Being a fan of all things Tiki, it definitely felt like I was missing out by having never been to a Trader Vic's. Since the two closest locations to me are both at least a five hour flight away, I had figured maybe I wasn't going to see one anytime soon. When I was recently in London it dawned on me that there was a location there. Bingo! A Trader Vic's experience had been obtained. Maybe I should have got a Mai Tai since that's what they're famous for. Instead I got a Bahia, and it was pleasant and refreshing. Not the best tiki drink I've had but not the worst either. I also got the veggie spring rolls, which were alright. The decor was obviously up to standards, but honestly the whole restaurant felt very corporate. I'm not sure what else I should have expected, since they're a very well known chain with spots all over the world. It just lacked the soul that most other tiki bars seem to have. Also I had a lot of sticker shock when it came to the price, because the cheapest and weakest drinks are still £12/$15.50, so having more than one or two might break your bank. This was an okay experience. I'm still curious if the other locations bear any similarities to this one, so in the future when I get the chance I'll compare those as well. At the very least you'll get a tasty drink in a silly mug. read more

Trader Vic's - Hawaiian Near Me - London, XGL

Old school beautiful and classy beyond. We loved our visit to Trader Vic's London! The hospitality, food and drinks were top level. The atmosphere is like the long and sadly gone Trader Vic's Beverly Hills. This place is a jewel in the crown of London! read more

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Don't get rid of this place, please. Recently came here during my trip to London and it was one of the highlights. Beautifully decorated, decent food, and awesome drinks. I think it just needs a few fun events and perhaps a little program makeover to liven it up, but hearing that they might get rid of this place made me very sad. Save Trader Vic's in London!!! read more

Went in at 9:40 & had to get my order in very quickly as the kitchen was closing in 5! They did a very good job. Manager made sure we got extra pancakes for the crispy duck wraps & took us to an elevator that would take us straight to the room. She was happy to have us order a bottle of wine to bring with us. read more

We had an amazing time at Trader Vic's. Our bartender, Foxy, was amazing. He was very educated on the menu and gave us amazing recommendations. Will definitely be recommending and returning! read more

Trader Vic's - Chi Chi - Hawaiian Near Me - London, XGL

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Take an uber all the way over there. Hours online say they open tll 3am... but nope. Closed. If you say you close at 3am then at 1230am you should be open.... or update ur hours so were not running around like aholes read more

I don't know why, but service is hit or miss. Most times it was a really fun tiki bar with friendly servers and bartenders. Twice, however, the staff made it clear they didn't want to be working that evening and customers were a bother. Thus, I averaged it out to 3 stars. read more

This may seem a bit harsh, but it's 100% accurate. I purchased this using a groupon for my family while we visited London. The Groupon is completely misleading, if not fraudulent. The Groupon we purchased told us that we could order up to one Mai Tai, one appetizer (up to a certain value), one main course (up to certain value) and one dessert (up to a certain value), this is completely misleading. When you arrive and tell them you have a Groupon, they give you a completely different menu which is also different than the menu that is on the web....and different from the standard menu. You can not order dishes off of the regular menu up to the price limits that are indicated on the Groupon. When I showed this to the manager (who was actually very nice), I was told "we don't tell Groupon what to put in the coupon." This is also not true....but why was I surprised....like Groupon writes them for restaurants on their own? To make things worse, the food that we ate was terrible. A good example is fried calamari which looks like tons of bread fried on the worst calamari I ever had. My daughter had a curried Shrimp. They told her that the shrimp was not one of the choices and they charged a $10 up charge - "although we remained under the limit stated on the groupon." To boot, the shrimp were small, tasteless and had a rubber like texture. You may actually like the food if you are also frozen in time from 1983 like this restaurant. A few more observations. The curry dishes come with approximately 10 things that you can add. The problem is that they are seemingly, unrelated to the curry dish that they are serving - like hot sauce on chocolate ice cream. As far as the Mai Tai....no liquor. The upside is that they give you plenty of ice. My wife commented after tasting her Mai Tai "I think I may have to stop drinking if somebody serves this to me again." Nobody in our party drank their cocktails. I never leave bad reviews on social media. I know this sounds like a harsh review....and it is....but it's 100% honest. read more

