Updated June 13, 2025
Let us quench your thirst for the most detailed information, photos and deep dives into the cocktails served at the Mai-Kai restaurant in South Florida, est. 1956. This page will include reports by journalist Jim “Hurricane” Hayward along with news and official updates passed along by beverage director Cory Starr as he resurrects the storied bar program, originally developed by legendary mixologist Mariano Licudine. This blog post will serve as a supplement to our Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide, which will soon be updated with new reviews and recipes. If you’re looking for updates on the restaurant’s restoration and reopening, along with anything beyond the cocktails and bar program, be sure to follow this story:
• Exclusive ongoing coverage of the Mai-Kai reopening
LATEST NEWS BELOW: Mai-Kai bars welcome special guests, live music, new cocktails
NEW: Okole Maluna Society 2.0: All the Mai-Kai cocktails ranked
Check out the sneak preview of our updated ratings, and stay tuned for new reviews and recipes, coming soon.
SEE THE RANKINGS: Updated rundown of 50+ Mai-Kai cocktails
More Atomic Grog coverage
• Okole Maluna Society – The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
See also: Mai-Kai Restoration & Reopening: Full story and photo archive
Official sites and social media
• MaiKai.com | Facebook page | Instagram
Facebook group: Join more than 23,000 Friends of the Mai-Kai
• Instagram: Classics of the Mai-Kai
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UPCOMING EVENTS
RECENT EVENTS
NEW: Look for more photos and video recaps on our social media pages: Facebook | Instagram
Hukilau 2025 update: Symposiums and schedule for 23rd Tiki weekender in South Florida
Tikiphiles and fans of retro culture flocked to South Florida from around the world June 5-8 for unique classes and symposiums, distinctive merchandise, dozens of guest bartenders, plus multiple days and nights at the Mai-Kai.
Jump to more news below
• Cocktails at events near and far, new menus coming soon
• Mai-Kai joins spirits festival, welcomes brands for cocktail and rum tasting events
• New Bora Bora Bar menu just a taste things to come
• Beverage director Cory Starr interviewed on Shift Drink Podcast
• Photos & video: Mai-Kai joins Miami Rum Congress festivities
• Is it 1956 or 2024? Forward-thinking Mai-Kai menus sport retro flair
• Mai-Kai welcomes Cory Starr as new chief mixologist
Mai-Kai bars welcome special guests, live music, new cocktails
Posted May 26, 2025
Mai-Kai beverage director Cory Starr and his team are on the cusp of expanding the cocktail and entertainment offerings in their signature bars, while also hosting and attending a full schedule of special guests and events.
The month of May started with Starr traveling to Italy, where he participated in the inaugural Tikitaly in Livorno on May 2-5. An updated food menu was rolled out in the Molokai and Bora Bora bars on May 16, featuring more appetizers and small plates.
On May 22, Starr and the Mai-Kai welcomed Mitch Wilson, the global ambassador of Black Tot Rum, for a special tasting event followed by cocktails featuring the brand’s blended Caribbean rums. After happy hour, the Molokai Bar hosted its first live local band since the November reopening with Skinny Jimmy Stingray rocking the house.
The evening served as a perfect preview of what’s to come. Some of those drinks are destined for an expanded Bora Bora Bar menu, while the live music will continue on select Thursdays. The Hukilau is right around the corner, featuring special events and guests, plus live bands on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (June 4, 6 and 8).
Following is a recap of all the activity, plus a look ahead.
Continue reading “UPDATES: Mai-Kai bar and cocktail news, reviews and exclusive insights”