Maybe the best thing about the Tiki Ti bar on Sunset Blvd. in Los Feliz is that it’s the real thing. The place has been there since 1961 when it was opened by Ray Buhen and it is now operated by his son Mike and his two grandsons (Ray passed away in 1999 just a week shy of his 90th birthday). The place remains unchanged, with only 12 bar stools and usually a line out the door every night.
If you check out their web site, it's basically a history of the place, with photos of the original menus, the old mugs, and pics all of the regulars, including those who have passed away over the years. This isn't "marketing," it's just telling a story. The site pulls up it's own "playlist" of tunes that play in the background, including Dean Martin's "Sway," Peggy Lee's "Fever," James Brown's "Superbad." Perfect.
Owner Ray Buhen had a colorful past, arriving in the U.S. from the Phillipines in 1930 at age 21. One of his first jobs was a stint at the Beverly Hills Hotel as a bellboy. But he was quickly promoted to bartender later that year, just as prohibition was coming to an end. He was sent to bartending school by the hotel to learn to mix drinks. Shortly thereafter he ended up at the infamous "Don The Beachcomber’s" frequented by the movie stars, where Ray was cranking out tropical drinks in the back room for the stars.
He continued to bounce around various different “Tiki” bars over the next 20 years, including the Seven Seas across from Grauman’s Theatre and Sugie's Tropics on Rodeo in Beverly Hills (when Sunset Blvd. was still a horse riding trail!) In 1935 MGM was shooting Mutiny on the Bounty and Clark Gable had a tiki bar built to serve the cast during the 4 month shoot. Ray was later brought over to tend bar, serving regulars like Jean Harlow and Charles Laughton. Ray met all the movie stars, mobsters and other movers and shakers of the day, so when he finally opened up his own place, The Tiki Ti, everyone came looking for him.
There are 85 drinks on the menu...and back in the day, every single drink had it’s own special Polynesian mug. If you are overwhelmed with all the drink choices, no problem. You can spin the wheel to let destiny choose for you.
Each drink has a story that lives on today. For example, if you order the ‘Blood and Sand’ the bartender will pour it while yelling “Toro, toro, toro!” Additionally, every Wednesday the signature drink “Ray’s Mistake” is half price until 9:00pm when one of the grandsons rings the ship bell and son Mike makes a toast, as everyone in the bar turns and looks at the picture of Ray Buhen on the wall.
The Tiki Ti is a fun Los Angeles landmark...in fact the Tiki Ti recently received the distinction of being “one of the top 50 Bars in the U.S.” by GQ Magazine. They were one of only two California bars on the list.
The Tiki Ti is located at 4427 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz, 90027. It's only open Wed - Sun, from 4P-1:30A. But, sometimes there is a sign on the door, "Gone Fishing," and they will be closed...until they're back. There are perks to being a small family business! Another perk is that smoking is permitted, due to the fact that this is a family owned business without employees.
Check it out...but take a cab...those drinks are powerful!
