The Key West Food & Wine Festival is set for six days of food, wine, and all things fine Jan. 23 - 28, 2024 across the Conch Republic.
The annual event showcases inventive cuisine and a diverse range of wines introduced by their respective chefs and vintners. For its 15th year, the festival will celebrate everything España, highlighting Spain’s food, wine, art, and culture.
This is the perfect time of year for travelers to escape the cold winter and enjoy the balmy weather of Key West! Read on for everything you need to know about this year’s festival.
[5 Spots to Spend Your #WineDownWednesday in Key West]
Location, Parking, and Transportation: Key West Food & Wine Festival
The Key West Food & Wine Festival will be held at select locations around the island. 24 North Hotel offers shuttle service to Old Town and comfortable, clean rooms for guests attending the event. See our specials here.
Once you’re in Old Town, we recommend the Duval Loop Bus, which will deliver you within steps of most festival locales. The free hop-on hop-off bus service runs along Grinnell Street, Caroline Street, Simonton Street, Front Street, up the length of Whitehead, and through Truman Waterfront. See their website for a route map.
Events and Schedule: Key West Food & Wine Festival
Events include tastings, winemaker and chef collaborations, and local events that present an authentic taste of Spain. Check out a complete schedule of events below and visit the festival’s official website for so much more, including featured wines, complete tasting menus, Spanish artworks and artists, and information about the visiting master sommeliers.
Daily Events
Visit the Festival's Welcome Center daily at Ocean Sotheby's International Realty at 1075 Duval St., Suite 15 C to pick up your VIP gift, purchase the official limited edition 2024 festival poster, enjoy a wine tasting, and purchase tickets to festival events. Ocean Sotheby’s opens daily at 10 a.m.
Every morning, The Garden Café at 1105 Simonton St. will serve Spanish breakfast with cortados and free Cava mimosas. The Garden Café opens daily at 8 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Meet the official festival poster artist Carlos Guzmán at Ocean Sotheby's International Realty at 1075 Duval St., Suite 15 C for an Artist Reception featuring Guzmán’s extraordinary original works, tapas, and Spanish sangria. 4 - 6 p.m.
Papa’s Pilar Rum Dinner will serve a curated food menu with flavors of Spain, paired with libations created by rum mixologist specialist Jordan Highes. The dinner is held at the Hemingway Social Club at 201 Simonton St. 6 - 9 p.m.
“The connoisseur does not drink wine but tastes of its secrets” - Salvador Dalí
Wednesday, Jan. 24
The Osborne Tasting Vermouth, Sherry, and Brandy Lunch at Audubon House & Tropical Gardens at 205 Whitehead St. will showcase the 250 year old winery’s internationally renowned wines paired with Chef Jennifer Cornnell’s delicious dishes like Cantabrian anchovies in olive oil, classic Andalusian gazpacho, Albondigas, and burnt Basque cheesecake. 12 - 2 p.m.
The Harlequin’s Carnival Dinner, named after the 1924 surrealist painting by Catalan painter Joan Miró and curated by Chef David Fuhrman, will take place at the Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House at 281 Front St. Dishes include a Valencia bowl with saffron infused Valencia rice, Catalan short rib, a Pintxo bar with Spanish tomato bread and manchego, and mussels escabeche shots. 5 - 7 p.m. Arrive early for a complimentary museum tour at 4 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 25
There are two lunches on Thursday to choose from, so choose wisely! Calatrava's Ysios Wine Lunch at the Old Havana Cigar Company is prepared by Culinary Conch and Spanish Seafood Specialist Chef Martin Liz (highlights include a traditional octopus dish known as pulpo a la gallega, Manchego cheese, and Paella three ways), and features wines from Enriquez Estate Wines and Ysios Wines. 12 - 2 p.m. Next up, Lunch with Andrew McCarthy stars the New York Times bestselling author of Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain. Executive Chef Yeni Mendoza’s dishes include chorizo a la cidra, and croquetas rellenas de setas seared scallops. The dinner will be held at Yellowfin Bar & Kitchen at 5950 Peninsular Ave. 12 - 2 p.m.
