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

Doing Work Coffee

Doing Work Coffee is the southernmost coffee roaster in the United States, slinging artisan coffees, cold brew, nitro coffee, and secret recipe hand-crafted waffles from their cozy spot inside Wicked Lick Ice Cream on Duval Street — where every cup is fully compostable and every sip is genuinely worth the trip.

The Lower Keys

Salty Oyster Dockside Bar & Grill

Salty Oyster Dockside Bar & Grill — relaxed waterfront dining in Stock Island/Key West, where fresh seafood, craft cocktails and live music meet marina‑side views.

The Lower Keys

Hogfish Bar & Grill

Hogfish Bar and Grill in Key West serves authentic island flavors, fresh local seafood, and cold drinks in a laid-back waterfront setting.

Key West

Pickles Pub's Sandbar

Pickles Pub’s Sandbar — lively sports bar in Key West with 40+ TVs, late-night eats and poured-in-pub fun.

Islamorada

Florida Keys Brewing Co.

Florida Keys Brewing Co. is the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery, serving award-winning craft beers in a vibrant beer garden and taproom located in Islamorada’s Morada Way Arts District—perfect for beer lovers and locals alike. Also offers a vacation rental.

Key West

Green Parrot Bar

Green Parrot Bar is a legendary Key West dive bar near Duval Street known for live music, cold drinks, and a laid-back island vibe.

Key West

Cuban Coffee Queen Waterfront

Cuban Coffee Queen Waterfront in Key West offers bold Cuban coffee, fresh breakfast sandwiches, and tropical treats with scenic harbor views.

Key West

Mac Doo BBQ

Mac Doo BBQ is a Key West barbecue restaurant serving smoked meats, gluten-free sauces and rubs, and Florida Keys roadside flavor.

Islamorada

CAO Bakery & Cafe

Authentic Cuban‑American bakery and café serving classic pastelitos, cortaditos, sandwiches, and homemade baked goods in Islamorada.

Key West

Hemingway Distillery

Slip into the Hemingway Social Club, a cool, air-conditioned speakeasy hidden inside Papa's Pilar Rum Distillery on Simonton Street in Old Town Key West. Pull up a stool for craft rum and whiskey cocktails in a room that practically hums with Ernest Hemingway's island spirit.