The Bahi Hut Is The Spot – Sarasota, FL 1950’s Tiki Tradition

I knew I had to get this post up soon, not only because next Thursday February 25th The Bahi Hut in Sarasota FL is celebrating its 55th Anniversary, but also so I could get this jingle out of my head (courtesy of a link on The Bahi Hut's Facebook Page)

(Click the lyrics to hear what I'm talking about)

The Bahi Hut,
the Bahi Hut
the Bahi Hut
is the spot.

The intimate
spot to meet
all your friends-
the Bahi Hut!

The friendly cocktail lounge at the Golden Host
With the island charm, you love the most.

On Sarasota's famous North Trail you got,
the intimate - spot to meet
the Bahi Hut!

Now that you've got that slightly off-kilter ditty running through your head like I do, let's see what awaits behind the door with a giant spoon handle, shall we?

Located on a stretch of The Tamiami Trail in Sarasota FL that has sadly seen better days, The Bahi Hut is one of the few remaining tiki places on the gulf coast of Florida. Pals T&P and Retro Roadhusband were kind enough to indulge me in a quick visit, as I had read about this place with their famously strong Mai Tais and throwback ambiance.

We arrived a few moments before opening, which allowed me to take a few photos of the small cinderblock building nestled adjacent to the Best Western (nee Golden Host) Motel. Moments later the door was thrown open by bartendress Big Jen, who greeted us with a big smile and beckoned us to come on in.

It took a few moments for our eyes to make the transition from daylight to dimly lit bar, but you could tell as soon as we entered that this place had character, and had been around for awhile.

A faint golden glow came through the translucent tiles on the front of the building, and I wouldn't be honest if I didn't wonder if they might've originally been clearer but had been obscured by years of nicotine buildup. Yes folks, this is a bar, and in Florida you can still smoke in bars- so be on notice that this place smells like a bar that people smoke at, and have since the mid 1950's.

The place is small, in a cosy way, with dark wood and various works of "art" hanging on the walls- my fave being the lovely leilani gracing the front wall.

Being the first folks at the bar we were able to chat with Jen while she was concocting our first round of Mai Tais. While she mixed our drinks with the coveted secret recipe (which is also rumored to be 92% alcohol-!) Jen alerted us to the fact that she is the first female bartender at the Bahi Hut, and that the Hut is celebrating it's 55th Anniversary on February 25th with a luau, special events and local radio coverage.

But back to the famous Mai Tais!

Let's just say these tiki drinks pack a nice hawaiian punch - and not just because of the color! There is a 2 drink maximum for the Mai Tais and their slightly sweeter counterpart the Sneaky Tiki, and for good reason. For all the alcohol in them they go down pretty easy - as 3 out of the 4 of our party quickly discovered (#4 was our designated driver, of course). A good thing to mention at this point is that the Bahi Hut serves no food, with the exception of cocktail peanuts, which are no match for the alcohol that will soon be flowing in your veins- especially when you down round 2 in less than an hour.

By the time round 2 rolled around a few regulars had wandered in, and Jen was showing us the special glass and ashtray reserved for one of the long timers. Next thing you know, we're blabbing with her about New Hope, Road Food and Tiki Culture, and at this point my scribble turns into a scrawl with words like mystiqdfkg... and mercykerimmm... drifting off the pages of my Retro Roadmap notebook. I promise Jen I'll let folks on Retro Roadmap know about the Bahi Hut party  on the 25th and then next thing I know we're stumbling out into the bright daylight, where I just manage to snap a quick photo of their roadside sign before we head home.

If you're tipsy from your tiki drinks (like yours truly) - congratulations! You're now one of the thousands of folks who have become part of that Bahi Hut tradition.

Now everybody....

The Bahi Hut
The Bahi Hut
The Bahi Hut
is the spot!