Key West/Islamorada Recommendations

BGEinMaine

Wife and I are going to Key West and Islamorada with another couple end of April.  4 nights in Key West and 3 nights in Islamorada.  Looking for any dining recommendations, anything that people feel is a Must Do, fishing charter suggestions for Islamorada, any other suggestions?  Thanks in advance for the info!

Foghorn

Do you snorkel or dive?  If so, on your way from one location to the other, make a stop for a snorkeling trip to Looe Key.  I've snorkled and SCUBAd in a lot of the keys.   Looe Key is the best shallow water reef - in terms of sea life - I've ever seen.  Bull sharks, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, bonnet head sharks, nurse sharks, etc, all in 25 (or so) feet of water.

I think the boat leaves from Big Pine Key - about Mile Marker 29 or so.  Looe Key is actually 7 miles offshore to the south and underwater.

Also, hitting the No Name Bar and Grill (or something like that) as you drive from one place to the other is worth doing.

Definitely get out to the pier at sunset in Key West to see the street performers, etc.  

I haven't been to Key West or Islamorada for over 20 years so I won't pretend to know where the good food, etc is in those locations.  Hopefully others will chime in.

Langner91

Hemingway's house in Key West is worth the tour if you have any interest in his life at all.  My kids enjoyed the polydactyl cats they have there, and I thought it was very interesting.

I was in Key West with a 12 year old and a 10 year old, but if I could go back now, I think I may need someone to go my bail.  It looked like a place I could find trouble in very easily!

1voyager

Conch Republic Seafood Company in Key West

Fabulous seafood. Fun, open atmosphere. If the stone crab are still in season, they're a MUST have.

4TheGrillOfIt

In Key West go to Sloppy Joe’s, a bar which used to be frequented by Hemingway, Louie’s Backyard—excellent food right in the water and Blue Heaven for some Key Lime pie. 

alaskanassasin

Blue Heaven is really good. 

buzd504

Foghorn said:

Do you snorkel or dive?  If so, on your way from one location to the other, make a stop for a snorkeling trip to Looe Key.  I've snorkled and SCUBAd in a lot of the keys.   Looe Key is the best shallow water reef - in terms of sea life - I've ever seen.  Bull sharks, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, bonnet head sharks, nurse sharks, etc, all in 25 (or so) feet of water.

I think the boat leaves from Big Pine Key - about Mile Marker 29 or so.  Looe Key is actually 7 miles offshore to the south and underwater.

Also, hitting the No Name Bar and Grill (or something like that) as you drive from one place to the other is worth doing.

Definitely get out to the pier at sunset in Key West to see the street performers, etc.  

I haven't been to Key West or Islamorada for over 20 years so I won't pretend to know where the good food, etc is in those locations.  Hopefully others will chime in.

No Name Pub is on Big Pine Key and is very fun - there are key deer everywhere on Big Pine Key, and since they are protected, they have little fear of humans. 

I liked First Flight Brewery in Key West - they had a good patio and fun happy hour.  Southern-most brewery in the US.

https://firstflightkw.com/brewery

500

Do a sunset sail on "When and If", a beautifully restored schooner that was originally commissioned by General Patton; https://www.sunsetsailkeywest.com/
Afterwards, have dinner at the nearby local restaurant, Hogfish Bar and Grill; http://www.hogfishbar.com/
The Hungry Tarpon Restaurant; eat on the deck then feed the tarpon at Robbie's.
Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory for a quick stop for key lime pie.

BigreenGreg

Islamorada = sailfish, go for it!

RajunCajun

BGEinMaine said:

Wife and I are going to Key West and Islamorada with another couple end of April.  4 nights in Key West and 3 nights in Islamorada.  Looking for any dining recommendations, anything that people feel is a Must Do, fishing charter suggestions for Islamorada, any other suggestions?  Thanks in advance for the info!

Gotta hit the Green Parrot.  Bo's (pronounced Bee O's) Fish Taco stand....another to do for fresh fish tacos.

6baluts

Nothing will replace the forum members recommendations because we are all like minded and want a great meal. Many folks have visited the places mentioned as have I and can't disagree with any of the recommendations.
Another source for recommendations and to visually see what your getting into are the youtube videos of all the Loopers who hunkered down all over Florida and the cruising community in general. As a former Looper I ate at some off the wall places I would have never heard of or ventured into. Decent source if you have the time to watch.

dbCooper

We spent time in Key Largo this past November.  You'll pass by a place there called Mrs. Mac's Kitchen.  Enjoyed some really good food there at reasonable prices.  Not in the "must do" category, just good eats.

stlcharcoal

dbCooper said:

We spent time in Key Largo this past November.  You'll pass by a place there called Mrs. Mac's Kitchen.  Enjoyed some really good food there at reasonable prices.  Not in the "must do" category, just good eats.

Been there.....I was at the one they stressed was the ORIGINAL Mrs. Mac's.  

Yno

stlcharcoal said:

dbCooper said:

We spent time in Key Largo this past November.  You'll pass by a place there called Mrs. Mac's Kitchen.  Enjoyed some really good food there at reasonable prices.  Not in the "must do" category, just good eats.

Been there.....I was at the one they stressed was the ORIGINAL Mrs. Mac's.  

When we were there, it was the ONLY Mrs. Mac's Kitchen. We used to dive in Florida, and one of the dive boat captains recommended it. We would hit it every trip. Killer Key Lime Pie.

ebux12

Probably too late to get a charter now but Bud N Mary's marina has lots of great fishing boats. The Kalex boat is awesome and the Mahi are hot right now. The Restaurant right next door will cook your catch as well.