We stopped in after an adventure in Alameda. Atmosphere was cool, drinks were strong (I had a painkiller and my boyfriend had a grog), BUT the service was extremely lacking. We had to sit at a booth because the bar was full and our waitress was sweet but VERY VERY slow and unorganized. I would go back again to give it another try (wanted to give 2 stars but since the atmosphere was cool and drinks good I'll give it a 3).
Review Source:Came here a few times. The place is windowless and is entered through a huge gate reminiscent of entering the under cabin of a pirate boat. The interior is decorated somewhat of a Tiki Tropicial style, hence the name of the place.
They are mainly known for serving tropical theme fruity sweet mixed drinks. So rum is the main ingredient in most of their drinks. Mai Tai is probably their most served drink. I believed the Zombie and Painkilller are their stronger drinks. I have tried their Mai Tais and Zombie. Mai Tais were a hit and miss. But the Zombie which I've had twice were pretty good. Their signature drink the Forbidden Island was decent as well.
This is a good place to take the ladies with the types of drinks they serve. But not a good place to go if you want a good beer as their beer selection is very limited. And it seems like they don't mind outside food as well, as I see people receive pizza deliveries right to their table from a Dominos right across the street (at least from the last time I came).. Â Â
Also one time we came (might've been around Halloween), some guy dressed as a Pirate with 4-foot long beard and a banjo in hand approached us and sat on our table. He talked with us for a few minutes in pirate. Without understanding a single word he mumbled, we yelled Avast Ye Matey! As he drunkingly stumbled away.
What a neat little spot! Tons of tiki stuff everywhere, they even play the appropriate music on the speakers. Service was pretty good (we came right when it opened and so did a million other people so you just gotta be patient when you come with the rush like that), food was okay (guac was kinda plain), but the drinks were very yummy and some of them pretty strong! Our cocktail server's name was Ashley and she was very helpful with the overwhelming amount of choices. I told her I wanted some kind of banana smoothie and she knew right away what to suggest -- I went with it (name slips my mind) and it was deeeeeelicious and super refreshing. So just give 'em a few ideas of what you're looking for and they'll help you out. Can't wait to go back!
Review Source:If you haven't at least tried the Forbidden Island, you HAVE to give it a go. It's a little different at first. Very dark setting, low ceiling, no TV's, etc. But once you have a seat and look through the menu your eyebrows will lift. The servers are great and very, very friendly every single time I have gone. The drinks I feel are the best in the bay area. They master their craft and the drinks are delicious. I'm not a big rum drinker but when you go to this place, you will fall in love with whatever they give you.
Drink wise, I'm a big fan of the Zombie. The drink is beyond delicious but VERY strong. Honestly, mostly all of the drinks on the menu are great tasting and worth a try. The one missing star is for having no TV's (it would be nice to see a 49er or Raider game every now and again) and there is somewhat limited seating. But, this place is so good I would stand all night. Give it a try, you will not be unhappy!
This place is awesome!!! The decor is really cool, the drinks are AMAZING. Dollar bills pinned to the ceiling over the bar with little drink umbrellas, 80s music playing, old episodes of Miami Vice on the TV screens behind the bar. It does get super crowded though, if you want a table, get there pretty early and plan on staying all night. The outside patio area closes really early too, which is a bummer, it would be awesome to be able to sit out there at night.
Review Source:Coolest Tiki bar outside of Hawaii!!! If you're not driving, order the ZOMBIE. If you aren't driving, and don't have work the next day, order the PAIN KILLER & the ZOMBIE. Fantastic drinks, cool cups, cool bartenders, good drunk finger food.
Prices are a bit pricey, yet competitive. You get what you pay for!
5 Stars all the way!
Cool decor, good selection of drinks (both beer and cocktails, the former being much more important to me), and a friendly staff. Only downside was that it was extremely crowded when my girlfriend and I arrived on a Saturday night around midnight. I suppose that's to be expected, with there being so little else around the area. But it would have been nice to get a seat, as there's not a lot of great standing spots.
Review Source:As a tiki aficionado, I consider Forbidden Island to be one of the best experiences. The drinks and bar bites are good, the atmosphere terrific. Very pleasant waitress gave drink recommendations.
