I know, I know … this blog is supposed to be all about Miami and this is already my second post about a different Floridian city. BUT, hear me out: Key West is almost every Miamian’s favorite stomping ground especially if you like to party. So I figured it can’t hurt to give some tips in case you’re ever planning a little weekend getaway.
1.Food
You want to make sure to start the day right so you’re perfectly nourished for a day full of adventure. My favorite breakfast place is Camille’s Restaurant. Each time I visit the Southernmost Key, I make sure to stop by at least once. My favorite brunch item is their French toast with a key lime sauce and coconut shaves – so delicious! They also have yummy whole wheat pancakes for those who like it “healthy”, good benedicts, and strong brunch drinks. It’s a typical diner type of place with American coffee and refills. Can only recommend it!
My favorite place for dinner is Louie’s Backyard. They have the most spectacular view and amazing food. Serving sizes are rather small so you get to try a lot of different things. Their drink and mixology menu is also phenomenal. Don’t miss out on this great experience!
Dessert! Don’t have a sweet tooth? Doesn’t matter! You’ll definitely have to check out Better Than Sex. Not sure if it’s better than sex but this place is pretty dope.
We went there on a spontaneous date night. Since we walked in, there was a bit of a wait. The place has a sexy vibe to it with dark lighting and pictures that create a kinky ambiance. What I like is that you sit next to each other as opposed to facing each other. We had the “Sex Appeal” drink, a Moscato with a white chocolate rim and pink sugar. It’s good but super duper sweet. We had the “Better than Sex” dessert which according to their menu is the Master Chef Winner 2009. It’s a bread pudding turned into a cake turned into a brownie. It comes with a white chocolate mouse that has chocolate writing saying “sex” on it. We also had the “Peanut Butter Perversion” which is a peanut butter silk pie on top of a chocolate chip cookie dough crust. Fun fact: all the prices end in 69.
2. Drink
It’s safe to say that you can pretty much have a drink everywhere in Key West. Drinking is literally the point of going to the Keys. Any place on Duval Street will have an extensive drink menu. If you like frozen drinks, I’d recommend Flying Monkey.
3. Stay
Here’s the thing about Key West. Hotels are rather pricey but you don’t get a lot of bang for your buck. For some sort of luxury experience, most people will recommend staying at Casa Marina. My favorite place is The Reach Resort. It is also an Astoria property just like Casa Marina but usually a tad less expensive. They have a beautiful beach (most properties in Key West don’t have a beach) with relaxing hammocks and a great pool. Furthermore, the hotel is right next to my aforementioned favorite restaurant Louie’s Backyard.
4. Activities
(1) There are so many things to do but one of your must-dos is clearly to check out the “Southernmost Point” that is 90 miles away from Cuba. There will be a small line to take a pic, but then you can check it off your bucket list.
(2) Visit the Hemingway House. It’s definitely interesting to see where the genius worked and vacationed. Moreover, the six-toed cats that you’ll find all over the place are adorable.
(3) Rent a jet-ski! Total fun experience. We did it at the beach of the Reach Resort and I can highly recommend them. The instructors are very knowledgeable and you’ll get half an hour of freestyle time.
(4) Rent a scooter! It’s a fun way to get around. And you really don’t want to worry about parking too much during your vacation.
5. Party
I can only repeat myself: Key West is a party place. You can go down to Duval Street and you’ll see there are options everywhere. One must-see or better a cannot-be-unseen: Visit the Garden of Eden. It’s a clothing-optional rooftop bar off of Duval Street. That’s all I’m going to say. The rest I leave to your imagination.
If you have any great tips on what to do in Key West, drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!