Looking for the best restaurants in Key West?
Key West is a must-see destination if you’re traveling in the West Florida area. Located at the southernmost tip of the United States, Key West offers a wide variety of activities to appeal to anyone, including watersports, a lively nightlife, beaches, historic sites and a top-notch selection of restaurants. Whether you’re looking to kick back and relax or wanting to experience a little bit of everything, Key West will certainly have something for you.
Key West is also famously known for being the city where American novelist and journalist Ernest Hemingway lived for a good portion of his life. The city’s main attraction, Duval Street, boasts a mile-long pub crawl, so you can be sure that you won’t have to eat at the same place more than once on your trip. Here are 19 of the best spots in Key West to grab food and drink.
19 Best Restaurants in Key West You Must Dine At!
1. Seaside Café at the Mansion
Starting the list off strong, Seaside Café at the Mansion is the #1 rated restaurant in Key West by Traveller’s Choice. Known for its incredible pizza, amazing hospitality and out-of-this world lobster rolls, Seaside Café needs to be on your itinerary. Located right on Duval Street (like many others on this list), this restaurant provides its guests with an ocean view from every table.
Highly regarded for its mojitos, lobster rolls and lobster pizza, you are bound to be blown away by what this restaurant serves. The lobster pizza is served with a delicious cream sauce, fontina, fresh parsley and a garlic purée that is bound to make your taste buds explode.
If lobster isn’t your thing, Seaside Café also makes incredible sandwiches that anyone can enjoy. The building itself is picturesque; the architecture from the outside is remarkable and truly looks like a mansion in Key West. The ambience is relaxing and refreshing for a city that is so active. Open from 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM every day, this is a great spot if you are looking for something that offers impeccable value for such good food.
One of the best restaurants in Key West on the water.
See more: Hidden gems in Key West
2. La Grignote
La Grignote is a French bakery well-known in the area for its dessert. In fact, La Grignote is the #1 rated dessert spot in all Key West! The restaurant’s name funnily translates to “nibbles” in English, and for good reason.
La Grignote serves both breakfast and dessert, in which its star dish is the French Toast: a Belgian Waffle topped with powdered sugar and served with whipped cream and maple syrup. Guests aBlso rave about the homemade Key Lime Pie, which is a staple dessert all over Key West. If you’re looking to make a visit here for brunch, La Grignote also offers sandwiches and salads, with its price range being between $3-$20.
The restaurant is open from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM Tuesday – Sunday but is closed on Mondays. The décor inside has a relaxed feel to it and makes the guest feel like they are at home. Whether you’re looking for a place to start your day with some food and coffee or wanting a little something sweet, La Grignote is a local favorite that you do not want to miss out on!
3. Red Shoe Island Bistro
The first dinner-only restaurant on the list so far, Red Shoe Island Bistro serves an American-style cuisine with a firm focus on seafood. Red Shoe is less than a minute’s walk away from bustling Duval Street and only three minutes away from the Ernest Hemingway House, which could make for a fun little visit after dinner.
Red Shoe is open from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Monday through Friday but is closed on Sunday. The menu consists of pasta dishes, lobster, shrimp, snapper and vegetarian options. It’s a bit pricier than the previous restaurants, but for a seafood meal, it is well worth the cost.
After dinner, take delight in the highly praised lavender cheesecake or go with the island favorite, key lime pie. Either of these desserts will be sure to end off the meal on a high note and get you wanting to come back for more! No doubt one of the best restaurants in Key West.
4. Blue Heaven
Blue Heaven is your one-stop shop for essentially any and everything the island has to offer. Dating back to 1992, Blue Heaven has been the most popular restaurant among visitors and would take the award for most foot traffic on the island.
Open 8:30 AM – 10:30 PM, this American-Caribbean style restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (with an exceptional dessert selection to top it off). Located on Thomas Street, Blue Heaven is surrounded by palm trees and greenery, making it feel like a true tropical paradise. Roosters inhabit nearly every corner of Key West, but they especially like to roam around the outside of this restaurant.
TripAdvisor included the restaurant in its “10 Top US Restaurants for Everyday Dining” in 2019. With all these accolades, it’s clear to see that this place is no joke, so expect a little bit of a wait whenever you decide to visit. The menu is very diverse, with options ranging from lobster benedict and pancakes to meringue, jerk chicken and banana bread.
With a full bar and nightly live music, Blue Heaven is the perfect place to take a load off, grab a drink and enjoy the island life.
See more: Best things to do in Key West
5. Prime Steakhouse
One of the more fine-dining options on the list, Prime Steakhouse serves the finest steaks in the Florida Keys. A dinner-only restaurant, Prime’s menu is as delicious as it is elegant.
