One of America’s Best Tiki Bars Is Here In Grand Rapids

The Great Lakes give Michigan a unique identity because we can still experience beaches and life on the coast during the summers. That is, before the cold clutches of winter hold Michiganders captive during the winters. When the days get short and the nights are cold, people want to escape somewhere warmer. Snowbirds literally go south for the winter.

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But there's a solution closer to home that, no matter what time of year it is, you can have a tropical tiki experience in Downtown Grand Rapids. Not just any tiki experience, but one of the best tiki bars in the country.  Put on your parrot-adorned shirts, hula skirts, and lei, and head on over to Max's South Seas Hideaway.

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Chowhound's 20 Best Tiki Bars In America

Chowhound, not to be mistaken for the pet supply store, is a website dedicated to highlighting all things food, whether that means diving into food history, highlighting excellent restaurants around the country, or debating whether American cheese is really cheese.

READ MORE: The Best Breakfast Spots in Grand Rapids (According to Locals) |

In this article, Chowhound highlighted the 20 best tiki bars in America in places like Seattle, Honolulu, Vegas, and more. All the bars on this list are from major cities, and then there's little Grand Rapids making the list with Max's South Seas Hideaway. 

Max's South Seas Hideaway

A passion project from the founder of another Grand Rapids staple restaurant, Hopcat, Mark Sellers teamed up with master mixologist James Beard to create drinks and food that transport you from the freshwater shores of Michigan to the salty shores of the Pacific.

Joining Sellers and Beard is Gecko, an Oahu native who is a master craftsman who carved "collectible tiki mugs, authentic Polynesian art, artifact replicas, and custom work." The three worked together to create an authentic tropical "hideaway" that has now been recognized as one of the best in the country.

Max's is located at 58 Ionia Ave SW and is open 7 days a week.