Imagine yourself sitting at the bar in a South Sea Saloon in the 1800s, where the rum is flowing, with Island music playing and the swaying of hula girls hips as a terrible storm is raging outside as water cascades down the outer windows.

That’s the atmosphere you get at the  Mai-kai restaurant and Polynesian show.

Two Chicago Brothers, Bob and Jack Thornton were so inspired by Don the Beachcomber, the legendary Trader Vic’s and other Tiki temples of the mid-century that they opened their own Polynesian Palace on December 28th 1956.

Down a quiet road far from what was downtown Fort Lauderdale, surrounded by pine trees, palm trees and grass as far as you can see, they began an adventure which would last over sixty years.

In the early years it’s seated 225 people, with five dining rooms and a bar made from surfboards.

Their South Seas Hideaway became known for over forty different Tiki cocktails served from five mixing stations at the Molokai bar.   Mai-kai drinks have a unique texture and intense flavor like the White Cloud, Moonkist Coconut, Mutiny, Black Magic, the Hukilau, Swizzle, Jet Pilot, Barrel of Rum and of course the Mai-Tai.

The food ranges from poke bowls, poo poo platters, crab rangoon, BBQ ribs and more Polynesian dishes.

Decked out with authentic boat riggings, exotic plants,  wood carvings and statues, and set pieces from the 1962 film Mutiny on the Bounty starring Marlon Brando, the figurehead in the bar was just one of the artifacts acquired from MGM.

By the end of the restaurants first year it had taken in $1 million, that’s $5 million in today’s money.

By 1961 a Polynesian Dance troupe was organized to provide a Dinner Show. Talent from Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, the Philippines and Samoa were performing in the Islands Review.

The Mai-kai rose to become the preeminent Polynesian Palace and the longest running Polynesian Dance review in America.   In 2014 the Mai-kai was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 2015 was named the Best Tiki Bar in the world.

There are a number of nightly performances of the family-friendly show that run for 45 minutes, while reservations are required.

Open Monday through Thursday 4:00 p.m. to closing, Saturday and Sunday 3:00 p.m. to closing.   Happy hour runs from opening till 7:00 p.m, where most drinks are half price.