Iconic tiki bar and restaurant Don the Beachcomber now open in Madeira Beach
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by: Brian Zucker of St Pete Rising
DON THE BEACHCOMBER, RECOGNIZED AS THE FIRST TIKI BAR AND THE GENESIS OF TIKI CULTURE IN AMERICA, HAS DEBUTED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE CAMBRIA HOTEL AT 15015 MADEIRA WAY IN MADEIRA BEACH | DON THE BEACHCOMBER
The tiki bar that started it all relaunches today in Madeira Beach with authentic tiki cocktails and Polynesian-themed dishes for everyone from hardcore tikiphiles to adventurous locals.
Don the Beachcomber, recognized as the first tiki bar and the genesis of tiki culture in America, has debuted on the ground floor of the Cambria Hotel at 15015 Madeira Way in Madeira Beach.
Donn Beach, an adventurer, businessman, and World War II veteran, opened the original Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood, California nearly 90 years ago. The restaurant and bar was inspired by his travels to the Caribbean and the South Pacific, where he was enchanted by the allure of the islands, their mystique, and their tropical flavors.
“Beach’s legacy lives on in the modern tiki renaissance,” said President of 23 Restaurant Services Marc Brown. “If not for him, tiki wouldn’t be the delightfully escapist, rum-soaked movement it is today.”
The 298-seat indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar is operated by Tampa-based 23 Restaurant Services, which purchased the rights to Don the Beachcomber in 2022. The hospitality group also operates Ford’s Garage, Yeoman’s, and Tiki Docks.
Beach developed over 80 cocktails for the original Don the Beachcomber, mostly rum-based, Caribbean-inspired concoctions, including the Mai Tai and Zombie, which became popular in tiki culture and continue to be staples in tiki bars to this day.
The cocktail menu at the Madeira Beach outpost contains thirty drinks, including some of Beach’s creations and a variety of classic cocktails.
DONN BEACH, AN ADVENTURER, BUSINESSMAN, AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN, OPENED THE ORIGINAL DON THE BEACHCOMBER IN HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA NEARLY 90 YEARS AGO
A SELECTION OF COCKTAILS FROM DON THE BEACHCOMBER ON MADEIRA BEACH | DON THE BEACHCOMBER
Navy Grog, a favorite of Frank Sinatra’s at the original Don the Beachcomber, contains Don Q Puerto Rican Rum, Bounty Dark Rum, Hamilton Demerara 86 Rum, honey, allspice, fresh lime, and grapefruit.
Another recipe created by Donn Beach, Missionary’s Downfall, consists of Don Q Light Puerto Rican Rum, peach brandy, honey, fresh lime, chopped pineapple, and mint.
Don the Beachcomber also offers five mocktails, beer, and wine.
As for the food offerings, check out the Pupu Platter for a little bit of everything. It comes with house-made coconut shrimp, hand-made crab rangoon, signature low-and-slow wings, chicken satay skewers, and sticky rib skewers.
The menu also includes handhelds like blackened shrimp tacos, a char sui pork sandwich, a teriyaki burger, and a candied bacon bleu burger.
Sides offered are cheesy grits, steak or yucca fries, fresh cabbage slaw, side salad, and veggies.
“Don the Beachcomber is the most iconic brand in tiki history, so it’s impossible to overstate how excited we are about what lies ahead,” said Brown. “We look forward to leveraging our expertise in management and operational excellence to reintroduce the world to the legend that is Don the Beachcomber.”
The Madeira Beach location is the first of many, added Brown, who hopes to 10-15 of the tiki-themed restaurants across the Southeastern United States over the next several years.
Don the Beachcomber is open Sunday through Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Valet parking and boat slips are available.
For more information, visit their website and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
DON THE BEACHCOMBER’S SPICE SEARED AHI SAKU WITH A SWEET CHILI SOY EMULSION AND CUCUMBER MANGO PICO | DON THE BEACHCOMBER
