Seaside dining, with its salty air and water views, is a most pleasurable way to enjoy Key West’s fresh seafood and cuisine.

The afterdeck at Louie's Backyard, a seaside restaurant and bar
 Louie’s Backyard makes a perfect waterfront dining experience.

On a Key West vacation, cuisine served in the great outdoors is as essential to the itinerary as a day at the beach.

And while an al fresco dining experience is available in many garden settings or at a quiet street café, nothing quite equals finding a spot right on our stunning tropical waterfront.

There’s just something about shuffling through the sand en route to lunch or watching the sun set right next to your table.

To find great waterfront and beach dining, head to one of these recommended restaurants on the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico that make even the locals feel like they’re on vacation.

It may well be the most memorable part of your entire Key West holiday.

Louie’s Backyard

The finest food, view, and scene – all perfect. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in an

Hot Tin Roof

An elegant oceanfront restaurant serving gourmet Caribbean-fusion cuisine. One of the island’s more inventive and

Commodore

Fine dining steak and seafood overlooking the Historic Seaport. This gourmet restaurant leans a bit

A & B Lobster House

Gourmet, dockside fine-dining seafood restaurant in Key West This island restaurant has been serving up

Turtle Kraals

Casual dockside restaurant with a focus on bar-b-que. Once the home to a turtle canning

Conch Republic Seafood Company

Casual, dockside restaurant and bar serving a better-than-average Conch fritter. Open air restaurant offering dockside

Alonzo’s Oyster Bar

Casual seafood restaurant at the Key West Seaport This first floor restaurant is part of

Half-Shell Raw Bar

Dockside, casual seafood dining at this Key West landmark. Key West’s Half Shell Raw Bar,