Florida Beach Bar | Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are one of the country's most unique areas offering a completely different kind of lifestyle and some of the best beach bars in Florida. Traveling to the Keys is like crossing the border into a different country. The Keys are laid back and attract people with different interests including; fishermen, scuba divers, nature lovers, and, of course, bar hoppers. So, it’s perfectly natural that the last thing you see before you leave the mainland for the Keys is the Last Chance Saloon.

In the 1980’s the Last Chance Saloon doubled as a U.S. Customs station. It was during that time custom officials decided that anyone traveling from the Keys to the mainland should go through Customs before crossing this imaginary border. This “roadblock” made it look like Keys residents were not U.S. citizens. Residents and businesses thought this was a pretty dumb idea arguing that the Florida Keys are part of the United States. But the government got its way.

After losing a battle in Federal court, on April 23rd, 1982 the Florida Keys seceded from the United States of America and called the resulting country the Conch Republic. Then, the Conch Republic immediately declared war on the United States by breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform. Without delay, Conch Republic Prime Minister Wardlow turned to the Admiral in charge of the Navy Base at Key West and surrendered. He then demanded one billion dollars in foreign aid.

The money was never collected. But to this day, by act of Congress, residents hold dual citizenship as Conchs and Americans. You can even get a Conch Republic passport.

The Keys are a string of Islands connected by bridges and a roadway (US 1) stretching from the Mainland in the north to Key West at the southern tip. Key West is just 90 miles from Cuba. It is home to hotels, resorts, tourist attractions, fishing villages, and beach bars. The Keys aren't all that beachy, but there are plenty of waterways, inlets, and marinas. Florida beach bars here are almost all on the water.

You can make the drive down the Keys on U.S. Highway 1. And if you want a true "keysi" experience, you must drive it once. If you do drive, leave some time for a few stops along the way. And here is an important tip. They don't use street addresses so much on the Keys. Locations are referenced by mile markers on U.S.1. You'll find Key West at Mile Marker 0.

The moment you arrive on the Keys you know you are someplace different and special. It's a whole different kind of lifestyle and a good one, if you like laid back and friendly. The northernmost island of the Florida Keys island chain is Key Largo, the diving capital of the world. Key Largo is known as the diving capital of the world because of an off shore living coral reef. This attracts many scuba divers and fishermen. .

Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill Restaurant is located on the west or Gulf side. It is on the water and owned by Jimmy Johnson, well known former NFL coach. It is at mile marker 104. Next door to the Big Chill is the Caribbean Club. In the forties, a number of the scenes from the movie "Key Largo," featuring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, were shot here.

Key Largo is the home the Turtles at Snapper's Waterfront Restaurant, voted a 2011 TOP 10 Beach Bar on FloridaBeachBar.com. Snappers is located on the water just off US 1 mile marker 94.5 and is Conch attack

on the Atlantic or east side of the Keys. Turtles is one of the coolest beach bars on the Keys. Come by boat, if you like. There are plenty of docks. The bar has boat captain chairs for bar stools and live bands play every night. It is a favorite of both locals and tourists.

In 1991 Howard Kohlbenheyer, Snapper's owner, was reading about events of 1982 and he decided it was a great excuse for a party. Pretty much everything is a good excuse for a party in the Keys. It started at Snappers with a symbolic 'Blowing up of the Bridge' to celebrate the Conch Republic's separation from the Mainland. In 2009 the Upper Keys Business Group expanded the party to include other restaurants and bar locations. Today the celebration spans 5 days in the 'Northernmost Territories' of the Conch Republic.

Traveling south on U.S. 1 you will find Islamorada, Village of Islands. Just the name itself is enticing. It is the fishing capital of the world. Here you'll find a place called Holiday Isle. It's a "Kesi" resort that has tiki bars at both ends of the property and two other Florida beach bars at the south end. Holiday Isle Rumrunners is a three story tiki bar right on the beach. Holiday isle Tiki Bar is a mere 2 story tiki bar and is said to be world famous because it is the home of the original Rumrunner drink.

Islamorada is also home to Lorelei Cabana Bar, a must visit beach bar. It is located on the bayside of the island at mile marker 82. There are tables and chairs on a small beach where you can put your toes in the sand, enjoy your favorite food or beverage, and get a front row seat to the sunset. This little beach even has its own tiki bar. Enjoy live music 7 nights a week. And one side note. If you like sliders, those small hamburgers, Lorelei’s are pretty darn good.

Mid way down the Keys is Marathon Key, and if you are headed to Key West, you are half way there. At its southernmost point is the 7 Mile Bridge. It is approximately 7 miles long. That worked out pretty good. But before you go 7 miles, you might want to stop at the Sunset Grille and Raw Bar. It is one very large tiki hut that houses a restaurant and a bar, both with a great view of the 7 mile bridge. There is music every night in season and has a giant outdoor TV screen when Sunday night football is on the air. And they have a swimming pool.

