Charming neighborhood bar that began a conversion to tiki in 2001 when it was purchased by current owners Dave and Rebecca Fernandez. Purple Orchid serves tropical drinks in mugs featuring their logo tiki that are available for sale. Purple Orchid periodically hosts parties to celebrate special events such as Halloween, New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day, by having bands perform on their small tiki-filled stage. Purple Orchid has two pool tables covered in purple felt, and a jukebox containing a few tiki-bar friendly selections, including APE's Jungle Sounds. The owners' Purple PT Cruiser painted with color-changing flames and the Purple Orchid can be seen around town. Be sure to visit the restrooms, which are papered with pages from Sven Kirsten's Book of Tiki.
Slowhandtikiman has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
April 20, 2020, 10:20 AM
3-12=2020
Surprisingly busy for a Thursday night. Maybe 25 patrons
Bartender was pretty well versed in basic tiki cocktails, focused on the menu. I had 2 . She described the menu Maitai as a '''neon" tourist style, and upon hearing my dismay, suggested she could make me a "Dave's Special" Maitai, off menu. I'm glad I chose it, because it was much closer to a true 1944 .
Music was provided by a CD juke box, with a broad variety of music styles (including a few Exotica and Surf guitar discs), and an extra $5 for my 20 choices proved adequate.
MeleIpo has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
November 30, 2019, 8:12 PM
I really love this place. Our female bartender was excellent. She made 3 drinks, Coconut Kiss, Funky Monkey & Curious George. All were delightful with fresh ingredients. My personal favorite was the Coconut Kiss. The decor is amazing. I particularly love the bar top. Bamboo Ben did a fantastic job. The puffer fish were really pretty with the lovely brassiers hanging from them. Lol. I am particular about music so I loved the juke box and the songs being played. A nice combo of current and older tunes. I definitely will return to Purple Orchid and bring friends.
Squeeki__Tiki has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
August 7, 2019, 10:41 PM
Me and my friends stopped by this bar after spending the day at Venice beach. It is a well decorated tiki dive bar. As others have mentioned the locals stick to beer, so the mixed drinks are not the best but they make do. They have their own tiki mug made by Tiki Farms for sale as well. The jukebox was my favorite part as they had some classic ska and punk albums. Overall I enjoyed my experience here and would come back again in the future.
Slowhandtikiman has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
April 20, 2020, 10:20 AM
3-12=2020
Surprisingly busy for a Thursday night. Maybe 25 patrons
Bartender was pretty well versed in basic tiki cocktails, focused on the menu. I had 2 . She described the menu Maitai as a '''neon" tourist style, and upon hearing my dismay, suggested she could make me a "Dave's Special" Maitai, off menu. I'm glad I chose it, because it was much closer to a true 1944 .
Music was provided by a CD juke box, with a broad variety of music styles (including a few Exotica and Surf guitar discs), and an extra $5 for my 20 choices proved adequate.
MeleIpo has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
November 30, 2019, 8:12 PM
I really love this place. Our female bartender was excellent. She made 3 drinks, Coconut Kiss, Funky Monkey & Curious George. All were delightful with fresh ingredients. My personal favorite was the Coconut Kiss. The decor is amazing. I particularly love the bar top. Bamboo Ben did a fantastic job. The puffer fish were really pretty with the lovely brassiers hanging from them. Lol. I am particular about music so I loved the juke box and the songs being played. A nice combo of current and older tunes. I definitely will return to Purple Orchid and bring friends.
Squeeki__Tiki has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
August 7, 2019, 10:41 PM
Me and my friends stopped by this bar after spending the day at Venice beach. It is a well decorated tiki dive bar. As others have mentioned the locals stick to beer, so the mixed drinks are not the best but they make do. They have their own tiki mug made by Tiki Farms for sale as well. The jukebox was my favorite part as they had some classic ska and punk albums. Overall I enjoyed my experience here and would come back again in the future.
Monster A GoGo is a semi-regular at Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
January 31, 2019, 7:16 PM
What? How could i NOT have left a note about The Purple Orchid in all of the years I've been a Critiki member? SHOCKING!!! The Purple Orchid is one of my "go to" bars in Southern California. Sure, it's a neighborhood dive bar...but it's a cool one. I feel so at home there and have been several times.
It is really convenient to LAX---which may be how I first came to experience it. The drinks are good (I think the Curious George is the one I like the most... I'm NOT sure though. I get it confused with the other monkey/banana cocktails), the decor is fun and the vibe is just--to me--so comfortable. I have a (lame) blog post about it here: https://monsterago-go.blogspot.com/2017/09/im-freaky-for-tiki-2-purple-orchid.html with photos--but I am guessing most of the photos are here as well.
If you are ever in Southern California playing tiki tourist, do yourself a favor and do NOT miss The Purple Orchid.
michiganminiac has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
March 21, 2018, 10:46 AM
I was fortunate to score a business trip to LA in January and made sure to pop in and check this place out. I wasn't expecting much based on the other reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised - its a actually a great local tiki hang out. I met the owners (by accident) and had a great evening getting tiki oasis tips and sampling their menu. Friendly place (for LA ) with e decent drink menu - but the best drinks are actually off menu. Definitely worth a visit and conveniently located relatively close to LAX.
