Shipwrecked Tiki Bar was introduced to the Davis community just last year, bringing a fun new scene for everyone.

The bar was founded by Nate Yungvanitsait and his wife, Melissa. Yungvanitsait founded the successful University of Beer franchise. University of Beer originally opened in Davis in 2012 and now has seven locations, expanding to Sacramento, Folsom, Rocklin, Roseville and Vacaville.

Opened in August 2022, Shipwrecked is a pirate-themed tiki bar boasting a menu full of tropical cocktails. The bar’s intricate decor, which is filled with impressive custom decorations like a mermaid’s skeleton, ship’s helm, and giant Kraken tentacles, tells the story of Captain “Bad Luck” Bob, who was shipwrecked in the late 1600s.

Yungvanitsait said the idea for the tiki bar came up about two years or so ago. With seven University of Beer locations firmly under their belts, Yungvanitsait explained that they had the itch to try something different. They decided to pour all of their creative liberties into the new bar, from the impressive decorations to creating an entire backstory for the establishment.

“We really wanted to do something that is new. Something that is creative and fun,” said Yungvanitsait.

Yungvanitsait said they were fortunate enough not to have a budget for Shipwrecked, calling this newest endeavor a pure “passion project” for him and his wife.

Many of the decorations adorning the bar were custom-made in his native Thailand. Yungvanitsait said the entire process of sketching out his decor ideas, getting them custom-made, and shipping them back to the U.S. took about six months.

“When you go in there, you’re not going to feel like you’re in Davis anymore,” he said. “You’re gonna feel like you’re in another world underwater, you’re gonna feel like you’re in one of those Disneyland rides.”He said he hopes Shipwrecked will expose more people to the “tiki world,” noting small towns like Davis don’t really have bars with such elaborate decorations, let alone tiki bars.

“It’s a lot more niche,” Yungvanitsait explained. “Sacramento has one tiki bar. Somewhere like San Francisco has a bit more. I think they have four or five of them, but if you look at the whole, at how many bars they have in San Francisco, they have hundreds of bars. So five tiki bars out of a hundred, it’s a very, very small percentage.”

They offer a unique selection of tiki-themed cocktails and specialize in rum-based drinks. Their menu offers an extensive list of options, from well-known favorites like the mai tai and mojito to traditional tiki cocktails like the Painkiller (rum mixed with Davis Creamery’s pineapple ice cream, tropical juices, coconut cream, and a touch of nutmeg) and the Zombie Jet Pilot, a heavy-hitting drink that is limited to just one per customer.

Shipwrecked has a special on Thursday Mojito Nights: $15 pitchers with the choice of up to two flavors, including blood orange, bourbon spice, huckleberry, mango, peach passion fruit, and many more.

They also offer a small selection of mocktails, beers, wines and traditional spirits.

Recently, in October, Yungvanitsait opened a new Shipwrecked location in Midtown Sacramento.

“My wife and I had another idea,” he explains. This time, he wrecked his ship on Paradise Island, which has more of a rainforest theme, so there’ll be an anaconda, tiger and an elephant in there.”

Yungvanitsait said he hopes people continue to come down, have a good time and delight in the immersive experience of the tiki bar.

“I honestly just want people to enjoy it and for them to appreciate the decoration and the drinks we came up with,” he said.

The bar is located at 217 G St. and is open Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Thursday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information about Shipwrecked Tiki Bar or to read the entire story of Captain “Bad Luck” Bob, visit https://www.shipwreckedtikibar.com/.