Devil's Reef

Nice dark tiki bar! Hidden off a side street in downtown. No sign out front, just a ships well to let you know you got to the right place! Dark and cozy inside. Great selection of drinks! We tried Obeds grog and the death never dies! Both were good and had a bit of a punch! Worth stopping if you like tiki!

Thought this place would be slightly more fun. Great drinks with attention to detail. Nice tiki decoration but too bright, music too quiet… just not quite right. Bartenders semi-friendly/ semi-unfriendly. Worth a try.

This place is amazing! A very fun and cozy tiki bar in an old historic area of Tacoma. I had the best drink that I've ever had, it's called the Gilman House Special and it was so delicious that I can't wait to go back for another one. We also tried different grog drinks that were amazing too. For our food we shared nachos and ordered pork sliders, rice bowl and quesadilla. Everything was delicious. It was a very fun night!

Incredible and imaginative libations abound on this robust tiki menu! I only had the pleasure of one cocktail but it was one of the best mai tais I've had in a long time. I definitely want to come back and try some food and peruse the menu a bit more. Three cheers for Steve the Pirate! Olympic Otter

If you're in the area of Tacoma, Washington, definitely stop by Devil's Reef. It's on my list of one of the better tiki bars around the country. The look of the bar is pleasing to the eye. Upon entry, you lose yourself to the escapism created by the interior. The staff is amazing and very knowledgeable. Fresh ingredients are prepared in-house, and the bartenders are several steps above the average. The drinks are well balanced and delicious. Food items are offered and make a proper meal, plus they pair well with the cocktails. Definitely stop by this spot and enjoy great ambiance, good people as well as food and drink. It does not disappoint. Tiki peeps, you'll definitely want to make this a destination. However, all will enjoy!

I absolutely love this venue. They have the best rum drinks around. Were they lack in the quality of food they make up for in the quality of their drinks. Not saying the food isn't good at all infact I've never eaten something here that I didn't like. But the drinks are top notch. Very fun atmosphere. Also it can be nice and intimate with your date.

Our bartender Ana was talented, friendly, and kind. We watched her make drinks! She is very knowledgeable and professional. She shared her love of Polynesian themed bars with us. Thanks Devil's Reef for the best decor, best staff and best Mai Tai. Try the nachos or sliders. You won’t be disappointed.

Myself and a friend visited This place last weekend and both of us really enjoyed everything about this place. Atmosphere was perfect service was kind and prices for a downtown bar were very competitive. Only reason 4 stars is I didn't eat but we are meeting again this weekend so I may update. Last note I live on Phinney Ridge in Seattle and it was worth the 35 miles. Came back had chicken nachos and upgraded to 5 stars

I came here back in July 2023 with a friend. The bartender was great. The drinks were strong and the nachos were good, definitely hit the spot. White vibes for sure lol!

Cool interior. They don't have cocktail servers, so you have to order at the bar- don't know if that is intentional or they are just short staffed. The drinks are not the usual tiki drinks. The first one tasted like cough syrup. Posted their menu since I couldn't find one online. Get there when they open, was super crowded.

Ambiance is where this place truly shines. After walking in a very nondescript and ordinary foyer, you are greeted with a dimly lit, colorful pirate themed nautical bar. Normally a server or bartender notices your appearance pretty quickly and ushers you to a seat. The menu is on QR code and is primarily rum based drinks. So sad that they don't stock my favorite, rhum agricole! But the cocktails are strong, rated by skull level on the menu, and definitely fulfill the tiki vibe. I just wish the menu had more practical descriptions of the drinks; many of them sounded fantastical but we weren't sure what they would taste like. (But most tiki drinks taste similar to me anyhow).

Definite hole in the wall. As I was headed to the bar to order because there are no servers; I was stabbed with in the back by a small woman with a pad or phone rudely stating, "Behind". The place has to kept dark and the drinks so strong in order to eat their food. Did I mention the bartender has social anxiety?! This place is a Hell No! Had to add a star in order to post.

This is a first stop experience for a night of bar-hopping (and food hopping) when I'm entertaining out-of-towners. The atmosphere is fun and the drinks/food choices are interesting! The Singapore Sling is my go-to drink and I love the loaded fries and other sharable options! Sitting at the bar is fun if you have a small group, most of the bartenders put on a good tiki drink show as they work!

