A cocktail umbrella or paper parasol is a small umbrella made from paper, paperboard, and a toothpick. They are frequently associated with tropical drinks and Tiki bars and used as a garnish decoration. They are also used in desserts or other foods and beverages.
Cocktails with umbrellas
A typical cocktail umbrella. Notice the pink ring on the toothpick - it exists to keep the umbrella propped open.
Cocktail umbrella in a pineapple drink.
Piña Colada with a cocktail umbrella
A tiki bar is a themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum-based mixed drinks such as the Mai Tai and Zombie cocktails. Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their tiki culture décor which is based upon a romanticized conception of tropical cultures, most commonly Polynesian. Some bars also incorporate general nautical themes or retro elements from the early atomic age.
Kalua Restaurant (Seattle, 1953)
Clifton's Pacific Seas postcard
Exterior view of a tiki restaurant in New Orleans (1950s)
A Mai Tai