We could all use more tiki in our lives, that feeling of escape you experience when settled somewhere among ocean breezes, colorful rum-infused cocktails, and a pure tropical vibe. Santa Cruz has long drawn visitors looking for a laid-back blend of beach and positive energy. Adding Makai Island Kitchen and Groggery, the wharf Tiki bar, to this mix is like placing a bass line on a sweet uke solo. It simply makes sense. And Makai, which opened in 2020, has tiki nailed. Located near the last bend of the famous Santa Cruz Wharf, the interior transports us across the Pacific. Friendly island spirits dance upon the sweet ocean breeze, joyful melodies fill the air, and over 150 expressions of rum line the shelves in the full-service bar.

To step inside Makai is to enter an exotic world of bamboo, woven rattan cane, palm fronds, and colorful Japanese glass fishing buoys. It is a place of island melodies and intoxicating aromas. Entering Makai is like being hit with a warm wave of pure tiki before swimming out into its ocean.

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Makai’s location infuses a tiki ambiance, woven lauhala lining the walls, and suspended Japanese glass fishing buoys with a brilliant Pacific environment. Steamer Lane, the world-renowned surf break, unfurls not far away. Sharp-eyed observers often spy sea lions barking and whale spouts beneath the wharf. Inside Makai feels like outside, thanks to picture windows that look directly over the water and a rotating floor that provides every diner seated in this section with the best seat in the house. The private Captain’s Table offers an exclusive space for personal events. Back in the bar, fish swim across the ceiling, and tiki statues wink from the corners and crannies to remind us that a Makai excursion conveys us to the sea and to the islands beyond. The menu at Island Kitchen & Groggery carries our taste buds on a voyage too. Based on a Hawaiian and Asian-Fusion concept, Executive Chef Jose Cienega offers a spirited selection that begins with, to name a few of the Pupus, Guava-Soy Beef Skewers, Crab Rangoon, and Spam Musubi—pan-seared musubi layered with sushi and rice and wrapped in nori. The Poke Stack is the perfect shared app, especially when teamed with the legendary communal Scorpion Bowl from the bar.

The Kalbi ribs entrée, a Korean tradition, and tamarind pua’a, traditional Kalua pork served with housemade tamarind sauce, speak to Chef's creative culinary interpretations. Makai also smokes its own meats; the Kalua Pua’a is prepared over Applewood chips. The cocktail list is equally creative, featuring housemade syrups and super juices distilled to their purest citrusy form. The cocktails themselves are both an homage to iconic tiki blends, like Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron’s 1944 Mai Tai, and novel, in-house creations such as Makai founder Peter Drobac’s Triumph & Disaster, a 2023 creation that blends Koloa Coconut Rum, ube syrup, maraschino liqueur, coconut cream, and lime and pineapple juices. Taken altogether, the signature cocktail menu celebrates the roots and future of tiki libations with no decade left unjiggered.

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Makai’s bartenders submit their creations during an annual contest each year. Patrons and staff vote for their favorites, and the most popular cocktail finds a permanent home among the legends on the signature drink menu. (There’s certainly nothing wrong with asking your bartender for a “work in progress” should you miss the formal competition.) And remember to unfold the treasure map menu to reveal several “buried” cocktails available only by request. Makai folds tiki history into another legend, the Santa Cruz lifestyle. Look no further than Mr. Makai, a signature mug designed to reference the famous surfer statue located nearby on East Cliff Drive. Mr. Makai is also the name of Drobac’s 2021 rum-forward cocktail, a brilliant blend of Smith & Cross Jamaican Pot Still, Plantation Barbados 5-Year, and Lemon Hart 151-proof Demerara rums. Rum is currently having a moment. With over 150 rums available by the pour, the Makai tasting program has become popular with locals and visitors alike. Several listed rum flights are available to introduce the diversity and complexity of this mythical spirit. Check the new website frequently, as this summer will feature several rum-tasting events. Whether you’re laying your surfboard against the railing after your regular Saturday session or visiting this famous beach town for the first time, circle Makai on your must-visit list. The Makai legend deepens daily with its vibrant rooms, buoyant atmosphere, creative cuisine, and cocktails. Visit the Makai Island Kitchen and Groggery website to map out your visit.

Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery Brings Tiki Vibe to Santa Cruz

By StoryStudio on July 14, 2023

RESERVE now

If you really need a vacation, but only have a few hours, escape to Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery, the fully immersive tiki paradise on the Santa Cruz Wharf.

Visit Makai

RESERVE now

If you really need a vacation, but only have a few hours, escape to Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery, the fully immersive tiki paradise on the Santa Cruz Wharf.