Consisting of mostly seafood and steak dishes, customers rave about the perfectly seasoned bone-in ribeye and the fresh Florida lobster. On the side, it’s impossible to resist the Truffled Macaroni and Smoked Gouda – a dish so savory, you’ll be asking for seconds!
This refined local steakhouse offers its guests an intimate dining experience and prides itself on the quality of service it provides. End your meal with a nice Caramel Latte or the revered Crème brûlée – either way you go, you’re sure not to be disappointed by this stunning eatery. The price ranges from $25-$100 and the hours are between 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM every day.
6. The Breakfast Club, Too
A restaurant that boasts of serving the best breakfast in town, The Breakfast Club, Too is a cute little island-themed spot that is loved by locals and visitors alike. Decorated with squids mantled on the walls and stingrays hanging from the ceiling, The Breakfast Club, Too welcomes its guests in and makes them feel like they’re on vacation.
It serves homemade breakfast and lunch from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM daily, with many giving praises to the Omelettes, Lobster Egg Benedict and the French Toast – which is stuffed with Nutella and bananas and includes a melted cinnamon butter on top.
The Breakfast Club, Too sets out to redefine what “breakfast” looks like and certainly does it well. Along with an exceptional, wide-variety menu, this restaurant also offers 11 Hand-crafted signature Bloody Mary’s, 11 Specialty Mimosas and a full bar to accompany. With a price range between $5 – $22, The Breakfast Club, Too is a no-brainer decision to visit.
7. Fisherman’s Café
Located in the Historic Seaport of Old Key West, Fisherman’s Cafe is all about the authentic island experience. Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, this restaurant offers dishes made with only the freshest local ingredients including lobster, conch and a special catch of the day.
This little shack may not seem like much from the outside, but it’s clear that the service and food provided here is top-notch. Some favorites on the menu are the Cuban coffee, Cubano breakfast sandwich, lobster cheese grits and the famous shrimp wrap.
This is an excellent spot if you’re looking for somewhere to get a quick bite to eat while you’re out and about in the town! If you ever decide to take a charter on the ocean, this would be the perfect place to go before you start your day. Its hours are from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday –Saturday, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM Sunday.
8. Key West Cuban Coffee Shop
This is the #2 rated restaurant in all Key West, and it isn’t hard to see why. Key West Cuban Coffee Shop may be a quaint little shack, but the breakfast burritos here are larger than life. This is an inexpensive Latin eatery that may be the best-kept secret among residents of the area. Considering that Cuba is only 90 miles away from the coast of Key West, it’s no surprise to see that there are many cultural influences that have made its way from Cuba to our southernmost point.
People who’ve visited the Key West Cuban Coffee Shop love the coffee of course, but other favorites on the menu include the chorizo empanadas with the salsa verde (which are made in-house), the avocado toast, and the homemade key lime pie for dessert. You’ll fall in love with the friendly atmosphere, authentic cuisine and amazing value you get each visit here. It’s open 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day of the week, so make sure to stop by for a little breakfast or lunch and see what all the hype is about!
9. Kaya Island Eats
Looking for a bar-style restaurant that serves Caribbean/Polynesian cuisine? If so, you may need to check out this tropical spot over on Duval Street. What some visitors have referred to as the best restaurant experience on the island, Kaya Island Eats offers a wide selection of meals to choose from, including burgers, salads, Jamaican jerk chick, seafood and tacos.
Wanting something sweet? You better believe Kaya Island serves a homemade Key Lime Pie that is not to be underestimated. If you’d rather try something different, I’d recommend getting the Key West Colada. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Being on Duval Street, you can certainly expect to get a good drink from the full bar they have inside. Key Island Eats is special because not only are they well-known in the area as one of the best places to experience Key West’s nightlife, but it’s also a family friendly restaurant if you’re looking to get a delicious lunch while exploring the beautiful city. Open 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM every day.
10. Bagatelle
A restaurant that prides itself on its French heritage, Bagatelle is one of the more upscale restaurants in the Keys. Bagatelle translates to, “a trifle or a little nothing”, which commonly refers to a springtime romance that’s light and not too serious.
The architecture of the restaurant is astounding – it was built in the 1800s and has withstood the test of time, despite the area being a notorious zone for hurricanes. The cuisine is made up of seafood and steak dishes that combine the French culture, southern hospitality and Key West flavors all in one. As a starter, try the Warm Brie, which includes caramelized pineapples, pecans, and rosemary crostini. Afterwards, order the Key West Master Chef award winning Swordfish, which is lightly blackened and served with roasted corn and black bean risotto, broccolini and a poblano cream sauce.
