I came to Miami in search of an alchemy shop, hoping to discover some rare ingredient capable of curing my dreadful allergies. Instead, I stumbled upon Koana Tiki Bar--a hidden little chamber of tropical enchantment tucked away from the ordinary world. As Miami's only tiki bar, Koana is surprisingly well themed. It is a smaller establishment, which explains why reservations are required, but the intimate setting only adds to the charm. Once inside, the outside world seems to disappear beneath warm lighting, exotic décor, and the unmistakable feeling that something mysterious is being prepared behind the bar. The food is available, but Koana truly shines through its drink menu. The team has clearly done its research and assembled some serious heavy hitters. My companions and I visit whenever we're in Miami, and we've sampled nearly every drink on the menu. I have yet to encounter a bad one. They are fairly priced for Miami, though their strength should not be underestimated. These are not casual refreshments--they are potent little potions disguised as tropical cocktails. The staff is always kind, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable. They're happy to explain the drinks and guide you toward something that suits your taste, whether you seek something sweet, sour, smoky, fruity, or powerful enough to summon your ancestors. During my visit, I combined several ingredients from the menu into a highly experimental concoction. After one sip, my allergies vanished completely. After the second, I could smell colors. By the third, I was convinced the palm trees were speaking to me in ancient tongues. I have no idea what was in that drink, but my sinuses were clear, my spirit was elevated, and I briefly achieved enlightenment beneath a decorative tiki mask. Reservations are essential, the drinks are strong, and the bar is small--but Koana is absolutely worth seeking out. Just be certain you're prepared for whatever spirits may answer when you raise your glass. read more

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Can't recall ever reviewing staff and patrons, but ya kinda have to in the case of Kaona. That's because the guests here are almost as engaged in the operation as the staff. Guess the insight here is Kaona draws folks who so totally want to be there and participate in the nightly celebrations that it becomes contagious, spreading from table to table with smiles, laughter, and cameras. Oh yeah, and did I mention the cocktails? I feel the term 'artisan' is so overused nowadays that I avoid using it, so can we just go with the Bill & Ted description that Kaona's tiki drinks are "Most Excellent!" Will non Gen-Xers get that last reference??? read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Nice table lighting - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

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What an amazing evening! Two of my favorite things: A speakeasy, and a tiki bar. So a tikeasy! Sure, it took a couple of tries, and maybe asking the wait staff at the Irish bar next door, where the tikeasy was hiding. You enter an immersive world that really outshines any tiki bar to which I've ever been. The magic radiates out of every nook and cranny. That was complimented by our bartender, Billy, knocking out some perfect killer classics, like a real Mai Tai, and Navy Grog, that, post the 1950s became kind of sugar filled, over-the-top mockeries of the Tiki cocktail arts. No mockery here. Just the old school magic. It's a very analog, and thankfully honest, unhipster revival for a generation who knows not of Bali Hai, Don the Beachcomber, the Mai Kai, and San Francisco's once-great, now seedy Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar, at the Fairmont Hotel, on Nob Hill. The crowd, including the regulars, were a lot of fun. In all, a really awesome evening! Five stars, for all of that, and a sixth for the memories. read more

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Kaona Room is a special place. Every drink the staff makes comes with care and a little spark, often arriving with a smoky effect that makes the moment feel magical. And best of all the staff is really excited and genuinely happy to bring the tiki experience to their customers. But, really, it's more than just a special place. It's the kind of spot that makes you happy it exists. The atmosphere transports you somewhere else entirely, where time slows down and every detail feels intentional. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Glasses galore - between drinks we ordered and drinks the staff gave us! - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

Really fun spot! It's a little time room speakeasy that was unexpectedly designed super nice, great music and flavorful drinks. Our server was attentive. Id head back in a flash! read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

I was looking forward to our visit here and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere and service was amazing. We loved our food and all of the drinks we tried. We will be back! read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - The Zombie cocktail - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

This place is unique very nice decore with speak easy vibes. The drinks here are good with nice presentation. The servers was great too giving you the Hawaiian experience and so was the host. She took care of me very well but i recommend making reservations if you come here. read more