Old style tiki bar stuffed in the basement of the London Hilton. It has its charms but that may be offset by the expense. A mai tai and appetizer set me back more than 30 pound sterling/ $45. I like kitsch put much better off finding it elsewhere. read more

Trader Vic's - Trader Vic's Mai Tai - Hawaiian Near Me - London, XGL

Located on the bottom floor of the Hilton hotel on London's posh Park Lane, this historic tiki bar is one of the few original Trader Vic's locations remaining in the world, and the first to open outside of the USA in 1963. The interior is spacious, with an enormous dining room surrounding two different tiki bars. The decor is authentic but dated, incorporating various elements of high tiki and Hawaiiana. The attempt at an upscale establishment falls short, due to important aspects such as lighting. For some reason, all of the lamps on the ceiling were turned off, creating an awkwardly dim setting. Service was elusive, and unable to describe anything on the menu. The drinks were terrible. I got the Tiki Puka Puka (£15) which tasted like artificial fruit juice and a measured pour of low grade spiced rum. It was not strong by any means, and charging this price for what was essentially a watery slushy is unacceptable. My boyfriend got the 'Mai Tai Wave' (£16) which is a flight of three different Mai Tais from the menu-Guava, Mango, and Maui (pineapple). They were all drinkable, but contained no alcohol. We attempted to mix the cocktails to make them better somehow, but they were bad beyond repair. We could not bring ourselves to order another, but stayed a while to enjoy the ambiance. With such an incredible space, I hope that Trader Vic's London considers refreshing their decor, and significantly improving their libations. read more

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Trader Vic's London is my favorite Vic's I've been to. The mix of old school charm and fresh energy is exactly what is needed to keep the Vic's legacy alive. The staff was welcoming, able to pump out drinks with reasonable speed and a genuine friendliness to customers. The bartenders seemed to have pretty good grasp of tiki as well, which can't be said for every Vic's I've been to. It never felt stuffy in there, despite its history as a "classy joint". As much as I enjoyed the new wave tiki bars in London, I'm most glad I was able to find time to visit Trader Vics. read more

Trader Vic's was recommended by a friend so I decided to come here for appetizers. The restaurant is Polynesian themed and you feel like you are on a Hawaiian island. I ordered the beef cho cho, spare ribs, and the sampler. The spare ribs have a smoked wood Taste and are very flavorful. The beef cho cho comes with a fire goblet that you can roast your skewers over. The sampler comes with fried shrimps, a spare rib, and crab ragu. Overall the appetizers were good and flavorful I will have to try dinner next time I'm in London. read more

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I wanted something fun, which this place certainly was. It has a slightly silly over the top Polynesian theme that I enjoy. The service was very attentive and top notch. As another reviewer mentioned this is in the lower level of the Hilton hotel. We went on a Monday night at 7 and had no issue getting seated right away. On to the food and drinks... I tried the Mai Tai wave. It is three different topical Mai Tais. A fun way to try the different flavors. It included Guava, Mango and Pineapple. I liked the pineapple best, but I think it just comes down to your preferred fruit juice. We got the beef cho cho - little skewers of meat that you reheat over a cool open flame. Fun! and the Brie with pineapple on top. The brie was simple but good. Next time I would almost just get two of those. But I am huge fan of melted brie. For my entree I had the crispy duck. Basically their version of peking duck. Plenty of meat. Good. I also tried Vic's rice which is a chicken and shrimp fried rice. Fine as a side. Coworker had the sea bass and enjoyed it. Nothing super amazing but very solid overall and I would come back. Nice, cozy and fun atmosphere with solid food. read more

What a trap. Decent drinks but the lighting was broken, so only the fluorescent lighting was turned on (so ugly!), and the regular lighting was off. We even asked them to see if they could turn on the regular lights and they couldn't. Very strange. Then the DJ had some kind of seizure or something, and the music was a mess - the volume kept going up and down abruptly, and it was really awkward and loud. Folks were leaving right away because the music was a mess and clearly something was wrong... we bailed. What a mess. Mess! read more