Accompanied by an intimate, formal ambience, Bagatelle also overlooks Duval Street, making the location simply divine. Brunch is served 7 days a week from 9:00 AM – 4:00 AM and features everything from eggs benedict, deep-fried French toast, fish sandwiches and the famous Lobster Mac N’ Cheese. If you’re looking for drinks, Bagatelle has two different happy hours throughout the day – the first from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM and the second from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, which offers $5 tasting plates and half off most of the cocktail selections. Easy to say, Bagatelle is a one-of-a-kind restaurant on the island.
11. Salute! On The Beach
As the name suggests, this little American Seafood joint is located right on Higgs Beach overlooking the ocean. Salute is the sister restaurant of Blue Heaven that aspires to bring the dining experience and quality food of Blue Heaven right out to the beach.
The cuisine is prepared with a bit of an Italian influence, with some of the most popular menu items being the Lobster Gumbo, the crafted island cocktails, mussels, and the shrimp salad sandwich. What Salute is most special for is the prime location; how could you possibly beat eating dinner while only being a couple feet away from the water?
If you’re looking to live out your Jimmy Buffett dreams, this would be the perfect place to get a little, “cheeseburger in paradise”. The hours are from 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM daily and there’s a happy hour between 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
12. Santiago’s Bodega
Think you’ve tried everything the Florida Keys has to offer? Santiago’s Bodega is a completely different experience that you’re surely going to want to try. This is what’s considered a Tapas restaurant, which traditionally serves small (but tasty) dishes and appetizers of Spanish cuisine. Since most of the entrees come in small proportions, the food comes out quickly and you’ll be able to try a little bit of everything that’s offered. The inside of the restaurant has a bit of a European-style décor, and the service is exceptional.
On the Cold Tapas menu, try the smoked salmon carpaccio, which is accompanied with crostini, crème fraiche, capers and minced onions. On the Hot Tapas menu, guests far and wide recommend getting the beef tenderloin, which comes with blue cheese butter, and the out-of-this-world petite-rack lamb, which is encrusted with thyme and has a Dijon mustard sauce. To pair, order the lobster bisque as a side and a bottle of rosé and you’re sure to be glad you gave Santiago’s a visit.
The hours are between 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM every day.
13. Amigos Tortilla Bar
Amigos Tortilla Bar is one of the best cheap eating spots in all Key West. Located on Greene Street only a minute away from Duval Street, Amigos serves high quality Mexican food at a great value. Open 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM, this is a popular lunch eatery in town and offers its guests a nice view with traditional, authentic Mexican dishes.
What’s so special about the tacos at Amigos is that they’re shaped into squares, which they say is because square tacos can hold more filling. Whether that’s true or not, it’s certainly a fun experience and something that is worth checking out! If you’re not sure which tacos to try first, you can be sure to enjoy the chorizo potatoes tacos.
The chorizo is made in-house, and it’s topped with Pico de Gallo and cotija cheese. While the seating here is a bit more limited, this would be a fun place to get a quick lunch and then continue to shop around or explore the Duval Crawl!
14. Louie’s Backyard
Louie’s Backyard has become a staple restaurant over the years in the Florida Keys. Zagat has referred to Louie’s as, “many folks’ idea of heaven”, and Roadfood mentioned them in the “Best Hidden Gems in Key West” list.
This is a restaurant that serves Caribbean-American cuisine overlooking the ocean near Higgs Pier. Transformed from a home to a restaurant in 1971, Louie’s has maintained the historical integrity of the building and is a true call back to the roots of Key West.
A bit more of an upscale location, Louie’s is highly revered for the excellent service, upper deck seating availability, sunset views and, of course, the incredible food. One of the most loved entrees here is the bacon-wrapped shrimp, which comes with avocado and a delicious sauce made from passion fruit, honey and spicy cumin. After dinner, take part in trying Louie’s exquisite take on the island-favorite Key Lime Pie. No matter what you decide to get here, you just can’t go wrong with what this Key West treasure has to offer!
It’s open for lunch and dinner every day from 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM.
Louie’s Backyard/ facebook.com/Louies-Backyard-115450578484757/photos/a.1098744406822031/1098744023488736
15. Banana Café
This little breakfast-specialty spot on Duval Street is as delicious as it is charming. Decorated with a beachy, French kind of ambience, Banana Café is the perfect place to go on a lazy morning. Though it’s mostly known for breakfast, Banana Café is open 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM, so there is no wrong time to make a visit. For breakfast, I’d recommend getting the steak and eggs option, which comes with an 8 oz. Sirloin steak, 2 eggs however you like them, potatoes and toast.
