LitClique
visiting on
Sunday, September 1, 2019
for the first time

I'll be in Portland (first visit!) the entire week. Don't know exactly when I'll drop in, but I'm open to meeting up with local tiki people.

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Regulars & Visitors

View all 302 The Alibi regulars & visitors

Humuhumu’s description

Even through the darkest days of tikidom, The Alibi remained popular and busy�probably due to the frequent karaoke nights. The Alibi is full of beautiful lamps and decor from Oceanic Arts

, and has been cared for very well. The drinks for many years were on the weak and sweet side; that changed when new management took over in 2017, and the menu is now solidly-constructed classic tiki drinks and originals.

The Alibi has a long history that predates tiki. It began in the late 1800s as the Chat-n-Nibble, a horse & buggy stop along a dirt road. In later days it became a tavern called Max Alibi. The third owner, Roy Ell, took over the tavern in 1947 and renamed it The Alibi. Ell had travelled to Hawaii, and is responsible for changing the decor to reflect his own Polynesian tastes. The tavern was expanded to include the restaurant in the 1950s. The Witco-inspired rails and 3D hula-girl mural were 1970s additions. In the 1980s, Ell leased The Alibi with the agreement that the decor must stay as is. From 1992 to 2017 The Alibi was run by the White family. In 2017, well-regarded local historic bar managers Marcus Archambeault and Warren Boothby took over with a light restoration and a re-focused bar and food menu, including a flaming pu-pu platter.

Just across the street is The Palms

classic

The Palms Motor Hotel

Portland, OR

Hotel/Motel

2.8

motor hotel. While not strictly tiki, it does have a fantastic neon sign, and is within stumbling distance.

Comments

arcadiandj

June 8, 2019, 11:46 AM

I REALLY enjoyed the Alibi. I believe a significant aspect of my response had to do with my expectations, which were not high. My experience was truly marvelous and memorable however. The interior really swept me away with the wonderful tiki decor and the dark old school steak house palate on which the tiki decor was placed. I thought both were very well done, and again, I was totally swept away. The drinks and selection were really good, and we had two appetizers that were delicious. What really brought it all home for my wife and I however was Brooke, the bartender. She distinguished herself as a seasoned professional that knew her craft well and engaged us both in a way that made us both say, this place is AWESOME. We will go back today and are headed to Hale Pele for the first time today, and I'm thinking, "It is going to be hard for Hale Pele to beat our experience at The Alibi."

Tiki Grabowski

Tiki Grabowski has visited The Alibi.

April 3, 2019, 12:15 PM

Stopped in quickly before my flight home. Right up the street from the MAX rail line makes it convienent. Decor is great. Dimly lit with carvings, Japanese fishing laterns, etc. Had one drink, the Cobra Commander which I was told was one of theirs which wasn't bad. The music however, like many so called tiki bars I have gone to lately was not what one would expect to hear. Wasn't tropical or tiki at all which helps set the mood. I'd go again for the decor and to try other drinks as well as their food. Just hope they change the music