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If you're a fan of vibrant coastal decor and fresh local seafood, you'll gush over this restaurant and bar overlooking the water and Hawks Cay Marina. The menu is varied with options that include burgers as well as grilled fish, the cocktails are creative, and there are more than a dozen beers on tap. Live music and comedy nights bring in the locals. The restaurant also offers a "Hook and Cook" option whereby your catch is prepared and served family style with sides.
540 Duck Key Dr., Duck Key, Florida, 33050, USA
Known For
- Locally sourced seafood like grouper cheeks and Key West pink shrimp
- Pricey menu
- Family friendliness
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Nestled on the third floor of the main building of Baker's Cay Resort, this waterfront spot offers panoramic views of the Gulf and a creative menu of Creole-Caribbean-inspired dishes. Start off with a round of craft cocktails (the Dark Rum Sazerac is a popular one), and then head to a table on the multilevel balcony for a dinner of Keys pink shrimp and lobster pasta or local mahimahi with miso-honey glaze. The white-chocolate bread pudding with rum sauce for dessert will leave you swooning.
97000 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33037, USA
Known For
- Spectacular views
- Creative cocktails
- Whole fried fish
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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
Known For
- Ham-and-cheese croissants
- Friendly owners
- French breakfasts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Take the short boat ride to lovely Sunset Key for lunch or dinner on the beach, where the magical views are matched by a stellar menu. At dinner, start with the crispy lobster-crab cakes, then move on to one of the creative entrées, such as seared scallops with spiced butternut squash. Choose a table inside looking out over the Gulf or outside beneath the palm trees.
245 Front St., Florida, 33040, USA
Known For
- Amazing sunset views
- Sophisticated atmosphere and expensive food
- Lobster bisque
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations are required for the ferry: no reservation, no ride, Reservations essential
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Dishes such as ahi poke and lobster-crusted mahimahi nod to executive chef Pavy Keomaniboth’s native Hawaii. The spectacular indoor–outdoor setting features coconut palms strung with lights and panoramic sunset views. The extensive cocktail menu carries on the pan-Asian theme by incorporating fresh, tropical fruit with infused liquors that embody the flavors of the Hawaiian tropics. Non-resort guests are welcome, but reservations are encouraged.
1 Knights Key Blvd., Florida, 33050, USA
Known For
- Hawaiian-inspired dishes and cocktails
- Romantic
- Extensive wine list
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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This casual-yet-stylish haven of "American coastal comfort food" has garnered local and national accolades for its eclectic seafood-focused menu and industrial-cool design. The crab beignets are a must, as is the Southern-style fried chicken with bacon salt fries and barbecue ribs. The brunch here is legendary, and the breakfast with banana-bread pancakes does not disappoint. Craft cocktails like the Key Lime Martini and Hemingway's Daiquiri pair nicely with the seafood feast.
7001 Shrimp Rd., Florida, 33040, USA
Known For
- Fresh catch of the day
- Marina views
- Sophisticated seafood dishes
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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
Known For
- Oceanfront tables in the sand
- Key deer meandering by your table
- Latin and Caribbean flavors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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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
Known For
- Homemade gnocchi
- A nice variety of fish specials at dinner
- Daily brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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The aroma of rich, roasting coffee beans arrests you at the door of "the Southernmost Coffee Roaster in America." Buy beans by the pound or coffee by the cup, along with sandwiches and sweets. Locals swear it's the best coffee in the Keys and beyond. But there's a whole lot more than just damn good coffee: check out the gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian specialty foods, as well as the assortment of wine and craft beers.
3180 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33042, USA
Known For
- Best coffee in the Keys
- Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian specialty foods
- Excellent service
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This tiny counter-service restaurant is the best-kept secret in Islamorada, with the tastiest and most affordable ($11) grouper Reuben sandwich in the Keys. It's a small place—with six tables inside, a bar overlooking the kitchen, and an outdoor patio—and most diners are locals. The menu ranges from fresh seafood to excellent pizza. Don't miss the meatballs.
82758 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33036, USA
Known For
- Excellent key lime pie
- Microbrews
- Seafood omelets
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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
Known For
- Upstairs bar overlooking Mallory Square
- Key West pink shrimp
- Popular weekend brunch
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Authentic French food is on the menu at this supercasual eatery run by chef-owner Michel Bitton. The gelatos and homemade French pastries might be famous, but don't miss the opportunity to savor his daily quiches, fresh salads with Dijon vinaigrette, rustic soups, and French baguette sandwiches. French-press coffee? Just say, "Oui!" You will not be disappointed.
