Palm fronds.
Soothing melodies.
Lush, tropical cocktails.
The distant sound of roadworks.
On any given night, you’ll get at least three of these at Kona Kai, Fulham’s answer to the question ‘does Fulham have a decent tiki bar?’
And it’s a good question, because with their gloriously kitschy interiors and their OTT drinks, tiki bars are a wonderfully escapist way to totally immerse yourself in South Pacific culture (specifically the booze). Not to mention their value as an A-plus quirky date spot. And Kona Kai has all of that.
The interior, being just as important to the whole enterprise as the drinks, is suitably next-holiday-inspiring from the moment you walk in. The reed-thatched ceiling has traditional wooden canoes dangling from it. The light fittings are made from seashells. The bamboo walls are guarded by carved wooden figures. You can practically feel the metaphorical lei being metaphorically draped over your neck as you enter.
And speaking of your neck, it’s going to be the conduit for quite a lot of South Pacific culture over the course of your evening. Outrageously large, maximalist drinking vessels are the order of the day here – there are ceramic totems, tribal-style sculpted heads, hollowed pineapples, and miniature boats all filled with a bevvy of refreshingly fruity, rum-laced concoctions. Their house punch includes some house-blend rum, while the Hula Girl dances with blueberries & pineapple, and their Hawaiian style Mai Tai substitutes the lime for a little tangerine.
The only part of the whole operation that doesn’t feel like you’ve stepped into a spontaneous luau? The food menu, which features a whole lot of pizza – including pepperoni, 4-cheese, and a classic marg – and is very much not a product of the South Pacific.
There’s not even a Hawaiian.
NOTE: Kona Kai is open now. You can find out more and make a booking at their website right HERE.
Kona Kai | 515 Fulham Road, Fulham, SW6 1HD
On the hunt for more places to get boozed in West London? We’ve got a list of all our favourites here.