Trader Vic’s

When you think of Trader Vic’s (IF you think of Trader Vic’s), do you picture tiki torches, strong fruity umbrella drinks and the warm, tropical culture of the South Pacific? Or do you think of a modern, sterile hotel bar?
If you picked modern and sterile, you win! But actually, we all lose.
The once wonderfully fun and funky Trader Vic’s is now a small hotel bar. Yes, the name is still there but the atmosphere is completely gone.
At least the delicious umbrella drinks remain, right? Technically, yes, but my $ 14 Mai Tai was an abomination. It was 80% crushed ice and a few slurps of something sweet. If there was any alcohol in it, I’d be shocked. It was basically a $ 14 crappy snow cone.
Time to put Trader Vic’s – at least this branch – out to pasture. You’ll find a more authentic tiki experience at the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. And the whipped pineapple drink there is far better (and stronger) than TV’s Mai Tai.
Trader Vic’s: Rest in Peace.

We had a good time late on a Saturday night following a concert downtown. We shared the lounge with a large afterwards-​crowd from an MLB scouts dinner at the Hilton. The bartender and wait staff worked together to get a food order in at the serving deadline and even rustled up some dessert for us. The pork ribs were excellent. It was expensive, but what would you expect?

Cocktails are solid but that is about it. Food is generic and overpriced, and the atmosphere is dreary. The other location was a lot of fun when it was open, this place is just depressing. It is just a lame hotel bar. If you want great tiki cocktails but better atmosphere, Tonga Hut is classic.

This is always a great place to visit for a good meal or a final cocktail before heading back to your room at the Beverly Hilton.

My previous review was for the downtown location near la live which is apparently now gone and this review is now tied into the beverly hills location. So note that and i have never been to bh location.

Went for happy hour. Had a couple drinks and the calamari. I have to admit I was surprised with the calamari, for what the place is I didn’t expect anything great. It’s an ok atmosphere but really best if your staying at the hotel looking for a drink and quick snake, otherwise it’s probably best to look elsewhere for a meal.

Had our Investigators Meeting here, some of us decided to relax at poolside at Trader Vic’s before heading out to dinner.
Order meat board, chicken lollipops & sweet sausage pizza. The lollipops were the best some of the meats were better than others… wish they had told us what was what. Drink of choice was the jalapeño cocktail

Great Maitai… where it was originally founded.
Chef is terrific, creative, and uses fresh food. Try the smoked white cheddar (cheese platter) and tomatoes appetizer; untouchable.
I’ll be back for sure.

I wish this review could have been better. I really wish it, and the experience leading up to it, were more in the 3 – 4 star range, but it’s not. I came here years ago for drinks and food. This time I brought my family, daughters all grown up, here for afternoon drinks. With a little research (and experience at the DTLA Trader Vic’s), I was aware that the restaurant has evolved over time, and it didn’t seem like its old (more attractive self). We sat on the patio for drinks, with two Vic’s slings, a mai tai, and a grog tetween us. Other than the mai tai being pretty exceptionally good and the rock candy sugar stick served with the grog, there was nothing particularly special about the drinks or the ambiance. Service was subpar as well. I’ll keep my fond memories of Trader Vic’s, but the current watered down version does not merit a return visit. All in all, too bad; we were really looking forward to this and the experience left us all flat, particularly me as I had a certain expectation walking in. A definite «meh.»

This place is for posers. If you don’t mind spending $ 20 for a drink, just to look cool and be seen by all of the other wanna-be’s, this is your spot!!!

I always have a great breakfast here when I’m in town. Having a morning breakfast out by the pool in the morning is super relaxing and you never know who you will bump into.
I always get the yogurt and granola with fruit. Tons of fruit, excellent homemade granola. Grab some honey on the side and you are good to go. Skip the buffet and go for the menu much better.

Worst all around experience ever! We decided to stay at the Bev Hilton for our 7 year wedding anniversary. My husband had ordered some Champs and chocolate covered strawberries as a surprise for me upon arrival. When we checked in, nothing was there. He was so disappointed. Said they made him look like an ass.
After spending the day out and about, we decided to cancel our reservations at another restaurant and go to Trader Vic’s. Where to begin… The service was atrocious! Our server was all over the place. We were waiting for at least 15 minutes before he even asked us what we wanted to drink. Ordered the local Charcuterie board which actually was amazing. We also ordered some soup, a burger and the duck tips. When our food arrived we had to put the charcuterie board on our booth because it wasn’t picked up. The staff walked by several times and yet, there is sat.
I had to send my soup back because it was so salty I couldn’t even take a second bite. The fries were soggy and the dick tips dry. I couldn’t believe this is how we were ending our night. But at that hour, there was no way we could have gone anywhere else. If we had sent it all back we would have gone hungry and if we had ordered room service, it would have probably been coming from the same kitchen.
On the upside, our room was great… Such a shame for everything else. As for my being a diamond member, well clearly that had zero relevance.

