Free shots, the iconic golden pineapple mirror ball and the rubber ducky cocktail: Kokomo’s is returning for the summer

Posted on 29 November, 2023

It’s the summer revival you didn’t know you needed – iconic Canberra bar Kokomo’s is returning to the city. Blu Tang Clan anyone?

Closing its doors in 2021 to transform into Asian BBQ restaurant Wilma and cocktail bar The Pearl, local lovers of the cocktail bar have long been lamenting the tropical vibes, fun cocktails, and music that made a night out at Kokomo’s so. much. fun.

But we have some exciting news: from Friday 1 December you’ll be able to once again get that tropical contact high as Kokomo’s returns to its original location on the corner of Bunda and Genge Street.

Running every Friday and Saturday until Saturday, 30 December, the Kokomo’s Summer Reunion Party will bring back what you knew and loved from the original bar – including the famous golden pineapple mirror ball and the iconic Blu Tang Clan cocktail with the adorable tiny rubber duck floating atop.

Kicking off at 10 pm (when the pineapple mirror ball once again descends from the ceiling to the tune of The Beach Boys’ classic ‘Kokomo’), locals are invited to dance the night away and celebrate all the good times had in this legendary location. And to get the party started, for the first night anyone in the venue at 10 pm sharp will receive a free round of party shots to mark the occasion.

We’ll just repeat that: free shots. As if you needed an excuse to go back to Kokomos, but in this economy, we’ll take it.

“After the huge public call out, we have decided to bring back Kokomo’s for a Summer Reunion Party,” says Pete Harrington, co-owner and Director of HARVAC, operators of The Pearl and former operators of Kokomos.

“The cocktails and late nights were loved by so many Canberran’s so we thought whilst we’ve taken the venue in a different direction now, we wanted to do something to remember the good times.”

“Almost everyone has had something special happen on a night out at Kokomo’s. Maybe they saw a great DJ play, celebrated a milestone with friends, kissed the love of their life for the first time and so on.

“These are the moments we want to reminisce and celebrate, while creating new memories with your original Kokomo’s crew,” he adds.

Also bringing back some of their most famous – and missed – cocktails (including the Coconut Long Island Iced Tea, Raspberry Frapple, and Mango Weis), the  reunion party will also see a range of local artists taking over the DJ Decks to play all of the songs that used to bring everyone to the dance floor. Highlighting the best of the ’80s, yacht rock, Aussie classics like AC/DC and old school hip hop, it will be the culmination of all the best moments of Kokomo’s.

Grab your OG crew and get ready to party because Kokomo’s? Yeah that’s where we want to go.

Bookings are encouraged to secure your spot, but are not required. See you under the pineapple!

Images supplied.