Seafood platter with crab, shrimp, and wine on a wooden table.

Food & Drink

Taste your way through The Florida Keys, where every bite feels like a mini adventure. From dockside seafood shacks and fresh-caught fish to Cuban coffees, quirky tiki bars, and Key lime pie that might just change your world, the culinary scene here is as vibrant as the coral reefs. Whether you’re after a fancy dinner with sunset views or a casual snack by the water, local chefs, distilleries, and cafés serve flavor with a sprinkle of Keys charm. Come hungry — you won’t leave disappointed.

Key lime pie with whipped cream and lime on a plate, coffee cup nearby.

Sweet Key Lime Pie Flavors the Keys

Few people visit the Florida Keys without sampling a few pieces of Key lime pie, renowned as the island chain’s signature dessert. Millions of slices of the tart, creamy treat — voted the official pie of Florida by the state legislature in 2006 (yes, really!) — are savored every year by Keys visitors and locals.

Couple sitting at a picnic table under colorful canopy, a musician plays guitar nearby.

Brewed and Barreled in the Florida Keys

If you’re a fan of fine beers, ales, rums and more, you’re sure to enjoy unique libations created in the Florida Keys.

Colorful vintage cars and buildings line a vibrant Havana street.

Cuban Heritage, Food and Culture Enrich Key West

Sample the sweetness of fried plantains served with lime-kissed pork chops.

Lionfish sashimi garnished with greens on a glass plate by a calm lake.

Lionfish: An Incredible Edible Fish

It’s believed that lionfish, a popular Indo-Pacific aquarium fish, was first released in Florida’s Atlantic waters during the 1980s. Now lionfish prey voraciously on invertebrates and over 70 species of domestic fish. And these toothy coral reef fish, part of the scorpion fish family, have no natural reef predators except spearfishing humans.

Gourmet dish with garnish, two glasses of wine in background.

The Keys Can’t-Miss List: Marathon Restaurants

Planning a getaway to Marathon and the middle Florida Keys? Check with local residents to find out which eateries they recommend to visiting family, friends and newcomers eager to discover the islands’ eats.

Key West

Palm Haven Restaurant

Palm Haven Restaurant at the DoubleTree offers relaxed island-style dining with fresh seafood and classic favorites.

Key West

Bel Mare

Bel Mare is a waterfront fine-dining Italian restaurant in Key West, serving handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and creative cocktails.

Key West

Key West Key Lime Pie Co.

Key West Key Lime Pie Company — iconic dessert shop specializing in award-winning Key lime pies, bars and chocolate-dipped delights in Key West.

Key West

Hank's Hair of the Dog Saloon

Hank’s Hair of the Dog Saloon in Key West is a vibrant dog-friendly bar with live music, creative cocktails, and a renowned food truck on-site.

Key West

Marlin Cafe

Marlin Café — Cuban-Mexican fusion breakfast & lunch eatery in Key West, where handcrafted tacos and pressed Cubanos deliver island flavor.

Key West

The College of the Florida Keys

The College of the Florida Keys — a public college in Key West offering marine-focused degrees, workforce training, and higher education in the heart of the Florida Keys.

Key West

Dive Bar Shirt Club-Grub House

Dive Bar Shirt Club - Grub House is a small Key West dive bar and grub house at 320 Grinnell Street, a couple of blocks off Duval. It pours beer and wine, serves tacos until 9 PM, and keeps pinball and puzzles going under a ceiling plastered with retired t-shirt designs.