Permanent Vacation
If I closed my eyes for a moment, I could picture myself in a ship's hull way out at sea. I imagine the captain had seen that the galley had been transformed into a place for us to imbibe and share sea-worthy tales with each other. It’s dark, and besides a few melted candles we’re illuminating ourselves with flashlights and lanterns; in a corner someone plays a upbeat sea shanty. There among the cargo, a stuffed and mounted giraffe's head, and maps of areas we'd been and where we'd soon explore, we could take a break from feeling the waves because we are swaying back and forth from our drinks.
All is well, that is, until there is an unfortunate run-in with the goddess of volcanos.
My eyes open, and I'm in Maitland, Florida, in a small room attached to a bar I've never been to (The Copper Rocket). As someone's Tiktok comment exclaimed, "Inside the Copper Rocket? But where?" The answer is in a door marked "employees only." Inside you enter a tropical-themed destination that seats roughly 40 seafaring passengers. Dimly lit and very atmospheric, you are given flashlights to help peruse the menu, and depending on where you are sat will determine what visual effects will be right in front of your eyes.
We were sat at the bar, front and center, to the head bartender who was cranking out drinks at lightning speed, each one in their own themed vessel. Pro tip: if you want to order a drink in a particular vessel, some are identified by illustrations on your map.
The menu is also categorized by the strength of the drinks ranging from mocktails or "placebos" all the way to the most potent beverages or "tranquilizers."
There is also a small food menu which includes some appetizers, flatbreads, and other small, shareable items.
I won't spoil what awaits you but I will share things you might want to know:
Were the drinks good?
Yes! I tried four drinks and enjoyed all but one. To be clear, the fourth drink wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t to my liking. I took a gamble on ingredients that included bell pepper and sesame, it wasn’t balanced enough for my palette, but someone else might love it! My favorite drink was the Fallen Coconut.
How much is this going to cost me?
Drinks start at $10 for mocktails and then go up to $24. There are shareable drinks meant for parties, and those get much more expensive, obviously. I will say the middle-tier drinks are pretty strong (unless you hold your alcohol well), so I can’t imagine your body will allow you to do too much damage.
Is it worth getting food?
Honestly, I can only speak to the calamari, which was pretty standard, but definitely a good snack to have while drinking.
Is this like Trader Sam’s?
I’m not a Disney person, so I’ve never been to compare it, but based on what friends have said, there aren’t engaging ways the bartenders interact at Permanent Vacation, so while the vibe might be similar, I think it ends there. I imagine most tiki-themed bars have a similar vibe.
Will you go again?
Yes! I enjoyed the ambiance and the drinks, and this option is a nice getaway from downtown bars that I don’t like to patron.
Other noteworthy things to know:
Reservations are the way to get in as they are still in their soft opening. They have posted on their social media that they are starting to accommodate a few walk-ins, but I would try and get a reservation so you don’t have to wait. Right now, they drop Wednesdays at noon.
We asked if other drinks could be ordered that were not on the menu, and we were told no, so if you don’t like tiki drinks, this isn’t your spot.
Because I was sitting at the bar, I first searched for a hook for my bag, but unfortunately, there were none. Don’t bring a large bag or a bag you won’t want to put on the floor. No bag at all would be best.
The special effects include brief periods of flashing lights - be forewarned if that causes an issue for you or someone in your party.
I visited my friend Allyson who was at the opposite side of the bar, and when certain sound cues came on, it was REALLY loud. I don't know if a speaker is in that corner, but be warned if you sit there.
This is all based on a visit during their soft opening, so things I mention of course could all end up being changed or be tweaked.
The address is 106 Lake Avenue in Maitland, and your best bet for updates is to follow their Instagram account @permanentvacationfl.
This was not a media invite, I went on my own, all thoughts are my own, and I spent about $80.
