Where to Eat in Key West: Seafood, Cuban Cafes & Pie

Key lime pie is Florida's official state pie, invented in Key West in the late 19th century by Aunt Sally (cook to millionaire ship salvager William Curry). Before refrigeration, local cooks blended canned sweetened condensed milk with egg yolks and the acidic juice of tiny wild Key limes (Citrus aurantifolia). A chemical reaction known as acid souring curdled the filling without requiring baking.

Today, Key West is divided by an epic culinary rivalry:

• The Meringue Camp: Headlined by Blue Heaven (729 Thomas St). They pile four inches of pillowy, torched Italian meringue atop a tart, velvety custard filling and a graham cracker crust.
• The Whipped Cream & Pastry Camp: Championed by Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe (200 Elizabeth St). Kermit's serves traditional tart, pale-yellow custard with piped whipped cream, as well as frozen slices on a stick dipped in dark Belgian chocolate.

Do not order salmon or cod in Key West: eat what local commercial fishermen haul across the docks:

• Key West Pink Shrimp: Caught wild at night in the coral sands off the Dry Tortugas, 'Pinks' are world-famous for their naturally sweet flavor and firm texture. Order them steamed with Old Bay and melted butter at Half Shell Raw Bar.
• Hogfish: Despite its unflattering name, hogfish is considered the finest eating fish in Florida waters. Because hogfish feed on crabs and clams and cannot be caught on commercial hook-and-line, they are harvested exclusively by licensed freediving spear fishermen. Its meat is mild, sweet, and pure white. Order it pan-fried with key lime butter.

Key West's best dining value occurs between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM along the timber Harbor Walk at the Historic Seaport. During these magical two hours, premier waterfront restaurants discount their menus by 50%:

• Half Shell Raw Bar (231 Margaret St): Half-price raw oysters, steamed peel-and-eat shrimp, conch fritters, and draft beers from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
• Alonzo's Oyster Bar (700 Front St): 50% off all appetizers, oysters Rockefeller, and craft martinis from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
• Conch Republic Seafood (631 Greene St): 2-for-1 draft beers and well drinks with discounted cracked conch and wings from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Navigate the island culinary culture from historic Cuban coffee windows to waterfront raw bars:

One of the best culinary traditions in Key West is the afternoon waterfront happy hour, running universally from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Along the timber Harbor Walk at the Historic Seaport, iconic spots like Half Shell Raw Bar and Alonzos Oyster Bar offer half-price peel-and-eat Key West Pink Shrimp, steamed clams, and Gulf oysters on the half shell alongside local craft beers.

Key West Pink Shrimp are caught locally in the shallow coral waters off the Marquesas Keys and Dry Tortugas. They have a naturally sweeter taste and firmer texture than farmed Pacific varieties. For an authentic local lunch, visit Eaton Street Seafood Market in Old Town to order fresh blackened hogfish sandwiches served on pressed Cuban bread.