait to be seated” sign (with a cheeky nautical cartoon font you might recognize), you’re transported. The ambiance is immersive (tropical music, flickering lights, surprise gong shows, and classic black-and-white TV clips). It’s theatrical in the best way.

The cocktails are consistently phenomenal. They are made with freshly juiced fruits, high-quality in-house syrups (which you can buy, I use them at home), and top-tier garnishes (even the cherries are next level). In over a decade, we’ve never had a single off drink. The Mai Tai on Mondays is a steal at $10, easily the most authentic-tasting one in the Lower Mainland.

As a rum connoisseur, their selection is incredible. From high-end labels like Facundo Paraiso, Ron Millonario XO, and Panamonte XXV, to unique Haitian Clarin rums.

The food is reasonably priced and pairs well with drinks, making it perfect for casual snacking. That said, it’s the drinks that truly take center stage at this establishment. And yes, when it’s super busy, cocktails can take a bit longer, but I’ll take a carefully crafted drink over a rushed one any day. The bartenders are true pros, and even on packed nights, they keep things moving smoothly. The staff are exceptionally personable and friendly, and they ensure your water is always filled promptly.

Looking forward to making many more great...

To be quite honest... I'm not sure what the hype is about. My friend made a reservation in January, and the soonest she could get was yesterday. The drinks looked really cool but that was about it... the looks. There was waaay too much ice, you could easily gulp the liquid in 1 sip and the whole glass was basically ice. The drinks also didnt taste the greatest and between our table, we probably tried 5 different drinks. Super cool looking but the taste just wasnt there. We tried the crab dip... but where was the crab? It just tasted like cream cheese and artichokes. On the plus side, the atmosphere was a really cool experience, it was so cool looking around and being in a total hawaiian environment. Our server was nice, nothing against her because im sure it isnt her call, but someone ordered the Volcano drink because they wanted to try it out, it looked like the coolest drink on the menu but they said if he ordered that, no one else can get drinks because of its size. I thought that was pretty lame.. they should be able to make a smaller version if thats the case because im sure there are more people that wanna try that drink. They were able to get another drink that had a flame in it, but they were saying it wasnt that good lol. We came from out of town and honestly, there are soooooo many other places with super cool drinks that actually taste good as well.. and i know its not 2 months to get in. To be honest, we arent gonna be back... the atmosphere was cool and everything but the food wasnt that great, and neither were the drinks. The food menu was also super small compared to the drink menu, so you can see where the priorities are but idk, every drink had a weird spicy, bitter taste to it and you think it would be super tropical.. kindof a disappointment as my friend waited 2 months for the...