Last week, my boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Key West for my 28th birthday, and it was an amazing experience exploring the vibrant island. Key West, situated in the Florida Keys, offers a unique dining scene. We indulged in delightful brunch at Blue Heaven, known for its laid-back atmosphere and delicious benedict dishes. Exploring Duval Street, we ventured into the heart of Old Town, discovering charming eateries like Santiago’s Bodega, where we enjoyed tapas and live music.
For a taste of fresh seafood, we dined at Louie’s Backyard with its stunning outdoor seating overlooking the Southernmost Point. The conch fritters and lobster rolls at Conch Republic left us craving for more of the local flavors. A fine dining experience awaited us at Café Marquesa, located in the Marquesa Hotel, offering a sophisticated atmosphere and exquisite entrees.
Our culinary journey continued with a visit to Eaton Street Seafood Market, a go-to spot for delicious ceviche and a variety of fresh fish. Bo’s Fish Wagon, a local eatery in Bahama Village, served up mouthwatering burritos in an open-air setting, capturing the essence of Key West‘s casual charm.
Not to miss the iconic Hemingway touch, we explored the historic Mallory Square and enjoyed a sunset dinner at Latitudes on Sunset Key. Hogfish Bar at the seaport offered a more laid-back atmosphere, perfect for savoring a Cuban sandwich and local seafood.
Throughout our Key West adventure, we savored the diverse dining options, from French toast breakfasts at Southernmost Beach Café to the lively atmosphere at Garbo’s Grill. With so much to explore, we couldn’t cover every spot, but the eclectic mix of American, Italian, and Cuban influences made our culinary journey truly unforgettable.
SEE ALSO: Weekend Guide To Things To Do In South Beach
There are three things you have eat in Key West: seafood, Cuban food, and key lime pie. Here are the 10 best restaurants in Key West!
Table of Contents
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: ICED CAFE CON LECHE AT CUBAN COFFEE QUEEN
Start your day in Key West at Cuban Coffee Queen with an iced cafe con leche. Afterward, wander down Duval Street, exploring the vibrant atmosphere and snapping a photo in front of the iconic Greetings From Key West mural. For brunch, head to Blue Heaven in Old Town, known for its delicious benedicts and outdoor seating. If you’re in the mood for fine dining, Cafe Marquesa offers a fantastic dining experience in the historic Marquesa Hotel. Don’t miss the chance to savor fresh seafood at Louie’s Backyard, set against the backdrop of the Southernmost Point. Indulge in lobster rolls and tapas at Santiago’s Bodega or enjoy the Southern charm of Latitudes on Sunset Key. For a taste of local seafood, check out Eaton Street Seafood Market. Grab a Cuban sandwich at El Siboney and then explore the historic Seaport area. End your day at Mallory Square for the famous sunset celebration. If you’re into live music, make your way to Hogfish Bar or catch some tunes at the outdoor seating of Garbo’s Grill. Throughout your dining journey, try conch fritters and conch ceviche, showcasing the Conch Republic‘s culinary delights. Whether it’s a casual bite at Bo’s Fish Wagon or a French toast breakfast at Southernmost Beach Cafe, Key West offers a diverse range of dining options, blending American, Italian, and Caribbean influences. So, when you’re in the Conch Republic, savor the flavors of this unique destination!
WHAT TO ORDER: iced cafe con leche or bucci
284 Margaret St, Key West, FL 33040, cubancoffeequeen.com
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: BREAKFAST AT BANANA CAFE
Start your day in Key West at Cuban Coffee Queen with an iced cafe con leche. Afterward, wander down Duval Street, exploring the vibrant atmosphere and snapping a photo in front of the iconic Greetings From Key West mural. For brunch, head to Blue Heaven in Old Town, known for its delicious benedicts and outdoor seating. If you’re in the mood for fine dining, Cafe Marquesa offers a fantastic dining experience in the historic Marquesa Hotel. Don’t miss the chance to savor fresh seafood at Louie’s Backyard, set against the backdrop of the Southernmost Point. Indulge in lobster rolls and tapas at Santiago’s Bodega or enjoy the Southern charm of Latitudes on Sunset Key. For a taste of local seafood, check out Eaton Street Seafood Market. Grab a Cuban sandwich at El Siboney and then explore the historic Seaport area. End your day at Mallory Square for the famous sunset celebration. If you’re into live music, make your way to Hogfish Bar or catch some tunes at the outdoor seating of Garbo’s Grill. Throughout your dining journey, try conch fritters and conch ceviche, showcasing the Conch Republic‘s culinary delights. Whether it’s a casual bite at Bo’s Fish Wagon or a French toast breakfast at Southernmost Beach Cafe, Key West offers a diverse range of dining options, blending American, Italian, and Caribbean influences. So, when you’re in the Conch Republic, savor the flavors of this unique destination!
