Entry No. 36 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: speakeasy-bar
Tiki-Ti
This twelve-seat tropical hut on a busy stretch of Sunset has been run by the same Filipino-American family since bartender Ray Buhen, one of the original Don the Beachcomber crew, opened it in 1961 in a former violin-repair shop. The menu runs past ninety rum drinks, and when a bartender shouts the name of the house cocktail, the whole bar yells it back. It is absurdly tiny, cash-preferred (there's an ATM at the bar), and the line out the door is part of the ritual.
The story
In 1961, Ray Buhen—a Filipino mixologist who spent the 1930s pouring rum for Don the Beachcomber—took over a former violin-repair shop on Sunset Boulevard. Instead of expanding, he crammed a bar into a footprint barely bigger than a bedroom, squeezed twelve stools along the counter, and spent decades slinging house-developed tropical drinks. The space remains family-operated by his descendants, functioning as a direct, uninterrupted line to first-wave tiki culture.
The menu runs past ninety cocktails, heavily reliant on secret rum blends handed down through the Buhen family. The walls are packed floor-to-ceiling with nautical oddities, vintage memorabilia, and license plates left behind by regulars. There is no corporate slickness here: when a bartender calls out the name of a signature house cocktail, every person packed into the tiny room yells the response back in unison—a localized ritual honed over six decades.
What it's like
Expect to wait on the sidewalk of Sunset Boulevard if you arrive anywhere near peak hours. The interior holds around twelve bar stools plus a tight sliver of standing room, so squeeze in where you can. It's strictly cash-only, though an ATM is crammed near the door if you show up empty-handed. Go early on a Wednesday or Thursday if you want a sitting spot without standing shoulder-to-shoulder.
The move: Squeeze into the 12-seat bar, order whatever cocktail the bartender is hollering about, and join the room when they shout it back.
📍 Before you go Cash only, around 12 seats, no reservations and frequent lines; closed Sun-Tue.
- 📍 Silver Lake / Los Feliz border
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 4427 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Wacko / Soap Plant & La Luz de Jesus Gallery — Browse pop-surrealist books and strange art down Sunset before joining the line for early evening rum.
- Pan's Apothika (formerly Panpipes Magickal Marketplace) — Pick up esoteric supplies at one of LA's oldest occult shops before stepping into Tiki-Ti's dark sanctuary.
- Philosophical Research Society — Spend an afternoon exploring esoteric literature at Manly P. Hall's campus, then transition to mid-century spirit lore nearby.
- La Descarga — Contrast Tiki-Ti's tiny mid-century counter with La Descarga's secret armoire entrance into a bi-level rum lounge.
Good to know
Do they take credit cards or accept reservations?
No. Tiki-Ti is strictly cash-only (there is an ATM inside) and operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations.
What are the operating hours?
They are closed Sunday through Tuesday, opening Wednesday through Saturday. Always check their current schedule before heading out.
Why is everyone in the bar shouting at the bartender?
It's a long-standing house ritual. Whenever the bartender announces certain signature drinks being made, the entire room yells a tradition-bound response back.
Can I bring a large group?
With only twelve bar stools and very limited standing area, groups larger than two or three will have a hard time sticking together inside.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · discoverlosangeles.com · tiki-ti.com · laconservancy.org · Reddit · tikiwithray.com
last checked: 2026-06-23