Maipai
A hidden tiki bar gem serving award-winning Detroit-style pizza and tropical cocktails, transporting you to paradise.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Maipai
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A hidden tiki bar gem serving award-winning Detroit-style pizza and tropical cocktails, transporting you to paradise.
"Lives up to the hype! The atmosphere and Detroit-style pizzas are absolutely incredible."
Book Reservations Early
Reservations are highly recommended and often book out 1-2 weeks in advance, especially for weekend visits.
Dress Lightly
The interior can get warm, so opt for lighter clothing for a more comfortable dining experience.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Pizza, Tiki Bar
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Tiki Bar Ambiance
Escape to a tropical paradise with a playful tiki bar atmosphere, complete with Hawaiian-inspired decor and vibrant lighting.
Award-Winning Detroit-Style Pizza
Savor Detroit-style pizzas with creative toppings like scotch bonnet honey and pickles on a thick, chewy crust.
Creative Themed Cocktails
Indulge in unique and potent tiki cocktails like 'Orbiting the 6th Planet' served in fun, themed mugs.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Reservations Early
Reservations are highly recommended and often book out 1-2 weeks in advance, especially for weekend visits.
Dress Lightly
The interior can get warm, so opt for lighter clothing for a more comfortable dining experience.
Be Mindful of Steps
The restaurant is in an older building with steps to enter and downstairs washrooms; consider takeout if accessibility is a concern.
Limited Opening Days
Plan your visit accordingly, as the restaurant is typically open only from Thursday to Sunday.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Reservations Early
Reservations are highly recommended and often book out 1-2 weeks in advance, especially for weekend visits.
Dress Lightly
The interior can get warm, so opt for lighter clothing for a more comfortable dining experience.
Be Mindful of Steps
The restaurant is in an older building with steps to enter and downstairs washrooms; consider takeout if accessibility is a concern.
Limited Opening Days
Plan your visit accordingly, as the restaurant is typically open only from Thursday to Sunday.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Maipai is celebrated for its exceptional Detroit-style pizzas and vibrant tiki bar atmosphere, making it a must-visit destination. Diners rave about the creative topping combinations and potent, well-crafted cocktails. While the unique ambiance and delicious food are major draws, guests should be aware of the need for advance reservations due to high demand and potential accessibility considerations with the older building.
"What a great little place! Food was fantastic, atmosphere was awesome, service was spectacular!! Would highly recommend! We had the Soy Caramel Wings and they were so good, Pickle Nick Fries (delicious! maybe a bit salty but still good), and we had 4 different pizza which were Garlic Garlic Garlic, Garden, Chicken Bacon Ranch and Pepperoni Pile On! All were delicious (Pepperoni Pile On and Garden were our favorites)!
Don't wait - make a reservation!"
Terri Moreau
"Cutest, intriguing little place. Definitely will have to make reservations in advance specially for a weekend. The pizza is filling and rich and Definitely need to try. I am not a fan of spuve but the honey wings and the dry rub ones were fabulous. I will definitely order next time as well. Alcoholic Drinks are great! Vibe is fun. Atmosphere is great for a group and friends and very enjoyable."
Barbara Bonilla
"Kind of a secret, hidden gem! You'd never guess from the inside you're in Hamilton! The place perfectly captures the vibes of a tiki bar! Space is small and cozy so if you're not a fan of no natural light, this might not be your stop! It's worth it for the pizza though! Really really liked the garlic garlic garlic pizza! Such a unique flavour profile for it essentially being a pizza with garlic prepared three different ways as toppings. The drinks here are strong too! You are NOT getting a watered down mix here! Worth it just for the experience, but you'll likely walk away happy and full. Because the space is small, if you don't make a reservation well in advance for a table, you'll have to lineup for a seat at the bar."
Morla Phan
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, reservations are highly recommended and often book out 1-2 weeks in advance due to high demand.
Maipai is famous for its award-winning Detroit-style pizzas with creative toppings and its unique tiki bar atmosphere with tropical cocktails.
Yes, Maipai offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options for most of their menu items.
Maipai typically has limited opening days, usually from Thursday to Sunday.
