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Unlike other beach town dining scenes that chase trends, the best restaurants in Key West stay true to the city’s roots—relying on timeless appeal and what they do best: Serving up seasonal seafood, Cuban and Caribbean-inflected cuisine, and a not-so-subtle obsession with all things Key lime. Sure, the culinary landscape has become more inventive in recent years, but it’s still less eclectic than what you’ll find further up the Florida coast or along the Eastern Seaboard. (That said, creativity certainly isn’t lacking.) Most dinner menus spotlight local seafood, with annual and seasonal highlights like black grouper, hogfish (which tastes like a supersized scallop), spiny lobster, yellowtail snapper, mahi mahi, and the ever-present Key West pink shrimp. These are often paired with citrus elements or Latin-inspired sauces like mojo or poblano crema. But the meat-eaters aren’t forgotten—think pork osso bucco, filet mignon, and short-rib-strewn gnocchi that arrives cloaked in excess. Breakfast and brunch, meanwhile, are practically a sport in this town. Many spots serve it daily, often with the unmistakable soundtrack of crowing roosters. Given Key West’s proximity to Cuba and the island’s enduring cultural influence, mornings call for a proper café con leche—or a few. And don’t feel bad about embracing the Key lime hype. Yes, every spot has its own take on the classic slice, but the flavor shows up in more creative forms, too: Key lime French toast, Key lime martinis, and even Key lime meringue-topped donuts.
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The island isn’t trying to be a global culinary capital, and that’s exactly why it works. Restaurants here thrive by sticking to what they know: regional flavors, fresh catches, and a deep sense of place. These are the 10 best restaurants in Key West, Florida.
Read our complete Key West travel guide here, which includes:
How we choose the best restaurants in Key West
Every restaurant on this list has been selected independently by Condé Nast Traveler editors and reviewed by a local contributor who has visited that restaurant. Our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries, and weigh stand-out dishes, location, and service—as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update this list as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve.
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