Really cool tiki bar in Opera Alley. We were bar hopping and saw this nearby- it took a bit to find the place (hint- look for the ship's wheel outside). It's pretty neat inside- definitely pirate themed- this is a Rum bar after all (hubby tried to order a whiskey and coke-bad boy!!!). Service wasn't great- took a bit to get acknowledged. We did not try the food, so cannot speak to that! I tried the Dagon's Revenge- not my favorite- pretty pricey for such a small glass. Hubby tried a rum and coke- it was citrusy- we weren't sure it was really coke- so we only stayed for one drink! Cool atmosphere gets the points!

In the middle of Tacoma lies a somewhat hidden tiki bar with fantastic drinks and food. The "vibes" are fantastic, as is the subtle tiki music and flickering lamp light. A lot of booths are tucked away for a private evening and we had really enjoyable service. If you are looking for a tropical escape, Devil's Reef is a great option. Good luck picking a drink though, the menu is massive and will take a while to read and choose.

I love this tiki bar. It has such a fun tropical vibe. They serve delicious food and have an extensive themed drink menu. The bartenders are kind, patient, and helpful when asked about recommendations.

We were looking for somewhere to get a great drink and a light meal after visiting Zoo Lights on a rainy December evening and thought this joint might be the perfect spot for us. Forget what you think a tiki bar is (1950s retro, over priced drinks made with cheap booze, plastic palm trees) and open your mind to what a tiki bar should be. The vibe of tropical places and kitsch is alive and well here, but so is an amazing array of excellent rums, and a cocktail list that must surely have something for everyone. The bar tender did a great job of guiding me a cocktail that was just right. It seems the kitchen closes early evening sometimes, but we just made it in under the deadline. A few shortages, but the spicy sausage dog I had and the pulled pork sliders that my wife had were just right. Nothing fancy here except for the drinks, but solid bar grub. A little had to spot from the street this place winds back into the bowels of the building. Lots of nooks perfect for small groups, a good looking bar, and even a lounge with some sofas. All eclectic and perfect for the vibe.

Sadly after 30 minutes after being seated, we were not served. It was our anniversary and this place was highly recommended. We were really excited because we like their other spot, I'll just continue to go there instead after this experience.

Fun little bar with a tiki vibe. Their drinks are STRONG and delicious. The drink menu has skulls by each drink, which depicts how strong each cocktail is.

Well executed tiki bar in a cool area of Tacoma. The interior is mostly nautical themed, with tropical touches and a medley of antique decor. The menu includes the largest selection of exotic drinks I've ever seen in one place, ranging from tiki classics (Mai Tai, Zombie, Navy Grog), to inventive house specialities that you will not find anywhere else. Seating is first come, first serve; no reservations. On a Thursday night, the place was in full swing, but not crowded. My group of 4 snagged the best booth in the house, a partially covered bamboo hut illuminated by multicolored lamps. It felt semi private, allowing for good conversation while still enjoying the ambience. All 6 of the cocktails I tried were fantastic. Fresh ingredients, expertly crafted, heavy pours of rum. My favorite was their namesake punch, the "Devil Reef" which includes citrus, pineapple, cinnamon and a blend of rums. I also loved the completely unique "Antarctica Expedition", a frosty treat featuring coconut cream and absinthe. Their rendition of a Painkiller was also exceptional. The bartenders were all friendly, and clearly talented. But, most of the food we ordered simply never arrived. Once the staff realized, they were apologetic, and brought us a round of blended aged rum shots, which were much appreciated. None of the food was good, but that's not what you are here for. Stick to drinks, and enjoy the ride.

It's ok if you're looking for a Disney-like experience. But steer clear if you're a rum/tiki-phile... they stick to their menu religiously and are purely a house of plantation. You've been warned!

If you hit one tiki bar in Seattle, this should be the one! Great drinks, fun/nautical atmosphere, well-executed all around! Background music was nice volume and appropriate for theme. They do not take reservations--go to the door and get on the list. (Mcmenaman's is a block away if you wanna kill time at "the old hangout" tiki bar)

Great vibe and top notch service. We went in tonight for a Dirty 30 and were treated amazingly. The drinks were strong but didn't taste like it which was surprising since rum can be hard to cover up. Our server was very knowledgeable of the drinks offered, he had a recommendation for every taste bud. I left my Kraken ring there tonight, I do wish I could find a phone number somewhere so I can try to retrieve it.