Trader Vic's - As you can see... Only the fluorescent lighting is on, and the regular lighting is dead. Terrible, unflattering atmosphere. - Hawaiian Near Me - London, XGL

We went to this place for a birthday and although the place was quite empty (Friday night and as busy as you would expect a Monday night to be), we had to wait A LOT to be served. The cocktails were all done in the same two types of glasses and not in nice one like the ones in the menu, so it was a bit disappointing. The live music was good, but none seemed to enjoy it. And they followed us up the stairs to let us know we forgot to pay 50p of the service charge. Not that was intentional, but really after spending 100 quid, I found it quite shocking. read more

A guitarist playing lame 80s covers does NOT make this feel like anything Tiki. Where's the exotica and other Tiki music? This place feels like a crappy Hilton bar with funky wallpaper. read more

Had to visit Trader Vic's Tiki bar during our stay in London and we were pleasantly surprised!! We were amazingly taken care of by wait staff and management. Absolutely loved our food, the old way chow mein and the cosmo tidbit plates, as well as the drinks we tried, the Mai tai sampler and the pogo stick which comes with a sugar swizzle stick of rock candy! Andras and OJ took awesome care of us and even treated us by offering a complete tour and behind the scenes look in the bar and kitchen! They went above and beyond! Loved our time! Thank you Trader Vic's! Hopefully we'll be back soon! read more

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Really wanted to go here as I'm a huge tiki fan and have been to many tiki bars throughout the world. Was really excited to come here, tried to come for three days, but it was closed. On the last night of my trip to London, we arrived to the bar at 12:15am - online it said the bar was open until 1am. When we walked downstairs, there were a few groups sitting at the tables, and a group of men at the bar, including someone in a Hawaiian shirt who I assume was the manager. The bar had a screen down so I asked if the bar was still open. Someone in the group said yes and the manager said no. I asked if I could just buy a tiki mug but I was given the run around that the bar was closed, security needed to open the screen, etc. I asked the Hilton hotel manager and he wasn't helpful at all, and when I asked again at the bar if security could open the screen, a guy in the group stood up and said he was security and they couldn't sell me anything because the system was closed. I told him I wanted to give him cash, I was ready to give him money since I had been trying all week to come here but he could care less. It's really a shame that people like this are running a well known place that people travel to see because it really makes me never want to go to Trader Vic's again. I'll be happy to spend my money at local tiki bars that actually appreciate their customers. read more

Trader Vic's - Really wanted to go here but it was closed. On the third night they closed early and wouldn't even let us buy a tiki mug. - Hawaiian Near Me - London, XGL

Welcome to the home of the MAI TAI! The founder of this restaurant supposedly created the drink for his friends visiting from Tahitit! He opened the original Vic's in California and included his drink on the menu. Now it's become a world-wide sensation. Located in a hidden away area, under the Hilton, it's pretty hard to find. I would have been roaming around London for a while if my friend's cab had not picked me up. Shame that it's not more advertised/present because I really enjoyed this place. Lots of tropical decor and tribal masks really set what they describe as a Polynesian atmosphere. Strange as the place is pretty upscale but it just works. I would definitely dress up a bit to go here, especially if I were sitting in one of the more secluded dining tables. The food is no-doubt pricey but understandably so as a lot of their meat is cooked in the 'roti' style, meaning that it's roasted in a traditional wood-fired oven. Also explains why it takes a while for it to come! The place was packed when I came here, with live music and dancing in the Mai Tai Lounge. They boast over 200 cocktails and I tried umm...a few. They hit my friends pretty hard but I found them to just be quite tasty. My friend's beef was great although my aromatic duck was objectively a bit too crunchy and oily. However, I loved it! Basically if you want an upscale place to drink, eat great food, and dance with an exclusive London club nearby (Whisky Mist), this place can't be beat! PS: Book reservations if you can, especially on weekends! read more