DocQuiri has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
November 4, 2017, 2:11 PM
To be fair, I went a bit earlier in the day. The decor and environment were good, but the drinks were not and the vibe was a bit closer to dive bar. I will give it another shot, though, later at night.
I really enjoyed the frozen banana and coconut drink (Coconut Kiss) as well as the fresh ingredients of the Watermellon Mai Tai! However, I wish the drinks were actually served in tiki mugs. They do have legit scorpion bowls if you venture in that direction though rather than trying out a couple different drinks. 😉 The decor is tiki worth and dimly lit...theme even carries over into the bathrooms. It was a chill vibe and you could actually hear the conversation being had at the table rather than yelling. The music was nicw, but not tiki themed (which I'm totally cool with because the selection was sweet). Check it out if in the south LA area!
Atomic Tiki Punk is a semi-regular at Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
December 28, 2016, 2:41 PM
Dave and Rebecca are great folks! love it when they are around & we talk about the old school punk scene.
As for Purple Orchid, you will find great Tiki atmosphere
the bar caters to the local neighborhood crowd, who prefer beer & well drinks, so don't expect a "Smuggler's Cove" level of cocktails, but over all a fun place with live entertainment & great fun for Tiki events.
Tiki Kiki has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
August 13, 2016, 10:53 PM
I recently went back to Purple Orchid for a 2nd try and I would like to update my opinion of this tiki bar. Drinks were much improved over last visit. More of what i have come to expect from a tiki bar. Seemed like they have added more carved tikis as well. Also, i was able to buy one of their signature purple mugs, which has a really nice shape. Would go back and enjoy.
PackmanWSU01 has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
July 8, 2012, 11:43 PM
I like this place well enough...especially since our kind bartender was awesome enough to scour the backroom for the purple orchid logo tiki mug, of which we apparently got the last one. It is not overly tiki, but an enjoyable enough bar...the darkness of the place really adds to the mood. The drinks were pretty good, I only tried the two bar originals (something that referenced a monkey was good) the bar's signature drink did, however, come into a martini glass. It's within 10 minutes from LAX...so it's perfect to stop and relax before taking the flight home.
Kim Reynolds has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
February 28, 2012, 2:58 PM
The Purple Orchid is a cozy, small town, tiki bar that I enjoy pouring into when I'm in El Segundo. The decor is a notch above and the common drinks will not disappointed. But, that's where it stops. Take away the tiki decor and it's just another dive bar that tries to make authentic rum-laden drinks. Last time I was there the bartender did not know how to mix a Zombie. A Zombie? The staple of any good tiki bar. I hope they have improved... I do love a tasty Zombie!
Tiki Kiki has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
February 20, 2012, 9:19 PM
Very tiki feel inside with great decor, but once inside I realized it was more of a neighborhood bar then a "tiki" bar, which took some of the fun out of it. I was disappointed too that they were using lime juice concentrate in what few tiki drink they had. However, I did get two really great tiki farm mugs though, and I love the Purple Orchid sweatshirt I bought. If you happen to be in the area, it s worth a look see, but don't go too much out of the way if you are searching for "tiki" bars.
Stumbled in after having dinner down the street at Rock & Brews, drinks at Tavern on Main... Shared a Volcano bowl with my man friend =) .... I was feeling even better after this drink. Luckily I wasn't driving....drinks are decently price and pretty good. Dig the decor... I will be returning soon, maybe bring the gal friends down for a manicure session!
The tiki pinstriper is a semi-regular at Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
March 21, 2011, 8:59 AM
Went there after going to a show at Gasoline Gallery down the street and I feel its a pretty nice place, bartender was friendly and drinks were strong shared a scorpion bowl with my girl only 14$ did i mention it was STRONG. Really like the lava wall and would definitly like to go when a surf band plays. I will be returning again soon.
KaitlinPD has visited Purple Orchid Exotic Tiki Lounge.
March 16, 2011, 5:35 PM
The Purple Orchid is fun after surfing El Segundo, at least that is when I always found myself there. I never went at night time so, I dont know what its like, but during the day its friendly and the lava backdrop is nicccccee. OK jukebox, that is not always going so the music can be a bummer, a.k.a not 60's surf/garage rock. Definatly worth going to though!
Surprisingly busy for a Thursday night. Maybe 25 patrons
Bartender was pretty well versed in basic tiki cocktails, focused on the menu. I had 2 . She described the menu Maitai as a '''neon" tourist style, and upon hearing my dismay, suggested she could make me a "Dave's Special" Maitai, off menu. I'm glad I chose it, because it was much closer to a true 1944 .
Music was provided by a CD juke box, with a broad variety of music styles (including a few Exotica and Surf guitar discs), and an extra $5 for my 20 choices proved adequate.