The competition:
 Frankie's Tiki Room Las Vegas- even better decor, but no food and smoking is allowed.
 Tiki Ti Los Angeles- Best drinks of all, but way off in Los Feliz and the owner-operators allow smoking.
 Smuggler's Cove SF- Great drinks but a hassle to park near and tiny space usually has no seats. Maybe I'm picky, but atmosphere is more pirate than tiki.
So Forbidden Island is my new go-to place.
I've been here twice, and I LOVE it :)
I can't remember what I ordered the first time (I guess it wasn't very memorable), but the Macadamia Nut Chi Chi (vodka, pineapple, coconut, and macadamia nut liqueur) was a surprising find! So delicious! Not sweet, not sour, not bitter, and most dangerously: did not taste alcoholic.
They also have a small menu with snacks. My friends ordered corn dogs (this was her dinner), french fries, and mozarella sticks. Not bad for bar food! There's a waitress that comes around to take your food/drink orders if you're seated.
In terms of ambiance, it's a little dark, but there's always music playing and plenty of people around. There's an outdoor space in the back that's popular; there are booths inside and in the corner, there's a random little waterfall fountain and a couple of couches and chairs for groups.
My party of ten plus rolled in around 10:30PM on a Saturday night and at first, we had to split up at the bar. Not much later, we scored a couch and some chairs!
Overall, I've been to two or three tiki bars, and I really enjoyed this one. So much so that I had my going away party here :)
It was my first time here last night (Thursday). The experience wasn't so great since there were no tables available except for the ones outside, and the area outside didn't have something to provide heat for the customers unlike in some places (uhm, hello, this is the bay area. It gets chilly at night!) I wouldn't mind staying out otherwise. Not a place to go to on Thursdays if you want to catch up and chat with friends since the music might be too loud for you, unless of course you're ok with yelling throughout your conversations. If you wanna listen to a live band however, then do come visit. Make sure to come early though because the place can get crowded.
Last night, I ordered a piña colada which was REALLY good. Possibly one of the best ones I have ever tried. I also had some wings and fries. They were just ok for me, but my husband enjoyed the fries a lot. He said he felt like they were wedges (his favorite thing to snack on). Our server was very nice too. A middle-aged lady who proved to be livelier than the rest of the staff (Thank you!)
I'd come back for that piña colada!
I know everyone loves this place and I feel bad giving them 2 stars but heres why:
We sat at the bar right in front of where all the drinks were made. Despite being two feet from the bartender the service was terrible. I was visibly upset at how my drink turned out and was complaining about it to my wife and he just didn't care or bother to offer to fix it or do anything. I think I even mentioned to him it didn't taste right. Nothing. The place was busy but by their own admission not very busy for a Saturday night. I watched as many drinks were just thrown together with little care.
Lots of tropical themed drinks but a lack of anything that is not 3 parts sugar to 1 alcohol. I wish they had some more classic cocktails on the menu.
I will try this place in 6 months and see if the service improves. For right now I still have a bad taste in my mouth.
This place is super fun if you are going with a group of friends. It's not the type of bar where you got o meet people, it's more of a sit back, relax, and enjoy your yummy drink and the scenery kind of place. Some of the drinks are too sugary for my taste, so make sure you read all the ingredients and ask questions, so you don't end up with a bowl of something you can't finish or finish and feel like crap! Loses a star for location, very residential area, not hard to get to but you should have a DD to get home!
Review Source:I am impressed!
+ Lovely decor - dolla bill ceiling (you'll understand when you get there), blowfish lights & tropical themed booths
+ Drinks are decently priced, gigantic, and delicious!
+ Friendly staff dressed in cute Hawaiian shirts
+ Laid back atmosphere, no pretentiousness here =)
+ Easy parking, feels safe since it's Alameda Â
Will come back on a warm night to enjoy their patio, which I have not had to pleasure of sitting at yet! Dakine...
Where else can you delight in a Virgin Sacrifice, and still make it home to tuck in the babies ;-)
Forbidden Island delights the soul. It's a classic tiki bar summoning the great and powerful tiki gods of the 1950s and '60s. Upon entering the door you are immediately whisked deep into the islands, from the bamboo hut booths to the half naked grass shirt shaking beauty in the bathroom! Â
Must-have favorites: Scorpion Bowl, Chamborlada, Painkiller, Monkeypod, Virgin Sacrifice and the Banana Mamacow (double yum)!
