The Best Tiki Bars in Orange County, CA (2024)

To us, tiki bars are like pizza. Even if it’s bad, it’s still a tiki bar—so it’s good.

On an ordinary day, there’s nothing like stepping into a little cave of darkness to order your favorite rum drink, as the ukulele soundtrack drones on in the background.

There are just a few tiki bars in Orange County, each with their own strengths. We did the incredibly painstaking work of visiting them all so we could share my insights with you, dear reader.

The Best Tiki Bars in Orange County, CA

1. Strong Water (Anaheim, CA)

Brought to you by the proprietors of The Blind Rabbit, Strong Water—in our opinion—is the best tiki bar in Orange County. The upscale decor is meant to resemble the wreckage of a sunken pirate ship and best of all, the drinks here are just *chef’s kiss*.

2. The Lost Inferno

The Lost Inferno, located in San Clemente, is the only tiki bar in south Orange County. The decor is Goonies-inspired!

3. Royal Hawaiian (Laguna Beach, CA)

The Royal Hawaiian restaurant and tiki bar on PCH in Laguna Beach re-opened in 2023.

4. Stowaway (Tustin, CA)

**Update: This location has re-opened!

Tucked away in the corner of the Tustin District food hall, Stowaway is a classic tiki bar with all of the requisite decor (see if you can spot “Wilson” from Cast Away!). Order the Cococano if you like your drink served with some flair.

5. Twisted Tiki (Santa Ana, CA)

This tiki bar is located in downtown Santa Ana. A couple of drinks on the menu here are shareable!

6. Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (Anaheim, CA)

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar is located on the Disneyland Hotel property, and is a respite for thirsty park visitors and OC residents alike.

To address cultural insensitivity, much of Trader Sam image has been erased from the presentation, but he still remains the proprietor of this establishment in name.

Parking is available in the Simba parking lot next to the Disneyland Hotel. If you eat at Downtown Disney beforehand, you can get validated parking for $10.

Trader Sam’s is extremely popular and reservations are highly recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Orange County tiki bar is closest to Disneyland?

Trader Sam’s is actually located on the Disney property. You can walk there from the park.