First Bite: Mai Tiki speakeasy cocktail lounge opens in Ferndale
A cocktail lounge, speakeasy and tiki bar all in one.
It’s possibly the best way to describe the newly opened Mai Tiki in Ferndale.
“The first time they come I just want them to feel relaxed and comfortable,” said general manager Gary James.
The 900-square-foot Mai Tiki can be found nestled behind a semi-concealed door in the back of the Tigerlily dining room.
“Mai Tiki is that little bit of escape from the real world,” said James. “You can come in after a rough day, spend a couple hours and hopefully you come out with a smile and feel a little bit better.”
Photo Courtesy: Mai Tiki
Fun music plays while the smell of tropical fruit and rum drinks fill the air. The small-plates menu features a variety of Polynesian-inspired dishes crafted by Chef Chris Vasquez.
“We have our tuna tacos here, chicken karage, shishito peppers with bonito flakes, our mai tiki shrimp and our crab Rangoon that are absolutely stuffed to the core with crab.”
Beyond the menu, guests will find elaborate décor including a beach mural and a thatched canopy-covered bamboo bar.
“There’s a few other tiki spots downtown but downtown is 15, 20, 30 minutes for some people so we wanted to have something closer to home,” said James.
This is just the beginning. James said they have big plans for the little space in the coming months.
“Starting December, we’ll start with a seasonal cocktail menu,” said James. “We’re hoping that our standard cocktails will grow to be 20, 30 cocktails. We’ll have sharable drinks, we’ll have boat drinks, we’ll have pineapple drinks, coconut drinks, cantaloupe drinks, there’s going to be all kinds of fun things happening here.”
Mai Tiki is open:
Sunday – Thursday: 4 p.m. – midnight.
Friday/Saturday 4 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Find Mai Tiki at 231 W Nine Mile Rd. in Ferndale.
Photo Courtesy: Mai Tiki
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