The Florida Keys Restaurants

Seafood rules in the Keys, which is full of chef-owned restaurants with not-too-fancy food. Many restaurants serve cuisine that reflects the proximity of the Bahamas and Caribbean (you’ll see the term "Floribbean" on many menus). Tropical fruits figure prominently—especially on the beverage side of the menu. Florida spiny lobster should be local and fresh from August to March, and stone crabs from mid-October to mid-May. And don't dare leave the islands without sampling conch, be it in a fritter or in ceviche. Keep an eye out for authentic key lime pie—yellow custard in a graham-cracker crust. If it's green, just say "no." Note: Particularly in Key West and particularly during spring break, the more affordable and casual restaurants can get loud and downright rowdy, with young visitors often more interested in drinking than eating. Live music contributes to the decibel levels. If you're more of the quiet, intimate-dining type, avoid such overly exuberant scenes by eating early or choosing a restaurant where the bar isn’t the main focus.

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  • 1. Chef Michael's

    $$$$

    This local favorite makes big waves with fresh seafood that's prepared with tropical flair. Carnivores can feast on prime-grade beef, which is carved in-house and has the kind of marbling that just melts in your mouth. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian dishes are also available.

    81671 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33036, USA
    305-664–0640

    Known For

    • Watermelon mint sangria
    • Fresh catch "Juliette" with shrimp and scallops
    • Intimate tropical dining

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Sat., Reservations essential
  • 2. La Grignote

    $

    This is the place to satisfy any French-pastry craving—from the made-from-scratch croissants to the cookies, muffins, coconut macarons, and of course, breads. A lovely patio is the perfect backdrop for breakfasts of brioche French toast, quiches with fresh salads, and a croque madame oozing with bechamel and poached eggs. Look out for the little French bulldog who meanders around the tables and is the unofficial mascot of the place.

    1211 Duval St., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-916–5445

    Known For

    • Ham-and-cheese croissants
    • Friendly owners
    • French breakfasts

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 3. Santiago's Bodega

    $

    Picky palates will be satisfied at this funky, dark, and sensuous tapas restaurant, which is well off the main drag and is a secret spot for local foodies in the know. Small plates include yellowfin tuna ceviche with hunks of avocado and mango or filet mignon with creamy Gorgonzola butter. Waiters recommend choosing three small plates per person, then sharing.

    207 Petronia St., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-296–7691

    Known For

    • Legendary bread pudding
    • Homemade white or red sangria
    • A favorite with local chefs

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 4. The Buzzard's Roost

    $$

    The views are nice at this waterfront restaurant, but the food is what gets your attention. Burgers, fish tacos, and seafood baskets are lunch faves. Dinner is about seafood and steaks, any way you like them. Try the smoked-fish dip, served with Armenian heart-shape lavash crackers. Look for the big signs on U.S. 1 that direct you where to turn—it's worth finding.

    21 Garden Cove Dr., Florida, 33037, USA
    305-453–3746

    Known For

    • Marina views
    • Daily chef's specials
    • Sunday brunch with live steel drums
  • 5. The Dining Room at Little Palm Island Resort

    $$$$

    The restaurant at the exclusive Little Palm Island Resort—its dining room and adjacent outdoor terrace lit by candles and warmed by live music—is one of the most romantic spots in the Keys. It's open to nonguests on a reservations-only basis, but no one under 16 is allowed on the island. If you can get a reservation, go. The oceanfront setting is one that can't be matched, except for maybe in St. Barts or Fiji. Keep that in mind as you reach for the bill, which can also make you swoon. The menu melds Latin and Caribbean flavors, with exotic little touches—think foie gras crème brûlée with mango and toasted coconut, followed by grilled Spanish octopus and corn-jalapeño pudding. The Sunday brunch, the full-moon dinners with live entertainment, and the Chef's Table Dinner are very popular.

    28500 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33042, USA
    305-872–2551

    Known For

    • Oceanfront tables in the sand
    • Key deer meandering by your table
    • Latin and Caribbean flavors

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Azur Restaurant

    $$$

    In a contemporary setting with indoor and outdoor seating, welcoming staff serve original, eclectic dishes that stand out from those at the hordes of Key West restaurants. Key lime–stuffed French toast and yellowtail snapper Benedict make breakfast a pleasant wake-up call; the crab cake BLT commands notice on the lunch menu. Two varieties of homemade gnocchi are a dinnertime specialty along with daily fish specials and steak. Brunch is served daily 9–3.