We love finding speakeasies to visit. When we found out this one was so close to where we were staying, we decided to reserve a spot. Arrived a little early and asked at the front bar where to go through to enter. Once inside, a guy greeted us and showed us to our table, which felt like two tropical thrones. Everything is decorated very tiki/ tropical, very dim lighting, and specialty are rum drinks. It took me a bit to find a drink (not much of rum drinker) but found a guava one that I thought would be good. This is called a Miami Kula. This is a very fruit and alcohol forward drink. It's usually one or the other but somehow, they managed this one to be both. The guava taste was just like the fruit, but it was a bit too strong for me. So decided to order the colada martini. Now this one I was afraid might be too sweet but surprisingly it wasn't. And it wasn't super strong as a regular martini. Really loved the coconut taste to it. My BF also ordered The Bastard, and the presentation alone is worth ordering it. Had to take one star off for service, they do take long to get your order and bring drinks out. Plus, if you are not a rum drinker the menu is limited, but other than that it was a fun time. read more

This place has such a dark, romantic energy! The kind that makes you immediately slow down and take it all in. From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere feels like a hidden and wonderful secret, and it was the perfect place to do a chill celebration of my husband's birthday! The lighting, the decor, and the music all work together in a way that just makes sense. It is moody in the best way, without trying too hard. The food was just as impressive. Every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented, with a level of creativity you do not always expect from a cocktail-forward spot. It felt like every bite was part of the experience, not just an afterthought. The staff was excellent!! Not only were they fun and engaging, they seemed to actually enjoy what they were doing. It gave the whole place this easy, chill, and welcoming energy that made the night feel even more special. Whether you are ending the night on a high note or just getting started, this is the perfect place for a romantic date. It is intimate, a little playful, and has just the right amount of buzz. Definitely a spot I will be coming back to. read more

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Best Hidden Speakeasy in Miami!!! Tropical Hawaiian Vibes, Great Unique Drinks, and Friendly Bartenders that make your experience a tad bit better! This was our first time coming to Kaona Room and their new entrance we learned is inside the Canvas Bar/ Restaurant. You go through a secret doorway and looks like you will enter the bathroom and before we knew it we were inside Kaona Room. The drinks were just to our liking we ordered 4 different drinks and that did the trick haha. If you visit their website they have all their drinks and foods on there. It truly felt like we transported to a different place, and the music and even some "rain" showers to add to the Hawaiian experience ^.^ Highly recommend for anyone 21+ to check them out! read more

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Great drinks, great service, great fun. Well themed Tiki room, got to make reservations and you have to show or they charge you per head that did not show. Drinks are so good especially the Pearl Diver. Ask for Mateo read more

Amazing place. Amazing drinks and great conversation with the staff. Great idea and visually stimulating decor. Great place for a couple drinks. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

I had wanted to go a speakeasy for a while and this one did not disappoint. The drinks were super good. The bartenders were very nice. Yes there is a wait because it is kind of like a hot spot with a small space, but it is a speakeasy in Miami so it makes sense. Hidden within a hotel somebody guide you towards the back, a doors opens to this hidden space. The vibes are very chill. It's a mixture of dark with Polynesian mix theme. Prices are decent. Parking is slim, depending on the night that you go. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

It was nice fun energy that we were looking for last Friday night. We were in town to catch a concert and we had planned as our after concert spot Kaona Room. When we arrived at the spot the uber driver questioned if it was the spot. Explained it was a hidden bar. Inside we actually didn't know where to go. With a little help from the bartender we did find it. We entered the dimly lit place and we're guided to our little romantic table in the back room. The Hawaiian vibes were real. The music was a big part of that. Our kind waiter had our drinks out to us in a decent amount of time. My martini colada didn't really have anything fancy to it, but it had an additive quality to it. My gal tried it and immediately got one herself. I followed it up with The bastard. This concoction was lit aflame by the waiter. Impressive. We weren't there long, but enough time to know we would recommend it to friends. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Bastard - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

