Key West - New things, places, adventures ??
 

We are frequent Key West visitors but have not been, since the birth of our 2nd child (so probably 2 years ago, give or take). Are there any new restaurants, things, places, etc. that have popped up while we've been away (too long !!). We are well aware of all the old favorites & stand-bys. Thanks, we'll be there over Thanksgiving, baby-sitter in tow.

So I guess nothing is new in Key West ??? That's good, I guess.

I'm watching your thread, too, SAnParis. We love Key West, but haven't been in awhile. Thought it'd be interesting to see what's changed there. Like you, I guess good things don't have to change much! :)

I guess this would follow the 'no news is good news' line of reasoning...

There is a new Pirate museum:
http://www.piratesoul.com/ and I believe the Pisces restaurant is new as well. Unfortuneately, we were evacuated last week before we could see either one.

Where is the Pieces restaurant located ?

SAnParis_Well, I don't know anything new but I am planning a trip there after not being there for quite a while. We are hoping it hasn't changed to much. What are your favorite things there to do? This is to everybody else too. Thanks.

I grew up in South Florida and visited Key West in August (I know--hot!) for the first time in years. It's lost its charm IMHO and I blame the cruise ship industry for this. A lot of the neat and unique shops and bars are now t-shirt shops and chain restaurants. Sigh! One more "unique" place gone.

Associated with the Pirate Soul museum is the Rum Barrel which looks completely new. They are at 528 Front Street and have a 2nd floor and a good band.

There is also a new place across the street from the Rum Barrel called Big Dogs. They have a nice set of tables on a small porch out front facing the street and indoor dining.

Relatively new is Sarabeth's on Whitehead and Southard. Good for breakfast and lunch.

There is Big Daddy Conchs also on Front which used to be Crabby Bills (not Crabby Dicks which is still on Duval) Crabby Bills used to serve 1.99 / dozen oysters but Big Daddy Conchs doesn't, but it is still a good place to go.

Not new but you probably missed the Rooftop Cafe which is a little up-scale but has great food and is a great place for an afternoon drink. It's on the 2nd floor overlooking the Wrecker's Museum.

And Santiago's Bodega on Petronia just past Chapman Lane.

And there is a new sunset sail called Wind & wine on the (?) Fury catamaran.

Pjk

We always avoid Duval when the cruise ships are in port. In fact, we check the schedule in the am to make sure we miss the hordes. We tend to hang out near the Marina & eat a lot at the Half-Shell, Pepes', BOs' & Mangoes. Also, there is a little bar over there, but the name escapes me. We do a little wandering & a lot of relaxing. W/the kids this time, we'll likely head out to Bahai Honda Park for a day also and get some pool time in. Of course you have to enjoy some good cigars if you are in Key West + we'll check out Mallory Square w/the kids as well.

Why SAnPARIS? I'm off to Paris (from NJ) tomorrow at 6:15 in the afternoon and won't be back until the 16th. I'm gonna hang out at the Half-Shell Raw Bar of Paris - La Taverna Saint Germain. They have dozens of beer on tap (no Key West Sunset Ale) and moules frites (mussels with chips). (Nah Nah)

BTW I will be in Key West 11/19 - 11/26 at the Pier House.

Pjk

SAnParis- Do you like Schooner Wharf? How do you know when the ships are in? I would like to avoid that as well. Thanks.
Pjk- great info ! Enjoy your trip!

http://www.keywestcity.com/depts/por...ruiseships.asp

http://www.gotothekeys.com/key_west_...p_schedule.htm

I think the Chamber of Commerce also has a schedule of when the ships are in.

Pisces is the old Cafe des Artiste next to Duffy's. Sadly, I think the food at Rum Barrel and Big Dogs is awful - we stay just steps from there at the Galleon and had high hopes for both places. If you're planning on Bahia Honda, I assume you'll have a car. One "new" thing my husband and I did during our last trip to Key West was to go look for key deer. It took lots of patience, but boy was it worth it when we finally found them! The road we turned off on was actually a sparcely populated residential neighborhood but after poking along for a while we ended up seeing 15 or 20 tiny key deer.

For food, this isn't new, but you may not have tried the Rusty Anchor and Hogfish on Stock Island. We'd been to the Rusty Anchor several times but just got around to Hogfish our last trip. Fabulous!

One more thing comes to mind...there's a big restaurant on the other side of the Half Shell Raw Bar called Monty's. It has a huge swimming pool and is apparently aimed toward people docking at the marina. I actually love hot dogs but they're a guilty pleasure I only partake on holidays - the ones at Monty's are very good! They have lots of other stuff, too, but with so much fabulous food in Key West, I don't think I'd necessarily recommend it unless you just want to eat cheap in the Key West Bight area. We do that a lot!

LOL, My husband LOVES hotdogs too!

Schooner Wharf is the place that I couldn't recall the name of...yes, we spend some time there...We're staying at a cottage/villa that is part of Eaton Lodge. Usually there is a sign near the Conch Train Tours that posts the time of day that ships will be docking. If not there, right at the end of the street (Duval), I think there is another place that posts the times. SAnParis - as my heart is always there, even though (while very unfortunate) I am not (in Paris). My daughters career path & my retirement plan both have Paris included, we'll see what happens in a few years. Peter - perhaps we can meet for a drink over Thanksgiving if the time allows. Try to enjoy your stay in Paris. Was Crabby Bills the place where they used to have reasonably priced stone crab but you had to crack them yourself (I think) ? I'll miss that adventure if they have changed the menu.