The Sunset Grille is on the Atlantic side of the Island just north of the 7 mile the bridge. If you are traveling from the north, don't miss it! Turning around won't happen for, yes, you guessed it, 7 miles. Running parallel to the newer 7 mile bridge is the one that it replaced. This older bridge is the one that was used in the movie “True Lies”.

Although there is plenty to see and do, up and down the Keys, when it comes to bars of any kind, Key West is the place to be. Most of the bars in Key west are not on the water and one might argue that some are not technically beach bars. But most bars in Key West have live music all day into the wee hours of the morning. Much of the music is trop rock. And, it was here that the whole trop rock thing got started with Jimmy Buffett and Margaritaville.

There are several ways to get to Key West. Take your boat or buy a ride on the Key West Express leaving from Fort Myers or Marco Island. The boats feature sundecks, snack bar, cocktails and big-screen TVs. We can tell you from experience that the party starts on the boat and ends on the boat. There is a small airport in Key West and one on Marathon Key.

The main drag in Key West is Duval Street stretching from coast to coast with bars up and down this main thoroughfare. The long list of bars includes Sloppy Joe's, Rick's, Irish Kevin’s, and of course, Margaritaville. While these bars are not on the beach, they set the spirit and attitude for all beach bars. Other famous favorites like Hog's Breath Saloon and Captain Tony's are just off the main drag.

Hemmingway used to hang out at Sloppy Joe’s, but at that time Sloppy Joe’s was at the current site of Captain Tony’s. Captain Tony’s still has Hemingway’s original bar stool. Captain Tony Tarracino, now deceased, bought the bar in 1958. Here is a guy who with $18.00 in his pocket, hitched a ride to Key West in a milk truck. A favorite bar owner in Key West, he once served as Key West’s mayor. Growing through its ceiling is Key West’s first hanging tree. Be careful not to hang around too long. Today, this ceiling is adorned with thousands of bras. According to the Captain Tony web site, Captain Tony once said, “All you need in life is a tremendous sex drive and a great ego. Brains don’t mean shit.”

Everyone has their favorite Key West Bar. Since it’s easy enough to walk to most, your best bet is to visit as many as you can and make your own decision. Sloppy Joe’s is “A Key West Tradition!" that serves, you guessed it, Sloppy Joe sandwiches. Sloppy Joe's located at the corner of Greene and Duval and has been since 1937.
Southernmost Point

There are those that think Irish Kevin’s is the number 1 bar in Key West. Others may disagree, but it certainly has to be a top pick on St. Patrick’s Day. Irish Kevin’s engages the audience in what is best described as one big drinking party. Pick your pleasure and, when you need a change of pace, move onto the next bar.

Some bars are off the beaten path. At the east end of Duval Street is U.S. Highway 1, mile marker 0, and the location of the southernmost point in the United States. There is a very tall marker buoy there to mark the location. It's just 90 miles from Cuba. If you have been there, you have a picture just like the one shown here. If not, wait in line and the next person in line waiting behind you will take your picture.

A short block away is the Southernmost Beach Cafe. It is a perfect place to kick back and relax on the beach. So if you were ever looking for the beach bar that is located furthest south in the U.S., this would be it. It is located right on the beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Sit at the bar and watch the action on the beach or just enjoy the view.

The Key West Historic Seaport and Harbor Walk follows the Key West coastline from Front Street to Margaret Street on the Gulf side Buffett recording studio

of the island. This working marina is lined with shops, restaurants, and is home to Schooner Wharf, a very popular Key West bar. Schooner Wharf personifies life on the Keys. It is filled with the most varied group of people you may ever see in one place from locals to international tourists. It has been voted Best Local's Bar six years in a row and featured in publications including the New York Times and Aqua magazine.

As you mosey your way through Harbor Walk, you may stumble upon a small, one story inconspicuous white building with no signs or markings. It has no windows, looks a bit out of place, but not out of the ordinary. It is Jimmy Buffett's recording studio, Shrimp Boat Sound Studio. A number of artists, such as Kenny Chesney and REM have, and still do, record here.

At sunset, join the crowd at Mallory Square. It's not your typical sunset where people stand around waiting for the sun to sizzle into the water. The Square is filled with street performers that include jugglers, musicians, acrobats, and even a bagpipe player. At one special event we bought a slice of the world's largest key lime pie. My oh my. The Square at sunset is typically filled with thousands of people.

There are plenty of happenings in Key West. Among other things, Key West hosts the annual "Meeting of the Minds" Parrothead gathering, Fantasy Fest, Red Ribbon Bed Race, and the Conch Republic Independence Celebration. The people of Key West have a way of turning anything into a party. So if you head on down to the Keys, do your research before you go; chances are that some event will be happening while you are there. By the way, head south another 90 miles and you are in Cuba. We hear they have good cigars.