Fantastic is one word I would say about it The bartender was very nice and personable and no matter how busy it got, we were still given attentive service. The prices were not outrageous and the crowd was hip. They had live music was was rather good and not too loud. We did end up sitting at the bar on the opposite side of the music, but we still were able to hear it and enjoy the ambiance. It does look like a tiki bar.. so cool decor! read more

So this was our anniversary dinner on a Friday night, it wasn't busy, it wasn't loud and it was welcoming with a cool atmosphere! We'd shared the ribs to start, I'd had a hankering for ribs all day and they didn't disappoint! My partner and I had a very nice relaxing evening over mains and run cocktails. The evening was a success with out charming waiter Mr.Rodriguez and waitress who personally took care of us! We were also presented a desert which had 'Happy Anniversary' written round the plate of chocolate and ice cream! We had such a lovely evening, wonderful food, great service and lots of rum! We'll be back! read more

Trader Vic's! My favourite place for a cocktail (http://london.blog.qype.com/?p=414) in London! And one of the last of the world's greatest tiki bars. Since the closure of the original Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills, the London location is now the oldest in world. Opened in 1963, this swank tropical-themed restaurant/bar has much of the same decor as when opened. It's definitely of another time but not really passe or run-down. In fact, it appears to have been lovingly cared for all these decades. Crammed from floor to ceiling with South Seas and nautical bric-a-brac (I'd hate to be the one to dust this joint!), it's as evocative a place to drink as any you'll find ... anywhere! Go. Order a Mai Tai. Forget about your troubles. read more

I have heard of Trader Vic's before, but had no idea what to expect. When I stepped through the door and was greeted by Polynesian statues, I got the giggles - this would be fun, I thought to myself! As I walked down the stairs, there was a mix of decor - from the carpet that seemed like it belonged in a Ruby Tuesday's to the coral, shells, tiki men and ... oh my gosh is that really a canoe filled with fruity cocktails?! Indeed, folks! This place is full-on themed from the walls to the staff. It seemed out of place for the location, but the clientele was easy on the eye! ;) They had a great bar and the staff was very attentive. I cant say much about the food, as I only had a (pretty decent) BBQ rib, but this place could be a whole lot of fun for a party. read more

Really fantastic place to eat I'm sure. I was here with others for the "my kind of phone" event and it was like walking into another world. I absolutely love the kitch and yet sofisticated environment they have created inside. I've always wanted to go to one since I saw it in Toronto but just never had reason to descend the stairs and experience it. Now I know what I was missing all those years. Whether you're kicking back for a cocktail as we were or in there for a meal I'll bet the staff are as absolutely brilliant as they were for us. The whole 'no shorts' thing was a bit weird but other than that it was the most amazing expereince. I wish every place had staff that attentive, that professional and that friendly. If they did, London would be the service capital of the WORLD. read more

It's a landmark bar, more popular then the venue above it, which is quite amazing for something attached to a 5 star hotel and a layabout daughter. My first visit wasn't great but maybe I'm a little raw about being told that I can't stand next to a table to talk to a friend (as it's not that kind of bar) or that the service charge doesn't reflect the forty minute time taken to get a drink ordered or seated next to fantastically large stewpots meant a five degree rise in ambient temperature. A second visit thanks to My Kind Of phone and Qype proved a different experience with access to the Kon Tikki canoe filled with a orange based punch and some strong signature Mai Tais. I guess it could have been an unlucky first visit, the service from the staff that night was exemplary and live music is rather special if you're lucky enough to be seated in that quadrant. The porcelain cocktail bowls are very unique and are very pretty. The decor hasn't changed (and doesn't need to) since the swinging sixties with the old bamboo and grass adorning gurning faces from the walls. Look out for the cheeky sailor on the way to the toilets, Chatham will never seem the same again. If the prices seem a little steep, remember that it is a five star cocktail bar and that the drinks include the history and experience of the venue, which does make for an incredibly special night out. read more