Later, head to the Fort West Martello Tower at 1100 Atlantic Blvd. for the Picasso Violin and Grapes Wine Stroll. The 4-hour walk consists of seven stops, each presenting select wines and food course pairings under the direction of Chef David Fuhrman. 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 26
Sharpen your skills at the Wölfe Cutlery Class in the Harbor Room next to Blue Mojito at 601 Front St. Learn knife handling, fundamental techniques, and sip on cocktails during this seminar presented by Devlin and Emily Forsythe, the husband and wife team behind Wölfe Cutlery. 10 - 2 p.m.
Visit the Hemingway Social Club once again for the Cooperage & Cocktails Lunch with Andrew McNamara, Papa's Pilar Master Sommelier, and Cooperage Consultant Bahama Bob, Key West Rum Maker and Innovation Consultant. Learn from the experts while you sip on the complex flavor profile of their sherry cask rum cocktail, and enjoy a lunch prepared by Chef Pietro Condorti. 12 - 2 p.m.
In what is being called “surrealist fine dining,” The Wines of Gala in the Surreal Garden will channel the exotic flavors and elaborate imaginings behind the legendary dinner parties of Salvador Dali. The menu is loosely based on Dali's Cookbook. Dress in your most outlandish costume for the dinner curated by Chef Eniko Bancs and hosted at The Garden Café & Kiki's Corner Wine Bar at 1105 Simonton St. 6 - 9 p.m.
“In wine, there is truth” - Pliny the Elder
Saturday, Jan. 27
The Grape Harvest Wine Lunch, named after Spanish Romantic painter Francisco José de Goya, puts different styles of Albariño wine front and center, paired with Chef Layla Barr’s plates like marinated shellfish, chilled beet and strawberry soup, and Iberico ham. The lunch will be at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 401 Duval St. 12 - 2 p.m.
The Bodegas Güell Grand Tasting will have butler passed hors d'oeuvres, a Spanish olive oil bar, and more creations by Chef Martin Liz. The Fort East Martello Tower at the Citadel hosts the evening inspired by the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. 5 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 28
Close out the 15th annual Key West Food & Wine Festival with a Spanish Brunch with Eggs by Chef Pietro Consorti, inspired by Diego Velázquez’s Old Woman Frying Eggs 1618 painting. Brunch is served at Hyatt Centric Beach at 601 Front St. 12 - 2 p.m.
Lastly, stop by the Key West Artisan Market at Higgs Beach for the Food & Wine Edition of this popular Key West tradition. Culinary explorers and visitors alike can enjoy a wide-range of products from local and international vendors during this special iteration. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Key West Food & Wine Festival Tickets
Tickets for scheduled events are available on the Key West Food & Wine Festival website. Or, visit the Welcome Center at 1075 Duval St. Suite 15 C on festival weekdays for tickets, merch, a taste of wine, and your VIP gift.
Book Your Key West Hotel
That same week, Mile 0 Festival, dubbed “the friendliest and best fest out there,” will bring the best of Red Dirt and Americana music to Key West. Book your Key West hotel just steps from all the festival action here.
Planning a stay in Key West? Check out our best rates at 24 North Hotel. We have an on-site Starbucks, shuttle service to Old Town, and our pool area is one of the best on the island. See our special offers - including rates just for Florida and Georgia residents.
“Wine is sunlight, held together by water” - Galileo Galilei
Get the Key West Food & Wine Festival party started early on Tuesday, Jan. 23 during All Day Happy Hour on Rooster Row. See a full list of All Day Happy Hour participants including 24 North Hotel’s poolside Toasted Coconut and Rum Row located next door at our sister hotel, The Gates Hotel. See more events at 24 North Hotel.
Share your opinion on this article
Special Offers
[[offer.short_description | limitTo: 90]][[offer.short_description.length > 90 ? '...' : '']]