{"id":37557,"date":"2026-01-07T15:07:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T20:07:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=37557"},"modified":"2026-03-05T19:32:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T00:32:12","slug":"top-stories-of-2025-tiki-culture-honors-the-past-as-it-expands-reach-and-influence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2026\/01\/07\/top-stories-of-2025-tiki-culture-honors-the-past-as-it-expands-reach-and-influence\/","title":{"rendered":"Top stories of 2025: Tiki culture honors the past as it expands reach and influence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following years of tumultuous news<\/a>, it was somewhat of a relief to enjoy a year free from extreme upheaval or drama. Sure, 2025 was also devoid of blockbuster good news, but there’s something to be said for a calm normalcy, especially when it comes to Tiki. That’s not to say that nothing happened last year. There were plenty of headlines and stories that evolved over time. But unlike past years, no one or two stories rose above the rest.<\/p>\n

If there were any common themes, the first would be a continued reverence for the past, a foundational element for the modern Tiki scene. The other that seems to be evolving is Tiki culture’s slow growth into new territory and addition of new fans. Whether it’s through film, new bars and events, or the continued influence of the torch-bearers, this natural evolution can’t be denied.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
\n The Year in Tiki 2025: Recap the top events in photos, video<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rather than rank these stories by importance, like past years, we present the top seven stories in no particular order. All are significant and deserve equal recognition.
\nBonus cocktail recipe:<\/strong> A tribute to the Mai-Kai’s Christmas Barrel<\/a><\/p>\n

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ALOHA NEW TIKI BARS: Openings continue in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

The proliferation of new Tiki and Tiki-adjacent bars every year should no longer be a big surprise. We’ve been documenting this trend in our top news stories every year since 2020,<\/a> even in the grip of the COVID pandemic. That in and of itself makes it a big story in 2025, reflecting what should be recognized as a legitimate and permanent feature of the modern bar and restaurant industry, not just a trend or “craze.” What’s crazy is Tiki bars are often still not recognized on the same level as other craft cocktail bars. What’s clear, happily, is there appears to be no end in sight to the growth of new bars and restaurants.<\/p>\n

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