Don't forget to check the online events. Any night with Tanoa Samoa spinning vinyl is most definitely not a night to be missed!
So not only does this place have the best servers/drink makers (Judy, Ashley, Daniel), they are all amazing. Â Come here at least once a month! Â Forbidden island is the best, love chamborlada, chi-chi macademia nut, and many more. Â
I was on a mad hunt for "orange blossom flower water" at 7:30PM on a saturday night. Â No ethnic food stores where open, and the ones that were did not have it in stock! Â We called "tiki" (a beloved nick name us "locals" call it :-P) because we were curious if they did. Â Well they said YES THEY DID and they gave a little sample (which was more than plenty) for FREE.
We got to make our delicious Ramas Gin Fizzes!
Can i say just how many times they are amazing?!?!?! Â Love our tiki. Â
There mozzeralla sticks and guac is great snackies foodies too!
Anynight is a good night, seated is limited! Â If you come as a big group, best to come right when they open!! Â Sometimes even just a pair of people may not find any seating!
Oh yeah! Â On the weekend of my birthday back in October they had a burlesque show. Â So cool!
Long live the Chamborlada!!! I really enjoy coming here and sharing this place with others. The staff is cool and the look and feel of this place will instantly transport you to a tropical isle...
...that said, the drinks are all laborious and thus, you can often wait for over 20 minutes for your drink. Indoor seating is limited and outside seating may subject you to cigarette smoke.
All in all, this place is fun and I love coming here when I want to slow down and drink under a tiny umbrella.
Ok. This place is totally awesome. Way more awesome that I thought it would be.
The decor is fantastic. Blowfish lights (I need one!), stylin' Hawaiian style shirts on the bartenders, and, my favorite part: peacock chairs! I made a bee line for the peacock chair as soon as I saw it, and felt like royalty leaning back sipping on my fruity alcoholic delight.
Their menu is extensive, and I haven't tried many of their drinks, but the ones I have tried have all been great. Each drink has a marking next to its name on the menu so you know how much alcohol you're gonna get (basically a "how quickly you're gonna get wasted" rating-useful for people who have to drive home and want to take it easy! or useful for people trying to get wild). Their prices are absolutely fair, with drinks ranging from around $6-11.
If you're a rum devotee, they have what's called the "rum challenge". You get a print out with the names of all of their rums (probably around 100!), and the bartender checks off each rum you've sampled. Once you complete the challenge, you are forever honored with a name plate placed on the bar shelves.
If you're a tiki bar fan, this place is the bomb. If you're not a tiki bar fan, this place might seem a bit kitsch, but you'll enjoy the drinks.
I have been remiss in not writing a review for this place after coming here for years.
My friends and I are Kill Devil Monday regulars. Â Mondays are great here because it's all night happy hour and they also offer discounts on certain rums (which is great if you're trying to get into the Kill Devil Club). Â The ambience is, like everyone else on here says, fabulous, but what keeps us coming back is our great relationship with the staff.
The manager, Melissa, is awesome. Â No other way to put it. Â Since we are there every Monday, more than a few times one of us has accidentally left a credit card there. Â Each time, Melissa made a point to track me down and tell me that a card had been left by one of our group. Â On other occasions, when I have been working on my Kill Devil Club list, she has given me a heads-up on which rums have been discontinued (so I drink 'em before they're gone), made some great recommendations on drinks, and generally just been pleasant every time we're there. Â If this woman ever has a bad day you'd never know it.
They're also very patient about splitting our checks (sometimes there are 6 or more of us, always at least 4), and in the years we've been coming here we've never gotten the "large party" charge that I see other reviewers complain about.
Mahalo Forbidden Island and keep up the good work!
Forbidden Island is an unassuming bar located away from downtown Alameda. The waitress we had was incredibly friendly, the drink list was large, and the drinks we ordered were both strong and well made. The decor was fun, and, thankfully, not old and rotting (Trad'r Sams). The crowd was a good mix of ages, and everyone seemed to be having a pretty good time. They even have a cool outdoor patio!
