Top 10 Florida Keys Bars You’ve Got to See

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The best Florida Keys Bars can offer stunning views, a chance to mingle with the locals, fun drinks and that feeling you’ve escaped off the map to a slower paced way of life. A fun way to catch the flavor of the Florida Keys is to bar crawl down the islands. Here are the best places you don’t want to miss!

We asked you, our readers, which Florida Keys Bars (excluding Key West ) are your favorites and here’s how you ranked them.
(If you’re looking for Key West information, click here for the Top Key West Bars as voted on by our readers)

Let’s travel down the Overseas Highway from the upper keys to the lower keys checking out the best bars along the way.

Best Florida Keys Bars:

1. Alabama Jacks (Almost Key Largo)

Is it any surprise? Alabama Jacks is one of the best bars in the Keys. An iconic dive bar and one of the Florida Keys most popular places. Technically, it’s still located in the Miami-Dade county in the city of Homestead, Florida, but it’s definitely still part of the Florida Keys experience.

An open air restaurant and bar right on the mangrove lined water ways. Decorated in funky Florida shack style, with live music and off beat entertainment. It’s a biker bar, a locals bar, a fisherman crowd and a tourist attraction all rolled into one. Talk about eclectic and cool.

 

We love the clogging dancing ladies dressed in their cowboy boots and square dancing skirts. It’s just something you’ve got to see for yourself. And they encourage anyone to join them up on the dance floor.

The Parrot Breeze and the Rum Punch are both tasty tropical drinks if you’re looking for that Florida vibe and the conch fritters are fantastic!

Check out the Jimmy Buffett newspaper article framed on the wall just outside the bathrooms. He gives Alabama Jacks a great review. If you’ve got the time to take the slight detour off US1 to Card Sound Road ($1.50 toll road), it’s a worthy spot for a drink when bar crawling down the Florida Keys.

It closes at dusk, so make sure you get there with plenty of daylight left to enjoy the ambiance.

Alabama Jacks
58000 Card Sound Road
Homestead, FL

 

2. No Name Pub (Big Pine Key, Turn off at Mile Marker 31)

Another off the beaten path funky Florida Keys bar is the No Name Pub, the oldest bar in the lower Keys opening in 1936. Their tag line is “You Found It” because once upon a time (in a world with less technology) it was hard to find. Google Maps and GPS will easily take you there today.

Take caution driving to the restaurant as both times I’ve been there, the adorably tiny Florida Key Deer were meandering along the roadway.

 

The No Name Pub serves a variety of American foods, Florida favorites and their pizza is what most people rave about. I’ve had their smoked fish dip for an appetizer and highly recommend it. Stop in to tack your dollar bills on the wall (along with a hundred thousand others, making awesome interior decor!), grab a cold beer and enjoy a piece of old Florida. Be glad you found it.

No Name Pub
30813 Watson Blvd.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043

 

3. Caribbean Club (Key Largo, Mile Marker 104)

The most famous bar on the list! The Caribbean Club was built in 1938 and in 1947 it was used as a filming location in the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall film Key Largo. If you watched the Netflix original show, Bloodline, there were outdoor scenes filmed here as well.

It’s still a real dive bar and locals hangout, it doesn’t feel touristy at all. Pool table, bar with a view and outdoor picnic tables shaded by palm fronds. It’s pretty basic and that’s why it’s awesome. It’s classic “old Florida.”

You can easily drink away an afternoon here. The drinks are a reasonable price and service is friendly. Have that first drink at the bar and feel like a local, then take the next one out back and enjoy the water views.

Caribbean Club
104080 Overseas Hwy,
Key Largo, FL 33037

 

4. Snappers (Key Largo, Mile Marker 94.5)

Oh what a view! Snappers is a seafood restaurant with a large Tiki style outdoor bar right on the water. Plenty of seating and a great view of the water and marina. Fresh seafood and all your favorite tropical drinks to enjoy while you watch the boats go by.

There are three different bars at Snappers. My favorite spot to sip a cocktail is in the brightly painted Adirondack chairs along the walkway at the Turtle Club bar. Unfortunately, the last hurricane through the Keys destroyed this little bar. Hopefully it will be rebuilt soon.

For now, head to the Tiki Bar! It’s the spot for watching the game to enjoying the view. Snappers has an extensive beer, wine and cocktail menu and you can order off the full menu at the Tiki Bar if you’re hungry. The Reef Bar is a small spot indoors, perfect for cool or windy evenings.

Snappers is also a great place for a dinner night out. Obviously you lose the ocean view, but you gain live music from local musicians. And only at a Florida Keys bar will you see the musician playing from a little pontoon boat tied up to the deck. Pretty cool way to add extra square footage.

Snappers
139 Seaside Avenue
Key Largo, FL 33037

 

5. Lorelei (Islamorada, Mile Marker 82)

Another Florida Keys bar with a picturesque sunset view. The Lorelei sits on the edge of the Florida Bay with tons of outdoor seating where you can watch the sunset and listen to live music every night. It’s also a beautiful spot to to enjoy a tropical drink during the day. The waterfront setting is true Florida Keys with tables on the sand and mangrove islands in the distance.

I’ve only been here once and it was packed. Judging by the pictures on TripAdvisor, that’s fairly common, so get there early if you plan on having a drink in your hand by the time the sun starts to set. Plus, happy hour is from 4pm-6pm making it another good reason to get there early.

