Key West has over 100 restaurants, which is a lot for such a small island. So you probably won’t get to them all on your trip. And that’s a big list to sift through to figure out where to go!
With so many great restaurants to choose from, it can get a little overwhelming and everyone wants a good restaurant experience on vacation. I’ll break down the best lunch options in Key West to make it a little easier for you.
Here are the best restaurants in Key West for lunch!
El Siboney
El Siboney is the place to go for the best Cuban food. This is a family owned Cuban restaurant with authentic Cuban food.
Beyond Cuban sandwiches from non-Cuban restaurants, my family and I had never tried Cuban food before we visited El Siboney. This was our first experience and we are hooked. But the bad news is that nowhere else has compared ever since.
Another fact about El Siboney you may want to know is that it is named after the indigenous Cuban population, the Siboney. Many of them died at the hands of the Spanish conquistadores or from the diseases they brought with them.
Location: 900 Catherine Street
Waterfront Brewery
The Waterfront Brewery is located right on the historic seaport. It’s a great spot to drop in for an ice cold beer, which is probably obvious given that it’s a brewery. They brew Crazy Lady which is a blonde ale. This beer is served all over the island.
But the brewery has good food, too. They have your go-to foods like burgers and wings but they also have some seafood options. This is a great spot for the whole family, too, because there is an arcade where the kids (or adults) can play.
Location: 201 William Street
Garbo’s Grill
I first heard about Garbo’s Grill when it was featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It’s a family-owned food truck that is located in Hank’s Saloon. They serve Asian fusion with great tacos, burgers, and burritos.
They are famous for their Umamiburger but my favorite is Korean BBQ tacos. I love their food late at night as well, which is perfect because they are open until midnight.
If you’re not familiar, Hank’s Saloon is a great place for good drinks and live music, so it’s a win-win. It’s also dog friendly. You’ll get a waitress for your drink orders but you’ll order your food from Garbo’s directly with them at the food truck.
Location: 409 Caroline Street
Blue Heaven
If you’ve ever heard of Blue Heaven, then you probably know it’s one of the most popular places to get breakfast in Key West.
But they are also open for lunch and dinner and they have great food for any meal. Blue Heaven is located in historic Bahama Village, which is a historic, funky area of town and they fit right in.
They serve American, Caribbean, and vegetarian cuisine. They have a reputation for the best key lime pie in Key West. It’s piled high with meringue, so you need to love meringue!
Location: 729 Thomas Street
Seaside Cafe at the Mansion
This is one of my personal favorite places to eat in Key West. Their service is fast and the food is served out of an area that mimics a food truck, which is why I am putting it on the lunch list. It’s all outdoor seating. T his is also a great place for a romantic dinner since the location overlooks the water.
They are famous for their lobster pizza, and for good reason. But I personally love their honey-butter lobster biscuits more. They are so good.
Location: 1400 Duval Street (near the Southernmost Point)
Amigo’s Tortilla Bar
Amigos Tortilla Bar has a great location right next to all of the action on Duval Street so it can be a fun spot for people-watching. It is very casual.
They serve burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and nachos. But they are famous for serving their tacos on square tortillas, which they claim spill less and hold more than a circle tortilla.
All of their tacos are good. We also recommend their potatoes with chorizo – it is delicious!
Location: 425 Greene Street
The First Flight Island Restaurant and Brewery
First Flight Brewery is located inside the birthplace of Pan American World Airways (more commonly known as Pan Am). Pam Am was the largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States for most of the 20th century. The brewery has kept the vibe of Pam Am with a vintage aviation theme.
They have an outdoor garden area which is really cozy with string lights and tons of tropical plants.
Their beer is crafted on site, but they also have plenty of cocktails if you’re not a beer person. They are known for their amazing food. I find it to be a bit more unique and upscale than your typical comfort food. You’ll find deviled eggs with beer battered jalapeno, beer-steamed clams, street corn avocado bowl, and more. For entrees, serve everything from flatbreads and burgers to seafood.
I find it to be a little more expensive than some of the other restaurants on this list but it isn’t fine dining. I prefer to come here during happy hour to make it a little more affordable. It’s from 4-6 pm and includes both drink and food specials.
Location: 301 Whitehead Street
Eaton Street Seafood Market
The Eaton Street Seafood Market is in a building dating back to 1877 and was once a gas station. Now, it is a working seafood market. You can buy locally caught, fresh seafood to make it yourself or there are options to eat it there. We loved their calamari and ceviche but they also have Key West pink shrimp, grouper, hogfish, and more.
Location: 801 Eaton St.
BO’s Fish Wagon
We noticed the antique car covered in stickers outside of BO’s Fish Wagon for years before we finally tried their food. It is an open-air restaurant with a rustic and laid back atmosphere.
They are famous for their fresh fish, shrimp tacos, fish sandwiches, and conch fritters. Their menu isn’t huge but it is fresh food and delicious.
Location: 801 Caroline St.
The Lobster Shack Key West
The Lobster Shack doesn’t have a lot of menu items. But what they do, they do well. And what they do well is lobster rolls. If you like lobster rolls, you have to get one here!
They are only open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am- 4pm.
Location: 507 South Street
Hogfish Bar and Grill
Hogfish Bar and Grill is actually on Stock Island, which is just before Key West. Depending on where you are staying in Key West, it will be about a 15 minute drive. But trust me, it is worth it. It took us years to get to Hogfish Bar and Grill and I regret that it took us so long.
Hogfish is located right on the dogs, making it easy to serve fresh, local seafood straight from the boat. They have some of the best seafood I’ve had in all of the Florida Keys. And of course, their specialty is hogfish. I recommend ordering their hogfish tacos but all of their food is good. They also have great drinks and water views.
Their restaurant is open-air and feels like an authentic old-Florida restaurant. It’s a place locals frequent and Jimmy Buffet loved it, too. They have reasonable prices and live music on weekends.
Location: 6810 Front St; Stock Island
Lagerheads Beach Bar
Lagerheads Beach Bar has to be one of my favorite spots in Key West. It’s a little beach shack on Simonton Beach. Simonton Beach is a little spot in between the Hyatt and the Pier House, both large resorts on Key West. It’s one of those places you wouldn’t necessarily expect to stumble on which makes it special.
You can rent chairs here for the day and enjoy the beach. They have water sport rentals available here, too.
Lagerheads has a full bar and delicious food. I recommend their fish tacos. It’s casual, no fuss, and completely authentic.
Location: 0 Simonton Street in Key West
Conch Republic Seafood Restaurant
The Conch Republic Seafood Restaurant is located in Key West’s Historic Seaport. It has a waterfront patio with views of the water and harbor. They are known for their raw bar and this is a great place to try Key West pink shrimp but they have plenty of seafood options.
This is one of the best places to go for a late lunch because they are known as one having one of the best happy hours in Key West. They have 2 for 1 on beer, well drinks, and wine every day from 4 – 7 pm.
Location: 631 Greene Street
Hopefully this was helpful in deciding where to go for lunch in Key West. With so many amazing Key West restaurants, it can be hard to decide where to go. We have never been disappointed by any of these spots. The biggest problem is that we love them all so much that we can never decide which one to go to!
