Everyone comes to Key West and the Florida Keys for fun, sun, and well… amazing food. Local, fresh seafood is one of my very favorite meals while visiting the Keys. But, I am often asked… where are the best oysters in Key West? Well, here’s a list of the best places you must check out. Did your favorite Key West restaurants make the list?
Half Shell Raw Bar
Located in the Historic Seaport, this place owns its own fish market. So, you know the seafood has to be fresh. It’s hitting your plate within hours of being caught. The Historic Seaport has been the center of the Key West fishing economy for almost 200 years. Half Shell is a casual place to sit, eat really good food and enjoy the amazing view.
Food and Wine magazine named them the best place for local oysters. They offer a raw bar serving regular or steamed oysters.
Their menu also has:
- Garlic Cream Oysters
- Oyster Rockefeller topped with their signature Rockefeller mixture
- Oyster Sampler
- Oysters and Chips
- Fried oysters
- Oyster Po Boy
Happy Hour is 4:30 to 6:30 daily. Well drinks, beers, and house wines are 50% off.
Thirsty Mermaid
Located on Fleming Street, they serve fresh local seafood and a selection of oysters from East and West coasts, rotating daily. Their menu also has fried oysters with chipotle remoulade.
Happy Hour is 4 to 6pm daily. They offer a special happy hour menu and $2 pints of Mermaid lager. This place has a great selection of wines as well. One of my favorites, Matua sauvignon blanc is on tap.
Alonzo’s Oyster Bar
Located on Front Street, they have been serving raw oysters and other great food since 1947. They boast to be the only restaurant in Key West with water on three sides. They have a rating daily fresh oyster bar and suggest you might want to try their tower of oysters. The menu also lists a baked oyster combo, which has spinach, key lime garlic oysters, and buffalo oysters. Additionally, they serve Oyster Moscow and Asian oysters. Want to try something a bit different? Order the smoked fish dip, its amazing.
Happy Hour is 4 to 6:30 daily with a special menu and special pricing on house wines, well drinks, beer, and select cocktails.
Pinchers
They offer Florida Seafood served Florida style. Located on Duval Street, in addition to Gulf of Mexico oysters served naked or steamed, they have conch fritters, fried oysters, and Po Boy sandwiches.
Conch Republic Seafood Company
Located in the Historic Seaport, this place one of the best happy hours and is a local favorite. The seafood is from their boats to your table. You can actually watch the boats unload their haul from your table. They offer:
- Raw or steamed oysters. The oysters are steamed in their signature clam broth
- Baked oysters Callaloo and parmesan cheese on top of freshly shucked oysters banked and then drizzled with roasted garlic aioli (yep they are as good as they sound)
- Conch fritters with key lime mustard
- Key West reds – an off-menu item, if they have them, get them. Of course, they also have the famous Key West pink shrimp as an option too.
Happy Hour is 4 to 7pm and is 2 for 1 at the bar and patio. The patio offers outdoor seating with a bit of shade.
Schooner Wharf
On William Street, along the Historic Harbor walk, this the last piece of old Key West. They have live music daily and serve oysters on the half shell. One of my favorite menu items is the Tuna nachos. Yum and Yum
Happy Hour is twice a day. First, 7am to noon and then 5pm to 7pm.
A&B Lobster House
This place offers waterfront fine dining. A great place to celebrate a special occasion. The balconies overlook the water. They serve oysters Rockefeller, daily.
Little Pearl
Serving fresh local seafood, the menu is very limited. The chef has a wonderful tasting menu as well as a raw bar serving oysters. This place has very limited seating so reservations are required.
Island Dogs
This is where laid-back local vibes intersect with great live music and good food. They serve raw oysters on the half shell and chargrilled oysters with butter and parmesan cheese.
Happy Hour is 4:30 to 6:30pm Monday through Friday.
Pepe’s Cafe
This place is more than breakfast and fresh-baked bread. They also serve Gulf oysters and various different baked oysters. You can choose from Florentine, Mexican, or Rudi styles. This place is a favorite destination serving some of the best food on the Island.
Two Friends Patio
On Front Street, here you will enjoy great live music, and free parking during your visit. They are the winners of the “Best Happy Hour”, the “Best Family Owned Business” and “Best Bloody Mary” awards, so you know this is the perfect place to meet friends. They have outdoor patio seating too. They offer:
- Broiled Oysters
- Oysters on the half shell
- Basin St Broiled oysters – broiled in garlic butter, topped with Italian bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and bacon.
Hog’s Breath Saloon
Well, unless it’s your first time to Key West, you know that “Hog’s Breath is better than no breath at all”. They have a raw bar serving oyster selections daily. Also, live music and of course, Florida Keys Smoked Fish Dip. It’s smoked mahi mahi with house made tortilla strips.
Prime Steakhouse
On Caroline Street, this is the premier steakhouse in the Florida Keys. They serve Gulf oysters and oysters Rockefeller.
Cafe Marquesa
This is one of Zagat’s highest rated restaurants in Key West. Its a local and tourist favorite, serving oysters Rockefeller.
Matt’s Stock Island
Located at the Perry Hotel, on Stock Island, this place defines their food as American Coastal Comfort food. They serve oysters Rockefeller on their Sunday Brunch menu.
Here are some honorable mentions. Their menus don’t list oysters, but they offer great food and amazing seafood selections.
Azure Restaurant
Located on Grinnell Street, just a few blocks from Duval. Here you can experience life like a local.
Bistro 245
Located on Mallory Square, this is a great spot to watch the sunset and Sunset Celebration, with tables located right on the pier. They also offer 2 hour complimentary parking in the garage.
Hot Tin Roof
In the Ocean Key Resort, their food is Conch Fusion. Combing the flavors of Florida and the Caribbean creating “Floribbean” flavor. Be sure to order the smoked fish dip.
DJ’s Clam Shack
Located on Duval Street, this place was highlighted on Diners, Drive In’s and Dives. This is where “Northern and Southern seafood meet”. Be sure to order the lobster roll and the steamed clams.
Salty Oyster
Located in the Perry Hotel on Stock Island, this place is next to the pool. They have a great Happy Hour from 4 to 6pm. They serve well cocktails, house wines, and draft beer 50% off.
Cafe Sole
At the corner of Southard and Francis, this place “captures the hearts and palates of locals and visitors lucky enough to discover this culinary gem off the beaten path”.
Blue Heaven
You must check this place out… I always tell people it’s truly iconic Key West. They serve an amazing breakfast, and their bar makes the best cocktails.
Louie’s Backyard
Fine dining with an ocean view. They serve small plates of amazing food. You can also order larger dinner portion options too. But, I love this place for its small plates, local seafood, and awesome view.
Overall, you can see there are so many options when you are looking for the best oysters in Key West. Time after time, I go back to many on this list, as they offer not only great seafood, but have great happy hours and even better … live entertainment.
