My Highly Recommended Favorite Places to Eat in Key West

Hi loves! Today, I’m sharing my favorite places to eat in Key West, Florida. Over the summer, I decided to do a quick weekend getaway to Key West, Florida. It’s about a 4-hr. drive from me but I was so excited to get getaway, relax, drink and have some fun in the sun. I went to see my friend who recently moved down there and my best friend from New Jersey was vacationing there as well. Overall, it was too short of time I went from Thursday to Saturday, but we made sure to pack a ton of activities and places to eat in Key West. 

So, first things first, I stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites and honestly it was okay. It was about 350 a night and I felt like it was very like a motel. There were sugar ants in the room, the towels had stains on them, and the furniture was so old and cracked. I don’t plan on staying here again.

But what I will say it was in a great location, had free parking for my car in a covered shaded spot, and the bathroom and bed were great. It worked for me because I was only in the room to sleep and shower. The pool was also incredible! The pictures online didn’t do it justice and they had complimentary breakfast and a drink bar. I got two vouchers for a bogo on drinks, and they were great. 

Now, onto the important things. Food and drinks? My number 1 on my favorite places to eat in Key West is LL’s Test Kitchen. It’s about a good 15-minute drive from the main part of Key West but worth it. My friend has a membership there and it’s so smart if you’re a local! They have a restaurant, a bar outside, a pool and other amenities as well. The restaurant is open to the public but the food. Oh, I’m still dreaming about the chicken sandwich I had, and their coconut mojito is bomb! The margaritas are perfect as well.

It’s a good price I paid for two meals and 4 drinks about $80. You can sit outside overlooking the water or inside. It’s a great spot and worth the drive to me. After, we went to check myself in and helped ourselves to a drink at the pool bar. 

Thursday night, we went to a restaurant called Nine One Five. It’s a cute little restaurant in downtown Key West and this one is a little bit pricier but the food. The food is fresh, delicious, savory, and just incredible. Their cocktails were great too, full of alcohol and taste. We shared the cauliflower and capers and the caramelized brussels sprouts and omg! My tongue was craving for more.

My entrée was their grass-fed burger and that was incredible too. I prefer my meat well-done, and it still had all the flavors and was so filling. We enjoyed this restaurant. It’s a great place to sit down for a date night, dinner with friends or colleagues. Another great place and I recommend if you’re going to the Keys soon.

Friday, well this day we grabbed a light breakfast and went out to the sand dunes for the whole afternoon. We got a boat and captain to take us out to the sand dunes in the Gulf of Mexico. Which honestly, I highly recommend the water in the gulf is much prettier and warmer than the Atlantic and the sand dunes were perfect. We brought on our alcohol and chips.

I highly recommend bringing the seltzers and beer because it’s extremely hot and taking shots would’ve wiped us all out for the night. The seltzer’s kept the girls fresh, energized and didn’t get us full like beer does. The best part was our captain made us chicken tacos with a Caesar dressing. He marinated the chicken great because those tacos were incredible. 

After a whole day on the water, we went to our rooms and got ready for dinner than a night out on Duval. We saved our best restaurant for last… Bagatelle. This place was amazing from the service, to drinks, to food, to ambience of the restaurant. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner options as well. My friend went for breakfast like twice because it was that good.  We were hungry by this time, so we just shared the warm brie and Brussels and ordered right away. I was full off the day and Brussels and ordered a simple chicken Caesar salad, but everyone else ordered the chicken and fish and the food was great! 

Favorite Places to Eat in Key West

• LL’s Test Kitchen
• Nine One Five
• Bagatelle
• Fat Tuesday’s (for the frozen drinks)
• Favorite Places to Eat in Key West: (from the locals perspective)
• Latitude’s (very expensive) Never made it to here it’s on a private island in a hotel resort but you could be eating alongside John Stamos one night
• Better Than Sex – a great dessert bar
• Amigo’s Tortilla Bar
• Key Lime Pie Bakery

My biggest thing is when in Key West, eat at some of my favorite places to eat in Key West, but to also eat local. Don’t go to places like the Hard Rock, some chain restaurants or have pizza, eat at the local restaurants because they are extremely worth it! The taste and flavors are out of this world. I can’t wait to go back and enjoy more delicious food and time in paradise. I’m already trying to plan a quick weekend there and get my chicken sandwich. 

XOXO

Karen Giuliana