The Ultimate
Florida Keys Culinary
Road Trip: Where to Find the Best
Coastal Eats

Lunch: If you're craving a dock-to-table meal, head to The Fish House where the owners purchase fresh, locally caught seafood and fillet it onsite. While you can eat outside, you’ll miss that laid-back Keys décor inside—complete with starfish and pineapple lights twinkling on the fishnet-draped ceiling. Order a jalapeño margarita while you peruse the extensive menu, including signature chowders (like yellowtail snapper or mahi-mahi) and spicy tuna nachos, or keep it simple and go for the catch of the day.

Dinner: A mainstay since 1994, Snooks offers a sophisticated “South Beach” vibe and touches of the West Indies. With its sprawling waterfront patio flanked by tiki torches, you can enjoy stunning ocean views, listen to live music, and melt into the sunset. Grab a Blue Island Kokomo at the tiki bar and enjoy some mahi-mahi meuniere, sautéed in lemon butter, tomato, and capers.

Lunch: A nod to the Keys “mile markers,” Marker 88 offers beachfront dining (both indoor and out), live music every day, and an authentic, laid-back Keys vibe. Start with a craft beer (try Sandbar Sunday) brewed right on the island at Islamorada Brewing Company, then try the generously portioned Hogfish Grenobloise (fresh fillet, egg-washed and sauteed with capers, lemon slices, finished with Key lime beurre blanc).

Dinner: For elegant dining, make reservations at Pierre’s; set against the backdrop of a palmlined beach overlooking Florida Bay, this gorgeous mansion offers dining on both the first and second floors as well as out on the verandas. Featuring French Fusion cuisine, the entire menu bursts with local delicacies; try the Seafood Tower to sample Key West pink shrimp, king crab legs, and oysters.

Lunch: Out fishing in the morning? BYOF (bring your own fish) to the Keys Fisheries, where you can cook your catch! Just choose your prep method (Cajun fried, anyone?), then sit back, and let the kitchen staff do all the work! Otherwise, order what the locals do—meaty conch fritters, stone crab claws, and World Famous Lobster Reuben.

Dinner: One place you’ll definitely want to find yourself is Hideaway Café on Grassy Key. Nestled behind Rainbow Bend Resort, this intimate & romantic bistro serves European-inspired dishes underneath a crown of swaying palms. Don’t miss out on the whole roasted duck à la Hideaway, plated on a magnificent jus, or the hogfish francese in a lemon, butter, and white wine sauce. Snag a seat at sunset for the full experience—the colors in the sky cannot be beat.

Lunch: Locals flock to No Name Pub, an rustic bar plastered with autographed dollar bills. Its quirky charm and incredibly fresh seafood make this the perfect Big Pine Key lunch stop. Take a sampler approach by ordering the Seafood Combo Pub Basket—which includes grouper, shrimp, and clams—served with crispy silver dollar fries and coleslaw.

Dinner: The environmentally friendly Square Grouper, located in Cudjoe Key, makes the perfect ending to your Lower Keys visit. Start with House Smoked Fish Dip paired with a Rum Punch Hurricane. Then share the ample large portion of Seafood Stew—a meld of locally caught fish, scallops, shrimp, and calamari in a spicy, creamy red broth. And there’s no such thing as too much Key lime pie, so grab a slice for a mouth-cooling dessert.

Lunch: Dubbed “one part retro supper club, one part sassy corner bistro,” Flaming Buoy marks the perfect lunch spot with a fusion of locally caught seafood, tropical fruits, and Cuban flavors. Start with the stellar Grilled Marinated Key West Pink Shrimp, then prepare to be wowed by the Fresh Catch with Banana Salsa, served with grilled pineapple, ginger-glazed shredded snow peas, and a savory broccoli cake.

Dinner: End your road trip with dinner at Louie’s Backyard, an oceanfront Victorian home turned high-end restaurant serving Caribbean-American cuisine. The menu changes seasonally, but standouts include the delectable crispy marinated scallops with papaya coulis and avocado salsa. For an entrée, try fresh Swiss chard-wrapped king salmon with curried quinoa salad and mint raita. Tip: Head out to the bar deck to cap off the night with a glass of wine and fantastic views of the sunset celebration that erupts each night.