Mark Lee - The ultimate Key West bar guide

The Ultimate Key West Bar Guide

Copyright 2015 by Mark Lee

Published by Key Lime Press

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.

The Ultimate Key West Bar Guide is part of the Ultimate Bar Guide Series. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Laura Shinn

Cover bar scene photo courtesy of The Half Shell Raw Bar.

Book design by Maureen Cutajar

www.gopublished.com

Print ISBN: 978-0615934471

DUVAL STREET, PARTY CENTRAL IN THE HEART OF OLD TOWN KEY WEST.
PHOTO CREDIT: MARK LEE

Contents

Introduction

Cayo Hueso, Key Weird, and Key Wonderfulthese are all terms that have been used at one time or another for that tropical outpost at the end of A1A in the Florida Keys known as Key West. Once you leave the Florida mainland and enter the Keys, you find a group of islands that are in many ways more Caribbean than American. In fact, Key West still shows much of its Cuban and West Indies influences at every turn in its architecture as well as its food and drink. You may be surprised to learn that Key West is closer to Cuba than the mainland United States. Cuba can be found a mere 90 miles across the Florida Straits from the southernmost point down at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets.

Mild and warm in the winter and hot and wild in the summer, Key West is a tropical paradise where all sorts of pleasures can be found. Whether food or drink is what you seek, this town has much to offer as we will discuss later. Whether you are looking to do the Duval Crawl, hoist one with the locals over on Stock Island, or if youre just trying to find that lost shaker of salt, Key West is the perfect destination to do it all or nothing at all. Just kick back and relax on the beach and enjoy the view of the emerald-green waters and let the waves wash away the stress you may have brought with you to the islands.

Key West has been referred to as an amusement park for adults fueled with alcohol. Whether deserved or not, well let you decide. It has biker bars, wine bars, formal bars, clothing optional bars, Hemingway and Buffett bars, and, of course, the out-of-the-way locals bars. Looking for a margarita, hurricane, beer, shooter, wine or that perfect martini, youll not find more beautiful and inviting locales to explore. So hold on as we set sail for that tropical paradise and visit the bars of Key West.

Half Shell Raw Bar

231 Margaret Street

Key West, Florida 33040

305-294-7496

Monday thru Thursday 11:00 am 10:00 pm

Friday thru Saturday 11:00 am 11:00 pm

Sunday 12:00 pm 10:00 pm

Happy Hour is daily 4:30 pm 6:30 pm

www.halfshellrawbar.com

With a long and storied history as a destination on Key Wests waterfront and most recently featured on the cover of Kenny Chesneys hit single, When I See This Bar, the Half Shell Raw Bar embodies everything good about the laid-back lifestyle of the Florida Keys. No pretense here, just easygoing people with a passion for life and living it to the fullest with their friends.

The Half Shell has been in business on the Historic Key West waterfront since the early 70s and naturally became a favorite of captains and locals due to its central location and being surrounded by the Key West commercial fishing fleet. The same holds true today, as well as being a favorite dining destination for tourists and locals alike.

As you head toward the Half Shell Raw Bar, you can see the seafood being unloaded from the days catch into the Half Shell Fish Market. They own their own seafood market, which supplies all of their needs plus their sister restaurants, therefore ensuring the freshest and finest quality products are always available. In fact, it is the only restaurant in town that owns its seafood market.

Walk into the bar, and youll see the extensive draft beer taps, a large sailfish sculpture, and license plates from all over the world covering the walls. The well-worn barstools provide an inviting place to sit and chill with your favorite beverage as you recount the days events with friends and plan new adventures. The Half Shell is a mecca beckoning to those looking to experience the cool and easygoing Caribbean lifestyle just like Chesney sings about in his songs.

The Half Shell Raw Bar is the original Key West fish house and offers such mouthwatering delights as broiled garlic oysters, fish and chips, steamed middleneck clams, chilled Key West peel-and-eat shrimp, and one of its specialties: authentic conch ceviche. Just imagine dining on the freshest seafood around while looking out over emerald-green waters and the golden Key West sunset.

Why not enjoy one of their signature drinks as the sun goes down? Try the Bayou Bloody Mary made with a jalapeno-infused vodka, homemade Bloody Mary mix, and old bay seasoning on the rim, served with a celery stalk and a peel-and-eat shrimp. The Oyster Shooter contains a shucked oyster, jalapeno-infused vodka, horseradish and cocktail sauce all in a souvenir shot glass. Looking for something more exotic? Then try the Voodoo Juice, a special blend of four flavored rums with a tropical fruit juice blend. Who knowsyou might even strike up a conversation with one of Key Wests leading charter captains and book yourself a fishing trip for the next day. Many of the local fishermen frequent the bar at Happy Hour, which is daily from 4:30 pm till 6:30 pm and features two-for-one specials.

If youre looking for a true Key West original and not the same old cookie-cutter establishment, amble on over to the Half Shell Raw Bar. They have all the ingredients for a special Old Key West experiencethe only thing missing is you.

THE HALF SHELL RAW BAR ON THE KEY WEST WATERFRONT.
SUPPLIED BY HALF SHELL RAW BAR

Margaritaville

500 Duval Street

(305) 292-1435

Open daily 11:00 am 12:00 am

www.margaritavillekeywest.com

Margaritaville is a place where its always summer, the beer is ice-cold, and you can drop in any time of the year and enjoy a laid-back afternoon at the beach. Grab a cheeseburger off the grill with fries and try a margarita from their signature blenders. Margaritavilles menu runs the gamut from appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, entrees, and, of course, a variety of cheeseburgers. Dive into their drink menu, which includes more than 10 varieties of margaritas, shooters, boat drinks, a multitude of beers including Land Shark, and a full wine list. The drink list draws inspiration from some of Jimmy Buffetts songs including names such as the Last Mango in Paris Margarita, Coastal Confession Boat Drink, and Back to the Island Sangria.

In business in Key West since 1985, the Margaritaville Store first opened at 4 Lands End Village and offered the T-shirts, beads, and trinkets that Buffett fans came in search of. When the store first opened, there was no restaurant or bar, and if youve ever listened to Jimmy Buffett, you know that he is famous for a couple of songs that refer to food and drink, namely cheeseburgers and margaritas.