Inside the towering castle that reigns over the Las Vegas Strip is a new experience, The Tiki Bar. “We’ve always been about imagination here at Excalibur, and the thought of having a tiki bar is imaginative,” said Barbara Valle, senior beverage manager at Excalibur. “And we have a dragon that’s below the castle. His name is Murphy and he inspired this—it’s a twist between a dragon’s lair and a tropical escape.”

The huge lounge just beckons passersby to stop in to chillax while enjoying island sounds and island-inspired sips. If you’re a fan of tiki cocktails, you’ll find the classics here: the Painkiller with Myers’s Original Dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice and cream of coconut syrup; the Mai Tai with Malibu Original rum, triple sec, pineapple, orange and lime juices and simple syrup with a Myers’s Original Dark rum float and grenadine; and the Rum Punch with Bacardi Superior rum, Malibu Original rum, Myers’s Original Dark rum, and orange, pineapple and lime juices.

But get into the groove of the island-style escape and take those taste buds on an adventure by ordering The Tiki Bar’s specialty cocktails, all served in tiki-inspired glassware. Start with Valle’s favorite one on the menu (and one of our faves, too!), the Buzzed Tiki Torch. It’s a great fruity, creamy pick-me-up cocktail made with RumChata, Fireball cinnamon whiskey, coffee liqueur, banana liqueur and simple syrup. Totally delicious!

Photo by: Christopher DeVargas

For a spicy-and-sweet sip, try the Sweet Surrender, a vodka-style martini with a blend of New Amsterdam vodka, spicy mango syrup, pineapple juice, blue Curaçao and a chili mango rim.

And it wouldn’t be a true tiki bar experience without some shareable punch bowls on the menu like the Blue Hawaiian. Serving two to four people, the bowl is filled with Malibu Original rum, blue Curaçao, pineapple juice, sweet and sour mix and cream of coconut syrup.

There are so many tasty options on the menu that one might be hard-pressed to make a decision, so The Tiki Bar has an awesome option: Tiki flights! You can order three mini versions of the various specialty cocktails so you can try a little bit of all the recipes. It’s a genius offering.

Of course, what island escape wouldn’t be complete without pineapple whip added to some of the recipes?! The Whip Tai mixes pineapple whip with Myers’s Original Dark rum, Malibu Original rum and almond orgeat, while the Howler Whip is simple but strong with a blend of pineapple whip and Howler Head bourbon. And, yes, strong is the name of the game—just as at any classic tiki bar, The Tiki Bar makes its pours strong!

Bring the whole party and take a seat at one of the many tables as it’s open seating, or take a seat at the wraparound bar and chat with the friendly bartenders. “It’s great for day drinking,” Valle said. “There is more energy at night; weekends we have live bands Friday and Saturday. Island vibes music, but variety, too.” Yup, on the weekends enjoy live music, from island sounds and reggae to current and classic pop, rock, R&B and more. And the small dancefloor in front of the stage is there if those cocktails really begin to get you grooving.

“I’m very happy with the way the room turned out,” Valle said. “It really provides something different for the guest. The vibe is really an escape; when you’re in here, you’ve landed on a tropical paradise.

Photo by: Christopher DeVargas

Insider’s Tips

Don’t miss happy hour from 5-7 p.m. daily. Enjoy $8 tiki specialty cocktails and frozen daiquiris, $5 domestic beers and $6 imported beers.

There is never a cover to get into The Tiki Bar, even when bands play on Friday and Saturday nights. Music starts at 9 p.m.

Take a piece of the experience home with you—tiki mugs and T-shirts are available for purchase.

Excalibur. 702.597.7777 or excalibur.mgmresorts.com

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