in Palm Springs, a historic tiki hotel that opened in 1964. After many years with the bar in flux, as of February 2017 it is under the management of Rory Snyder, perhaps best known as the organizer of the annual Tiki Caliente event at the Caliente Tropics. The bar has large windows and a patio overlooking the hotel's swimming pool, and rather than fight the light, Snyder aims to differentiate from the other tiki bars in town and create a space that blends the mid-century history of Palm Springs with the classic tiki elements on the grounds. A menu of tropical drinks and food is available.
The bar at the Caliente Tropics has changed names, theming, and management many times over the years. Originally, the bar was the Congo Room restaurant, a steakhouse—today that name is applied to the restaurant at the front of the hotel. After the Congo Room years, the bar adopted its most-used Reef Bar name, and there was also a brief period in the late-'00s when it was Hawaiian Bill's
I LOVE The Reef and will always think of it as one of my favorite tiki bars. Now you cannot discount the fact that each of my Reef experiences has been embedded inside my experiences of Tiki Caliente, but never the less, I LOVE The Reef. No, the decor is not of the highest quality, but I LOVE IT. I love that it is dark by the bar, the old tikiesque videos playing on their tv, and I love the way some of the old nic nacs include Star Wars souvenirs. No, the drinks and selection are not the best, but you consider this bar is in the middle of The Caliente Tropics with a swimming pool right outside the door, and wow. Finally, each of the staff have been lovely. During Tiki Caliente it can be super crowded, but they soldier on providing us all with marvelous food and drink to sustain us through a very special and memorable Tiki event. We will be back to Palm Springs for a Tour de Tiki apart from Tiki Caliente, and I can't wait to go back to The Reef!
This place is amazing and definitely not rated correctly, I would place this above the Tonga room every day and the drinks are absolutely awesome. If Ben is there let him be your guide and you will have a great time.
I LOVE The Reef and will always think of it as one of my favorite tiki bars. Now you cannot discount the fact that each of my Reef experiences has been embedded inside my experiences of Tiki Caliente, but never the less, I LOVE The Reef. No, the decor is not of the highest quality, but I LOVE IT. I love that it is dark by the bar, the old tikiesque videos playing on their tv, and I love the way some of the old nic nacs include Star Wars souvenirs. No, the drinks and selection are not the best, but you consider this bar is in the middle of The Caliente Tropics with a swimming pool right outside the door, and wow. Finally, each of the staff have been lovely. During Tiki Caliente it can be super crowded, but they soldier on providing us all with marvelous food and drink to sustain us through a very special and memorable Tiki event. We will be back to Palm Springs for a Tour de Tiki apart from Tiki Caliente, and I can't wait to go back to The Reef!
This place is amazing and definitely not rated correctly, I would place this above the Tonga room every day and the drinks are absolutely awesome. If Ben is there let him be your guide and you will have a great time.
My wife and I went andcwhile the decor was nice it didn't bowl me over. I was hoping for some good drinks but the Mai Tai was below par and the Hemmingway Daiquiri was the worst drinknI have ever had. I could barely get it down. It was only because the waitress was so nice that we did not say anything. I then had the Painkilller and they redeemed themselves a little but tgat was because the other drinks were so bad. Sorry to say we won't be back.
I have visited three tiki bars in Palm Springs, including a very famous one who’s name I won’t mention. This is by far my favorite. Cool vibe, lots of tikis, bartenders that really know all of the nuances of the drinks and each rum, and a tv playing endless loops of Magnum PI or Blue Hawaii (but no volume, just good background music playing). This place is very friendly, welcoming, and unpretentious. I love this place! And bartender Brandon (I think that’s his name.... looks like Captain Obvious) is one of the best in the business. Be sure to check this one out.
Limited space on the night we went, but really nice seating outside. It’s nice to see the theming taken outdoors and encompassing the pool. The tiki drinks on the list were limited, but well made classics and originals. Off the beaten track, so you have a bit more room. Have to knock a point off for a TV at the bar playing sports, but other than that, it was a nicely immersive experience.
This has become one of my very very favorite tiki places.
The Reef has everything: a massive selection of drinks, terrific food, and a relaxing atmosphere (whether you prefer the dark interiors of the bar, or the open sunshine of the pool area).
The decor is always being updated and the staff is friendly and personable. The prices are very reasonable, and it's become a must-do every time I go to Palm Springs.
I stayed at the Caliente Tropics for my recent tiki trip to Palm Springs so of course I visited the Reef. My first drink was actually served poolside which is always nice. The Polynesian Punch was very sweet and not complex, but tasty. I returned to the Reef later that night (around 12 am!) and sat at the bar. The bartender was very fun, kind, and attentive. I really enjoyed the vibe in this bar! Great lighting, decor, and music. Unfortunately the mai tai left a lot to be desired, it was a bit too sweet and just tasted off compared to what I’m used to. Got a great mug that is very unique to my collection which I’m very excited about! I would like to visit again and sample some more drinks, but the vibe alone gives this place a great score from me.
The bartender is a true tiki nerd and will take the time to make something special. Go late at night. Everything looks better in the dark.