The Best Sunset Spots in the Florida Keys
In The Florida Keys, sunset is more than the end of the day. It is a reason to order one more drink, take the long way back to the hotel, find a seat along the water and watch the horizon turn from gold to tangerine, pink, lavender and, on particularly memorable evenings, a fiery shade of red.
Stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the island chain offers countless places to watch the sun disappear toward the western horizon. Some come with live music and a cold cocktail. Others pair the view with historic bridges, quiet stretches of shoreline or the simple sound of water moving against the rocks.
And because each part of the Keys has its own personality, every sunset feels a little different.
From Florida Bay views in Key Largo and Islamorada to an iconic bridge in Marathon, laid-back waterfront hideaways in the Lower Keys and Key West's famous nightly celebration, here are some of the best places to chase the last light of the day throughout all five Florida Keys tourism districts.
Key Largo
Florida Bay Takes Center Stage
Key Largo’s bayside setting makes it a natural destination for sunset watching, with wide-open views across Florida Bay.
Bayside Grille & Sunset Bar
Set directly on Florida Bay, Bayside Grille & Sunset Bar pairs sunset views with live music, tropical drinks and waterfront dining. Arrive before golden hour and settle in as the sky begins to change over the bay.
Bayside Grille & Sunset Bar
Sundowners
A Key Largo favorite since 1985, Sundowners lives up to its name with panoramic views across Florida Bay. Grab dinner or a cocktail and head toward the waterfront for a classic Keys sunset framed by boats and open water.
Snook’s Bayside Restaurant & Grand Tiki
At Snook’s Bayside Restaurant & Grand Tiki, palm trees, waterfront seating and a laid-back tiki atmosphere create an ideal setting for sunset. It’s an easy place to linger over dinner as the western sky lights up.
Snook’s Bayside Restaurant & Grand Tiki
Sunset style: Waterfront dining, tiki bars, cocktails and wide-open Florida Bay views.
Islamorada
Sunset With an Old Keys Soul
Islamorada might be one of the easiest places in the Keys to build an entire evening around sunset, with an impressive collection of bayside restaurants and watering holes.
Papa Joe’s Waterfront
Papa Joe’s Waterfront offers a relaxed setting overlooking Florida Bay, where visitors can grab a drink, find a spot outside and watch the colors spread across the water. Boats, palms and a broad western horizon make it a picture-perfect Islamorada evening.
Lorelei Cabana Bar & Restaurant
One of Islamorada’s most iconic sunset spots, Lorelei Cabana Bar & Restaurant combines Florida Bay views, live music and a lively nightly sunset atmosphere. Find a waterfront seat, order a tropical drink and enjoy the show.
Lorelei Cabana Bar & Restaurant
Morada Bay
At Morada Bay, sandy waterfront seating and swaying palms create a relaxed-but-special sunset setting. Settle into a chair by the bay and watch the sky become the backdrop for dinner, cocktails and conversation.
Sunset style: Live music, tropical drinks, toes-in-the-sand dining and colorful Florida Bay skies.
Marathon
An Iconic Sunset at the Seven Mile Bridge
In Marathon, sunset comes with one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Florida Keys.
Old Seven Mile Bridge
The Old Seven Mile Bridge offers a sunset experience that feels uniquely Keys. Walk or bike along the historic bridge in the late afternoon as turquoise waters darken and the western horizon fills with color.
With nothing but water, sky and bridge in view, it’s one of the island chain’s most memorable places to photograph the end of the day.
Sunset Grille & Raw Bar
Near the Seven Mile Bridge, Sunset Grille & Raw Bar lets visitors pair the view with waterfront food and drinks. The bridge and surrounding water create a distinctly Marathon backdrop as daylight fades.
Sunset style: Iconic bridges, big horizons, waterfront dining and unforgettable photos.
Lower Keys
Sunset at Island Speed
The Lower Keys offer a quieter approach to sunset, with laid-back waterfront hangouts and natural settings that encourage visitors to slow down and stay awhile.
Kiki’s Sandbar Bar & Grille
On Little Torch Key, Kiki’s Sandbar Bar & Grille delivers a casual sunset scene with outdoor waterfront seating, tropical drinks and a beach-bar atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where there’s no need to rush anywhere after the sun goes down.
Bahia Honda State Park
For a more natural setting, Bahia Honda State Park combines clear water, sandy shoreline and views of the historic Bahia Honda Bridge. Visit late in the afternoon to enjoy the warm golden-hour light before the park closes around sunset.
Sunset style: Quiet shorelines, beach bars, tropical scenery and an unhurried Lower Keys pace.
Key West
Where Sunset Becomes a Celebration
In Key West, sunset isn’t simply something to watch. It’s something to celebrate.
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
At Mallory Square, locals and visitors gather nightly as performers, musicians and artisans turn sunset into a Key West tradition. Find a place along the waterfront and watch sailboats become silhouettes as the sun slips below the horizon.
Mallory Square Sunset Celebration
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
For a quieter Key West sunset experience, head to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Its beach, historic setting and views over the water make it an ideal place to enjoy golden hour before the park closes at sunset.
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Sunset style: Sailboats, celebrations, waterfront views and unmistakable Key West character.
The Best Sunset Spot? It Depends on the Evening
Ask five people in the Florida Keys where to watch the sunset and you may get five different answers.
Maybe it’s a waterfront table in Key Largo, live music at the Lorelei, a cocktail at Papa Joe’s, an evening walk along the Old Seven Mile Bridge, a laid-back Lower Keys beach bar or the nightly celebration at Mallory Square.
That variety is part of what makes sunset in the Florida Keys so special.
Wherever you choose, arrive a little early and don’t leave the second the sun disappears. Some of the most brilliant pinks, reds and purples arrive in the minutes afterward.
Take a photo or two. Then put the phone down, enjoy the breeze and watch the sky do the rest.
Tomorrow evening, the Florida Keys will do it all over again.
Related Content
Top 10 Keys "Instagrammable" Stops
The Florida Keys are packed with photo-ready scenes, from underwater icons to colorful roadside legends. Visitors can snap unforgettable shots at Christ of the Deep, Robbie’s tarpon feeding, Alligator Reef Lighthouse, Betsy the Lobster, Rain Barrel Village, Seven Mile Bridge, Southernmost Point Buoy, Bahia Honda State Park, Dry Tortugas National Park and the Old Seven Mile Bridge to Pigeon Key. It is a camera-roll dream with clear water, quirky charm and only-in-the-Keys views.
