Kon Tiki Restaurant and Lounge
Tucson, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Driving along Broadway Boulevard in Tucson, it is hard to miss Kon Tiki Restaurant and Lounge. The big roadside sign, tropical lettering and carved tiki faces look as if a little piece of the South Pacific somehow washed ashore in the Arizona desert. Surrounded by ordinary stores and busy traffic, Kon Tiki remains one of Tucson’s great roadside surprises.

The restaurant opened on September 24, 1963, right at the height of America’s fascination with all things Polynesian. Gene D’Agnese and Jim Miller created a tropical escape filled with bamboo, palm matting, carved wooden figures and enough dim lighting to make the desert outside seem far away. More than 60 years later, Kon Tiki is considered one of the oldest surviving tiki bars in the country.

Outside day view of the Kon Tiki
Tucson, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out the carvings around the building. Many of Kon Tiki’s original tikis were created on the property by Milan Guanko, one of the best-known carvers from the golden age of Polynesian Pop. Some rise from the floor like wooden guardians, while others peek out from walls, doorways and dark corners. There always seems to be another face watching from somewhere.

Stepping inside is where the place really earns its name. The lounge is packed with bamboo, thatched surfaces, tropical plants, waterfalls and weathered decorations collected over the years. The room stays comfortably dark even during the brightest Tucson afternoon. Add the glow from the bar and the flicker of fire, and it does not take long to forget that Broadway traffic is passing just outside.

The sign outside
Tucson, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Then there are the drinks. Kon Tiki still serves the colorful rum-filled creations expected from a proper tiki lounge, including Zombies, Mai Tais and its famous Scorpion Bowl. The bowl is meant for sharing and arrives with several straws surrounding a flaming center. Nothing says a quiet evening out quite like a communal bowl of rum with its own volcano.

The tropical drinks are served in an assortment of ceramic mugs and vessels, some of which have become collectibles among tiki fans. Kon Tiki has released custom mugs modeled after its carved figures, giving visitors a chance to take home a small piece of the place. Just remember that the mug is considerably easier to carry than one of the giant wooden tikis.

Food has always been part of the experience, with Polynesian-inspired favorites sharing the menu with burgers, sandwiches and other familiar choices. The restaurant has made a few adjustments over the years, including Taco Tuesday. Tacos may not be the first thing that comes to mind inside a vintage tiki lounge, but this is Tucson after all. Somehow they fit right in beside the rum drinks and flaming bowls.

One of the tikis
Tucson, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The large roadside sign continues to watch over Broadway Boulevard. Its tiki figure, tropical colors and bold KON TIKI lettering announce the restaurant long before the entrance comes into view. After dark, the illuminated sign and low-lit building make the property look even more like a hidden island hideaway.

Plenty of vintage tiki restaurants once dotted the country, but most disappeared as tastes changed and the elaborate interiors became expensive to maintain. Kon Tiki managed to hang on. The menu has evolved and portions of the property have been refreshed, but the carvings, dark atmosphere and wonderfully over-the-top tropical spirit remain.

Night view of the sign
Tucson, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

This is not a carefully recreated modern tiki bar built to resemble the 1960s. Kon Tiki is the real thing, still occupying the same Broadway Boulevard location where it opened in 1963. Pull open the heavy door, let the daylight disappear behind you and watch out for the tiki staring over your shoulder.

UPDATE: The Kon Tiki Restaurant is still going strong in Tucson, AZ. 02-11

UPDATE: Word is much of the interior is still original. Don't forget to grab a collectible tiki mug on your way out. 06-23

UPDATE: Kon Tiki remains open and active on Broadway Boulevard, continuing to serve tropical drinks and food amid its vintage carvings and Polynesian decor. The landmark roadside sign also remains in place, still pointing the way to this Tucson tiki survivor. 08-26

Here are other images of the Kon Tiki in Tucson. While these photos are from the 1990s, more photos from the past 20 years plus will be populated here. 06-23

The front Photo by RoadsidePeek.com	Entranceway Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Here's a current view of the Kon Tiki courtesy of Google Maps.

Google Street View Image