Entry No. 39 — the Los Angeles file — filed under: speakeasy-bar
Tonga Hut
Opened by brothers Ace and Ed Libby in 1958, this is the oldest tiki bar still operating in Los Angeles, dim enough that your eyes have to adjust before the bamboo walls and carved tikis come into view. Near the entrance a tiki fountain burbles away, and it lends its name to the bar's secret society: drink all 78 cocktails from Beachbum Berry's Grog Log within one year and you join the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard, earning a plaque bearing your self-chosen tiki name and a dollar off drinks for life.
The story
In 1958, brothers Ace and Ed Libby opened a low-slung tropical hideaway on Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood. While big-budget Hollywood tiki palaces catered to show-biz crowds and eventually folded when trends shifted, Tonga Hut stayed small, dark, and quietly neighborhood-focused. That unpretentious stubbornness is why it outlasted the rest, claiming the crown as the oldest tiki bar still operating in Los Angeles.
Walk inside and you'll spot the bar's quiet mascot near the doorway: a carved tiki fountain perpetually dribbling water. That fountain lent its name to one of LA's legendary bar challenges: the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard. To join, you have 365 days to work your way through all 78 vintage tropical recipes published in Jeff 'Beachbum' Berry's classic Grog Log.
Complete the gauntlet and you earn immortalization on the bar's walls via a custom plaque bearing your self-chosen tiki moniker, along with a dollar off every drink you buy for the rest of your life. You didn't hear it from us, but if you're planning to tackle all 78, pace yourself—the rums are real, and the clock starts on your first drink.
What it's like
Give your eyes a minute to adjust after stepping in from the bright San Fernando Valley asphalt. The space is dark, tight, and paneled in bamboo, mid-century booths, and decades-old carved tikis. It gets dense quickly on Friday and Saturday nights, so target a weeknight if you want a booth to sit back and sip rum undisturbed. Order off the menu or test the bartenders on classic tiki lore, and make sure to pay your respects to the burbling Drooling Bastard fountain near the door before you leave.
The move: Sink into the dark mid-century lounge, start working through the 78-drink menu, and snap a photo with the Drooling Bastard fountain.
📍 Before you go Small and gets crowded; the Drooling Bastards club requires finishing all 78 drinks within a year.
- 📍 North Hollywood
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- AYCE Gogi / On Tilt Pinball — Soak up strong rum cocktails with all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and a round of pinball just ten minutes west in Van Nuys.
- Bearded Lady's Mystic Museum — Spend the afternoon exploring taxidermy and horror exhibits on Burbank's Magnolia strip before ducking into Tonga Hut's dark booths for the evening.
- Vulture Culture Oddities — Pair browsing bones and taxidermy in Magnolia Park with a short four-mile drive to LA's oldest tropical dive.
Good to know
What is the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard?
It's Tonga Hut's official drink club. To join, you must order and consume all 78 tropical cocktail recipes from Beachbum Berry's Grog Log within a one-year timeframe.
What do you get if you finish the 78-drink challenge?
You earn a personalized wooden plaque on the bar's wall engraved with your chosen tiki name, plus a permanent $1 discount on drinks for life.
Do I need a reservation or password to get in?
No. Despite its speakeasy vibe and hidden-gem feel, Tonga Hut is a neighborhood bar open to the public without reservations.
Where is it located?
It's located at 12808 Victory Blvd in North Hollywood, easily reached via ride-share from around the Valley and Greater LA.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · talesofthecocktail.org · welikela.com · Official site · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23