Bootlegger Tiki

BushLeagueJunky
visiting on
Monday, February 10, 2020
for the first time

I'll be staying at Caliente Tropics on Feb. 9th, 10th, and 11th. I hope to make it into Bootlegger at least once.

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Regulars & Visitors

View all 313 Bootlegger Tiki regulars & visitors

Humuhumu’s description

Bootlegger Tiki opened in 2014, in the same spot that decades prior had housed the Palm Springs location of Don the Beachcomber

. The owners also operate Ernest Coffee, right nextdoor. The walls and ceiling are lined with lauhala mats and Asian-motif graphic wallpaper, framed by bamboo. A creative slate of craft-inspired tiki cocktails are offered. There is a small covered outdoor patio.

Comments

deathwhistle

January 15, 2020, 3:47 PM

The tikibar itself is very small. Well decorated but because the area was so small we were seated outside in the patio and the feel was completely different. You don't get that tiki ambiance even from the patio. The patio itself had no resemblance to the bar. No tiki wicker or rattan style chairs no carvings or anything. The drink menu felt like they're really trying hard to have original drinks and empasized how strong the drinks are , some limiting customers to 1 or 2 orders max. But the drinks were just average for me. Nothing spectacular and probably in last place of the Palm Springs bars. I'd go Reef first, then Tonga Hut, and then this place.

milesandtime

milesandtime has visited Bootlegger Tiki.

January 14, 2020, 11:46 PM

Despite occupying the same space as the former Donn The Beachcomber it seems that Bootlegger Tiki would rather be a more traditional cocktail bar than Tiki bar if the staff had their druthers. Don�t get me wrong; the bartender we had was great and he clearly cared about making good, balanced, refreshing drinks no matter the style, but as admittedly �not a big Tiki guy� I can see why some of the more diehard Tiki heads would turn their nose up at this place.

The menu changes every six months and the bartender told us they do extensive experimentation two months in advance of each menu. Can�t vouch for the food (popcorn) but the six drinks we had at the tail end of the 2019 menu were all good. Going back Wednesday for a taste of the new menu offerings that will take this place through August 2020.

Of our tour de tiki through Palm Springs, the best drinks so far have been here - easily beating the Tonga Hut and The Reef. If it has been awhile since you�ve been to BT, maybe give it another shot. Just try to ignore the pop radio hits playing overhead instead of exotica.

Menehune

Menehune is a semi-regular at Bootlegger Tiki.

May 23, 2019, 10:28 PM

My kinda place. Barely enough light to read the menu but dark enough that you go home with that someone special only to wake up and notice they weren't that special. Perfect. And while not an extensive drink menu, the menu changes quarterly and they make a damn good drink. These guys really love making a great tiki drink and I appreciate that. Always a stop when We are in Palm Springs.

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