Although the post WWII tiki bar craze has died down a bit (Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills and the bastion of seven seas garishness, Bahooka in Rosemead, CA, have both padlocked their doors), there are still a few treasures around. In the past few months, Alyssa and I have both been swept up by the island spirit and have started viewing fruity rum cocktails and the bars that serve them as a great way to spend an afternoon (or weekend, as served up by the Ventiki Challenge).
Tucked away just off the main drag in El Segundo, near LAX, you'll find a great spot called The Purple Orchid. The "PO", as it's know to regulars, is a decent sized space with all the proper trimmings: ample bar and table seating, some pool tables, a small stage, blowfish hanging from the ceiling and enough bamboo to build yourself a couple of huts on your favorite beach in Tahiti. Great attention to detail with hand painted trim and flickering tiki torches on the wall. There are giant wooden tiki idols for sale should you find yourself drunk enough to desperately need one in the passenger seat for the ride home. This place totters perfectly on the edge of sleeze and dive.
According to the bartender, it was a scuzzy biker bar until about 10 years ago before being converted to the Purple Orchid. Clearly its earlier life has soaked into the foundation.
Versions of all the classic cocktails are available with the bonus of most being available as volcano bowls. Who doesn't like a big ol' volcano bowl?
We arrive shortly after opening around 2 o'clock, cozy up to the bar and order a Mai Tai volcano bowl. I don't pretend to be any kind of expert on tropical drinks but it was delicious: big, fruity and full of liquor. In the summer months they offer a version of the Mai Tai with fresh watermelon purée (my 2nd round) that's really quite good.
Versions of all the classic cocktails are available with the bonus of most being available as volcano bowls. Who doesn't like a big ol' volcano bowl?
We arrive shortly after opening around 2 o'clock, cozy up to the bar and order a Mai Tai volcano bowl. I don't pretend to be any kind of expert on tropical drinks but it was delicious: big, fruity and full of liquor. In the summer months they offer a version of the Mai Tai with fresh watermelon purée (my 2nd round) that's really quite good.
After a bit of effort and a phone call to the owner, the bartender finally gets some tunes on the stereo. Although there's an "old school" CD juke in the joint, I was just fine with the house playlist on a Sunday afternoon. It was a good mix of lounge, classic rock and a contemporary oddity thrown in for good measure. Kudos to Alyssa for figuring out it was Cake covering the Muppet Show classic Mahna Mahna without the use of Soundhound. Sacramento natives must all be vibrating on the same frequency...
Word is that the place gets pretty packed on Friday and Saturday nights but the crowd on a weekend afternoon is pretty chill. A few old timers coming and going for a drink or two and only one crazy. Not bad.
They also have official Purple Orchid mugs for sale at 12 bucks a pop and some nifty Don Ho glassware. All told, The Purple Orchid is absolutely worth a trip to El Segundo. I hope to see you there.
They also have official Purple Orchid mugs for sale at 12 bucks a pop and some nifty Don Ho glassware. All told, The Purple Orchid is absolutely worth a trip to El Segundo. I hope to see you there.
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