82245 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33036, USA
Known For
- Oversize crepes
- Freshly made gelato
- Wide assortment of macarons
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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The outdoor dining area here is often referred to as "the quintessential Keys experience," and it's hard to argue. There's much to like about this historic Caribbean-style restaurant where Hemingway refereed boxing matches and customers cheered for cockfights. Although these events are no more, the free-roaming chickens and cats add that "what-a-hoot" factor. Nightly specials include black bean soup, Caribbean barbecue shrimp, and jerk chicken. Desserts and breads are baked on the premises.
729 Thomas St., Florida, 33040, USA
Known For
- Shrimp and grits
- Lobster Benedict with key lime hollandaise
- The wait for a table and lack of parking
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed for 6 wks after Labor Day, Reservations not accepted
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Pop into the bakery for something sinfully sweet, or spend some time people-watching at the sidewalk café next door. You can get breakfast or lunch at the café, and the bakery is open late. Try the eggs brioche with mustard sauce for breakfast. Quiche and savory sandwiches are the standouts at lunch, but you can also get delicious burgers and salads. Finish off your meal with a chocolate Grand Marnier mousse. There's a second location on Stock Island.
816 Duval St., Florida, 33040, USA
Known For
- Gluten-free buckwheat crepes
- Popular with both locals and visitors
- Great coffee and croissants
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Inspired by an Ernest Hemingway photograph of a family fishing trip in Key West, this oceanfront spot pays homage to pristine seafood that's served alongside views that will make you feel like you're on a luxury liner. While the indoor dining room has a bright and airy feel with nautical decor, the outdoor patio is the spot to reserve, a fitting backdrop to dishes of wood-roasted oysters with smoky lemon, Key West pink shrimp, or grits and vegetable island curry. Don't skip the key lime pie for dessert; this one stands out from the pack.
1435 Simonton St., Florida, 33040, USA
Known For
- Well-trained staff
- Craft cocktails
- Fabulous key lime pie
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Like a fine wine, this small natural-foods eatery and market surrenders its pleasures a little at a time. Step inside to the aroma of brewing coffee, and then pick up the scent of fresh strawberries or carrots being blended into a smoothie and the green aroma of wheatgrass juice, followed by the earthy odor of hummus. Order raw or cooked vegetarian and vegan dishes, organic soups and salads, and organic coffees and teas. Bountiful sandwiches include the popular tuna melt or hummus and avocado. Sit at the counter or in the back garden, and mingle with the locals as folks have been doing since the early 1980s. Then stock up on healthful snacks like dried fruits, raw nuts, and carob-covered almonds. There are gluten-free items, too.
30150 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33043, USA
Known For
- Vegetarian and vegan dishes
- Sandwiches and smoothies
- Organic items
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations not accepted
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This circa-1947 landmark—with its vintage neon sign, wood-paneled walls, and period photos—is a slice of Florida Keys history. Breakfast options include French toast made with challah bread and Captain Morgan batter or Keys Benedict with a blue crab cake; at lunch, opt for lobster mac and cheese. Turtle chowder (don't gasp; it's made from farm-raised, freshwater turtles) is a staple. For dessert, the seventh-generation pound cake gets a standing ovation.
81219 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33036, USA
Known For
- Excellent conch chowder
- Outstanding pound cake
- Huge homemade sticky buns
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon., Reservations essential
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If you're looking for comfort food—like melt-in-your-mouth key lime biscuits the size of a salad plate or old-fashioned hot cakes with sausage or bacon—try this refreshing throwback for a hearty breakfast. At lunch, Harriette's shines in the burger department, and all the soups—from garlic tomato to chili—are homemade.
95710 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33037, USA
Known For
- A wait—but worth it
- Best muffins in Key Largo
- Tight dining space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner, American Express not accepted, Reservations not accepted
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It's worth a drive to Stock Island for a meal at this down-to-earth spot, where hogfish is, of course, the specialty. Favorites include the "Killer Hogfish Sandwich," which is served on Cuban bread (be sure to sprinkle it with one of the house hot sauces), as well as the hogfish tacos, gator bites, lobster BLT or pot pie, pulled-pork sandwich, and barbecued ribs.
6810 Front St., Florida, 33040, USA
Known For
- Pricey fish sandwiches
- A taste of local life
- Fried grouper cheeks
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This is part of the colorful, bustling Old Florida scene at Robbie's Marina, so you know that the seafood here is fresh and top quality. The extensive menu seems as if it's bigger than the dining space, which consists of a few tables and counter seating indoors, plus tables out back under the mangrove trees. Try the Matecumbe fish sandwich with provolone and bacon on grilled sourdough.
77522 Overseas Hwy., Florida, 33036, USA
Known For
- Insanely good Bloody Marys with a beef-stick straw
- Heart-of-the-action location
- Biscuits and gravy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
