The South Pacific came to Melbourne this week with the launch of The LuWow, a new tiki bar that brings the beach (and a touch of bling) to Fitzroy. Owned by tiki-loving couple Josh and Barbara Collins – who have run tiki bars from London to Las Vegas – stepping into LuWow is like entering a magical world, kind of like when Dorothy stumbled into Oz and everything went technicolour.

Kitsch wooden doors lead to a tiki village of bamboo huts, plastic palm trees and carved idols – the sort of place you’d expect to see Indiana Jones having a drink. Over at the bar, staff in Hawaiian shirts (what else?) shake up cocktails topped with glazed cherries and little umbrellas. There’s a stuffed shark on the wall and, somehow, it all seems just right.

Out back there’s ‘The Forbidden Temple’, an even larger space with sunset-themed wallpaper, Hindu gods, glowing lights and skulls on sticks. In the centre is the tiki stage, featuring live bands and dancing on weekends. It’s a helluva lotta fun, especially considering the place used to be a Centrelink.

But most important of all are the drinks, the cornerstone of any self-respecting tiki bar. They’ve got to be strong, colourful looking, colourful sounding, and strong. LuWow doesn’t pull any punches with its punch, offering four pages of drinks with names like the Lava Flow, the Bikini Bottom, as well as classics like the Mai Tai. A few sips of these boozy brews will get you feeling like you’re on holiday, which is what tiki is all about.

So next time you’re heading down Johnston Street, stop by LuWow and treat yourself to a quick trip to the South Pacific.

Where: 62-70 Johnston St, Fitzroy
Phone: (02) 9417 5447
Hours: Wed–Thu 5pm–midnight, Fri–Sat 5pm–2am, Sun 4–10pm
Details: theluwow.com

Tell us what you think?