In Polynesian mythology, TIKI are the carved figurines and small artifacts representing spirits or gods. When America awoke from the flatness of the prohibition period, the golden culture of the bar was only a faded memory.
Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt has been a master bartender who spent America's dark years working in the Caribbean and Hawaii. He had a refined palate, he knew rum but considered the Cuban mixology boring. He learned it at the court of the master Constantine Ribalaigua, called the father of the Daiquiri.
At the end of the 1930s, he bet on Hollywood and its exclusive clientele and open his place, Don the Beachcomber. A bar-restaurant where he brought to life the exotic dream of his trips to the tropics. Even the cuisine, which ranged from Cantonese to Polynesian, was incredibly close to modern fusion. Donn's proposal turned out to be explosive and respondeed perfectly to the customers' desire for light-heartedness and escapism. A timeless mix, that characterized a large number of hotels and restaurants in the United States for many years, peaking between the 1940s and 1960s. The resulting culture of lifestyle, cuisine, architecture and décor is called “tiki pop” and we have been fascinated and seduced by it too.
Thanks to the invaluable collaboration with set designer Matteo Oioli and his team - the creators and builders of the venue's furnishings and structures - at Rita's Tiki Room there is a tasteful exoticism, enriched by details such as carved wood, woven coconut walls, a canoe suspended over the counter, and overflowing vegetation. The tables in front of the bar are at the same height as the stools, so that the bartenders' work is never out of sight. There is also a room with lower tables suitable for those who want to dine or have a drink with more privacy.
The inner courtyard of an old typical Milanese house - casa di ringhiera - turns into a summer garden with a large central bench, wicker sofas and a large surfboard as a communal table. The food and beverage proposal is the same as inside. The service is suspended at midnight due to condominium rules. This space is ideal for organizing private parties and corporate events. Contact us to receive the best offer!
