Table of Contents
Are you a foodie who loves to travel around the country, looking for the next best spot to dine? The pandemic and ensuing restrictions might have kept you isolated at home for too long, and there is only so much variety of food that you can have at home. With things starting to get better, we are sure you must be itching to travel. Let’s see the best outdoor dining spots in Key West.
With several travel destinations worldwide still under lockdown, why not find something amazing right here in the states? The Florida Keys make for an excellent destination for vacationers. If you are a foodie who wants to enjoy amazing delicacies while maintaining social distancing, few places beat Key West in the Florida Keys.
If you are planning to make your way to Key West for your next vacation and searching for places to eat while enjoying the peace of mind that you are safe, this guide has you covered. We are going to tell you about some of the best outdoor dining spots in Key West, Florida, that you must try when you are here.
The Best Outdoor Dining Spots in Key West You Must Try
The onset of the global health crisis led to many places worldwide shifting how they operate, including restaurants. With dining and entertainment indoors no longer being a safe enough option, you need to look for an outdoor setup.
Many businesses had to make special arrangements to accommodate outdoor dining. Fortunately for people who live around Key West and people who are coming here for their vacations, that will not be a problem.
Key West is home to several amazing restaurants that already had outdoor and indoor setups before all this happened. It means that these food spots are already well-equipped to cater to diners looking to eat in the open air.
We’re going to tell you about some of our favorite spots here that are popular with residents and tourists alike. When you come here for your vacation in Key West, eating out at these places will give you the perfect start to your time here.
1. Latitudes at Sunset Key
Latitudes at the Sunset Key is the perfect place to start if you want to enjoy a memorable outdoor dining experience with delectable food. Just a quick ferry ride away from Key West, Latitudes at Sunset Key is going to be an experience that you can consider nothing less than surreal.
The amazing views as you enjoy a fine-dining experience by the beach are remarkable alone. Add some of the highest quality seafood you can get in Florida that is made using freshly caught produce, and you are in for an experience of a lifetime.
The panoramic views of the Gulf with an elegant dining experience make this a must-try place on your next vacation in Florida.
2. Schooner Wharf Bar
If you are looking to enjoy the old and traditional culture of Key West, few places can offer a more genuine experience than Schooner Wharf Bar. It is one of the rare spots in the area that have stuck to maintaining the “old Key West” vibe, unlike most of the other places in the city that have gone for a more modern aesthetic.
Previously located on the Schooner Diamante, the restaurant moved to the new location without compromising on its old-school ambiance. It is a hit with Floridians and tourists alike. If you decide to go there, which we highly recommend, you must try the fresh mahi-mahi with a house mango sauce that comes with sauteed mushrooms and onions. Snapper lovers cannot leave this restaurant without trying the snapper melt made with freshly caught snappers.
The outdoor dining setup is amazing, and you can enjoy beautiful views of the harbor while you enjoy your meals.
3. Louie’s Backyard
Louie’s Backyard is a place for the true and die-hard foodies who will stop at nothing to find the best spots for outdoor eating that Key West has to offer. It remained one of Key West’s best-kept secrets for a long time, but it has become quite popular in recent years.
Open since 1971, Louie’s Backyard has long been a go-to spot for some good old Al Fresco dining for Floridians. Make your way there to find out exactly what is so amazing about this quirky setup in Florida. The unusual combinations here include conch fritters spiced up with a hot pepper jelly and the unique grits made using Key West pinks, mushrooms, and bacon. Seems insane when you read about it, right? You would be surprised at how good it tastes.
To make things better, Louie’s Backyard also features the Afterdeck. This is the restaurant’s back deck, where you can enjoy a wide range of cocktails as you watch the beautiful sunset in the Florida Keys.
4. Blue Heaven
Blue Heaven is a place that needs little introduction to anyone who has ever made their way to Key West before. This list of the best outdoor dining spots in Key West would not be complete without Blue Heaven. The private courtyard in Blue Heaven offers you an open-air dining experience for socially distanced fun, while you can enjoy a bit of a closed-off experience.
This place is truly majestic. You will find live music that is soothing to your ears filling the air in this Southern and Caribbean restaurant, lounging cats soaking in the sun, and the odd chickens roaming around the courtyard here and there.
If you’re going there for the first time, the Lobster Benedict is the perfect dinner dish. The pork tenderloin, shrimp melts, snapper in citrus sauce, and so many other delicious treats await the lucky people who have yet to enjoy the Blue Heaven experience.
5. Southernmost Beach Cafe
As its name already suggests, you can find the Southernmost Beach Cafe at the southernmost part of Key West. Part of The Southernmost Hotel, this place will give you everything from breathtaking views of the ocean, delicious food and amazing drinks.
You can simply walk along the beach and have a seat in the casual open-air restaurant. The setup might initially make you think that this is just some other casual cafe. You will be surprised to find that the Southernmost Beach Cafe has some of the most delectable food available.
If you ever arrive here for breakfast, we recommend trying the breakfast of strawberries, walnut, chocolate chip hotcakes, and bananas with the Vermont Maple syrup. You should also stick around for the happy hour so you can enjoy the breathtaking views this place has to offer with your favorite cocktail in hand.
Find the Best Vacation Rental for Your Vacation in Key West, Florida
Are you excited to make your trip to Key West, Florida, for your next vacation and try out all this delicious food for some socially distanced fun? You will need a place to stay when you are busy spending your vacation while visiting the best outdoor dining spots in Key West.
Fortunately, the Vacation Homes of Key West is here to help you find the perfect fit to meet your needs. A full-service and locally owned vacation rental company, VHKW will pair you with the perfect vacation home to help you make the most of your time there.
Enjoy the best food for socially distanced and safer fun while getting the best of Key West’s hospitality, and have fun!