Finally paid a visit to this hidden little spot. At first glance you wouldn't know it was there. I like that!! Once you enter you're taken into the depths of the lost creatures of the deep! I must say for its size, it's an awesome Tiki Bar! Bartenders were on point, behind the bar & serving food. We got the pork nachos & chicken kelaguen, and both were a 5/5! Thanks for having us! Be back soon. Xoxo's

We stopped in last night for a drink. This is a really cool place. It's super unassuming outside, but upon entering, it's another world. A tiki, dark, cool vibe. No lie, the drinks are a bit pricey, but the one I had was quite tasty. The devil reef. I was a bit bummed because I wanted to try the tofu musubi, but they were out of rice. I understand it was about 10 minutes until the last call for food. However, that was still a bummer. Hopefully next time they will have rice available. My other veggie option I was interested in also contained ice, so I just stuck with the drink. The guy running the place, the bartender, server, everything, was extremely friendly. I'm excited to go back.

If you have not been to this hole in the wall bar, you NEED to go. They mostly sell rum and I haven't tried their food but each drink had its own backstory. The staff are super friendly even nights that felt stressful. The drinks are about the same price $14-16 depending on the amount of skulls on the drink which means how much rum is in your drink. MUST SEE the path towards the loo (bathroom) and with a piano, couches, and huge mirrors, on a rainy day you can see the beautiful concrete back wall dripping water down the drain. If not for the drinks you should go for the beautiful and cozy venue.

This is a great place for a different atmosphere for a fun night. Out with your friends and even some family members for the vibe. I wouldn't say first date vibes because it quite dark inside and can be a bit loud when at full capacity. Make reservations for sure. But if you want a date night with a partner and you don't mind being in a dark environment like that then go for date night. The drinks are mostly rum (specialty drinks), however they do have a small selection of other alcoholic beverages and can make something you will enjoy. Check out this place for amazing environment with a fun pirate theme vibe that's sure to get the conversation going.

I've been a fan since Tacoma Cabana, but I love Devil's Reef so much more. The vibe is incredible but isn't gimmicky- the food and drinks DELIVER. I love sitting at the bar and hearing the bartender's recommendations as well. Get there early though; I arrived at 4:45, 15 minutes before opening on a Saturday, and there was already a line. This place is worth it!

Delving into the world known as the Tiki bar, luckily I had a guide with me to educate me on the tiki bar drinking etiquette. Yes this place is really stunning inside. The decor is on par with the best of the tiki bars I have seen. Now I am not a froofroo (now it's a word) drink person I like my whiskey and my Guinness. These concoctions were out there and some of them didn't sit quite right in the beginning but my "guide" explained you need to mix these things a lot in order to get the taste to rise to eats peak I thought he was full of it at first but the drink I was sipping on did go from yuck to something that was interesting and my second drink was much better after tasting and stirring a lot the flavors melded and tasted pretty damn good. I would take friends here again for the adventure

Came here last night for the first time for a girls night out! Atmosphere is fun and sultry at the same time. Drinks did a disappoint, although when I think about it, crushed ice is filled to the top of every glass so I wonder just how much of a drink I'm getting lol? Ordered the caprasi sandwich with Mozzarella, tomatoes and basil and that was a clear favorite. Pulled pork sliders were great, fresh rolls not so much. All the wait staff extremely friendly, including the owner who wears a fun hat with a tassel. Had to wait an hour but it was well worth it!

Mixed reviews. I've been here a few times. Service from bartenders is great. The menu is wayyyy to large for drinks. Unless you order something very basic like a rum and coke drink they're not that great. Two in our party requested new drinks. Ambiance's is you feel like you're in a Disney. It's pretty cool to show people just wish the drinks were better. I wish I could tell the owner how much alcohol they're wasting there.

This bar has a really cool atmosphere. You can tell they put a lot of time and money into the decor. The drinks are also on theme, a little on the pricier side but you're paying for the experience. It does get really busy on weekends and without a reservation it can be an hour and a half wait.

