Key West breakfast

Here are the best places in Key West to eat breakfast or brunch. 
#1 - Blue Heaven on Thomas Street
#2 - Pepe's on Caroline Street
#3 - Harpoon Harry's on Caroline Street

Over the years of visiting I've been to these places countless times. It's the most important meal of the day and in Key West all the following restaurants are excellent. Don't stay in your hotel or guest house - get out to these!

A word of warning - all these places, and especially the first 2, get VERY busy. Even more so at the weekend. 

If you don't get in line at 11 o'clock (in season) or later you will be waiting an hour or more. At Blue Heaven this is not a problem as you can wait at the bar and have a drink or two; at Pepe's there is a small bar but most people stand on Caroline Street outside the restaurant (which is not much fun!). So go early!

Winner - #1

Blue Heaven

Thomas Street

This is an amazing place anyway and on my list of unique top things to do in Key West. So you have to eat here. My recommendation is to eat here for both dinner and also breakfast. If you can do only one then I would choose breakfast, and it's the best place to eat breakfast in Key West.

Famous, one of a kind, unique venue, in the open air all year round with chickens at your feet and live music. And what's more the food is GREAT. Best is breakfast but dinner is good too.
Key West institution
Sit at the bar for an early martini or their special - bloody mary.

Food great.

Live music, even for breakfast

No reservations, no parking - walking is best

Expect 45 mins to 1 hour or more wait every weekend in season

The best breakfast plate: BLT (bacon, lettuce, lobster) benedicts $24 - amazing! their number 1 seller!

"BLT" (lobster) benedict, the best breakfast dish on Key West, at Blue Heaven

Click below for more....

Best hikes in Key West and Lower Keys

Where to hike and get away from it all in Key West and the Lower Keys? They are beautiful but they are not known for hikes and walking. If you want to get away from it all and go for a peaceful hike, where do you go?

Hikes in Key West

Difficult one as Key West is small, busy and built up.

Here are the my best hiking suggestions:

1. Fort Zachary Taylor and it's beach right by it

The beach gets really really busy but the Fort less so and there is a patch of ground between the fort and the ocean where it's a bit quieter. 

No formal trail so just wander around. 

The plus side is you get access to the ocean.

And there are view like this one - no this is not a postcard, I took this pic on Fort Zach beach today!...

For more information click here.

2.

Wander around old town Key West

Get off Duval and wander randomly or to a plan.

It's not deserted, but it's lovely.

Here some more ideas from me on this one - click here.

Best hikes within 1 hour drive of Key West

Best: Lower Sugarloaf Key

What: several miles long out and back dirt road (paved in parts). Closed to motor traffic so this is good.

Busy: Quiet

Where it is? 30 minutes drive from Key West. Come off Highway 1 at Sugarloaf Boulevard, drive a few miles down the road to a 90 degree right turn were the road becomes Old State Road 4a. You have reached the start of the walk. Park by the side of the road.

Trailhead: you'll see the barrier. Go through it and start walking.

Flat

Why is this good?

No card allowed. It's quiet so you can get away from the crowds, it's long (several miles), it's surrounded by water so you really get the mangrove experience. 

If you want a bonus after your hike: Keep driving along Start Road 4a - 2 miles until you get to Sammy Creek Landing. There is a picnic table.

Second choice

Horsehoe Beach, West Summerland Key, just before (nearer Key West) Bahia Honda Beach

What: paddle along a causeway into the ocean

Busy: medium - you won't be a lone!

Where? 1 hour drive from Key West.

Third choice:

Boca Chica Beach

What: 1 mile out and back with the ocean on the right and the air base on the right (not as bad as it sounds!)

Fourth choice:

more coming soon

The state parks parks along Middle Keys to Lower Keys

The parks are justifiably famous because of their amazing beauty. 

My first choice would be Bahia Honda State Park - good hiking along the beach trail. (Although the best walk is currently still closed because of Hurricane Irma in 2017)

Best - Bahia Honda state park and one of the most beautiful beaches in the USA – MM 37
2nd - Curry Hammock state park MM56.2. This is quieter and much smaller than Bahia and has, over the years, become my favorite stop.

For more information on both - click here.

Crazy idea - go to even smaller island than Key West to hike!

Go 70 miles on a boat to Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas.

Hiking around the island / fort is fun.

More here.