Tiki Chick

Adorned on one of the most vibrant corners in the Upper West Side ,by Amsterdam ave, is a place that will make your hearts smile for cocktails, and shoulders shimmy to a mix of both groovy Caribbean dance beats and contemporary Hip-Hop. The name, is Tiki Chick, and it's one of the best cocktail bars in New York. The ambience is by name, tiki style with beach chairs, palapa sunbrellas, pineapples mirrors, string lights, and skinny countertops with bar stools for that vibe of pulling up to the bar in the sand on a beach. The playlist is curated with dance hall favorites like Vybz Kartel, RDX, Soca music and other dance beats sure to pump you up as you sip on your choice of frozen or regular favorites.

Tiki Chick is not just a vibe but THE vibe, it's a tropical oasis perfect for date nights, and when you're looking to hang with friends over island-inspired drinks. When it comes to cocktails, I'm a big fan of (1) the presentation with how nicely they are garnished, and (2) how good the taste measures up to the appearance. At Tiki Chick, they delivered on both, and some of the mugs they used were a fun experience as I made my way through the tasting. Five cocktails were tasted for this feature, listed in order of favorites...the "Piña Colada -- Singapore Sling -- Hurricane -- Shark Snacks -- and Rum Runner."

The best part is that even though it's a Tiki bar, the drinks are not alone. There are these $5 sandwiches that you can pair with the drinks, and they're equally delicious. Ok, so there's The Hot Honey, then the Pink Wave which are battling for my number 1 spot, then there's Stiki Tiki, and the Upside Down Pineapple Chicken sandwich.... those are the ones I've tried, but there's like two more options.

the DRINKS

PIÑA COLADA
• El Dorado 3yr Rum, Coconut Rum, Crushed Pineapple, Coconut Cream, Lime, Coconut WaterMake it Navy Strength! Add 151 $4

SINGAPORE SLING
• Banana infused Greenhook Old Tom Gin, Sour Cherry Cordial, Banana Bresil, Benedictine, Velvet Falernum, Lime, Bitters

HURRICANE

• Santa Teresa 1796 Rum, El Dorado 3yr Rum, Passion Fruit, Orange, Pomegranate, Organic Cane Sugar, Lime Make it Navy Strength! Add 151 $4

SHARK SNACKS

• El Dorado 3yr Rum, Espolon Blanco Tequila, Apricot, Coconut, Grapefruit, Lime

RUM RUNNER

• Pedro Mandinga Silver Rum, Plantation Jamaican Rum, Red Currant, Banana, Orange, Pineapple, Lime, Nutmeg

the EATS

HOT HONEY
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Honey Nashville Sauce, Pickle Chips


PINK WAVE
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Pink Wave Sauce, Pickle Chips

STIKI TIKI
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken,
Shaved Spam, Grilled Pineapple, Tiki Sauce, Pickle Chips

UPSIDE DOWN PINEAPPLE CHICKEN

• House Baked Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Shaved Spam, Grilled Pineapple, Tiki Sauce

So there you have it, Tiki Chick is an absolutely must try if you're a cocktail enthusiast, and if you're in the mood for a bite on the side...start with their most requested and popular sandwich the "Hot Honey" ...and like I mentioned, the "Pink Wave" is next in line with a really good sauce, like a spicy mayo kinda vibes.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

Latain Palmer
Lifestyle Editor | VOLATILE
@volatileonline + @LaLove1010