The real deal! Extra points for kindness and consideration for a woman coming in solo. I started with Voodoo Summons. I'm came for the passion fruit syrup but stayed for their house made coconut cream! So good!

Drinks are very expensive and it's all rum. It's pretty dark in there but the ambiance and theme is pretty cool. Service is not great, wasn't very busy and it took us a while to get our drinks. Didn't try any of the food.

It's popular okay? So you may wait. It's fun alright? So it's going to be noisy. We waited about an hour and fifteen minutes then it was our turn. Worth. Every. Minute. We had a great time! The service was great and the drinks are STRONG so you definitely get your moneys worth. The people who work there deal with alcohol related problems all night (drunk people, price complaints, temporary insanity) and yet they were the best! Never rude and never impatient, which would be easy because it takes a while to decide what to order off their huge drink menu. The guy at the front was awesome he explained the waiting queue site and got us in quick when the group in front no-showed! We never left until almost forced to!

Best Tiki bar north of San Francisco. The pork sliders are really good. Drinks are carefully crafted and tasty

My fiancé and I came to this place because we are fans of this type of bar especially with their tropical/tiki vibe. It was very busy but were huge fans of the almost pirates of the Caribbean feel to it. Drinks were great and strong! I'd encourage you to get food elsewhere before or after you come for drinks here--nothing special about the food and very limited in options. It was definitely dive bar-like food. It's clear they probably have had problems with people stealing the mugs because your drinks come in a standard glass, unlike most bars of this genre. However this review is primarily for our bartender. Gama was our bartender and although he was completely slammed (busting out multiple drinks per MINUTE) and never stopped working at that pace for the entire 1.5 hours we were there and he somehow still managed to be polite and friendly to us. His drinks were fantastic even though he was working at lightning pace and were not only tasty but beautiful. It is clear that he has the EXTENSIVE menu of drinks memorized without any hesitation and is very well-versed in what he is doing. This bar is incredibly lucky to have him in their employment and management should consider a raise for this guy.

So so so many kinds of rums! And even more kinds of drinks, all of which are unique and delicious. I can't recall the name, but the drink I had was a smoky pineapple flavor that was unique and satisfying. The decor is just how you'd expect it, very pirate-tiki bar and so much fun. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because of the odor, couldn't place my finger on it but it wasn't pleasant.

My wife and I been coming to this tiki bar for a couple years and have loved every experience...until tonight. The drinks were great, as usual, but we ordered food and it didn't come for an hour. We nicely inquired about it with the bartender and he told us he would check with the kitchen, but he never returned. After 25 minutes, we then inquired with a server, and he told us he'd check with the kitchen, but never returned. After 30 minutes, and nearly TWO HOURS after we sat down, we left for somewhere we would actually eat in a reasonable timeframe. I would give this 1 star, but the drinks are good enough to deserve an additional star. For everyone's sake, I hope they get their food service figured out!

Devils Reef was a lot fun. Had the jerk chicken bowl and it had great spice and flavors. The drinks were awesome they're tasty and strong. Service was excellent! Totally would come back and try it again.

Really cool place with a ton of different drinks available, just a little small so it gets busy. That's a good thing though

I'm back almost 4 years later with the same review. Loved it. We took a bunch of selfies because the lighting near the bathroom is on point. Great service. Good drinks. The private area upstairs is intriguing.... I want to book it just because. We'll be back before another 4 years goes by. That is for sure!

Best bar in Tacoma hands down. The Drinks are High in price but worth it. The nachos are amazing especially with the pulled pork. Can't wait to be able to go there again! If you have the chance check it out this place

Love this place. They have really good food and a huge drink menu. Drinks are very strong and delicious. Love this vibe and atmosphere. Get here early because it fills up fast

The decor was cool, glad they use no straws, and care for environment, but the food is absolutely the worst.

Since the pandemic and stay at home, my fiancé has taken on the hobby of learning the history of Tiki, its culture, and concocting drinks from the Tiki Bible- Smuggler's Cove. We have visited several tiki bars hoping to find the authenticity that our tiki history book describes, and for the first time found the authenticity at Devil's Reef! 5 Stars all the way, authenticity, creativity, drink flavors (rum forward and not sweet as you'd expect), and the ambiance is great! Make sure you get there early. Last time we went there was a 2 hour wait and we barely snuck in for a couple drinks before last call, which is at 9:30PM. Definitely a re visit in my opinion!

