The Best of Key West
Mile 0, Southernmost point, Margaritaville or better known to most, Key West. If you live in the US and haven’t visited this slice of paradise, I highly suggest it.
Traveling to Key West was one of my favorite solo traveling trips. It’s small, but busy. Almost everything is in walking distant and there isn’t a shortage of things to do.
After scouring TikTok for input on of some of the best food, bars, coffee and more, I compiled a list of some must try places and figured out which was the best.
Here’s my opinion on for my best of Key West.
Best Bar
This had to be one of the toughest decisions to make. Duval Street is lined with great bar after great bar, and it is hard to choose which one is the best. But at the end of the day, there was one bar I kept going back to and that was the Green Parrot.
Only a few blocks off Duval Street and right next to the iconic Mile 0 marker, is the infamous green parrot. The nearby streets are quiet but once you start approaching this place, the music and crowd overflowing from this place, makes it impossible to miss.
The bar was absolutely packed both inside and out, but I managed to snag a seat at the bar (one of the perks of traveling alone you can always find a seat). Immediately, this place felt like home to me. The bartenders were super friendly and attentive, they played great music, and not to mention, they do an insane happy hour special.
You can tell this is more of a local’s bar and less touristy which made the place that much more enjoyable and authentic.
I got to enjoy a few tequila club and lime drinks (well tequila since that is the happy hour deal) for a whopping $11. But just cause the drinks are cheap, doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch – these bartenders are not light handed.
Overall, this bar had everything I was looking for atmosphere, cheap drinks, friendly bartenders, and even friendlier patrons. If you are looking for a bar off the beaten path and where you are sure to have a good time, Green Parrot is the place to go.
Honorable Mentions
Irish Kevins – A great bar that is never shy of chugging contests and various drinking games that gives this bar a great vibe. Right on Duval Street it is hard to miss and always has a steady crowd. I’d like to go back and visit with friends since participating in these contests as a solo traveler would not have been a smart move.
Southernmost Point Bar – A cute but small outdoor bar that gives you a direct line of sight to the iconic southernmost point marker. They had absolutely delicious drinks and are quite generous when it comes to giving free shots. A little more expensive but still a really cool bar that I would recommend checking out.
Lucy’s Retired Surfer Bar – This iconic bar is known for their infamous scorpion shot. Yep, you read that right, a scorpion shot. They will literally serve you a shot of tequila with a dead scorpion in it for $40 and if you take it, you get a free shirt. Lucky for me, I walked away from Key West with a free shirt from Lucy’s surf bar.
Best Beach
Key West has a great food and drink scene, but shockingly kind of lack in the beach department. When you think Florida, you think of miles of beaches, but Key West has very few to choose from.
However, there is one hidden gem that was the best beach I went to while here and that was Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. The walk to this park was a healthy one and there is a $2.50 entry fee to the park (for those on foot, a little more if you bring a car), but it is totally worth it.
Once you get to the beach, it is an extremely beautiful view and so private. I found a spot easily and this was probably one of the larger beaches in key west. They also had a cute café and gift shop for people to eat and drink and not have to leave the park.
After a full day at the beach, I was also able to tour and walk around the old military fort which was a nice way to end the day.
Best Cuban Coffee
Another thing Key West can be known for, is their coffee. Since Key West is only 100 miles from Cuba, they are known for amazing some amazing and authentic Cuban coffee.
I tried a few places, but my favorite was Key West Cuban Coffee. I had a shot of espresso from here and it was incredibly strong and smooth, but it was so sweet. Oftentimes espresso shots can taste burnt to me, but this was one of the best shots of espresso I have ever had.
I also had a piece of Cuban toast which is basically just a grilled cheese but the simplicity of it really worked for a light snack.
Honorable Mention
Cuban Coffee Queen – If you are traveling to Key West, most people will recommend this place to you, and it shows because this cute and tiny store front consistently a crazy long line. I got a Cuban Iced Coffee with Vanilla and almond milk which was very good but overall, not as strong as I would have hoped. I also enjoyed the Cuban bread with guava (again basically grilled cheese), but it was the perfect combo of sweet and savory and a delicious light breakfast.
Best Restaurant
This was not even a competition. The Seaside Café was the best meal I had the entire trip. This restaurant can be found at the famous Southernmost House at the very end of Duval Street.
I found myself a seat at the bar and quickly place my order. I ordered an Island Ahi Salad, the signature lobster Bianca pizza, Parmesan Truffle Fries, and a mudslide. I still think about this meal from time to time.
The Ahi salad was perfect – the tuna was fresh and perfectly seared and crusted. The other stand out item in this dish was the seaweed salad. It was phenomenal. It was so fresh and felt like it was pulled out of the sea that day yet didn’t taste fishy (can be common with seaweed salad) and was dressed perfectly. Add in the wonton chips, fresh mango, and spicy mayo, and you got yourself one fantastic salad.
I couldn’t come to this restaurant and NOT get the signature lobster Bianca pizza. This wood fired pizza came highly recommend (via TikTok) and was topped with lobster, cream sauce, fontina, garlic puree, and fresh parsley. My god – this is not overhyped. The pizza was cooked so well Dave Portnoy would cry tears of joy. The lobster was fresh, and they do not skimp on it. Pair that with the rich cream sauce and this was one of the best seafood pizzas I’ve ever had.
What’s a meal without parmesan fries. The fries were crispy, well cooked, and well-seasoned with just the right amount of truffle and parmesan. It was not overpowering but didn’t lack flavor at all. But what really tied this dish together was the basil aioli it was served with, to die for. The only problem was that I was so full I couldn’t finish this whole meal.
Best Key Lime Pie
The never-ending debate - Where can you find the best key lime pie in key west? This town is not lacking in delicious key lime pies, and it seems every restaurant you pop into, you find your new favorite slice.
Now, this opinion might be unpopular, but my favorite slice of key lime pie was not from Blue Heaven, but from Bagatelles.
Right on Duval Street, this restaurant is an adorable New Orleans style restaurant with beautiful woodwork throughout.
I went to this place for brunch one morning, no intention of ordering key lime pie but as I watched the waitress deliver one to the table next to me and my jaw hit the floor. Not even exaggerating when I say this pie had a 6-inch layer of meringue on top of it that looked so perfectly whipped, I had to try it.
The waitress brought this behemoth of a slice out to my table, and I thought the table was going to collapse under the weight of it. My fork glided through the pie as easy as room temperature butter and as the first bite touched my lips, I knew I found the best key lime pie in key west.
The crust was so moist, not crumbly or dry, the pie was the perfect combo of sweet and sour and the meringue, oh the meringue. I had never had meringue on my pie until I came to Key West, and this was so perfect. I think it was a bad girl because this meringue was double whipped. I was so full but could not let a crumb of this pie go to waste, so of course I finished the whole thing.
Honorable Mention
Salute – This beach bar can be found over at Higgs beach. I was recommended Blue Heaven about a dozen times but unfortunately was not able to get a reservation and didn’t have the patience to wait an hour and half for a slice of pie. I was told that Salute has the blue heaven key lime pie, so I decided to give it a try. Don’t get me wrong it was good, but I was shocked there was no meringue and I personally thought bagatelles was better.
Overall Rating
Overall, Key West is a great destination for anyone looking for a little getaway without leaving the states. The options for food, drinks, and activities are endless and I encourage everyone to go and explore this incredible town.