When I went to the cruise schedules that No Name recommended I saw that there are very few if any cruise ships docking on a Sat(exception being Thanksgiving weekend in Nov) Why is this? We will be in the Keys in Marathon from 11/17 to 11/22. Would visiting Key West on Sat, 11/18 be the best day so as to avoid the cruise ships and have the best day in Key West?

TTT

Topping for me...

Monty's has cheap stone crabs during happy hour...2 for $5.00 at the raw bar(already cracked).

Michael's is great for Fondue in their Garden Bar. And a Chocolate Volcano for dessert.

Where is Monty's ? (Or what did Monty's used to be called ??).

Monty's is down at the end of Caroline Street, just past Turtle Kraals and the Half Shell Raw Bar....at the new marina down there. It's always been Monty's.

I've had to have been in it then, we always stay near the Marina...I'll keep an eye out. Farther than Schooner Wharf ? Thanks.

Yup...further down past the Schooner...it's part of the Conch Harbor Marina.

Thanks mm0, hard to believe I've not ventured in there at some point. I'll certainly check it out this go round.

ttt for JIm2003

we really enjoyed dinner at LaTratoria and drinks at Virgilo's...

bookmarking

We're geetting close so I thought I'd top this one more time. The topic came up in conversation about the No Name Pub. Isn't it over by/near/just off of Big Pine Key ? Perhaps one of the locals can provide info for me ?

The only way I remember it is to turn at the only light on Big Pine (turn left if you are heading up the Keys) and then the road quickly splits and there you will keep to the right. Stay on that road and follow the one or two signs to No Name Pub.

http://www.nonamepub.com/

Keith

Thanks guys...didn't know they had a website.

Last chance for input since we're leaving next week.

We were just there and Antonias (Nice Italian restaurant) has started serving lunch! It was really really good!

Since there seems to be a lot of interest in Key West right now....ttt

Key West 12/1-12/7 staying at Galleon on recommendation of good friends,but I see some really conflicting reviews lately anyone been there recently?

Barb - We spend a minimum of 4 weeks a year at the Galleon. We love the rooms overlooking the marina or directly over the Gulf, but not the ones overlooking the pool. Those rooms can be really loud. I would NEVER stay in a lockout unit, so you may've seen reviews of those. We stayed in a ground floor unit once, which wasn't impressive either. The Galleon is expensive, but definitely nothing swanky. The kitchens are nicely appointed and it's great having a washing machine and dryer.

On the negative side, the walls are whitewashed and the furniture always seems to have seen better days. Having said all that, the minute we get home, we start looking forward to our next trip. We go for R&R, but the Galleon is in a perfect location for rest OR partying. Watching the boat traffic is really relaxing, and the restaurants around Key West Bight are great. You're also within close walking distance of the sunset celebrations and tourist activities. I hope you'll have fun!

Has anyone visited the Pirate museum? Do you recomend it?

Keith

Hi, Keith. I think the pirate museum is more for kids - I haven't visited it, but it's only a block or so from where we stay, and they have the most annoying LOUD music outside!

I just got back from Key West and here is what I noticed...

1. There is now a third Fury Cat which is moored at the Key West Bight. This is in addition to the two others that moor at the Mallory Docks. I think this is doing the wind and wine trip.

2. SummerSalt on Front Street may be closing. They had a "Hurricane" sale, everything in the store was 1/2 price and nothing was being re-stocked, and the sales lady did not know for sure what was going on. (I bought a long sleeve and a short sleeve T)

3. The White Street Pier has, indeed, re-opened and it looks as though there will be more improvements.

4. Kelly's has raised the price of chicken wings from $2.50 to $3.50 during happy hour but these remain the best on the island, IMO. Margueritas are still $2.50 and they are renovating the room where the brew equipment is housed, so no micro-brews for another week.

5. The Casa Marina and Reach look like they are being completely renovated, inside and out. An army of construction workers are there every morning. And there is still work being done on the walkway and pipeline between the airport and Smathers Beach. WHAT A MESS.

6. There doesn't seem to be any work done on the Iguana Cafe. It's just a space where the cafe used to be.

7. Martin's Cafe doesn't look like it is moving and the Sunday brunch is as good as ever.

8. The Stars & Stripes has been sold and is no longer at its mooring near the Turtle Kraals. Captain Don is said to be still on the island, but I didn't notice him. After all this time I had a drink at the tower bar at TK.

9. The Pier House has had some renovation but it is complete. The Hyatt is still being worked on with complaints about hammering on the roof.

10. I noticed a Sheraton Suites shuttle which I think is new.

11. Croissants de France is, indeed, open and the breakfasts are as good as ever, but get there, as well as Blue Heaven, before about 9:30 from Friday to Sunday or you will wait an hour. It rained Tuesday and people were taking cabs to have breakfast at Pepes!

12. Seabus is taller than Island Kitty.
Pjk