Hidden inside a high-end sushi restaurant on the streets of downtown Ferndale, Michigan, this speakeasy is one of the area’s best-kept date night secrets. Whether you’re looking for an intimate spot for dinner and drinks or a stop on a night of progressive dining in this Michigan suburb, look no further than Mai Tiki, located inside Tigerlily, an astoundingly delicious sushi spot.
True to a speakeasy, the entrance to Mai Tiki is hidden inside another business. You have the option to enter through the front of Tigerlily, the Ferndale sushi restaurant home to Mai Tiki, a hidden speakeasy.
However, we prefer the back entrance, because, if we're going to a speakeasy, we want it to feel like we're doing something secret and special. Sneaking around (even if it's totally allowed) makes date night feel even sexier somehow, doesn't it?
Once you enter the restaurant, you'll be hit with a wall of delectable aromas. You're gonna want to power through them and head to the back of the restaurant near the bathrooms.
There, you'll spot this non-descript door marked with two tiki statues. Even though it feels like you shouldn't be opening it, we promise that you won't regret walking through the hidden door to Mai Tiki.
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Inside the secret door of this Ferndale speakeasy, you'll be greeted with a thoughtful, high-end interior with a whole lot of kitsch. Mai Tiki went all the way in on its tiki theme, giving the bar a tropical feel throughout.
That tropical feel does have a tinge of darkness to it, both in the lighting and decor choices. Make sure to keep your eye out for the wall of golden skulls!
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As one would expect from a tiki bar, the cocktails are where Mai Tiki really shines. It offers a classic menu, featuring drinks like the rum-based Zombie, tequila-filled margarita, and a Mai Tai, of course.
They also offer a rotating seasonal menu that spotlights the flavors of the season. In the spring and summer, you can expect crisp, bright fruit flavors. During the fall and winter, you'll experience dark, warm, and spicy flavors.
No matter which cocktail you choose at this hidden Ferndale, Michigan speakeasy, it will arrive in a vessel that is a literal work of art. In addition to classic tiki-shaped glasses, I've had drinks come in Frankenstein heads, disco balls, pigs, and even a bathtub!
Since speakeasies began to rise during the Prohibition era, a cocktail served in a literal bathtub makes a wonderful nod to the hidden gem's heritage. If you happen to be a teetotaler yourself, there's no need to worry, Mai Tiki in Ferndale always has at least one yummy non-alcoholic cocktail on the menu.
There's more to Mai Tiki than drinks, though. Its menu is small but mighty featuring specialties like pork belly, bao buns, and shrimp tempura.
All food is provided by Tigerlily, which is the high-end sushi restaurant that is home to this secret speakeasy. There are vegetarian options offered, as well, each bite prepared with the same care as their meat- or seafood-filled counterparts.
No matter what you order at Mai Tiki, your taste buds will leave happy. This isn't a speakeasy with a massive menu to wade through - it's small and limited. Every single thing on the menu is worth a try.
There is one thing on the Mai Tiki menu that I must order every time, though. This Ferndale date night spot's crab rangoon might possibly be the best I've ever tasted. The wrapper is thin and cripsy and the filling is rich and sweet and perfectly seasoned. My mouth is watering just thinking about them!
Every sip or bite at Mai Tiki is its own culinary adventure that prepares you for whatever flavor is coming next.
And if you fall in love with the vessel your cocktail arrives in, no need to worry! You can buy one of your own on your way out, so that you can attempt to recreate the Mai Tiki speakeasy experience at home.
I can tell you from experience that isn’t an easy feat to accomplish. There is something about walking through the unmarked doors of this hidden Ferndale speakeasy that gives everything you consume its own sort of magic. A tropical oasis far from tropical temperatures, Mai Tiki lives amid the bustling Mid-Western town of Ferndale, an excellent place for an entire date night weekend getaway!
