A trip to Hawaii is always a great idea. But for many reasons, jetting off to the islands isn’t always possible. Luckily, Illinois has a few fantastic tiki bars that truly do feel like the next best thing. After being closed for several months due to current conditions, Hala Kahiki Lounge is about to re-open to the public. Here’s why you should go.

The Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge is located in River Grove, just outside of Chicago.

llomonte / TripAdvisor The bar spans over 50 years and three generations, which is pretty impressive.

This exotic place has quite a history. It all started in 1952 when Rose and Stanley Sacharski decided they needed a career change after working for 15 years at their funeral home.

Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge / Facebook Needless to say, a bar seemed like a livelier venture. They left the funeral home business and opened a bar that was initially called The Lucky Start. It was a neighborhood gem the locals instantly loved.

Eventually, they rejuvenated the space and added a tiki theme, and the rest is history.

Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge / Google In 1964, the bar moved to its current location, and the Hawaiian theme came with it.

Needless to say, the tropical drinks here look and taste like something you’d order at a beachside bar.

Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge / Facebook From Bahama Mamas to Hurricanes, you’ll find all kinds of vacation-friendly cocktails here.

The bar also serves ice cream drinks, coconut drinks, and enormous volcano drinks like this.

Jeff S / Google And they have a great menu of non-alcoholic options for those who don’t imbibe.

Before the shutdown, the Hala Kahiki Lounge regularly hosted luaus and other fun events.

Hala Kahiki Lounge/Google Of course, they plan to return to their regularly scheduled programming as soon as possible.

This time-honored tiki bar will officially open for business on Monday, June 29th, although they plan to do a soft open over the weekend.

Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge / Facebook In the meantime, they’ve perfected the art of the takeout cocktail. So if you’d feel more comfortable doing that, they’d be happy to oblige.

Ready for some Aloha? Check out the awesome drink menu here.

llomonte / TripAdvisor

The bar spans over 50 years and three generations, which is pretty impressive.

Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge / Facebook

Needless to say, a bar seemed like a livelier venture. They left the funeral home business and opened a bar that was initially called The Lucky Start. It was a neighborhood gem the locals instantly loved.

Hala Kahiki Tiki Bar & Lounge / Google

In 1964, the bar moved to its current location, and the Hawaiian theme came with it.

From Bahama Mamas to Hurricanes, you’ll find all kinds of vacation-friendly cocktails here.

Jeff S / Google

And they have a great menu of non-alcoholic options for those who don’t imbibe.

Hala Kahiki Lounge/Google

Of course, they plan to return to their regularly scheduled programming as soon as possible.

In the meantime, they’ve perfected the art of the takeout cocktail. So if you’d feel more comfortable doing that, they’d be happy to oblige.

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Address: 2834 River Rd, River Grove, IL 60171, USA