Punk rockabilly surfer tiki bar. So much kitsch. So much fun. So many tattoos!
I started off another of my epic bar crawls at Otto’s Shrunken Head for happy hour. It’s kind of fitting that they have $3 pints of PBR of which I downed a few along with a shot of Jameson while listing to the DJ play an eclectic mix of punk, surfer, goth, and rock tunes. Since it was early still I had a chance to chill out as the crowd was sparse save for a sexy tattooed bartender who dug my Star Wars dancing Stormtrooper t-shirt, and the two tattooed ladies in cool throwback Bettie Page styled outfits that asked me to turn around and model for them. The crowd that was in there ranged from older sexy tattooed cougars, to younger hipsters, to fun music types, to punks, to rockers, and other kinds all mixed into one giant flaming tiki bowl of personalities. Half the crowd looks like they want to kick your ass, including the bartender if you piss her off, and the other half looks like they would be fun to get drunk with as they are all here for that one sole purpose. It’s a fun diverse crowd in a fun eccentric retro tiki themed bar!
Zebra striped barstools, colorful blowfish lights, tiki heads, photo booth, colorful walls, and a back room where bands play sometimes. It’s a non-pretentious place where all are welcome. Yeah, it’s a bit grimy, dark, and can use a power washing. Character and ambiance, baby. Of course they serve up mixed drinks in tiki glasses and have the eponymous flaming tiki punch bowls for group imbibing. A few standard beers on tap such as Yuengling and PBR. They even have comedy shows here to go along with nights when live bands are performing. Cash only but not to fear as it’s pretty cheap overall. Drink specials on beers and frozen concoctions during the week. Can’t help myself as I love these kinds of bars. Kitschy craziness!
Some people would say that it’s divey and dirty, not their type of music, and with a crowd that might not be attractive enough for them. That’s ok. Let those people hang out with the beautiful bridge & tunnel folks in the LES or Meatpacking District overcrowded and overhyped club scene. No velvet rope here. All are welcome. It’s an unusual spot to go have some drinks and listen to a live band. I’ll sip my frozen tiki drink with an umbrella in it while catching a wave to cool rockabilly tunes. Divey, dirty, and cheap suits me just fine.
Otto’s Shrunken Head –
http://www.ottosshrunkenhead.com/index.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ottos-shrunken-head-new-york
I’m with ya! This is a good one. I have even been known to grab some of their crazy island mixed drinks – but don’t tell anyone!
Hey Dave!
I won’t tell anyone if you don’t. I have no shame of drinking a cocktail with a pink umbrella in it!
I’ve never thought to myself that a crowd might not be attractive enough, interesting, but strangely, probably well put, as I’m not a huge fan of widespread tattoos. One word I did like, Jameson. Yes. But served in a Waterford Crystal Glass filled with ice and perhaps a small piece of lemon. I’ll save the tiki stuff for the islands or Florida.
Hey Peggy!
Nothing like a good nip of Jamesons on a cold winter day I might add. This place is for those that just want to have fun, but I’m sure there are those who feel it’t too lowbrow. I like it!
Oh, man! I’ve wanted to go to Otto’s Shrunken Head for ages! It looks awesome — great post!
Hey Maggie!
Go there on a Friday night for happy hour and stay for a band or two. It’s a fun place to start out a night!
While I doubt it’s a place I’d go to more than once (unless I really fell in love) it does seem like a spot that would grab my attention!
Hey Emily!
Always worth at least a try, right? You only live once!
As long as there are no Jersey-ites allowed, I’m in. 🙂
Hey Fearless!
Alas, those damn Jersey people are everywhere. The sneak in like an unwanted distant cousin and then never leave your couch.
Sounds like a great place!! I love tattoos and cheesy kitchy places.
The more divey the better!
Hey Holli!
Love a divey joint! Real people hang out in them. Fun times.
You had me at punk rockabilly surfer tiki bar. Just need to get a quick tattoo, and I’m there.
Hey Barb!
I tattoo on my spare time. Come over one day and I’ll hook you up. I can’t draw even a stick figure but that never stopped me!
“Divey, dirty, and cheap.” Is that what your on-line dating profile says? “Loves tiki bars, shrunken heads and rockabilly music.” Hey, I’m not judging. Whatever works.
Fun stuff 24/7 there in NYC.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Hey Patricia!
Actually, that sounds pretty good. OK Cupid here I come! I bet I get a lot of weirdos replying!