Trader Vic's in London makes me very happy. I love Trader Vic's around the world but the London location is my absolute favorite. It has such a great history and the Mai Tai's RULE! They recently did some renovating, so it's fresh and welcoming. Yeah, it's a little cheesy but it does what it does so well. Have drinks at the bar or sit in one of the tables near the live entertainment. Either way, you'll feel like you went back in time to an exotic Polynesian place. Look out for the werewolves of London... read more

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I love Trader Vics! It's one of the best places in the capital for a cocktail and for those with a penchant for themed cocktail bars like me, it really is a tiki paradise. The themed cocktails are fantastic and served in a range of fun styles. Some come complete with little mementos, I got a parrot with mine and my mum got a plastic tiki man. There's something for everyone here, non-cocktail drinkers get a wide selection of beers and cocktail drinkers are literally spoiled for choice. I recently went here for a Qype event, and tried Trader Vic's food for the first time. I have to say that I was seriously impressed and will be sampling them again. The highlight was a crab and cheese bite, that the Qypers were addicted to, but the spare ribs were also fantastic. The barbecue sauce that was used was just the right side of sticky and not to sweet. The highlight of the visit was definitely the wooden canoe, a life-size canoe filled with a delicious peach flavoured punch that guests can book for a very special occasion. read more

I'm going to glaze over the irony that the dress code of this polynesian themed bar forbids shorts because once we were in the service was very friendly. We had ended up here after a Foodie treasure hunt sponsored by My Kind of Phone, using our mobiles to take photos of various food related sights on the way from Covent Garden. A lot of fun that was too, but it was nice to finish with a canoe full of rum punch. Fruity and light this refreshing beverage was in sharp contrast with the Mai Tai's which, while tasty were clearly extremely alcohol-heavy..! Anyway, it's a fantastic place, right by/underneath the Park Lane Hilton hotel with bamboo and woodcarvings covering every corner and setting the atmosphere wonderfully. I hear this place has been going since the 60s and I can well believe it because of the attention to detail which doesn't just settle in overnight - this place is pretty immersive. The food we had was a selection of nibbles and it whet the appetite for more. Jucy ribs, delicious pork, prawns and some unidentified wonton - was it crab? was it cheese? who knew but some people were addicted.. read more

I first went to Trader Vic's many years ago with my ex husband's family. My ex-father in law was from Beverly Hills, so knew about the one out there and used to frequent this one a lot to remind him of home. It's a giant place with an almost museum like quality, dark lighting and with weird and wonderful artefacts dotted around the walls. It was certainly novel to have cocktails served from a canoe. We were served a tasty selection of hot Polynesian snacks. The ribs were some of the best I have eaten, non fatty (I like to imagine) or should I say non greasy, with nicely cooked smoky meat. They were popular with the Qype event crowd and certainly worth going back for. read more

Trader Vic's was a new venue for me when a group of us Qypers ended up there at the end of Microsoft's My Kind Of Phone photo treasure hunt. Themed cocktails seem to be what everyone admires about the place, and the ten gallon canoe from which drinks can be served is certainly a talking point - if a little too gimmicky in my opinion. It is listed as a restaurant and although I have not eaten a proper meal there, I must say the pork ribs and fried prawns made for an excellent snack. The restaurant meals are presumably of a polynesian theme and good too. Most impressive for me were the staff who were professional and courteous. The kind of staff you find in an expensive up market hotel which may be appropriate as it is located under the Hilton Hotel. read more

Trader Vic's is my bar of choice for a more sophisticated and relaxed tiki experience. The bar boats all of the old-world Polynesian charm that you will take you away to another time and place, and opts for the more up-market decor. Easily surpassing the likes of Mahiki on this front, expect canoes suspended from the ceiling, illuminated puffer fish and nautical nick-knacks. The cocktails are simply excellent and the four page menu offers a huge range that will keep even the most ardent lush busy for days to come. Price-wise it's on par with most London tiki bars and you should be prepared to part with between £9 and £12 for a drink, but, perhaps unusually for most London cocktail bars, Trader Vic's leaves you feeling that you've actually had rather good value for money. The drinks are served in generous vessels and the bartenders are liberal with the alcohol, so expect to feel lightheaded after having a few! For those who can't do without themed mugs and sharers, there is a generous selection that will see you sipping from barrels and bowls. If you feel like splashing out for a party, be sure to opt for the ten-gallon canoe. I sampled this during a Qype event and I guarantee that it will impress your guests. Trader Vic's is a serious candidate for a 5 star rating. With an impeccable setting, a warm and welcoming atmosphere and top-quality cocktails, I have no hesitation in giving it my highest commendation. read more