1215 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040, bananacafekw.com
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: CUBAN FOOD AT EL SIBONEY
Key West is only 90 miles from Cuba so you bet there’s a plethora of really good Cuban food on the island. El Siboney was recommended by a reader and I loved it too! Also enjoyed reading about the history of Cuba at the restaurant.
WHAT TO ORDER: Siboney steak, roast pork, or half roast chicken.
900 Catherine St, Key West, FL 33040, elsiboneyrestaurant.com
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: BEST SEAFOOD AT HOGFISH
Our favorite meal in Key West was hands down at Hogfish and we would have dined again at Hogfish if we had an extra day. The seafood was soo fresh and flavorful! Loved the stock island mixed grill with local fish, shrimp, scallops, calamari, and lobster served with island rice, vegetable, grilled onions, and peppers.
WHAT TO ORDER: Stock island mixed grill, fried grouper cheeks, and fried captain’s platter.
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: FISH TACOS AT GARBO’S
Garbo’s in Austin actually messaged me telling us to swing by her first trailer which is in Key West. Little did we know that Garbo’s in Key West serves incredible fish tacos. They’re called cayo fish tacos with mahi mahi, red cabbage, mango, jalapeno, cilantro, onion, and Caribbean sauce.
WHAT TO ORDER: Cayo fish tacos
409 Caroline St, Key West, FL 33040, garbosgrillkw.com
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: RED SNAPPER SANDWICHES AT PEPE’S
I found Pepe’s on Instagram when searching for Insta-worthy spots and saw it’s one of the oldest spots in Key West. We rented bikes and biked down to Pepe’s for a quick meal. We had the most amazing fish sandwiches at Pepe’s and didn’t even know the oysters were only 50 CENTS during happy hour. Double score!
WHAT TO ORDER: Fresh local fish sandwich (it was red snapper when we were there) and 50 cent oysters during happy hour
806 Caroline St, Key West, FL 33040, pepeskeywest.com
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: FROZEN CHOCOLATE COVERED KEY LIME PIE AT BLUE GECKO
There’s a ton of key lime pie shops in Key West that serve frozen chocolate covered key lime pie but Blue Gecko is considered the best and it was featured on Food Network.
411 Greene St, Key West, FL 33040
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: PINEAPPLE COCKTAIL FROM SMALLEST BAR
We almost walked right past Smallest Bar when looking for it because it’s only 72 sq ft. Ask for the pineapple cocktail inside a pineapple. Key West has an open container law so you can walk around with drinks!
124 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040,
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: STEAMERS AT THE STONED CRAB
We needed a place to hang out before our flight and The Stoned Crab was right next to the airport so came for an early dinner. The Stoned Crab was our second favorite meal in Key West. I was searching for steamed seafood everywhere on the island and nobody serves it. The Old Bay Steamer with stoned crab claws, snow crab clusters, and key west pink shrimp with extra old bay seasoning on the side was soo good.
WHAT TO ORDER: Stoned crab steamer, old bay steamer, and oysters.
3101 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040, stonedcrab.com
BEST KEY WEST RESTAURANTS: ICE CREAM AT FLAMINGO CROSSING
I couldn’t leave Key West without some ice cream and Flamingo Crossing is a local favorite. They serve local fruity flavors like mamey and passion fruit.
1105 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
