I knew I had to get this post up soon, not only because next Thursday February 25th The Bahi Hut in Sarasota FL is celebrating its 55th Anniversary, but also so I could get this jingle out of my head (courtesy of a link on The Bahi Hut’s Facebook Page)
(Click the lyrics to hear what I’m talking about)
The Bahi Hut,
the Bahi Hut
the Bahi Hut
is the spot.The intimate
spot to meet
all your friends-
the Bahi Hut!The friendly cocktail lounge at the Golden Host
With the island charm, you love the most.On Sarasota’s famous North Trail you got,
the intimate – spot to meet
the Bahi Hut!
Now that you’ve got that slightly off-kilter ditty running through your head like I do, let’s see what awaits behind the door with a giant spoon handle, shall we?
Located on a stretch of The Tamiami Trail in Sarasota FL that has sadly seen better days, The Bahi Hut is one of the few remaining tiki places on the gulf coast of Florida. Pals T&P and Retro Roadhusband were kind enough to indulge me in a quick visit, as I had read about this place with their famously strong Mai Tais and throwback ambiance.
We arrived a few moments before opening, which allowed me to take a few photos of the small cinderblock building nestled adjacent to the Best Western (nee Golden Host) Motel. Moments later the door was thrown open by bartendress Big Jen, who greeted us with a big smile and beckoned us to come on in.
It took a few moments for our eyes to make the transition from daylight to dimly lit bar, but you could tell as soon as we entered that this place had character, and had been around for awhile.
A faint golden glow came through the translucent tiles on the front of the building, and I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t wonder if they might’ve originally been clearer but had been obscured by years of nicotine buildup. Yes folks, this is a bar, and in Florida you can still smoke in bars- so be on notice that this place smells like a bar that people smoke at, and have since the mid 1950′s.
The place is small, in a cosy way, with dark wood and various works of “art” hanging on the walls- my fave being the lovely leilani gracing the front wall.
Being the first folks at the bar we were able to chat with Jen while she was concocting our first round of Mai Tais. While she mixed our drinks with the coveted secret recipe (which is also rumored to be 92% alcohol-!) Jen alerted us to the fact that she is the first female bartender at the Bahi Hut, and that the Hut is celebrating it’s 55th Anniversary on February 25th with a luau, special events and local radio coverage.
But back to the famous Mai Tais!
Let’s just say these tiki drinks pack a nice hawaiian punch – and not just because of the color! There is a 2 drink maximum for the Mai Tais and their slightly sweeter counterpart the Sneaky Tiki, and for good reason. For all the alcohol in them they go down pretty easy – as 3 out of the 4 of our party quickly discovered (#4 was our designated driver, of course). A good thing to mention at this point is that the Bahi Hut serves no food, with the exception of cocktail peanuts, which are no match for the alcohol that will soon be flowing in your veins- especially when you down round 2 in less than an hour.
By the time round 2 rolled around a few regulars had wandered in, and Jen was showing us the special glass and ashtray reserved for one of the long timers. Next thing you know, we’re blabbing with her about New Hope, Road Food and Tiki Culture, and at this point my scribble turns into a scrawl with words like mystiqdfkg… and mercykerimmm… drifting off the pages of my Retro Roadmap notebook. I promise Jen I’ll let folks on Retro Roadmap know about the Bahi Hut party on the 25th and then next thing I know we’re stumbling out into the bright daylight, where I just manage to snap a quick photo of their roadside sign before we head home.
If you’re tipsy from your tiki drinks (like yours truly) – congratulations! You’re now one of the thousands of folks who have become part of that Bahi Hut tradition.
Now everybody….
The Bahi Hut
The Bahi Hut
The Bahi Hut
is the spot!
The Bahi Hut
4675 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34234
(941) 355-5141
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Great post! Do they still have the cocktail napkins with the little line art doodle of the building on it?
Alas I had read that they no longer had the napkins with the line drawing, so I was prepared. They did have polo shirts with that logo, but I just can’t picture Retro Roadhusband wearing a golf shirt, no matter how cool the place was that we got it from!!
Hi,
I am happy to say I am working with the owner now to replicate the napkin.
The original napkin was illustrated by famous magazine illustrator and portarait artis, Thorton Utz. Utz painted portraits of royalty, did many Saturday Evening Post covers, and had a local publication business to help in between with cash flow. When the Bahi Hut took out an ad in one of his publications, he did a scribble of a sketch for free to have a visual for the ad. Hence the napkin art was born. Hopefully by fall you’ll see them again.
oooh Robotiki, how very cool and thanks for sharing the news with us here at Retro Roadmap! Tell ‘em they should make a tee with the napkin graphic on it. As long as it comes in Mod Betty size, I’d wear it with pride!
That place looks wonderful, the Mai Tais divine and the spoon-shaped doorhandle amazing!
Yep, the spoon door handle totally got me. I want one for the Hacienda!
You even take great photos when tipsy! Loved this post, Mod B!! I feel warmer already!
Lets just say there were some blurry ones – just like me!
I still have a napkin with the drawing on it from there and a green t-shirt too. In fact, i may have to stop in there after work today for a sneaky tiki, now that you got me thinking about one while i’m stuck here at work.
Jealous that you got a napkin, if you do go today tell Jen that Retro Roadmap sent you- and thanks for checking us out!
Been living in South Florida for 10 years and haven’t been over to Sarasota, except once to go to the Sarasota Antique Car Museum. Looks like I have a new reason to drive over!
Chris P this place is just down the street from the car museum – I had hoped to check that out, but between Ringling and Bahi we ran out of time. Planning next trip soon!
Oh, NOOOOOOOOO! I will be singing that jingle all night! LOL
Is it wrong that really, really, really want to retrofit my front door with a giant spoon handle??
It has taken me days to get that jingle out of my head and even now when I’m typing this I’m singing “lalalalalalala” in my head so I don’t have it back in there. I think spoon door handles should be the latest rage- lord knows I want to put one on the door to the Hacienda after seeing this. Thanks for swinging by the Retro Roadmap, glad I found your site too!