10 Amazing Old Florida Roadside Attractions: MAI-KAI Restaurant & Polynesian Show

LONG BEFORE THEMED DINING BECAME A CORPORATE EXERCISE IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND BRAND SYNERGY, THERE WAS THE MAI-KAI.

Opened on Dec. 28, 1956, by brothers Bob and Jack Thornton, the Fort Lauderdale landmark was never meant to be just a restaurant. It was, and remains, an escape; a fully immersive journey into a stylized vision of the South Pacific, where waterfalls cascade beside thatched roofs, fire dancers command the night and cocktails arrive like theatrical performances. Nearly 70 years later, the MAI-KAI endures not only as a survivor of mid-century roadside Americana, but as one of Florida’s most transportive and beloved attractions.

The interior of the MAI-KAI is simply unmatched; it’s an entirely immersive experience.

The Thorntons opened the MAI-KAI at the height of America’s fascination with Polynesian culture and tiki aesthetics, a postwar phenomenon that blended escapism, exoticism and theatrical hospitality. But where many themed restaurants of the era leaned into kitsch, the MAI-KAI pursued something deeper.

The brothers traveled extensively throughout the South Pacific, collecting authentic artifacts and studying regional traditions. The result was a sprawling, intricately detailed environment filled with carved wood, rare antiquities and architectural flourishes that gave the illusion of stepping into another world.

That commitment to authenticity helped set the MAI-KAI apart — and, ultimately, helped it survive.

“First and foremost, it’s a testament to the family,” said Bill Fuller, managing partner. “They remained deeply invested in the business for decades, and it became a true family project.”

That continuity matters. While countless themed restaurants from the 1950s and 1960s have disappeared, the MAI-KAI has remained a living, evolving institution, and one that has managed to honor its origins while adapting to new generations of guests.

Dancers at the MAI-KAI perform nightly for guests.

Its cultural significance was formally recognized in 2014, when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, solidifying its role as more than just a restaurant, but a heritage site tied to broader patterns in American social and cultural history.

Like many historic attractions, the MAI-KAI faced an uncertain future during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its closure stretched from 2020 into a years-long hiatus, leaving fans wondering whether the iconic venue would ever return. It did — and in dramatic fashion.

Following a $20 million restoration, the MAI-KAI reopened on Nov. 22, 2024, with a renewed commitment to preservation and authenticity. “Everything was maintained as best as possible,” Fuller said. “We preserved everything we possibly could.”

Inside, that meant carefully restoring original design elements while subtly updating infrastructure, from lighting systems to reproduced fabrics that mirror their mid-century counterparts. Outside, enhancements were made to improve the guest experience while maintaining the architectural spirit that has defined the property for decades.

The result is not a reinvention, but a revival; a rare example of a historic attraction that has been brought back to life without losing its soul.

There is no gradual transition from parking lot to dining room. Instead, the outside world seems to disappear almost instantly, replaced by torchlight, tropical landscaping and the distant sound of cascading water. “We want guests to feel transported — both in space and in time,” Fuller said.

“We want guests to feel transported — both in space and in time,” Fuller said.

That sense of escapism is not incidental. It is meticulously designed into every aspect of the experience, from lighting and sound to layout and pacing. The MAI-KAI operates less like a restaurant and more like a carefully choreographed environment, where each space reveals a different facet of its identity.

Tahitian Drum

At the outdoor Bora Bora Bar, guests gather beneath sprawling banyan trees and flickering tiki torches, sipping cocktails amid waterfalls and carved figures. Inside, the famed Molokai Bar offers a striking contrast — a moody, shipwreck-inspired space where cascading water appears to flow down windows like the hull of a submerged vessel.

It is here, perhaps more than anywhere else, that the MAI-KAI’s philosophy comes into focus. “The cocktail becomes not just a drink — but an experience,” said Cory Starr, the venue’s general manager and beverage director.

At the heart of that experience is a cocktail program rooted in history. The MAI-KAI’s original drinks were created by Mariano Licudine, a pioneering mixologist of the tiki era who helped define what he and his contemporaries called “rum rhapsodies” — complex, layered cocktails built from multiple rums, fresh citrus, house-made syrups and carefully balanced spices.

Unlike modern cocktails that often prioritize simplicity, MAI-KAI drinks can contain a dozen or more ingredients, each contributing to a carefully calibrated flavor profile. “What one rum can’t do, three can,” Starr said, echoing a foundational principle of tiki mixology.

Today, many of those original 1950s recipes remain on the menu, alongside new creations that honor the same philosophy. The recent introduction of MAI-KAI Rum No. 1, developed to replicate a long-lost flavor profile — showcases the venue’s commitment to historical accuracy as well as innovation. It also makes a great gift.

For guests, the effect is immediate and memorable. Drinks arrive in elaborate mugs, garnished with orchids and tropical fruit, sometimes accompanied by smoke, fire or even full tableside rituals. The $100 Mystery Drink, for example, transforms ordering a cocktail into a communal spectacle.

Even for those who skip alcohol, the experience remains intact. Mocktails like the Tahitian Paradise (our personal favorite) offer a blend of strawberry, pineapple, orange and coconut. It delivers both visual flair and tropical flavor, proving that the MAI-KAI’s magic extends beyond its strongest pours.

While the bars provide their own allure, the centerpiece of the MAI-KAI experience is the Polynesian Islander Revue, a live dinner show that has captivated audiences for generations.

The exterior of the MAI-KAI is simply unmatched.

Offered in multiple nightly seatings, the performance blends music, dance and storytelling drawn from Polynesian traditions, culminating in the high-energy fire knife dance known as siva ailao afi. For performers like Lono Hanohano, the role is as much cultural stewardship as it is entertainment. “To be a Polynesian performer at the MAI-KAI, it’s important to have a genuine love and respect for the cultures,” Hanohano said.

That balance between authenticity and spectacle is central to the show’s enduring appeal. Performers are trained not only in choreography, but in the cultural significance behind each movement, ensuring that the performance resonates on a deeper level.

The interior of the MAI-KAI is simply unmatched; it’s an entirely immersive experience.

The fire dance represents both the technical pinnacle of the show and one of its most visceral moments. “Our guests that are seated right next to the stage will feel the heat,” Hanohano said. “And yes, it is real fire.”

For many visitors, the revue serves as a first introduction to Polynesian dance traditions. For others, it is a nostalgic return to a beloved ritual. In either case, the result is the same: a shared experience that feels both timeless and immediate.

It is, as Fuller describes it, a “time capsule” — one that captures both the mid-century American fascination with tiki culture and a deeper appreciation for Polynesian heritage.

Generational continuity plays a role here as well. Musicians and performers who first took the stage decades ago have passed their knowledge down to new generations, creating a lineage that mirrors the venue’s own longevity. “We have several grandchildren of some of the dancers and musicians of the past currently performing,” Hanohano said.

That sense of continuity extends beyond the performers to the guests themselves. Families return year after year, introducing new generations to the same experience that once captivated them. “It’s the OG of immersive dining,” Fuller said.

That may be the simplest explanation for its continued relevance. While trends have come and gone, the desire for meaningful, memorable experiences has only grown stronger. And perhaps most importantly, it delivers on the promise that every great roadside attraction shares: the chance to leave the ordinary behind, if only for a few hours. Nearly 70 years after it first opened its doors, the MAI-KAI still does exactly that.