Phil! Who goes out more than you? Nobody I know. Thanks for continuing to take us out on dates every week from the comfort of our Lazyboys! (I’m not really in a Lazyboy … seriously … it just kind of sounded right!)
Rock on, Phil, as only you can! Keep making us laugh out loud!
Hey Patricia!
I do go out a lot, and perhaps too much, but NYC keeps me going! Actually, I would love a Lazyboy but would never leave it!
Again, I bow down to you and all my readers for following me. Glad to make you all laugh.
I love how it looks. A sort of latin influence there maybe?… It seems like a good place to drink something, even more considering it is so cold there in NY; right Phil?.
Take care, cheers Aquileana 😉
Hey Aquileana!
More like a tiki bar punk rock theme. Sure, it’s cold out but never too cold for a frozen drink full of booze! 🙂
This place looks so awesome! Totally pinning this. I’m sure I have someone following me on Pinterest near you!
Hey Joy!
Cool. Maybe that person has been there, or will check it out. So many fun bars like this in Manhattan!
Phil – you find the best places to hang out and have fun! Looks like a great place to think of warmer days with the ocean crashing along the shore.
Hey Clay!
It does make me think of being on a warm island right now. Plenty of fun spots like this here, but dang, getting sick of staying inside all winter!
Sounds an interesting place, full of real people with depth and character (and tattoos!).
You paint the picture very well. Despite living across the pond – and only having visited New York once in my life – I kind of sense that I’ve been there (or lat least to places like it).
Hey Gary!
Yes, you get to see all types in here. It’s a fun bar. Glad to know my blog posts are making you feel like a true New Yorker.
Love the eclectic crowd. And the umbrella for your drink. One must maintain standards. 🙂
Hey Shelley!
Thanks for dropping by and commenting! Of course I drink with a pink umbrella. What man wouldn’t?
This looks like a really fun place! There is a restaurant here in SoFlo that has been around since the early 50’s. It’s called The Mai Kai, and it is a polynesian restaurant with all the trimmings—many similar things as I see here at Otto’s. I love the exotic rum drinks and the crab rangoons are to die for. If you’re ever down this way, you HAVE to visit this place!! And if I’m ever up your way, I’m heading over to Otto’s!
Hey Mother!
I would love to check that place out next time in SF! Otto’s has no food and is a down and dirty divey kind of bar, but a fun spot nonetheless.
I actually remember this kind of place, it was the favorite right after I turned 18 (the drinking age at the time). Drinking is one thing, but the ambiance, that makes the whole experience. How many “normal” places do I remember? Almost none. But this kind of a place, yup, those memories stick with you.
Hey Karen!
We always remember the unusual spots because they are more fun. It’s also the spots we got most drunk at!
Whoa! I think this is the tika-bar my friend Tina has been talking about!! This sounds like serious fun! I mean, just the name of that place….Love it!
Hey Mitzie!
Maybe it is. I think there are a few in the city area but this is the one I have been to. Fun spot.
Phil, I normally go for classy dives but I don’t mind getting down and dirty every now and then. In fact, it makes me feel alive, and with a shrunken head in The equation, you can’t get more divey than that. Let the Games begin!
Hey Victoria!
Classy is fine but sometimes you need to be a bit dirty! Plus, the divey spots usually have cheaper drinks!
Fun, fun, fun and just dirty enough to be fab. (Maybe you need penicillin after this one too?) LMAO.
Hey Hazy!
Maybe even a tetanus shot! Fab for sure and worth the viral contact.
What’s a little plague when you’re having fun? 😉
Sounds like a fun place!
Hey Deanna!
If you like rockabilly tiki bars, beer, and live music it’s a really fun spot!
You mentioned Happy Hour on Friday. Any idea what time that starts and runs until? Looking to take my wife there on her birthday to meet up with some friends and then head somewhere else as I think it might be too small for many people to gather on a Friday. No idea where that will be (we don’t really do the bar scene in NYC) but this definitely sounds like a great place to start!
Hi Jim!
Thanks for dropping by. Happy hour runs from 2-8pm Monday-Friday!
Check out their website under “drinks” and it lists all the specials.
Also, check out spots like Death & Company along with Cienfuegos. Great spots for drinks, but being it’s a Friday try to get in early or get reservations. I’ve covered both here in this blog. Death & Company is a great cocktail bar but get there when it opens, but I think you can get reservations at Cienfuegos. Have fun!
I’m totally lovin’ the retro tiki bar vibe. Looks like this place is a blast.