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This speakeasy was a cool mellow bar. Went on a Friday nite but it was after Xmas so it was a pretty slow nite. But they had really neat named cocktails. The ambiance was intimate and the staff was very friendly. Then we walked out to the main entry and played a little pool. Glad I was able to check this place out. I love seeing all the neat speakeasy. read more

This was a surprising discovery that did not disappoint. Our server was very nice, communicative, and knowledgeable about the bar offerings. He was super sweet and made the experience even better. This place is hidden (like a true speakeasy) so you have to enter through another business and specifically ask to be let in. The drinks were amazing, they really put their heart into making the combinations taste delicious. Do not miss out on the rim flights even if you're not a big rum person. The rum experience was amazing! You get great value for the price with the flights. I really recommend this place and I hope to come again. read more

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Fun hidden speakeasy tiki bar. It's small but a great atmosphere. It's the full experience with each drink with lots of fun options, some lit on fire, some with smoke, and always a fun presentation and garnish. Service is a bit slow for that reason but it's a fun place to come for a drink or 2 with one or 2 friends. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

Everything from the service to the delicious cocktails were excellent. The execution of the table side drinks is fun and entertaining. You definitely feel like you're sitting in the South Pacific with how this place is decorated. We got lucky and snagged a table before they filled up, but I suggest getting a reservation to guarantee a seat. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Start of our drink delivery - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

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This place is genius to see and the decor is amazing. But place is a bit unorganized and you get diff answers from whoever is at your table. They had event earlier in day my reso was at 7 wasn't allowed in till 730 and staff didn't come get us. A guest had to tell them we were there. On ig said we could try the specialty lab cocktails all night and. I asked and was told yea then no. We didn't get to have many things on menu as they didn't have that night. The zombie was legit and the presentation with dry ice for all cocktails is great. My Mai tai was a bit sweet but drinkable. Loved the box it came in. !! All in all place is great. Procedures and guest interactions need work. But love concept. read more

Seems like we had an off visit. We reserved a table and ended up getting sat 45 minutes after checking in. Once we made it inside the experience was really cool. We were sat at the bar in front of a huge selection of rum from around the world. The lighting and ambiance makes it great for a date or unique night out. The drinks while expensive also included a table side presentation. We decided to order a shareable drink and the bartender proceeded to use dry ice and fire in our drink presentation. Personally I would try another drink if I come back again though. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Aloha from Miami - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

One of the coolest hidden gems I have come across in Miami. This speakeasy has a real sense of character and pulls off its Hawaiian-inspired theme in a way that feels both fun and intentional. The music actually matches the vibe, which is something a lot of places miss. Here, it helps create the kind of atmosphere you want to settle into for a few hours. The food menu is surprisingly creative for a cocktail-focused spot. Every dish felt well thought out and full of flavor. You can tell there is real care behind the combinations. The cocktails are just as strong. They are fun without being gimmicky, and "The Bastard" in particular stood out. Bold, smooth, and a little unexpected. You have to get it if you want to impress your date with a cool experience. The staff deserves a shoutout too. They were fun, engaging, and seemed genuinely happy to be there, which added a lot to the overall experience. Whether you are coming for drinks, dinner, or the full experience, this place delivers. It is the kind of spot you want to tell your friends about... but also kind of want to keep to yourself. read more

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Love the vibe and the cocktails here! Our server, was great! He explained the drinks to us and we were very happy with the recommendations. Been here 3 times already, highly recommend! read more

We returned to the Kaona Room after being there a few years ago. The ambiance is still great. The drink presentations have flair ...fitting for a tiki bar. Our server was nice and attentive. As a rum enthusiast, I felt disappointed that there wasn't a list of available spirits while being surrounded by amazing selections of rum. There is an extensive list of pre-selected rum flights, however; if I just wanted a neat pour, there is no clear information from which to choose. Good to go for tiki! read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - The Bastard presentation - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Phenomenal speakeasy style bar. Disney quality theming, and exceptional staff. Everyone is very friendly and the ambiance is a nice escape. All the drinks are a master craft and the staff is extremely well versed at helping you select the right cocktail. If you want a true tiki experience I would highly recommend Kaona room. read more