    425 Grinnell St., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-292–2987

    Known For

    • Homemade gnocchi
    • A nice variety of fish specials at dinner
    • Daily brunch

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 7. Bistro 245

    $$$

    The sunset views alone are worth a visit, but the food here is stellar as well. Enjoy a key lime martini at the bar or a seafood dinner in the air-conditioned dining room or on the open-air patio. For dinner, try the lobster quesadilla or seafood cocktail as an appetizer before moving on to the shrimp and lobster fettuccine with asparagus and chèvre or crabmeat-stuffed yellowtail. The breakfast menu features a bevy of options from fruit smoothies to lobster Benedict. Creative salads and sandwiches make lunch an intriguing affair.

    245 Front St., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-294–4000

    Known For

    • Upstairs bar overlooking Mallory Square
    • Key West pink shrimp
    • Popular weekend brunch
  • 8. Key Colony Inn

    $$

    The inviting aroma of an Italian kitchen pervades this family-owned favorite. For lunch there are fish and steak entrées served with fries, salad, and bread in addition to Italian specialties; dinner features veal Oscar and other traditional dishes, as well as specialties like seafood Italiano, a dish of scallops and shrimp sautéed in garlic butter and served with marinara sauce over linguine.

    700 W. Ocean Dr., Florida, 33050, USA
    305-743–0100

    Known For

    • Friendly and attentive service
    • Italian specialties
    • Sunday brunch (November through April)
  • 9. Louie's Backyard

    $$$$

    Feast your eyes on a steal-your-breath-away view and beautifully presented dishes prepared by executive chef Doug Shook. Once you get over sticker shock on the seasonally changing menu, settle in on the outside deck and enjoy dishes like cracked conch with mango chutney, lamb chops with sun-dried-tomato relish, and tamarind-glazed duck breast. A more affordable option is upstairs at The Cafe at Louie's, which serves tapas such as shrimp fritters with coconut curry.

    700 Waddell Ave., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-294–1061

    Known For

    • Fresh, pricey seafood and steaks
    • Affordable lunch menu
    • Late night drinks at the Afterdeck Bar, directly on the water

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 10. Ocean Grill & Bar

    $$$

    Whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Ocean Grill serves up fresh Key West seafood in good portions at fair prices. The "Scalouper" is just of one the unique offerings: jumbo diver scallops sliced on the diagonal and served atop pan-seared, local black grouper with a mint puree—sounds odd, but it tastes delightfully fresh. Bring your dog and sit on the patio as roosters play in the courtyard, or dine inside amid cloud-painted trim and white brick walls painted with giant words of cooking wisdom.

    1075 Duval St., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-296–4300

    Known For

    • Shrimp and grits
    • Bottomless Bloody Marys and mimosas every day 9–3:30
    • Creamy lobster bisque
  • 11. Sarabeth's Key West

    $$

    Named for the award-winning jam-maker and pastry chef Sarabeth Levine, this locally owned restaurant serves all-day breakfast, best enjoyed in the picket-fenced front yard of a circa-1870 synagogue. Lemon ricotta pancakes, pumpkin waffles, and homemade jams make the meal. Lunch offerings range from a griddled smoked mozzarella sandwich to a poached salmon Cobb salad. Start dinner with the signature velvety cream of tomato soup or the roasted red beets and Gorgonzola salad.

    530 Simonton St., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-293–8181

    Known For

    • Brunch and dessert
    • Daily specials
    • Key lime pie French toast

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Reservations essential
  • 12. Snappers

    $$

    In a lively waterfront setting, Snappers has live music, Sunday brunch (including a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar), killer rum drinks, and seating alongside the fishing dock. The crab cakes are famous, as is the Bahamian cocktail sauce that accompanies them. Catch of the day might include yellowtail snapper or seared yellowfin tuna steak with mojo aioli; the options change every day. Don't miss the raw bar or wahoo ceviche.

    139 Seaside Ave., Florida, 33037, USA
    305-852–5956

    Known For

    • Grouper Oscar style
    • Deep-fried gator bites doused in blue-cheese dressing
    • Happening vibe and a local crowd

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
  • 13. The Cafe

    $

    You don't have to be a vegetarian to love this new-age café decorated with bright artwork and a corrugated-tin-fronted counter. Local favorites include homemade soup, veggie sandwiches and burgers (order them with a side of sweet-potato fries), grilled portobello mushroom salad, seafood, stir-fry dinners, and grilled veggie pizzas. There's also a nice selection of draft beer and wines by the glass, daily desserts (including vegan selections), and fish-of-the-day tacos.

    509 Southard St., Florida, 33040, USA
    305-296–5515

    Known For

    • Vegan options
    • Homemade sangria
    • Weekend brunch

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted

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