This iconic restaurant and bar is famous and well known for the entertainment industry. The poolside location is perfect for people watching. I looked, but I didn’t see a werewolf.
You’re going to get small portions, at a high price. Tippe and I ordered the calamari which came out delicious, but left us wanting more. It was served in the metal basket that they fried the calamari in. The fried peppers that they added were a nice touch. Then we shared the salmon, which they split for us onto separate plates. It was good, but it is was like a kid’s portion. Add one glass of Bombay Sapphire and tonic and this shared meal was $ 68 with tip. Any way you slice it, that’s an expensive meal.
The server was very friendly and helpful. The hostess wore a starburst on her lapel supposedly representing the starburst chandelier that used to adorn the lobby. I don’t know about a tiki theme, I didn’t notice it.

Sadly, this two star is true. It is Trader Vic’s in name only (ok, maybe the Mai Tai recipe is the old one) and that is very sad for me. Trader Vic’s was a novel concept and high end tiki bar/​restaurant years ago and the BH location was epic! Scorpion bowls were all the rage and the food was very good.
Not here. We had the Trader Vic’s version if the old pu pu platter and it consisted of bad fried shrimp, worse fried won tons and the greasiest ribs I’ve ever had. Throw in some sliced duck (I think it was duck) and some barbecue/​plum type dipping sauce and you’ve got your platter. The lamest part was it all tasted the same. Out of the same fryer and no freshness at all.
Mai-​tai was solid and the main reason for the second star. Wine list was ok, hotel prices and that’s cool.
Location is ok, by the pool at the Beverly Hilton so good to people watch. But, this is NOT the Vic’s of old. My advice, grab a Tai and remember the old days. Go online and see what is was and dream about it while ordering your third Tai. You’ll feel better.
Hey, they validate parking so that’s good… right?

I used to eat here a few times a year when I was a child. This was a favorite spot for a special occasion of our family.
My last visits have been with others as part of a larger party. The service and décor still put a smile on my face.
When I was young I preferred the appetizers over the main courses. That seems to still be the case for me today.
Sharing a few of those toilet sized drinks for four or six is always memorable. Well, memorable at the moment if not the next day.
The flaming Beef Cho-​Cho has been a favorite of mine for half a century. If you are on a date order the Cosmo Tidbits which are a few items; their great spareribs, some BBQ pork, shrimp (fried) and a crab creation. If you like duck that has been compressed into little date sized things and flavored maybe consider the Almond Duck item. I love duck and to me this is nothing like duck but I like it.
Drinks can be a bit pricey compared to many places, compared to many of the high end clubs in DTLA.
My three star rating would have been higher if the value for a dollar was a bit higher. I realize that the location is in a high rent area but frankly, this property was probably paid off before I was even able to drive a car legally. They also no longer have that great foil wrapped chicken. ;(
Solid romantic, fun (perhaps the fun level is tied in to the drink consumed level), sixties sort of classy joint that is a piece of history. Wan-​Q has been gone for years as has The Luau. Don the Beachcomber in Marina Del Rey is also history. If you want this type of experience this may be the only choice. Then again, if you want the drinking experience there is a great Tiki bar in Noho, Tonga Hut.

Sadly, would not return!
Traders used to be fun… The interior was depressing, the service terrible, food no good and all around no way.
Tip: do not order the salmon!

I must say I haven’t eaten here in several years. The last time was in the old spot in the hotel. The drinks are VERY good and the food is good as well. I would always order cho cho but since we were at a dinner party, the food was pre ordered. David the server was a class act and a nice man. We had sushi, ribs, dumplings, fried shrimp and amazing desserts! I was very happy.
It’s always nice sitting by the pool and having dinner. It was a great setting. I will for sure come back and order all the goods!

Sitting over looking the pool at the Beverly Hilton at the Trader Vic’s lounge was simply delightful. Their cocktails are so fun, especially the bowls that are meant for a group, like the scorpion bowl. We got several appetizers to start including the sushi assortment, lobster dumplings, the ribs, coconut shrimp and everything was great. For the mains we got shrimp fried rice, noodles and teriyaki chicken and salmon.
For dessert we shared cookies and fruit plates. We were so stuffed. The place was packed by the time we left around 10:30pm. A fun place to go with a group!

Went here on a whim after an impromptu Sprinkles visit nearby because a friend had heard good things.
It was late Sunday night so there wasn’t much going on in this small bar located in the Beverly Hilton hotel. That said, after sitting at a booth and oogling the minimal tiki décor for a bit I had to walk up to the bar itself and wait to be given a menu. Maybe it was because we were in the Beverly Hilton and were in jeans, but I felt kinda snubbed. After all, we weren’t the only ones not in a cocktail dress.
My friend and I decided to spilt one of their two person bowls of booze, the Trader Vic’s bowl. It came in a funny brown bowl with tiki figures on the side and 2 foot straws. It was very fruity and tasty, but not much alcohol in it that I could taste. And for $ 21 I wanted to taste it a smidge. Be wary of the long straws too, if you’re not handling them they can easily fall and spill some drink on you, as my friend demonstrated.
As soon as our drink was gone we asked for the check and split. There wasn’t much going on and we didn’t feel like buying another expensive drink. I like some cheese with my tiki bars, so I don’t think I’ll be back.

A bit dissapointed.
I read that the larger location had closed but this is no different than any other tiny hotel bar, just that they added a tiki candle as well as a huge Trader VIc’s cocktail menu.
The drinks are good, prices high, but expected, service excellent, perfect view of the Golden Globes set up for us that evening which was fun.
Still, I would not really bother to be back, as I thought they would be a bit more fun about the ambiance and décor.