It's Tiki Time at Archipelago, Opening Today on U Street

New tiki bar Archipelago is officially opening today at 1201 U St. at 5 p.m.

The restaurant, which had some soft opening hours over the weekend, will operate every day except Monday. It's in the space formerly occupied by The Islander, a Caribbean restaurant that closed this summer. The project was announced last fall.

Expect lots of rum-based drinks served in a kitschy atmosphere complete with bamboo, thatch, and tiki idols. Co-owner Ben Wiley tells Eater their team built the bars, stools, and tabletops themselves.  A mural painted by a friend adds to the Polynesian vibe.

There will be classic tiki drinks like Mai Tais and Piña Coladas, along with original cocktails like the Eternal Flamingo made with Scotch, Campari, lime, and pineapple jam. There's also a small selection of wines and canned beers.

Island-inspired bar bites round out the offerings. Think ham and cheese sliders on King Hawaiian rolls, Chinese BBQ nachos, and jerk chicken sandwiches. Check out the full menu below.

Besides Wiley, the group of friends behind Archipelago includes Owen Thomson and friends Joseph Ambrose, Ben Wiley, and Noah Broaddus. Thomson's background includes stints bartending at Cafe Saint-Ex, Bar Pilar and Rose’s Luxury, among other places. He and Ambrose also co-own artisanal ice company Favourite Ice.