A Tiki lounge called Swizzle recently opened on Lowest Greenville, a refreshing splash of tropical bliss in a city with an at-times desert ambiance. On a recent Friday night the spot was modestly busy, which is a good sign during a pandemic. An eager host carefully appointed seats in the small, socially distanced space.
The entrance to Swizzle is an open-air patio lounge, anchored by a glowing water feature in the corner which sets the mood for this island-like escape. There are also a few tables on the patio to dine at when it's not too chilly out.
The staff is decked out in all their floral bests. There are even two quasi-private seating areas for guests looking to keep their libations and convo on the down-low. As people leave, the hosts yells “Mahalo,” the Hawaiian word for thank you, which totally throws everyone off, pausing before pushing the door open, trying to think of the correct response. Tiki tip: "You’re welcome" is “‘A‘ole pilikia” [ah-oh-leh pee-lee-kee-yah]. Spit that out then see who’s thrown.