Whether you're in the mood for a rum runner or you're hankering for an over-the-top key lime pie cocktail with a graham cracker rim, the best cocktail bars in Key West will take care of you. These classic cocktails encompass island life in origin or personality - or both. Sidle up to the bar for the best cocktails Key West has to offer.
Frozen Margarita @ Toasted Coconut
Sometimes in Key West, a margarita is immediately required, and Toasted Coconut’s sugary slushie makes it happen in the easiest way possible. Located right next to the pool at 24 North Hotel, the laid-back, family-friendly restaurant serves up a frozen margarita that is perfectly strong. For folks who prefer their drinks on the rocks, Toasted Coconut has those too.
Key Lime Pie Martini @ Rum Row
If you enjoy the occasional slice of key lime pie, then you have got to try Sloan’s Key Lime Pie from Rum Row, located next door to 24 North Hotel. The beachy dessert cocktail is made with Key West First Legal Rum, fresh key lime juice, a dash of condensed milk, cardamom liqueur, and simple syrup, and a fresh egg. The really interesting aspect is the dollop of whipped cream and crushed graham cracker and Captain Crunch rim, which finishes off the pie experience perfectly. For a mini version of the drink, visit Tiki House for their key lime pie shot. The shooter is made with Licor 43, key lime juice, and a graham cracker rim.
Mojito @ Willie T’s
There’s something about the minty flavor of a mojito that pairs perfectly with a hot day in Key West. Whether you’re craving the traditional cocktail or a fun flavored one, Willie T’s has a specialty mojito for you - 30 of them to be exact. Served with fresh muddled mint, limes, and sugar cane, Willie T’s varieties include Deep Eddy’s Sweet Tea Vodka, Smirnoff Pear, Parrot Bay Mango Rum, Soho Lychee, Espresso, Mimosa Breakfast, and so much more. Styled after Cuban bars of the 1940s, Republica Bar & Lounge at 24 North Hotel also has a medley of mojito options, from mango to key lime. Test your tastebuds to see what’s best!
Rum Runner @ Island Dogs
Created in the 1950s at the Tiki Bar of Holiday Isle in Islamorada, the rum runner is the quintessential cocktail of the Florida Keys. Island Dogs Bar serves a particularly delicious variety of the tropical cocktail, with Myers’s Dark Rum, Don Q Light Rum, blackberry brandy, banana liquor, and a splash of orange and pineapple juice. The cocktail is topped with Bacardi 151 and garnished with an orange wedge and cherry.
Key West Sunset @ Irish Kevin’s
The fruity cocktail emulates the colors of a Key West sunset by mixing Deep Eddy orange vodka, orange juice, and cranberry. Find this cocktail at Irish Kevin’s on Duval Street, or try Alonzo’s Oyster Bar’s interpretation of the drink, which is made with Mount Gay Rum, banana, and peach liqueur. Republica Bar & Lounge offers a fun smoked version of the cocktail, with Key West Smugglers Whiskey, sweet vermouth, Pama pomegranate liqueur, and fresh squeezed orange and lemon juice.
Hurricane @ Smokin’ Tuna Saloon
The tropical cocktail may have originated in New Orleans, but the Conchs love a good hurricane (no, not that kind of hurricane). Find the rum heavy drink at Smokin’ Tuna Saloon. The tried-and-true cocktail is made with Captain Morgan White Rum and spiced rum, mixed with passion fruit and a dash of grenadine.
Daiquiri @ Tiki House
So the story goes, Ernest Hemingway loved his daiquiris - sans sugar and double the rum. Key West honors their beloved resident by including their own version of Hemingway’s drink on almost every cocktail menu on the island. Tiki House makes theirs with Bacardi Superior Rum, fresh lime, and caramelized Demerara syrup.
Cigar Smoking Smuggler @ Republica Bar & Lounge
Adding smoke to any cocktail adds a depth of flavor that compliments the ingredients. Republica Bar & Lounge’s Cigar Smoking Smuggler does just that, but with an infusion of cigar smoke. The cocktail is made with Key West Smugglers Whiskey, agave syrup, aromatic bitters, orange bitters, and Italian dark red cherry infused with smoke from a Rodriguez Reserve cigar.
Sip and savor Key West with a stay at 24 North Hotel. We have amenities that set us apart from the rest, such as hourly shuttle service to Mallory Square in Old Town and the newly reopened Republica Bar & Lounge. We also have a Starbucks on site, as well as an awesome pool area, poolside restaurant, and clean, comfortable rooms. Check out our rooms here, and look to see which of our online specials work for you.
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