Wonderful experience! The owner is short of amazing! He was not only checking in guests but also cleaning tables. The food is some of the best I've had in a long time. We got the jerk chicken and pork fresh rolls ... Yum!! We will be back :)

I have mixed feelings about this place. I had a black spire relic on my latest visit and it was a great cocktail. It has complex flavors including lemon, orange, allspice, vanilla, and almond in the mix. I love the pirate decor as well. The service is a bit on the slow side and there were no refills of water or utensils provided. The food is just ok in my opinion and overpriced for what it is. I wish they'd offer up a well version of these drinks without the premium rum and make it affordable. At 14-19 dollars a cocktail I don't really want to have two but I would if it was a bit more affordable.

Tried to go there for food and drinks on a Sat night about 7 pm. Looks like a fun place and it came highly recommended but parking is a real problem and we gave up after circling the area multiple times. We plan to try again.

The ambience of this place was incredible! Friends called it a tiki bar but I definitely got a pirate ship vibe instead. Drinks are on the pricey side, but I would say worth it because of the copious amounts of alcohol they put in. Only issue I had was that it wasn't communicated that we had to order our food and drinks at the bar, and that there wouldn't be table service. Other than that, still had a gre

Such a fun place! The cocktails were yummy and the ambiance is amazing. We will be back for sure!

I've frequented the Devil's Reef a number of times. Might be a little hard to spot your first time but once you find a way. I usually don't get the food, it's more of a after dinner gathering spot for my circle of friends. If you like rum, gin, and vodka cocktails this place is for you!

Incredible. Accommodating as possible. Teddy took care of us and did an amazing job. Wonderful ambiance. This bar tops any bar I've been to in Washington. Amazing drinks and I feel like I'm on a pirate ship.

Super fun tiki vibe which made me think of the blue bayou restaurant in the pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. Drinks were great and the nachos were massive. Everyone was super nice. Will definitely come back and bring people to show it off to!

So, after I got home and wrote my initial review, I received a PM from Robyn asking about my experience and wanting to get more information. We had a lengthy conversation and she explained that she was sorry about my experience and refunding the food portion of my bill. She also mentioned that ice in the drinks were historically relevant to the drinks, so I might have been a bit rough on my review. BTW, I am not big into fruity rum drinks, my wife liked hers though. As far as the service, she mentioned that our server was relatively new, they were swamped, which they were and she was out due to personal reasons. Overall, they were short-staffed. Although, I mentioned to her that the speed of the service for drinks was good. It takes a lot for the managers or owners to reach out and try to fix a bad situation. Like I mentioned, these guys have been in the Tacoma area for a number of years and they have a good reputation in the community. Overall, we arrived last night to find an busy place and lucky to find a seat. Anyhow, our server was just not on it, he forgot to enter our food and then mentioned that their device to run cards was rebooting. Something I never heard of but, ok. The problem came when he asked for cash, usually not a problem but the Reef is not located near an ATM. He resolved the situation by using the bartenders device and that fixed the situation.

Don't claim to be Tiki if you ain't Tiki! As sad as we were that Tacoma Cabana closed, the Devils Reef is the Tiki talk of Tacoma. Step inside and escape Ttown and enjoy exotic concoctions of boozy goodness. Don't see what you want on the drink menu? The staff are more than happy to whip up a special potent potion for you. The decor is as Tiki as Tiki can be, minus Tiki torches and the tasty food items help dilute the effects of that sneaky strong beverage you are enjoying. Tiki drinks aren't cheap, and the prices reflect that. Our server was great at explaining each beverage to us, and suggested some off the "secret menu." Below is the definition of a Tiki bar and this place, in our opinion, did not disappoint. Mahalo!! A tiki bar is an exotic-themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum-based mixed drinks such as the mai tai and zombie cocktail. Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their tiki culture décor which is based upon a romanticized conception of tropical cultures, most commonly Polynesian.

Strong drinks, great staff, awesome decor. Live in seattle but make the drive to Tacoma often to come here. I always recommend to people looking for a cool spot to grab a drink.