San Francisco Tiki Bar Triangle! January 9, 2026

Mentioned in this episode:

• Zombie Village — 441 Jones Street (no sign - look for the palm decor), San Francisco, CA 94102
  Fan / reviewer favorites: Coco Pandan, Disco Banana
  Frequently mentioned favorites from reviews: Coco Pandan, Voodoo Zombie (plus others) 
• Smuggler’s Cove — 650 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
  Popular picks: Mai Tai, Demerara Dry Float, Smuggler’s Rum Barrel
• Tiki Haven — 1334 Noriega St, San Francisco, CA 94122
  Favorites and menu picks: Fire Bowl • Mai Tai, Wiki Waki Woo

Transcript

Jamie Whitaker: 0:03

Hello, this is Jamie. You're listening to the To Do San Francisco podcast for Friday, January 9th, 2026. It's a bit chilly, but at least it is dry this wonderful weekend. If you're in the Bay Area and you want a mini vacation without leaving the city, San Francisco's tiki bars are the move. A great tiki bar isn't just rum drinks, it's a full escape with dim lights, bamboo and tropical decor, playful mugs and glassware, and cocktails built with fresh citrus, layered syrups, and very often multiple rums in one drink. It's part theater, part craft cocktail lab, and part "I can't believe it's foggy outside!" Today's three stop tiki triangle hits Zombie Village, Smuggler's Cove, and Tiki Haven. Let's go. So stop one, Zombie Village at 441 Jones Street in the Tenderloin. This place leans cinematic, moody, immersive, and designed for that "wait, we're still in San Francisco?" feeling. Reviewers and regulars love the Cocoa Panan - a creamy tropical comfort with a twist, and the disco banana if you're into banana and spice vibes that still hit like a real tiki cocktail. And if you want to go full classic tiki chaos, lean into their zombie style lineup because one cocktail here can absolutely count as two. Now for stop two, Smuggler's Cove at 650 Gough Street in Hayes Valley. Basically a shrine to rum and one of the most famous tiki bars anywhere. If you don't know what to order, start with their Mai Tai - Bright, Lime, Nutty Orgeat, and Rum doing what rum was born to do. Want something bolder? The Demerara Dry Float is on their very strong list, and it comes with passion fruit and what they literally call danger. Or go for the smuggler's rum barrel - deep, spiced, and built for sipping slow. Now for stop three. Tiki Haven out in the Outer Sunset at 1 334 Noriega Street. This one's more neighborhood hangout, like your local bar took a tropical vacation and never came back. The must order here is the firebowl, especially with friends. Tiki is at its best when it's communal. If you want a classic, their Mai Tai is right there on the menu. And if you want something loud and fun, order the Wiki Waki Woo because any drink with that name deserves at least one appearance in your life. So there you have it, that's the three bar tiki plan for San Francisco. Dramatic and modern at Zombie Village, iconic and rum nerdy at Smuggler's Cove, and laid back neighborhood paradise at Tiki Haven. Wherever you go, hydrate, snack, and let the fog be someone else's problem. Today's act of kindness: Hold a door open for someone close behind you, making eye contact and giving them a smile. It is a small gesture, but it can create a real human connection with big impact. Be kind. Have a great weekend. Let's go Niners football! Talk to you again on Monday.