Great spot for a drink or two.
Continuing our Saturday of Tropical drinks and Tiki culture, my beau and I went to the Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge in Alameda. This is a small, neighborhood bar type place in the middle of a residential neighborhood, but looks are deceiving with this place. FI has over 100 rums, a huge cocktail menu, drinks to share and classic cocktails that will blow your mind.
The menu is huge. They have classic tropical drinks like the mai tai, fogcutter, zombie, etc. from Trader Vic's and Don the Beachcomber. They also have new versions of drinks as well as standard cocktails and beers. It could take you 1/2 hour just to read the menu.
Our bartender was really nice and super fun. The drinks were outstanding. I tried a Fogcutter and Navy Grog. The liquor is good quality, the juices are fresh, the drinks are made well and not very expensive for the quality.
This place opens at 5pm. It starts getting pretty busy about 10pm and there is standing room only.
I can't wait to return here for another fun night at the island.
Chamborlada, Chamborlada, Chamborlada! So good! I love tiki bars because I love my fruity tropical drinks. After bar hopping with some friends in Alameda, this was our last stop, and oh my, was it cool! The decor and atmosphere is fun, with a nice island vibe and the drinks are yummy! Not too sweet or tart with enough alcohol to have a good time.
I only had the chamborlada but it was HUGE and if you check-in on Yelp, you get $1 off a drink. YEEEEEE!
It's hard to find seating because this place is super popular and packed. The bouncer didn't let us in at first because they were over capacity. My friends and I had to stand outside like bums. But other than that, solid place for tropical drinks!
Whoohoo! Â As good as it gets is right!
Though hardly a "regular," I've been coming here for a few years now, and each and every time it has been terrific -- whether it's Thursday nights listening to The Jab spin records at Flight Lounge, Otto's Grotto, hearing bands like The Ogres, or just a quiet afternoon or evening, enjoying drinks. Â Any time I have out of town visitors, I bring them here instead of The Golden Gate Bridge, and they'd rather send postcards from Forbidden Island than The Wharf! Â I've even agreed to be a designated driver and still come, just so I can soak in the ambiance and good vibe. Â (And jealously watch while my friends drink the delicious drinks, though I can still have a virgin version.)
The staff is always friendly, and the owner, Michael, makes everyone feel like a special guest. Â I've been when it's crowded and busy -- you need a bit a patience, but since you know the end result is going to be a strong and tasty tiki cocktail, it's worth it. Â Rob and Autumn are terrific, as are Melissa and the rest of the staff. Â
I was lucky enough that my girlfriends got together and threw me my bridal shower here, and it was, hands down, the best bridal shower in the history of bridal showers. Â Everyone had SO much fun, and the folks at Forbidden Island went out of their way to make us happy. Â (And drunk. Â But that goes without saying.) Â Parties here are the best! Â (And so is the jukebox!)
I'm so happy that we have a jewel like Forbidden Island in Alameda -- always fun, friendly, and fabulous. Â Definitely 5 stars!!!!
A group of us rented Forbidden Island for a Bridal Shower on a Sunday afternoon.
The drinks were yum! The staff were thumbs up! The decor is top notch! The outside patio was perfect for a sunny afternoon!
It is not a super big place but even with a very large party we felt comfortable and well taken care of.
It was just on a whim that we contacted them to see if we could rent them out for a private party and lucky for us they said YES!
Thanks Forbidden Island for the great day and the memories!
Got more than 4 people in your party? Wanna sit at a table? Don't you dare - lest ye be slapped with a "large party fee" at a freakin BAR!
There were 6 of us - Apparently they have specific drinks they ONLY serve on Sundays, therefore only 5 of us ordered drinks - 3 of us ordered apps.
One person got a drink - and we waited. Others got their drinks, and I wanted water. I had to wait. 2 people ordered corn dogs. Those arrived after drinks. One person ordered cheese sticks - those never came.
I would be remiss if I didn't gush about how good the Mai Tai was. I recently spent my honeymoon on Maui, where I drank my weight in Mai Tais and this one was among some of the best I had - not too sweet, the perfect touch of dark rum, and a pineapple to top it off. While I didn't order it, I drank about 1/4 of someone else's...
