Why would I need to make a reservation for a bar? Normally, you don’t. But Tiki Taky is a small (real estate agents would call it ‘cozy’) bar nestled in the heart of Praha-Žižkov. And we’re awfully popular; sometimes we have to sadly turn guests away. And we hate to do that, really. If you are sailing solo into our tropical paradise, you can probably find a seat at the bamboo bar. But if you bring a group of 4 or 6 people in at 10pm on a Friday night, get ready for a letdown.
The fact is, we are a small (cozy) bar with only about 30 seats. Due to safety and legal regulations, we aren’t allowed to have dozens of people standing around. Nor can you stand outside drinking and laughing after 10pm. Noise ordinances in Prague are harsh, and so are the penalties that follow.
Reservations Encouraged
Life is disappointing enough in the day-to-day grind. Why deal with all of that existential pain just to go out and get turned away from tropical paradise? Meh. This is why we have a handy-dandy reservation system in place. Click that little button (it’s all over this site) and plunk your cyber-self into the form.
We aren’t the only ‘cozy’ tiki bar on Earth. In fact, one of the O.G. original tiki bars is Tiki Ti in Los Angeles. It’s about the size of a security guard shack in a parking lot. But Tiki Ti is legend. And unlike us, they don’t take reservations. It’s 1st come 1st served there. Which is why they have long lines outside the bar at night. Apparently they have no local noise ordinances.
As much as we would like to have long lines out the door, 1) we can’t for legal reasons, 2) long lines went out of style in this country at the end of Communism. Breadlines, schmeadlines.
BE GRACIOUS IF TURNED AWAY
Say you forgot to reserve your spot in paradise. It happens. You had to reserve your planes, trains, automobiles, and hotels. The bar thang may have slipped your mind. I’ve done it my damn self. Upon returning to my hometown one year, I discovered they had opened a tiki bar! The first tiki bar in my hometown since the late 70s. I even had one walking distance from Casa del Kahuna (my house). But I was underage and could not enter the Coral Reef. Sadly, it closed before I could legally strap on the rum barrel.
But Jungle Bird opened and a new tropical oasis appeared in my dry hometown. Their website said ‘reservations highly recommended.’ But did I listen? Hell no. I just showed up in my Hawaiian shirt on a Friday night at 9pm. I was then informed that there was no room in paradise for me. I was disappointed. Especially since I flew back to Europe the next day. I had to wait another year to finally go to that tiki bar. Lesson learned.
If you happen to be turned away due to a packed bar, please try again the next day. Better yet, make a reservation, especially if you have a large group. There is only one thing sadder than a solo clown in a Hawaiian shirt being turned away from his hometown tiki bar. And that’s a large group of disappointed and thirsty people in Prague. But please be gracious if turned away. Resist the urge to boo-hoo the bar on bar-hoo dot com. It’s not the Tiki Taky staff’s fault you were turned away. We’re just so damn popular with the thirsty hordes.
So please reserve your spot at Tiki Taky. Mahalo!