History
Walk far enough out on the Santa Cruz Wharf and the land falls away, replaced by a sense of ocean and sky in all directions. It is out here, near the last bend in the wharf, that you will find the Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery, a fully immersive escape into the world of tiki. To step inside Makai is to enter an exotic world of bamboo, woven rattan cane, palm fronds, and colorful Japanese glass fishing buoys. It is a place of island melodies and intoxicating aromas. Entering Makai is like being hit with a warm wave of pure tiki before swimming out into its ocean. A team of master mixologists has crafted a drink menu that would've made Trader Vic himself proud. Makai is full-tilt tiki. Plus, the bar rotates, making it arguably the coolest place to get a drink in the whole Monterey Bay region. If you really need a vacation, but only have a few hours, I invite you to escape to Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery, the fully immersive tiki paradise on the Santa Cruz Wharf.