We got the bill, and only checked to make sure the cheese sticks had been removed. Thankfully, Sal (my husband), checked the bill and noticed the "large party fee."
Again I say - it's a f*@king BAR! No need for this nonsense. So of course, we asked that it be removed. The manager was cool about it, but the server totally seemed like a deer in headlights when we questioned it - saying "that's just how it is..." How about no, it's not.
I loved the atmosphere of this spot, it reminds of Hawaii, the Tiki Room from Disneyland, and the Tonga Room in SF, with Elvis's "Blue Hawaii" showing on a big TV behind the bar, and surf music blaring form the speakers, but I doubt I will ever find myself at the place again.
Unless I'm already drunk... and screaming about how I want to go to the Tiki Room in Alameda... Then maybe...
After a tasting at Hanger One, we wanted to go somewhere to stop before our dinner reservations. The guy at Hanger One recommended this place. I really wish he hadn't.
We walked in and LOVED the environment. Felt like we were in Hawaii. There were many drinks that reminded me of the islands, one I wanted to order. The waitress came and took our orders (there were 6 of us at a large table) and when I ordered my drink I was informed the drink I wanted was only available on Sundays. It was Saturday. If that was the case, I didn't understand why the menu was even on the table if some drinks weren't available Monday - Saturday.
Nevertheless, I ordered an alternative and we ordered corn dogs and mozzarella sticks. One drink came out 5 minutes before anyone else and the one person that ordered water didn't get it and had to ask again when the rest of the drinks came! The corn dogs came before the drinks and the mozzarella sticks NEVER came. We asked about them and were told they were on the way. The still never came (I think the waitress forgot entirely). We finally said we needed to go, finished our drinks and got the bill.
During the review of the bill, we discovered a LARGE PARTY charge. AT A BAR!!! We were appalled and couldn't believe they would do that. When we asked the waitress about it, she said that was protocol. One of the people in our party didn't even drink! And the charge was nearly $10! I asked to speak with the manager and had the charge removed. There was NO indication on the menu or anywhere that they had such a charge. We were so annoyed, I would not come back here sadly.
As perfect as a tiki bar can get!
The cocktails, the rum selection, the bark cloth/thatch/bamboo and image-heavy ephemeral decor, the patio, the little nibbles menu... Forbidden Island is a wonder. Obviously some beachcomber's GEM MINT TEN labor of love. If this place doesn't instantly woo you from your mundane workaday existence upon first entrance then something inside you is dead, friend.
Bonus points for the open turntable event Forbidden Island hosted recently -- a triumph of leisure that made one of my long fantasized dreams come true: being able to DJ some of my favorite, beloved Exotica/Lounge records in a proper Tiki Temple while sipping their signature drink from their signature tiki mug, the waterfall playing into the live mix while vinyl junkies and music nerds hobnobbed among all the goo-gaws. Love.
My only complaint is that Forbidden Island is not as easily accessible from the city as I'd like it to be (I say this as an initiate and devotee of Smuggler's Cove -- the #1 rum bar close enough to my house that I can stumble home easily, though I live three blocks from the Tonga Room). So, really, I should revise my complaint: I have no complaints whatsoever. Life is good, and Forbidden Island is living right.
I am a rum slut and this is my brothel.
So many amazing rums to choose. I enjoy rich dark rums that make me dream of rich brown sugar (how come you taste so good, yeah?!). Well-known and unknown rums grace their bar like a hall of fame. Mmmm rum.
Oh, you want drinks that will set you adrift? All of their drinks come conveniently on the menu with a rating of how trashed you wish to get. There is the classic zombie, scorpion, Mai tai, and hurricane among others. Their grog selection makes me just want to say "arggggg matey!" But rumrunners unite, there are lots of unique and fun other drinks to try that you have never heard of. There are plenty of selections for those who wish to stay upright for more than three drinks, too...
This place regularly has themed nights that make this an amazing hangout place. Halloween had '60s horror movies running while someone played the Theremin like scooby do would want you to. Mardi gras was fun, but not so many flashers.....
Come for the fun, just make sure that safe taxi is on speed dial for the ride home!
Wow, what a hidden treasure in Almeda. sssssshhhhhhh don't tell anybody. They have yummy drinks, some slushy type with a beautiful flower. Check out the website as they have tons of theme nights. I went on a 1940's and was amazed that almost everybody was dressed up and looking good!
