Frankie's Tiki Room

Frankie's has added a bunch of new drinks and replaced the uncomfortable chairs so the experience is better than the previous 5 stars. The place is so tiki'd out I'm transformed into a new world, and that's before the terrific drinks. Bamboo Ben's decor and Crazy Al's masterful tiki are off the hook. Music is so good I purchased many of the same albums for my own bar- flanging guitar surf music and exotica.

A few things to be aware of. The smoke gets heavy so come in the morning (it's 5:00 somewhere) and maybe you'll be lucky. No food (even pretzels) can be served in a smoking bar but it's ok to bring food inside (Del Taco is across the street). Someone objected to the poor table service- there isn't any table service. Head up to the bar and place your order there. Order two different drinks and the efficient bartenders pour 8 different ingredients into each glass- that's two different bottles in each hand repeated four times with varying times for each.

Several people commented on the long cab drive- Frankie's is actually close to the strip, but on the opposite side of the freeway (NEVER walk there!). It's at Charleston which is further north than most of the popular strip locations.

A few thoughts about tiki bars. Supposedly there is a tiki resurgence but it is hard to find a great tiki bar. Others have mentioned Smuggler's Cove in SF but it has nautical decor, not tiki. Trader Vic's looks corporate. Frankie's limited competition is Forbidden Island in Alameda and the Tiki Ti in LA. So when in Vegas come to Frankie's for great drinks, decor and vibe.

Tropical cocktails and tiki lounges may or may not be the next big thing.  San Francisco has an awesome tropical cocktail place called "Smuggler's Cove."  After people out west went to war with Japan, many were stationed in Hawaii in transit, and that's where they encountered the whole tropical island meme, and after the ware, full of nostalgia, many opened tiki bars along the west coast, and so it will forever be tied to the 50's.  Then it died out and became the butt of jokes in the 70s and 80s.  I went to a tiki place in LA/Rosemead called Bahooka in the 90s and they had flaming bowls of tropical drinks.  

These guys go overboard on the tiki theme with odd 50s/60s TV shows with tropical themes.  I guess the surf scene also blended into the whole tropical theme.  Their jukebox is practically a museum of obscure 50's/60s tropical them and surfer music, real historic stuff, no pirate sh t here.  It was super dark inside, but your eyes adjust which only means when you leave you'll go blind in the sun.  What's truly missing from the authentic tropical island bar experience is humidity.  I worked in Hawaii in the early 90s and I'll never forget that wet, humid, tropical air.  Otherwise, this is the real deal with nice, large tropical drinks.

Old Vegas has always been appealing to me. The Strip is fun, but I love the mid-century aesthetic that makes up old Vegas. Frankie's Tiki Room is one of those places that epitomize the old school feel. On a recent trip to Vegas, we rolled into Frankie's late night. The place was quiet and the drinks included large amounts of rum, fruit and umbrellas.

Tiki themed with fun drinks and a vibe that probably hasn't changed much since it opened make Frankie's a great spot. It feels like tiki bars are a dying breed, making Frankie's very special.