Model T-iki Washes Ashore at Evening Bar
Model T-iki transforms Evening Bar into a tropical escape. Discover how Detroit's tiki history inspired our seasonal bar takeover.
Paradise awaits at an unexpected enclave in the heart of the city. Model T-iki is back, transforming Evening Bar from sultry urban speakeasy to island oasis—and the story behind it runs deeper than palm fronds and rum.
Detroit's Tiki Legacy
In the mid twentieth century, the city was home to a thriving tiki bar scene. Spots like Trader Vic’s in the Statler Hotel, Chin Tiki on Cass and Mauna Loa in the city’s North End offered Detroits—namely automotive workers—an unexpected reprieve from the daily grind. Chin Tiki became legendary for its elaborate Polynesian decor: bamboo huts, carved tikis, and flaming cocktails served in ceramic skulls, while Mauna Loa boasted elaborate waterfalls and lavish adornments. These tiki bars represented freedom and fantasy for workers whose days were defined by precision and repetition.
Additionally, tropical vacations were not always feasible for the working class in Detroit, so these everyday getaways become welcome reprieves. After long shifts on assembly lines building the cars that powered America,workers escaped to tiki spots offering stiff drinks, tropical ambience, and island-style service.
Industrial Roots Meet Tropical Flavors
When NoHo Hospitality's Bar Director Darryl Chan set out to conceptualize Model T-iki’s cocktail program, he dug into Detroit’s rich tiki history. He uncovered a goldmine of stories that tell a similar tale: The auto workers who helped power the world by day would eagerly escape to paradise once 5 o’clock rolled around. This sparked the idea to honor both Detroit's industrial roots and its tiki tradition. Model T-iki ties the two together seamlessly, resulting in cocktails like the Piquette Colada, Piston Rod Sling, and Model T(ai) and an atmosphere that’s equal parts tropical oasis as it is auto garage.
Evening Bar is on island time through February. Reserve here.