Pair with a nice cup of coffee and you may not want to go anywhere else for breakfast afterwards! There are also many different benedict variations on the menu which would make for a great meal as well. Banana Café serves an excellent Strawberry Cheesecake Crepe that comes with fresh strawberry cream cheese and whipped cream.
If you’d rather opt for the island’s mainstay dessert, the Key Lime Pie, this would certainly be the place to get it, as it is topped with a decadent raspberry sauce that is unlike any other. Needless to say, Banana Café is a spot that will leave you satisfied no matter what you get.
16. Garbo’s Grill
Garbo’s Grill, despite its small stature, packs a big punch. This restaurant has gained national notoriety from the hit television series, Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, where it has been repeatedly featured as a hidden gem in the Key West area. Garbo’s has a bit of a limited menu and serves its food out of a truck, but what it does offer is an impressive Korean BBQ cuisine that is unmatched in the Florida Keys.
They’re located behind a bar called Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon on Caroline Street and are open from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM on Sunday. Garbo’s menu changes with the seasons, but what stays the same is the incredible flavor and quality of everything offered. This is a fun spot to grab some food and a drink as you enjoy the island lifestyle!
They currently serve a Korean BBQ dish that includes house-made marinated beef short rib, napa cabbage, scallions, carrots, daikon, cilantro, citrus soy dressing and sriracha. Garbo’s perfectly encapsulates the small-town nature of Key West into one eatery and will undoubtedly exceed your expectations.
17. Caroline’s Café
Located in the shadow of the historic Porter House, Caroline’s has been serving its guests amazing food and drink ever since it opened in 1999. This is a bar food type restaurant with Caribbean influences and a wide variety of options on the menu.
This is a common location for many travelers as they’re bar hopping along the busy Duval Street. Open from 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM, some of the tasty menu items I’d recommend are the conch fritters, Cajun chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, shrimp po’boys and the fisherman’s fresh catch.
Other than the quality food and full bar, Caroline’s is primarily loved for its convenient location and hospitable nature. Guests that come here adamantly speak of the friendly service, quick food, big portions and fun atmosphere. If you take delight in people watching, this is a great place to do so.
18. The Lobster Shack Key West
The Lobster Shack is well-renowned in the area for its incredibly fresh seafood. Recognized by Tripadvisor in Travelers’ Choice, The Lobster Shack offers a mouth-wateringly good lobster roll, served with hot butter and a hint of fresh key lime juice.
The hours are 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday but are closed on Monday and Tuesday. Located on South Street close to the southernmost point, this would be an ideal place to eat while exploring the national landmark that is within walking distance of the restaurant. Along with one of the best lobster rolls you’ll get in Key West, The Lobster Shack also serves a specialty fresh limeade, cold hibiscus tea which would be a perfect pairing on a hot day.
The building and décor look like it was taken straight from a cute little home in Maine, which really speaks to the authenticity and quality of the lobster served at this little treasurer at the southernmost area of the United States.
19. Latitudes at Sunset Key
No Key West best restaurants list is complete without this Key West experience. This is a fine dining restaurant located on the private island of Sunset Key that offers gourmet seafood cuisine and a top-notch view if you’re looking for a meal and a sunset.
Latitudes has a proven reputation for excellence, with OpenTable mentioning it on several national lists: Top 50 Best Restaurants for a Date in America, 100 Best Al Fresco Restaurants in America, Best Overall Restaurants in Key West and others. Open 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM Sunday through Thursday and 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM Friday and Saturday, it’s required to make a reservation in advance no matter what time of day you visit due to the popularity.
Despite its heavy traffic, Latitudes is still able to make its guests feel at home by offering a warm and welcoming ambience. To get here, you need to take a five-minute ferry ride to the island, which is conveniently included in your reservation.
The food itself is more than enough of a reason to come here. The best appetizers Latitudes offers are the lobster bisque and the seared scallops, which comes with a southwestern corn relish and grapefruit gel. Afterwards, an entrée that’ll blow you away is the crispy salmon, which is served with baby spinach, pickled red onion, house smoked salmon, boiled egg, and a warm bacon dressing.
Make sure to save room for dessert though, because the beignets with the blueberry jam are a perfect way to end the meal! Latitudes is the whole package with great food, a wonderful drink selection and an even better view to complement the entire meal. Latitudes is the best place to go to end your Keys trip on a high note.
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See more Key West fun:
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Jackie Mercer
Thursday 23rd of June 2022
I am coming to the Keys this October and plan to visit the Keys. You have given me a lot of new restaurants to visit. Thank you.
Florida Vacationers
Friday 24th of June 2022
Have an amazing time - its such a cool place. Don't forget to feed the giant tarpon in islamorada - probably our highlight :)