 

Grab a seat at the Lorelei Cabana Bar and order a slice of their excellent Key Lime Pie to compliment your Key Lime Colada (one of their specialty cocktails) and wait for the sunset.

You can’t miss it when driving down US1, just look for the giant mermaid.

Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar
96 Madeira Rd.
Islamorada, Florida 33036

 

6. Sunset Grille & Raw Bar (Marathon, Mile Marker 46.9)

Like a mini resort without hotel rooms, this is one of my favorite Florida Keys bars. Right next to 7 mile bridge, we recently stopped in to enjoy an evening at the Sunset Grille & Raw Bar, which is quite the happening spot.

There are multiple bars to choose from and all offer a fabulous view. The indoor/outdoor bar looks over the large swimming pool (yes, I said swimming pool) and the expansive ocean views. Feel free to bring your swim suit and take a dip. Plentiful seating along the bar rail, it’s another perfect spot to watch one of the Florida Keys famous sunsets.

 

The outdoor pool bar is usually quite busy, so if you can’t find a stool, walk around the end of the bar and grab an Adirondack chair on the sand under the palm trees. There is not a bad seat in the house!

Truly one of the best bars in the Keys with really great food. Now, when I’m driving back from Key West, this will always be a planned stop.

Sunset Grille & Raw Bar
7 Knights Key Blvd.
Marathon, FL 33050

 

7. Holiday Isle Tiki Bar (Islamorada, Mile Marker 84)

This is serious Tiki. The Holiday Isle Tiki Bar is a large thatch covered beach bar with a great view of the ocean. The Tiki Bar has been rebuilt a few times over the years due to hurricane damage and the resort is now completely renovated.

Once upon a time, this was a real hot spot with a salty vibe. Now it’s a little more resort refined Florida Keys bar. It’s still a laid back atmosphere where t-shirts, shorts and flip flops are the perfect attire. Even though this cool tiki bar has gone through various reincarnations, I still recommend spending a glorious day at the bar, sipping a cocktail and watching the Atlantic Ocean kiss the Florida Keys sand. You’ll almost feel like you’ve left the United States for a Caribbean island.

Their claim to fame is back in 1972 their bartender mixed left over liquors creating the very first Rum Runner.

Along with all unusual statues in the Florida Keys (there are many), the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar has a giant Rum Runner drink statue – which is worth the stop just to get your picture taken with it. Might as well try their signature cocktail while you’re there since it is the home of the original Rum Runner cocktail. It’d be a shame to stop for a quick picture without taking a seat at the bar.

Holiday Isle Tiki Bar
84001 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036

 

8. Hogfish Bar & Grill (Stock Island, Turn off at Mile Marker 5.1)

I know this is a top ten list about great places to drink, but I also want to mention the Hogfish Bar & Grill serves up amazing food too. I’ve loved everything I’ve tasted. The fresh fish sandwich and stuffed fish dish are both made with Hogfish, which turns out to be pretty delicious. And by “fresh” I mean right off the boat!

It’s an open-air restaurant and bar furnished with large picnic tables under a peaked thatched roof. There’s not much of a view since it’s located next to various dock areas in a marina. It’s off the beaten path and you might have a little trouble finding it, but you’ll get there.

 

Like most bars in the keys, the atmosphere is completely chill and on the weekends you’ll have a really good time. The live entertainment gets this place rockin’. Try the Key Lime Mojito!

Hogfish Bar & Grill
6810 Front Street,
Stock Island,FL

 

9. Boondocks Grille & Draft House (Ramrod Key, Mile Marker 27.5)

“The largest Tiki Bar in the Florida Keys” is their claim and it is huge. Boondocks is another open-air establishment and offers a ton of seating under thatch as well as on the large patio.

One of the few Florida Keys bars with a proper stage for live music and they bring in a lot of talent to their stage. Live music 5 times a week plus fun nights such as bingo and trivia. Ton of TVs if you want to watch the game and a mini putt-putt course next door.

A nice place and you can have a lot of fun here. Get a pitcher of beer, the Key Lime Martini or their Category 5 Hurricane and spend a few hours under the Tiki. Bring the dog.

Boondocks
27205 Overseas Hwy
Ramrod Key, FL 33042

 

10. Islamorada Fish Company (Islamorada, Mile Marker 81.5)

Feel the sea breeze and marvel at the see-through waters from your shaded table or bar stool at the Islamorada Fish Compay. Located right on the main road, this cool Florida Keys Bar is built out over the water with a wide pier jutting out towards sunset.

Showing off beautiful open water views during the day and in the evenings they light up the Tiki torches on the beach giving the ambiance of an exotic tropical island.

The food is a hit or miss and the best way to enjoy the unique vibe of the Islamorada Fish Company is with a few cocktails. I’ve always ordered a fruity frozen drink here because it just feels right. The Pina Colads with a floater is fantastic.

Lots of Tarpon to watch and once in a while a Manatee comes by for a visit. Of course, the Bass Pro Shop is right next door.

Islamorada Fish Company
81532 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL 33036

 

Take your pick of the best Florida Keys Bars and spend the day or bar crawl through the islands checking them all out (with a designated driver, of course!).

You can’t go wrong with any of these top bars in the Florida Keys!

(If you’re looking for Key West bars, click here for the Top Key West Bars as voted on by our readers and surprisingly, none of them were on Duval Street!)

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