5 Unique Beach Bars & Restaurants in Key West!
I know. I know. We’ve been gone for quite some time. To be honest, I’ve thought about this blog sitting alone for months. I couldn’t bring myself to make a post for a myriad of reasons. A main one being that I just didn’t know what to say or write during this weird time of our lives especially when we can’t travel abroad at the moment. My efforts have been so focused on international travel advice, hiking tips and packing lists that I was at a loss as to what to cover so I just…didn’t. However, I rarely cover travel advice in our own country so what a better time than now to cover some places in our own backyard. I’ve been to Key West with my family about half a dozen times. We love finding new, interesting places to eat while we’re there plus re-visiting our old favorite haunts.
I’ve gathered some awesome restaurants and bars you should try out once we’re living in a different type of world that includes concerts and live sporting events again. :/
1.) El Siboney Cuban Restaurant- My mom and I happened upon this place while we were walking around in the Old Town part of Key West. This place boasts traditional Cuban food and homemade sangria. Not only is their food amazing but they also give you a pretty great free appetizer…bread covered with butter. Mmm…butter. Give this place a shot. It’s typically only filled with locals which means no tourist lines, no tourist gimmicks and no tourist prices AND if you call an hour ahead you can order their paella!
2.) Fritas Cuban Burger Cafe- Tucked away into a little side street of Southard, Fritas is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. They have a pretty cute outside eating area with twinkling lights and awesome Cuban music. If you’ve never tried arepas (handformed corn cakes with fillings), give them a try because they’re pretty dang good. They also have some other pretty popular fusion options as well. My mom, sister and I went here in May of 2019 and loved it! Because it’s so close to Duval, it’s pretty easy to walk over to Key West’s main thoroughfare to do some awesome people watching. Parking is pretty impossible in front of the restaurant so try to park behind and that might help out.
Image provided by: Don Long
3.) Tipsy Rooster (of course)- If you’ve seen my Instagram at all during our trips to Key West then you know my family and I frequent Tipsy Rooster every time we go. Both a liquor store and a bar, Tipsy Rooster is a small, outside seating only walk up bar located on Simonton Street. Roaming roosters and dogs tend to frequent the area adding to the tropical feel of the bar. The best part of the place, however, is the bartenders and the locals. If you stay there long enough you get to know the people who work there, their friends, the locals coming in and out on their way to and from work and their dogs (lol). You really begin to feel that you’re part the community as you get pulled into conversations, ring tossing competitions and experimental drink making. Not only is the atmosphere awesome but you’re also within walking distance of the Southernmost Point which is about 3 blocks away. Also, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to share some drinks with famous country singers who pass through Key West.
It’s pretty small but full of personality and a crazy amount of fun.
Image provided by: Glenn Hanna
4.) Bad Boy Burrito- Located at only a three minute walk from Mallory Square, Bad Boy Burrito has small walk-up window where you can customize gigantic burritos and tacos as well as interesting, custom juices. My mom and I happened upon this burrito joint while we were walking from visiting Papa’s Pilar Rum Distillery (also a very cool place) and we really enjoyed it. Just know that this location doesn’t have any inside sitting and has very limited outside seating. This is more of a walk up, order and go kind of place rather than a sitting around for hours sort of place. The food is pretty amazing, the portions are generous and the pricing is good. There might be, however, a big amount of tourists frequenting this place as it’s on some food walking tours and it was also highlighted on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-In’s & Dives. It is also not very far off Duval so you might be fighting some lines at this burrito joint.
5.) Southernmost Beach Cafe-Located on one of the very few beaches in Key West, the Southernmost Beach Cafe is definitely a place to check out. Their drinks are strong, the music is good and the view is picturesque. After having been to Key West several times we finally found this place by accident. We were mostly trying to snoop around the Southernmost Resort and found the beach and then the beach bar right next to it. Don’t let the “cafe” part of the name confuse you, though, it’s way more a pretty established restaurant. We mostly went for the drinks and were not disappointed. So, if you’re Also, if you ask nicely, they’ll mix your drinks up into your own crazy concoction. We ended up making strawberry daiquiri rum runners. :P If you’re down for great conversations with the bartenders, great drinks and a good view, go check out the Southernmost Beach Cafe!
So I don’t know about you but I am OVER this winter weather. Once the holidays are over it just feels miserable and pointless. I’m ready for it to start warming up and luckily for us here in the south I think that might start to happen for us in a couple of weeks. I don’t know how y’all up in the north can handle snow that lasts until April. What a misery! I am definitely a summer person but there is something I love about spring. I think it’s the renewal, the freshness and I guess it’s also like a small hint of summer and of warmer days ahead.
Luckily for you, Key West is pretty much warm almost all the time. I’ve been down there in January and it was hoodie and shorts kind of weather. So, if you’re as over this crap weather as much I am and you’re able to safely travel to Key West, go enjoy a rum runner and some vitamin D.
To go ahead and get your mind in the tropical mindset, here is a livestream of Mallory Square for you to enjoy.