The restaurant is in an older building with steps to enter and downstairs washrooms. Consider takeout if accessibility is a concern.
Maipai serves a variety of creative tiki cocktails, often in themed mugs, which are known for being strong and well-balanced.
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This tucked-away tiki bar on Barton Street will transport you to Hawaii with their playful decor and good vibes. They’re best-known for their Detroit-style pizza and fun cocktail offerings, and they also offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options for most of their menu. Owner Salar Madadi competed on Guy’s Grocery Games back in 2013 before going on to open the extremely popular Pokeh Bar in Hamilton’s Farmer’s Market in 2015, eventually expanding to a brick and mortar location.
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Why You Should Go: After being the first to bring Hawaiian poké to Canada, Salar Madadi opened Maipai in 2020 on an unassuming stretch of Barton Street. Surrounded by little else, you'd be forgiven for thinking you turned down the wrong street. But, once you walk through Maipai's front door, prepare to be transported to a paradise complete with tropical-inspired cocktails and award-winning Detroit-style pizza that's among the best in the region.
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A tropical Detroit-style pizza bar shaking up fun cocktails meant for sharing. Hamilton is often compared to Detroit, so it’s fitting that someplace in the city would make a mean Detroit-style pizza. Mai Pai is not only puffing up delicious rectangular pies with thick, chewy crusts that would bring a tear to a Detroiter’s eye—they’re also serving up iconic tropical cocktails, an ideal pairing for fans of pineapple on pizza.
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This tucked-away tiki bar on Barton Street will transport you to Hawaii with their playful decor and good vibes. They’re best-known for their Detroit-style pizza and fun cocktail offerings, and they also offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options for most of their menu. Owner Salar Madadi opened the extremely popular Pokeh Bar in Hamilton’s Farmer’s Market in 2015, eventually expanding to a brick and mortar location.
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The award-winning Maipai in Hamilton, Ont., brought first-time competitor Kyle Mackay to the Summit. Mackay’s “The Nutty Cook” pizza was inspired by one of his favourite snacks, a peanut butter and bacon sandwich. On a traditional Detroit-style crust, it featured a blend of mozzarella and brick cheeses, baked with pancetta, tarragon/pistachio butter and roasted jalapenos.
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Though most people are first drawn in by their piled-high Detroit-style pizzas, their sides and wings should not be overlooked. In this unassuming spot on Barton Street lies the uber-cool tiki-style bar decorated from top to bottom. At Mai Pai, they sling out their famous deep-dish bread pizzas with the crispy cheese crust all the way around the crust.
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This Barton Street favourite is a first for Hamilton (and anywhere). Detroit style pizza (think thick rectangular dough with cheese right to the edge for a crispy crust, with imaginative toppings like pickles and bacon ranch) paired with Tiki bar inspired Hawaiian cocktails.
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This playful tiki bar adds a dose of Hawaiian beach vibes to gritty Barton Street. Devour crispy Detroit-style pizza topped with fried kimchi ($17) and wash it down with a flaming volcano bowl cocktail ($14). Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.
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Mai Pai: If you haven’t tried Mai Pai, you are missing out!. Hamilton’s famous Detroit-style pizza restaurant has people flocking from all over Ontario and beyond to come to check this place out. Walking into the restaurant, you are transformed into a fun tiki bar!.
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MaiPai’s tiki bar transports you to the tropics, and their Detroit-style pizza is the perfect blend of airy, crispy, and cheesy. If you want to dine it, you must book in advance – they fill up quickly and typically don’t have available bookings 1-2 weeks out.
Where to eat in Hamilton and other restaurant news
The Canadian Pizza Virtual Competitions declared Cowabunga the winner of the Best Pizza photos and Maipai Tiki Bar’s Mala Honey Pie was awarded the best pizza recipe. Udder Way Artisan Cheese won three cheese prizes at the 2021 British Empire Cheese Show.
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Mai Pai is a tiki bar first and foremost, in that they serve elaborate, fruity, and powerful cocktails. But their menu is quite refreshing; Mai Pai serves flavorful Asian fusion and super-unique wing combinations, but the pizza is where they truly shine.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit