Tiki bars are arguably making a comeback these days. For many, these bars represent innocent nostalgia—an escape to an exotic, tropical past. But as Paola Mardo reports, these bars were forged out of the hard work and experiences of an oft-overlooked part of LA’s history: the Filipino bartenders of the 1930s and 40s.
Ray Buhen founded the Tiki-Ti in 1961. Photo credit: Patrick Epino
Menu from the Tiki-Ti. Photo credit: Patrick Epino