# The Golden Tiki

The Golden Tiki is a world famous Polynesian-themed bar located in Las Vegas, Nevada, known for its immersive, over-the-top decor and elaborate backstory. Opened in 2015, the venue combines elements of classic tiki culture, pirate lore, and Las Vegas showmanship, offering an adult-oriented escape reminiscent of Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean.
History
The Golden Tiki was conceptualized and designed by visionary Branden Powers, a Las Vegas nightlife impresario known for his work in immersive entertainment, branding, and marketing. Powers, who had previously been involved with venues such as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and creator of Evel Pie, envisioned The Golden Tiki as a transportive experience, blending classic mid-century tiki aesthetics with an elaborate narrative about the fictional Captain William Tobias Faulkner and his mythical quest for eternal youth.
The bar was initially launched in partnership with Little Macau and Lev Group, a Las Vegas-based hospitality company. Powers served as the creative director and visionary, overseeing everything from animatronics and hidden Easter eggs to handcrafted cocktails and custom décor. His signature storytelling approach introduced unique elements such as a taxidermied Bigfoot head, a dagger allegedly belonging to Hunter S. Thompson, and celebrity shrunken heads displayed in glass cases.
While The Golden Tiki remains a popular nightlife destination, Powers is no longer involved in its operation and has since moved on to form his own hospitality group called Strange Magic . The venue continues to be operated by Lev Group, though its original concept remains deeply tied to his creative vision.
Design & Atmosphere
The Golden Tiki is known for its elaborate set design, featuring:
* Handcrafted tiki carvings and animatronic skeletons
* A “hidden treasure” theme woven throughout the venue
* Shrunken heads of celebrities
* Themed cocktails, such as large-format tiki bowls and flaming drinks
* A speakeasy-style entrance, giving patrons the sense of stepping into another world
The bar’s soundtrack blends exotica, surf rock, and lounge music, reinforcing its vintage tiki atmosphere.
Cultural Impact
Since its opening, The Golden Tiki has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and Eater Vegas. It has received numerous awards for its cocktails and design, earning a reputation as one of the best tiki bars in the United States.
Additionally, The Golden Tiki gained notoriety for its viral marketing stunts, including a 100-gallon Mai Tai promotion and themed events inspired by Las Vegas folklore.
Legacy
Despite changes in management, The Golden Tiki remains a staple of the Las Vegas bar scene, maintaining much of the original immersive experience created by Branden Powers. His vision for the bar set a new standard for themed nightlife venues, blending storytelling, theatrics, and craftsmanship in a way that continues to influence the hospitality industry.

## World's largest Mai Tai

On August 30, 2022, Adam Rains and The Golden Tiki produced a 100-gallon Mai Tai consisting of 300 bottles of liquor, the largest ever made.

## Reception

In her writeup of the best nightlife in Las Vegas, USA Today's Terrisa Meeks recommended The Golden Tiki because "A night at the Golden Tiki will transport you to a tropical paradise, complete with strong drinks, music and plenty of kitsch."
In their list of best cocktail bars in Las Vegas, Thrillist writers Rob Kachelriess, and Nicole Rupersburg called the decor "over the top kitschy" and the bar as having an "inspired" craft cocktail menu.