Pagan Idol delivers a deliberately kitschy tiki atmosphere with fake portholes showing digital fish, a large tank of live fish, and a volcano that periodically erupts in the back room. Hypnotic projections behind the portholes and the volcano's smoke and rumbling enhance the playful ambiance. The cocktail list emphasizes stiff rum drinks, including Zombies, Mai Tais, and a signature Pagan Idol-only cocktail called Mr. Hanalei served in a skull-shaped cup with flavors of allspice, orgeat, and lemon. Service can be slow near opening due to limited bartenders, so arriving an hour after opening reduces waits and opens the back room.
The secret to enjoying Pagan Idol is giving yourself over to its kitsch. And while this Financial District spot doesn't have rain falling from the ceiling (like does), it sports fake portholes with digital fish swimming by, a big tank with non-digital fish, and a volcano that erupts every so often in the back room. The bar could so easily be cheesy, but it works-the projections behind those portholes are hypnotizing, and we still get a little giddy every time the volcano smokes and rumbles.
Even if manufactured geological events aren't your speed, stiff rum drinks might be. They have the standard Zombies and Mai Tais, as well as a Pagan Idol-only creation called Mr. Hanalei, which comes in a skull-shaped cup and tastes like allspice, orgeat, and lemon. Just have a little patience, as oftentimes there's only one bartender right around opening. To cut down on your wait time, try arriving an hour after opening when more Hawaiian shirt-clad staff are behind the bar and the back room opens.
Collection
[
|
...
]