Tiki Tatsu-Ya

"Not able to pull off a beach getaway this weekend? This South Lamar tiki bar is the next best thing. Be transported to a tropical paradise at Tiki Tatsu-ya, which features elaborate decor (think rumbling volcanos), Polynesian-inspired pupu platters, creative island cocktails, and a lively atmosphere. A fun way to close out the week, Tiki Tastu-ya is open until 10 p.m. on Sundays." - Darcie Duttweiler

"Tiki Tatsu-Ya is the bar equivalent of a tropical resort—with a beach house upstairs, and a mysterious cave downstairs, both equipped with full bars shaking up drinks that arrive in clouds of smoke or in decorative mugs. You’ll want to make a reservation well in advance, ideally around dinnertime when you can pair those drinks with house-made spam musubi, tempura papaya, or smoked Kalua pork shoulder. They’ll also help balance out the effects of a few deceptively strong drinks. " - nicolai mccrary

"When we were kids, we looked to places like Rainforest Cafe for an immersive, tropical experience while living in Texas. These days, we just head to Tiki Tatsu-Ya on South Lamar. From the street, you’ll see a sign advertising a fictional travel agency. But inside is the bar equivalent of a tropical resort—with a beach house upstairs, and a mysterious cave downstairs, both equipped with full bars shaking up hyper-potent rum-based potions. And if the name wasn’t an indicator, this is from the folks that brought you Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, and DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya, so you know there’s a strong attention to food that combines Japanese, Hawaiian, and Polynesian influences. " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"When we were kids, we looked to places like Rainforest Cafe for an immersive, tropical experience while living in Texas. These days, we just head to Tiki Tatsu-Ya on South Lamar. From the street, you’ll see a bright yellow sign advertising a fictional travel agency—which makes sense because the space inside will transport you to what feels like a Polynesian resort. There’s a beach house upstairs and a mysterious cave downstairs, both equipped with festive bars shaking up hyper-potent rum-based potions. Just remember, those drinks hit a lot different now than when you were 22 and had the metabolism of a small cheetah. " - nicolai mccrary

"Tiki bar's second floor transformed into a more casual walk-up bar with snacks and unique cocktails." - Nadia Chaudhury