Cajuns revel in lagniappe. It roughly translates to a little something extra. So when I returned to N’awlins, it should have been no surprise that one simple invitation turned into something much more.
Vico heard I was coming to town and invited me to visit his home bar. Since Vico is the godfather of the New Orleans Tiki scene, I accepted his offer without hesitation. I missed the chance to experience a Big Easy home Tiki bar on my first go-round, so this was the perfect invitation. When he and I messaged a few weeks before the date, Vico informed me that he’d taken the liberty to plan a “Tiki Fantasy Tour,” so I was naturally intrigued. It turns out the fantasy tour was the stuff of Polynesiacs’ dreams. Vico had arranged a private tour of three home tiki bars in one night.
I’ve learned from my visits that no home bar is the same as another. It’s more than what’s been put in a space; It’s the sum of it all. It’s the people, the stories, the collection, the decor, the music, and the drinks. It’s a vibe. So when Vico announced I’d see three excellent examples in one night, I knew upfront that I’d savor three quite different experiences. Like a flight of good rums, these three bars would each have its own unique taste, its own feel.
Vico’s Tiki a GoGo feels welcoming, layered, and authentic. When I asked him to describe his home bar, Vico offered, “This 16×17 rusted corrugated shed has changed my life. It’s given me happy moments and touching moments. Most of my stories travel through this bar.” Vico shared several of those touching stories with me as we sipped on a Fog Cutter under the manmade stars at his hut within a hut. Vico pointed out the original Waltah Clarke shirt he was gifted by Rolf, Walter’s son, who lives locally. Vico proudly described each mug behind the bar, one each reserved for family or dear friends. He showed me the lamps built by his father-in-law and the collection of postcards, including ones from Bali Hai at the Beach, the long-gone Tiki bar that used to sit on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Vico wanted to create the perfect mix of Tiki meets the 1960s, which blended his ongoing collection with a go-go dance cage, now gone, and a topless mannequin called Leila, who remains at watch. When you visit Vico’s Tiki a GoGo, you immediately feel comfortable. You feel like long-lost family who found home.
Kenny’s Kea Cove feels swanky, refined, and endearing. Kenny did all the detailed bamboo and woodwork himself, and the result is meticulous and stunning. To say that Kenny is skilled with his hands is an understatement. Kenny’s build is now the envy of the local Polynesiacs. When you walk in the door, you’ll think you’ve been transported into a luxurious supper club somewhere in the South Pacific. Kenny served us a Permanent Vacation – a tasty Chad Austin cocktail – and launched into stories about the challenges that often accompany building a bar from the ground up. The build had come at a particularly difficult time in his life. Kenny turned grief into action after his young daughter passed away. KEA are his daughter’s initials, so Kea Cove is named in her memory. When you visit Kenny’s Kea Cove, you’ll feel that transformation, how something beautiful can rise from the ashes of something so painful.
John’s Port Pavilion feels lively, fraternal, and fun. John describes his “eclectic port town pub” wryly as the “home bar behind a fence down a narrow alley through a side door in a garage.” By the time we arrived at our third stop, the party was in full swing. John was serving a spin on a classic daiquiri with tropical bitters and a half ounce of high proof straight apple brandy. He captained the party with a huge smile from behind the bar while his guests mixed and mingled. John’s pub is a bountiful blend of vintage, tikis, pirates, sports, neon, and nautical. When he got a brief break from serving, John put his arm around me and led me around his collection, adding the stories behind the pieces. He and several neighbors founded the Old Metairie Classic Cocktail Club, a fraternity for those interested in learning the skills and mastering the craft of mixology for classic drinks. John’s space is often home base for club meetings. When you visit John’s Port Pavilion, you’ll feel part of something both new and old, something that is great fun yet steeped in tradition. You’ll want to sign up for more.
In one fantastic night, three home Tiki bars offered me three one-of-a-kind experiences. What’s not to love about all that extra? Bring on the lagniappe.
