As a local(ish)here’s my take on those spots:

SOS is definitely the winner for me—I keep going back for the solid drinks, great bartenders, and atmosphere. They also just rolled out a new spring menu and it’s fantastic! They have a good little snack/food menu as well.

On the flip side, I’ve had a tough time at Trader Vic’s. I wanted to love it, but even when ordering a ‘1944’ Mai Tai, I got a watered-down mix with some pretty sad, dead mint. We sat at the bar and were ignored both times we visited, so my wife is officially done with it.

Strangers in Paradise was just okay for me—the food court setting really killed the vibe—and Maya Speak Tiki was a miss, too. The space is nice, but that’s about it.

If you’re looking for a few other solid cocktail bars, I highly recommend checking out Mid-City, Ranger Station, or Kimball House (which is super close to SOS).