Entry No. 24 — the Atlanta file — filed under: tiki
S.O.S. Tiki Bar
A midcentury-Polynesian watering hole a few blocks off the Decatur courthouse square, thick with palm fronds, flamingos, and hula figures, pouring rum in coconuts and pineapples from a collection Atlanta Magazine ranked among the city's 50 best bars.
The story
Tucked behind Victory Sandwich Bar at 340 Church Street, S.O.S. Tiki Bar didn't start out as a tropical escape. In late 2015, the Victory Brands team shuttered their upscale cocktail den, Paper Plane, and transformed the building's back room and alleyway footprint into a low-lit, hidden tiki sanctuary just a short stroll off the Decatur courthouse square.
Don't let the midcentury kitsch fool you—beneath the palm fronds, neon flamingos, retro graphics, and miniature hula statues lies one of the most serious rum collections in the Atlanta area. Cocktails arrive in hollowed-out coconuts and pineapples heavy with elaborate fruit garnishes, running the gamut from classic Zombies and Mai Tais to curated rum flights and multi-straw scorpion bowls.
The interior preserves the cozy booth layout of its previous speakeasy incarnation, now illuminated by a dim tiki-torch glow that spills into an alley patio turned island refuge. It's a precise mix of South Pacific nostalgia and high-proof bartending hidden right in Decatur's backyard.
What it's like
Expect a small, dim space that fills to capacity quickly after opening at 6 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. If you arrive to a wait, put your name down with the host and head into Victory Sandwich Bar next door for a quick bite while your spot opens up. Once inside, grab a seat at the bar or inside a booth, order a rum flight or a punch bowl, and soak in the exotica soundtrack under the red and green glow.
The move: Wander the Decatur square, then duck into S.O.S. for scorpion bowls and rum flights among the tiki carvings, Wednesday through Saturday only.
- 📍 Decatur, Atlanta metro
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 340 Church St, Decatur, GA 30030
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Float Atlanta — Soak off sensory overload in a skin-temperature float tank just one block away before stepping into dim, rum-soaked tropical darkness.
- Junkman's Daughter — Trade 10,000 square feet of pop-culture oddities in Little Five Points for coconut-bound rum cocktails under neon flamingos.
- Plaza Theatre — Pair early-evening scorpion bowls in Decatur with a midnight movie screening at Atlanta's oldest operating independent cinema.
- Ranger Station — Follow up S.O.S.'s midcentury island hideout by heading west to experience a 1970s cabin bar hidden behind a bookshelf door.
Good to know
Where is S.O.S. Tiki Bar located?
It sits tucked away behind Victory Sandwich Bar at 340 Church Street in Decatur, a few blocks off the central courthouse square.
What kind of drinks do they serve?
They specialize in rum-forward cocktails, offering classic tiki drinks like Mai Tais and Zombies alongside house originals, rum flights, and scorpion bowls served in pineapples and coconuts.
What should I do if there is a wait for a table?
Because the interior is compact, lines form early. Give your name to the host at the door, then pop around front into Victory Sandwich Bar for a quick drink or slider while you wait.
Does S.O.S. serve a full meal menu?
Food options are lightweight and focused on simple bar snacks like chips, salsa, and nachos, though the space periodically hosts kitchen pop-ups.
What days is S.O.S. open?
They open Wednesday through Saturday evenings only. Always confirm current operating hours before head out.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · atlantamagazine.com · ajc.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-19