This place is attached to Esotico (now known as the Canvas Bar). It has the same style as Esotico and same drink menu. Very similar to Esotico, many of the drinks are frivolous and have some sort of 'flair' element, like smoke or fire. These drinks are aesthetically pleasing but not very strong in my opinion. This place is tiny and hidden, and walking inside completely transports you! They do an excellent job of decking out every corner of the interior and it is all very cohesive. The servers are friendly enough. It is in a bit of an isolated area in Omni- not close enough to other attractions in Downtown OR Wynwood to walk to another bar after. Probably wouldn't return but a nice spot to pop into once to visit! read more

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First time visitors to Miami and Kaona! My husband and I love tiki and wanted to see what Miami had to offer. We found a fantastic place, with wonderful staff and great drinks. Shout out to our bartender Pablo, who provided great conversation and crafted some fantastic drinks. Between us we tried 6 different drinks, each offering a great flavor and presentation. The decor is what makes this tiki bar special, with lots to look at, Kaona offers a place to catch up with friends or chat with new ones. We hope to come back soon. read more

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We are tiki enthusiasts so we make a point to visit tiki bars wherever we go. This was our first visit to Kaona Room and it didn't disappoint! When you step through the secret door it is like being instantly transported to a lush, dark, exotic tropical paradise with low key exotica music. Kaona is relaxing, sexy, and comfortable and a wonderful place to hang out with your love or a group of friends. Drinks were very well made and delivered with extra flair, especially certain drinks that are delivered with fire, thunder and lightning! The hostess and staff were fun, super friendly and accommodating and really made you feel that you're a part of the Kaona Ohana. Tips: 1) Make sure that you have reservations. 2) Have a designated driver or a ride because the drinks pack a powerful punch and you will want to enjoy the evening to the fullest. 3) Check out the cool official mug by Mulder142 available for purchase. If we could we'd give Kaona Room TEN out of Five stars! read more

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Definitely recommend reservations and patience. It took about 45 minutes to an hour to get drink orders in and then additional time waiting for the drinks. The servers are very hospitable and have a great attitude. I just think they might need more bartenders to get orders in faster because the drinks do require a lot of work. If you look at the presentation, it is quite elaborate from the actual drink to the table side show. Reservations are highly recommended because of the limited space. We did not have reservations, but the manager was very kind to try to accommodate us although we did have to limit our party due to the size. This is fine because really after you've had a drink or two and experienced the fun ambience, you could drink at the regular bar which has faster service and have a great time there too. I think it's a nice fun place to try at least once. read more

Made a specific effort to stop here the night before going on a cruise. We had made reservations in advance. I was not disappointed. Staff was friendly and welcoming. They were excited to share their story and about the theming of the bar. We had great discussions about their drink menu and the different rums. Atmosphere was fantastic and very immersive. The drinks were great and presented with flair. We got to sit in peacock chairs and had a great time. read more

Designed to be speakeasy style tiki bar, this place was like walking into a craft cocktail heaven. The service was amazing, and the drinks and presentation were creative and fun. Awesome spot to hit with friends or when you're craving some quality craft cocktails in downtown read more

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What a fun night - our friend is a big tiki fan and has been wanting to come here for awhile to try one of the rare rums they carry. I went to Esotico a few years ago, but didn't realize they opened a hidden tiki room in the back last year! When the hostess walked us to the back, you walk through a set of doors, that look like it would lead to an employee office or something, but open up to a brilliantly decorated tiki room. Every single cocktail was amazing, they each had their own interesting complexities, and they explained us their special process for aging the rum. The menu had fun graphics and tidbits of tiki history. My favorite drink of the night was the Aku Aku Lapu, which I didn't even think to order, had a sip of my friend's, which led to us ordering another. Many of the drinks involve them rolling over a tiki cart and giving a presentation with sound, fog, and fire. Several of the cups were available for purchase if you want to bring some barware home to start your own tiki collection. While the cocktails are the main star, the food should not be overlooked. In fact, you could eat an entire dinner here. Every single thing we had was so delicious - rock n shrimp, king bao, peanut butter dumplings, fried rice. The sushi boat was well priced, we were pleasantly surprised, given the cool presentation. Last but definitely not least, GET THE RUM CAKE, you know you want to end the night with more fire and alcohol, trust me. Service was superb, they have a massive selection of cocktails, the staff answered all our questions and guided us in the right direction all night. The playlist had vibey 60s esque tiki jams, that matched the atmosphere perfectly. 5 stars for a delightful night on the town, we were having fun for hours!. read more

