Tiki bars get their name from its connection to Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, namely the usage of carved tiki figures or masks as decorative features. In Polynesian mythology, the name "tiki" refers to deities or ancestral beings. Tiki bars became popular in the mid-twentieth century, inspired by the romanticised idea of tropical island aesthetics, and provided clients with an exotic and escapist ambiance.
Thatched roofs, bamboo accents, tropical cocktails, and a lively environment reminiscent of Polynesian culture are common features of these pubs, hence the name "tiki bars."