Secret Island Tiki Restaurant and Lounge

Finding Your Way In

Finding Your Way In

The entrance sets expectations. You walk down stairs below street level, turn right twice, and face a wall of tropical plants. Motion sensors trigger thunder sound effects and lightning flashes. Fog rolls out. Then you open the door.

Some guests compare it to Don the Beachcomber’s. That’s generous but not entirely off base. The interior stretches out with a long bar running most of the length. Pufferfish lanterns hang overhead. Bamboo lines the walls. A “lava throne” sits in one corner for photo ops. Black lights create mood lighting throughout.

The space feels intimate without being cramped. Booths line one side, tables fill the middle, and bar seating runs along the other wall. Everyone gets a decent view of the stage where bands set up most nights.

Drinks and Food

The cocktail menu covers tiki standards. Mai Tais come properly boozy. Zombies pack enough rum to justify the name. Navy Grogs stay true to the classic recipe. House originals include Puka Punch and Jet Pilot. Some drinks lean too sweet or acidic for purist tastes. The bartending shows room for refinement.

The food menu keeps things simple with Polynesian-style appetizers. Coconut shrimp arrives crispy with spicy dipping sauce. Kalua pork sliders come topped with island coleslaw. Pineapple fried rice stands out as a highlight. The spam musubi gets mixed reviews. Loco moco features a beef patty over rice with mushroom gravy and a fried egg.

Fish bowl cocktails show up at tables throughout the night. They’re meant for sharing and make decent Instagram fodder.

The Scene

This is a bar, not a quiet tiki hideaway. The crowd runs younger than most tiki lounges. People come to drink, socialize, and catch live music. Weekend nights get packed. The energy stays high.

Live bands perform regularly on a proper stage with good sound equipment. Surf rock bands play alongside exotica groups and jazz ensembles. Some shows feature hula dancers. The music schedule rotates, so check ahead if catching a specific band matters to you.

Sunday brings “Rum-day” with complimentary rum samples, tastings, and featured cocktails. Happy hour runs Wednesday all night (5pm to close) and Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 6pm.

Reservations can be made through OpenTable, though the system sometimes has hiccups. Walk-ins work fine on slower nights. Weekends require patience or advance booking.

Making It Work

Downtown Long Beach parking stays challenging. Street parking exists but fills up fast on busy nights. A parking structure at 50 W. 3rd St. (three-minute walk) offers two hours free. Plan to arrive early or accept the hunt for a spot.

The venue welcomes all ages until 9pm, then switches to 21+. Wheelchair access is available. The space can be booked for private events.

Secret Island won’t satisfy tiki bar purists hunting for museum-quality decor or perfectly balanced cocktails. But if you want a fun night out with solid drinks, good music, and a crowd that’s actually having fun, this basement bar delivers.