Trader Vic's are pushing out the boat, or should that be canoe, with their 4th July US Independence Day dinner. £49 per head with tasty barbeque treats from their amazing Chinese wood-fired ovens using an ancient cooking method dating back to the Han Dynasty. The ribs are delicious - and tasty, no need for the accompanying dips. Known for their cocktails in branded cups, they are evolving their London menu to make it much more of a destination dining spot. It was Vic "The Trader" Bergeron who first put Chinese dishes alongside contemporary Continental cuisine in the late 1930s, creating the original fusion menu. It's much the same today, but true to their slogan "Taste The World" you can expect some updates to the menu in the next few months. The tapa cloth wallpaper used in Trader Vic's comes from Tonga, where paper mulberry trees are sliced, starched and hand- painted to create these exotic textures and patterns. Each piece is different, and made individually for the 26 Trader Vic's restaurants around the world. Call 020 7208 4113 or email tradervics.parklane@hilton.com To celebrate the 4th of July Delicious! Tender BBQ spare ribs from the original 1972 recipe. Vic said: "You can have more fun with a flower behind your ear, a Mai Tai in your hand and good friends." He certainly got that right. Trader Vic's, 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE tradervicslondon.com http://tradervicslondon.com/ Copyright alan greenhalgh © 2015 read more

One of the coolest trader Vic's. Actually second to the one in Beverly Hills. Awesome vibe inside and awesome staff.

Lovely place to have yummy cocktails. Chilled out and great music place. Made me feel like i was deffo in a Tiki hut! Staff was very attentive too.. read more

Food was blah, except the fried rice. We had apps: ribs, prawns and calamari. Never been to a place where they didn't serve cocktail sauce with shrimp. Came with a wasabi mix. We also ordered water and we were offered "still Or flat", never tap. The water was 11.00 since we ordered 2. The waiter was very, very slow. One of the first times in a long while we didn't leave a gratuity. Definitely a 1st and last time . 15 mins to ask if we want drinks. After our meal, 30 mins from the time he took our plates until we were walking out. read more

Enjoyable evening at Trader Vics at Hilton Park Lane last night. We used the buyagift voucher and received good food and good service Recommend you give this place a try. read more

Staying at the hotel (Hilton) above and decided to stop in for some mai tais and apps. The bouncer (?) was rude and said no trainers (sneakers) or jeans but decided to let us in 'this time'. Mind you half of the restaurant was filled with others wearing casual attire- its a tiki bar...not Nobu...our waiter was kind but hovered a bit much. The drinks were great- the food was ok. The Trader Vics in Dubai is far superior and has friendlier service. You get the impression they are trying to class up a place that serves drinks in little ceramic men- get over it Hilton/Trader Vics. You're a glorified pub with mediocre Chinese food. read more

Our favourite tiki bar. Awesome drinks (flipping strong) and authentic kinda vibe inside. I prefer to come during quieter periods as it gets very crowded and loud. read more

Not for me. Expensive, drinks were loaded, and the Tiki vibe does not work for me in London. We're lead to believe that the Mai Tai was invented here. Well, yes, at Trader Vic's, but in Oakland, CA. We only came here because it was open late. Ordered drinks at 12:30 AM and kicked out at 1:00 PM. read more

I always have such a good time here that it makes it hard to order a Mai Tai anywhere else on the PLANET. Order the Mai Tai Wave to find the perfect flavor during the different stages of dinner. The tuna poke here is a must! read more