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Amazing! I love the speakeasy feel. The Mai Tai was outstanding and the service matched. I would highly recommend this place as a nice escape. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Mai MAI-TAI - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

Somewhat disappointing, considering I loved the old Esotico concept..a friend and I decided to come here to continue the evening or at least enjoy a nightcap. Like the original Esotico venue, the navigation app says Wynwood but it's actually a touch south. We make it to the new concept to the new front, a basic sports bar. A gentleman outside, guessing a promoter, says that it is indeed Kaona and we needed reservations but he would try to get us inside. We were served a couple of complementary alcohol heavy (almost no mixer) drinks that made moonshine seem non-alcoholic, and waited..and waited a little more. With no further acknowledgement, my friend and I made the decision to leave. read more

Unfortunately I can't give much insight on the place because upon arrival, I learned that it's more of a secret speak easy inside of another establishment. We were told we'd have to have reservation. A gentleman told us to go ahead inside we were fine. Once at the door we were again told we couldn't come in. We explained that we were told we were fine without a reservation then we were told it was crowded we can wait to get in when someone leaves. A manager or owner perhaps offered a complimentary cocktail for being understanding and in hopes that we'd wait. We sat for a bit but the place which is more like a sports bar wasn't our vibe especially based on how we were dressed coming from dinner so we decided to head out. I would in fact love to still check out the location under better circumstance. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Tv screens - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

Amazing I loved the ambience they even have the sounds of rain, incredible service from one of the owners and my drink was perfection served with dry ice smoke rolling down the bar and an umbrella and a flower. It made for an awesome show and a super fun night. I will be telling all of my friends traveling to Miami to go there. read more

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6/5**** not 6 out of 10 hehe Clearly the drinks were so good that the math wasn't mathing that night. I am not sure why but Yelp won't let me edit the original review. GO HERE!! read more

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This place is super fun for a date night or surprising some out of town guests. I suggest starting your evening before your reservation and having a drink at the Canvas bar first. You will find the tiki bar is inside Canvas bar. Canvas bar made excellent old fashioned drinks. After our pre cocktail we were escorted into the hidden tiki bar! Totally fun! Opens into a dreamy kitschy tiki bar complete with tunes to push the theme, fun decor everywhere you look. My partner and I are not rum drink fans, but the cocktails didn't disappoint! Fun and exotic packing a big punch. The Bastard drink comes with table side service that is highly entertaining, we didn't order it another table did and we got to enjoy the show without ordering that particular drink. Our service from Robert was excellent. He was very tentative and made great suggestions for us from the menu. We enjoyed all of the appetizers as seen in our photos. If you like a fun adventure with tiki and don't want to drive to Ft. Lauderdale this is the place. Skip the Mai Kai show, Kaona Room has way better food and it feels personal because of the small intimate space. read more

Kaona, The Hidden Tiki Room - Tropical Old Fashioned and Miami Kula - Speakeasies Near Me - Miami, Florida

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Visited this establishment with my sister while visiting Miami in October. Speakeasies are my thing and it was the first time my sister visited one. Had a fantastic time! Finding the place was fun but not as difficult as some I have been too. The hunt is a lot of times some of the finest parts of a true speakeasy experience. The ambience was wonderful. But the icing on the cake was the staff. They were fantastic.! They definitely went above and beyond to make the experience a lasting one. 10 out of 10 would highly recommend. read more

Billy and crew are always a step ahead! This place has amazing cocktails! They are strong, and well worth the money!

Got in got seated, took about 10 minutes to get a server and another 30 min or so after we placed our drink order we just left since they didn't bring our drinks for that long. Very disappointing since tables who walked in after us got drinks before us. Pathetic. read more