The Best of Key West
The 125-mile stretch of islands that comprise the Florida Keys are packed with tropical beauty, wildlife, and seemingly endless opportunity for outdoor adventure. Home to some of the greatest literary figures in history, including Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, the Keys are a storied destination for rest, relaxation, and adventure.
With five diverse cities comprising the island chain — Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine and the Lower Keys and Key West — each city offers their own unique personality, experiences, and, of course, cuisine.
Key West, the southernmost populated island in the Florida Keys, features beautiful resorts, immersive attractions, and unlimited entertainment on and off the water. Here are some of the best places to stay and things to eat, see, and do in Key West this year.
Hyatt Centric Key West
Another excellent option is the Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa, a waterfront boutique hotel located a short walk from the bustling Duval Street. With an onsite spa and comfortable guest rooms, the Hyatt Centric is a centrally-located luxury option. Also onsite is SHOR, an American waterfront delicacy with entrees including jumbo yellowtail snapper and seafood curry, plus a daily seared local catch served with green beans, sauteed potato, and key lime butter. Notably, the menu also has a “Cook Your Own Catch” option where anglers can opt to enjoy their own bounty from a long day of fishing, with docks and charter tours located just off property.
Cafe Marquesa + Marquesa Hotel
Surrounded by glistening saltwater, it’s no wonder the Keys boasts some of the freshest (and tastiest) seafood in the United States. The remoteness of the islands played a large part in the rise in fish-based dishes, as residents and visitors throughout history relied on the ocean for their food source. The Marquesa Hotel and its onsite restaurant, Cafe Marquesa, offer an exceptional hybrid of dining and accommodations. As Zagat’s highest rated restaurant in Key West, Cafe Marquesa is an intimate, 50-seat restaurant offers a menu including seared black grouper with pimento cheese grits, heirloom tomato salad and mushroom jus, or try the seared Atlantic swordfish with fingerling potatoes, smoked bacon salad, broccolini, herb brandade and corn butter. The hotel is located in the center of the historic district of Old Town Key West, allowing guests to relax at one of its three pools and wander its lush gardens.
Conch Tour Train
One of the most popular attractions in Key West is sure to have a spot on our list. The Conch Tour Train has been entertaining island visitors since 1958, and among the 15 million guests have been legends like Ernest Hemingway. The route takes guests through the best Key West attractions offering a “conch’s eye view.” In addition to seeing the famed stores and shops across the city, guests can also climb to the top of a 65-foot observation tower at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, transport in time to when Cuban cigar-makers notoriously hand-rolled cigars in Mallory Square, and learn about Mel Fisher’s lifelong treasure hunt – ultimately landing him $450 million worth of loot. The 75-minute journey first departs at 10:15 a.m. and runs through 4:15 p.m., and guests can board at Front Street, Truval Village or the Sails to Rails Museum. A Conch Tour Train is sure to be a memorable part of any Key West vacation.
Kermit’s Key West
No vacation would be complete without decadent desserts, and the most notable Key West export is its famed Key Lime Pie. Tropical fruits can be found across the island – from passion fruit to mangos, oranges, and of course, the tiny yellow Key Lime.
No two pies are alike with each establishment creating their own spin on the beloved dessert – some are topped with meringue and some with whipped cream, some have a graham cracker crust, others have chocolate. Many Key West visitors embark on a self-guided culinary tour to find the best, though personal preference plays a role in determining a winner.
Be sure to visit Kermit’s Key West, where Key Lime Pies aren’t the only citrus-forward menu staple. On a drive from the Keys to Maryland, founder Kermit Carpenter and his sister Anita brainstormed everything they could create with a key lime twist, sparking an entire key lime product line. From juices to cookies, sauces to salsas, oils to bath products, Kermit’s is a one-stop shop for key lime-influenced products. Not planning a visit to the area but eager to try it out? Have no fear! The outlet ships pies and products nationwide.
Hemingway Home
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Key West visitors can tour the actual home of Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. Located on Whitehead Street across from the Key West Lighthouse, the Hemingway Home features lots of personal touches from Hemingway himself throughout the property. Take a tour through the original rooms, explore the beautiful pool and gardens, or see a descendent of one of Hemingway’s cats up close. Wait, cats, you say? Yes, Ernest Hemingway was once given a white six-toed cat by a ship’s captain, named Snow White. Now, descendents of the original Snow White wander the grounds today, as its home to approximately 60 six-toed felines.
Lost Reef Adventures
With the Keys being a string of islands passing through breathtaking turquoise waters, it’s no wonder aquatic activities are a major draw for visitors. Lost Reef Adventures has been named one of the best dive shops in Key West, also offering twice daily diving and snorkeling excursions, scuba instruction, and a sunset cruise. The adventures are available to book online, offering visitors equipment for rent and expert guides and instructors to accompany any excursion. Whether looking to get up close and personal with coral and aquatic critters, explore some of the famed Key West wreckage, or sit back, relax, and drink in a breathtaking sunset, Lost Reef Adventures is an excellent place to start.
Duval Street
It’s vacation after all, so a toast (or two) is in order. Luckily, Key West has no shortage of nightlife from cocktail bars to breweries and nightclubs, especially along the best street in Key West. Enjoy happy hour at the Ocean Key Resort, distinctly located at the northernmost point of Duval Street – the address is literally 0 Duval Street. The resort overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and features waterfront dining among its guest rooms and suites. Inspired by Tennessee Williams’ play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” the Hot Tin Roof Restaurant’s beautiful dining room and verandah creates breathtaking ambience to backdrop a well-deserved cocktail.
Key West is a choose-your-own-adventure destination, drawing the likes of beachgoers, adventure enthusiasts, partiers, and foodies to its historic city. Whether enjoying an elegant meal at the water's edge, drinking in history, or drinking in cocktails, there is no shortage of adventure waiting to be had in America’s Southernmost city.
https://www.shorkeywest.com/
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/florida/hyatt-centric-key-west-resort-and-spa/kwest
https://marquesa.com/cafe-marquesa/
https://www.keylimeshop.com/
https://www.hemingwayhome.com/
https://lostreefadventures.com/
https://www.oceankey.com/key-west-restaurant/
