Kowloon to launch a Revere Beach tiki bar this spring as Saugus redevelopment plans advance

A second Massachusetts outpost for a longstanding Route 1 landmark

Kowloon, the longtime Saugus restaurant known for its large-scale dining and Polynesian-themed cocktails, is preparing to open a new waterfront concept on Revere Beach this spring. The project marks the restaurant’s first expansion to another Massachusetts location after more than seven decades operating on Route 1.

The Revere venue is expected to operate under the name “Kowloon Tiki on the Beach.” Plans call for a substantial bar-and-restaurant footprint at 21 Revere Beach Boulevard, a space that previously housed a seasonal restaurant concept. Capacity figures disclosed in public notices describe seating for roughly 115 guests indoors and about 60 outdoors, with late-night hours proposed alongside music and dancing.

Permitting and operational details taking shape

City processes are moving in parallel with buildout and staffing. An alcohol licensing hearing has been scheduled in Revere for February 18, 2026, a key step for a concept built around tropical cocktails and late-night service. The restaurant’s ownership has said more specific details, including an opening date, are expected to be announced as approvals and preparations progress.

Early descriptions indicate the menu will include familiar Kowloon staples associated with the Saugus location—such as shared plates and tropical drinks—while leaning more heavily into a beach-tiki identity designed for a smaller, waterfront setting. Management plans include a general manager with experience running another Greater Boston restaurant, while Kowloon’s ownership is expected to provide operational support around recipes and bar programming.

Revere Beach location chosen as Kowloon’s Saugus footprint faces major change

The Revere opening arrives as the Saugus property enters a pivotal transition period. Plans presented to local officials in 2025 outlined a redevelopment of the Route 1 site into two six-story mixed-use buildings with nearly 200 apartments and ground-floor commercial space. The proposal envisions a significantly smaller Kowloon operating within the future development, reducing the restaurant’s seating capacity from the current large-format operation to an estimated 300–400 seats.

The timing of any demolition or major construction at the existing Saugus restaurant has not been finalized publicly. However, the redevelopment framework and the Revere expansion together point to a multi-site strategy: maintaining a Kowloon presence on Route 1 in a downsized format while establishing a new, waterfront concept intended to draw both local customers and seasonal beach traffic.

What to watch next

• Licensing outcomes following the February 18 hearing in Revere.
• Construction milestones and an announced opening date for the Revere Beach location.
• Further planning and permitting decisions in Saugus tied to the mixed-use redevelopment and the restaurant’s long-term footprint.

The Revere Beach project is expected to open in spring 2026, with additional operational details to be released as approvals are completed.