Merrilee and I are excited to start sharing The Eighth Wonder with you all. There’s so much to share! Talking it over, she thought it would be best to begin with a high-level overview of the layout. After all, whether you’re exploring a remote corner of the jungle or a new neighborhood in your hometown, it helps to know which way is north and some important landmarks. That grounding gives you the confidence to venture out and uncover new discoveries knowing that you’ll be able to find your way back. The same is true of a tiki bar.

This post will set the stage and future posts will explore details: backstories, contruction techniques, favorite things, origin stories, sourcing locations, makers, technical details, cocktail receipes, and more. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Today, let’s get our bearings. The shot above is a wide-angle view of the full bar showing The Eighth Wonder’s three primary areas: the bar, the drink rail, and the lounge.

The Bar

The thatch-covered A-frame over the backbar is – by far – my favorite feature. It’s where anyone sitting at the bar is focused. And it’s where the bartender stands – right under the blue Japanese glass float hanging from its apex. The bar is where the magic happens: where the drinks are made and where the conversations flow. We have many stories to tell about the creation of the bar from sourcing the live-edge bartop slab to cutting the 5-inch bamboo poles at just the right angles so everything lined up (it wasn’t easy). The bar is the heart of The Eighth Wonder.

The Drink Rail

Sitting at the bar and looking to your left, you’ll find the drink rail. The rail was made from a piece of the bartop slab (more on that in a future post) and provides space for four stools. The wall behind the rail is dominated by a Tongan tapa cloth which we picked up at Tiki Oasis in San Diego this year. The drink rail is cozy enough to sit and chat and provides a nice view of the bartender at work.

The Lounge

Letting your gaze drift further to the left, you’ll arrive at the lounge. First, you’ll see the chair and ottoman next to the fountain, then the mug shelves and shadow box, and finally the glass-top coffee table and loveseat guarded by our resident parrot. This is a great space to lean back and settle in. Feel free to grab a tiki book or vintage menu to read or noodle around on the Ukelele (we have chord charts available).

And that brings us around full circle to the bar. I hope this helps you get a feel for the space and provides you with just enough context to explore with us even more. Cheers!