I want to come back and have a birthday celebration here, it's that kind of a place!
Cheers!
Not to brag or anything, but I've been to a fair share of really good Tiki bars, in the continental US and beyond. Forbidden Island is pretty damn awesome!
How do you know if you're in a good Tiki bar? A quick lesson for beginners:
+ Lots of stuff on the walls, including naked portraits of island women and/or velvet paintings (preferably together), black and white photos of Hawaiian heroes/surfers/kings of the past and all sorts of "artifacts". Ideally, all mis-mashed together in no particular order.
+ Drinks are adorned with plastic mermaids, seahorses, umbrellas or back scratchers.
+ Warning labels on the drink menu, indicating a) Exactly how snookered one would get if they chose this particular combination of rum and mixers; b) Limitations on how many times a customer is allowed to order a particularly dangerous beverage; and c) Suggesting that patrons share by serving a drink in a huge bowl and bringing out multiple straws.
+ There's at least one guy in the corner, slumped over his drink in a Hawaiian shirt who looks like he hasn't moved from his perch since 1979.
+ Sticky cocktail menus, indicating just how much sugar is in the bevvies.
+ Jukebox with oldies and good surf tunes.
+ It's so dark inside you can barely see the people sitting next to you.
Forbidden Island has all of these things and more! Unlike Frankie's in Vegas, there's not stale smoke or a hint of depression in the air, so patrons could potentially stay here all night! Unless you have diabetes... if so, make it only one round for your own sake! And unlike Duke's of Hawaii, there's not a HUGE line of people waiting to get inside.
There's even virgin drink options for teetotalers or your DD that evening. If you're lucky enough to nab a seating area, it's a fun time for a group of up to 5-6 people. After that, it's just plain crowded. On our particular visit, we witnessed a party of 2 making out right next to us, followed by a large posse of peeps wearing retro chic Hawiaan shirts/dresses. Very nice!
Probably my favorite part, besides the Zombie drink? FREE jukebox! The potential to play 1960's jams that you haven't heard in a LONG time (or perhaps never before) is reason enough to come here!
Why can't there be a Forbidden Island in my neck of the woods???
I once was 30% sure I wanted to move to the Bay Area, but now I have an intoxicating affair boiling with Forbidden Island which has me packing my bags!
Now there's no need for me to tell you that I had the thick, delicious, butterflies-in-my-stomach Macadamia Nut Chi Chi that felt like I'd asked for a smoothie than a cocktail! So sweet, so flavorful, but doesn't really get you drunk. Forbidden Island was being gentle with me as we got to know each other.
If you like them sweet, go ahead and indulge in the Banana Mamacow. I still wake up in the middle of the night wishing I wasn't 400 miles away...
So, I told him to do whatever he wanted to me. I didn't care, so then I sipped on the Zombie that churned not butterflies, but pterodactyls  in my stomach as my eyelids became heavier and I felt the rums run through my blood. Just so you know, besides every drink they have bottles to indicate how strong the drink is...do yourself a favor and start your night with the strongest one, the Zombie!
If you want another strong one, try the Painkiller for a pina colada take, but wasn't my favorite trick. I guess true love really is accepting one another's flaws.
Of course, I had the typical drinks with passion fruit like the Beach Combover...
But what really makes Forbidden Island stand out, its his mystery and depth. You keep trying to read him, but you're led to the intrigue of the Hurricane. My god, a lemony indulgence that makes you pucker from the cherry, let me tell you this will make your hair a mess! (And I adore the details when I saw my umbrella adornment had been flipped inside out as if an actual mini tiki hurricane had struck, adorable!)
As if I wasn't head over heels, already picturing our children together, the second time I came here I joined his club, The Kill-Devil Club (it sounds so sexy and mysterious but kill-devil is what they used to call rum back in the days of pirates and scurvy). Try all 125 rums and you get your name on the plaque! 8 down, 117 more to go. I suggest you start with the flights to save money and make your decision easier.
Can you tell how in love I am? No one has ever heightened such sensation in my body like Forbidden Island has. BEST TIKI BAR EVER!
You're all invited to the wedding!