Planning a trip to ‘paradise’, otherwise known as Key West. Be sure to stop by some of these bars/venues to put the icing on your utopian visit. There is an ocean of hotspots on this tiny heavenly island to experience truly awesome music, anytime day and night. Here are some iconic and new locations we recommend for soaking in some quality sounds.

Food? Well, they serve popcorn! Here the focus is on strong drinks, great music, and lots of chatter.

The music here is spectacular and there is always a first-class performance no matter what genre is playing. We love the tables near the windows, both inside and out. No matter where you sit/lean/stand/hug/smooch it’s a great place to listen, lounge, and laugh.

Come catch a piece of Key West history. And you gotta love their motto… “No Snivelling”.

If you like your music in an outdoor open-air hangout then this is the place for you. With a courtyard stage and two large outdoor bars, Smokin’ Tuna provides a unique island setting and a terrific place to listen to music.

Here you can grab a table, a barstool, even a couch or two and cozy up close listening to some top-notch bands. On most days three different bands perform until the place closes at 2 am. Here is their full music schedule.

Given the outdoor environment, the place has a tropical feel. Noted for their friendly staff and over a dozen frozen drinks, the outdoor patio just adds to the equatorial ambiance. Even though it is outside, the bars and the stage are covered in case of one of those brief Florida showers.

Located just a few steps off famous Duval Street, Smokin’ Tuna offers fine seafood, burgers, and more for lunch and dinner, until 10 pm. Looking for a place to have a private party, give them a call, and they will make it happen.  

Smokin’ Tuna is a proud sponsor of the Mile 0 Music Festival, which runs from January 25th through Saturday the 30th, and the Key West Songwriters Festival, May 4th through the 8th.

So, if you want to sing along, loud, and proud, Smokin’ Tuna, at 4 Charles Street, is the spot you’ll want to hit. And while you're there, maybe give their “smokin’ tuna” a try.

With all those Happy Hour’s you may need something to quell your hunger. Look no further than Garbo’s food truck that sits behind Hank’s. You may think, a Food Truck?? Really?? YES, REALLY!! 

Garbo’s was featured on Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” to rave reviews. With a selection of tacos, burritos, burgers, dogs, and even lobster rolls, Garbo’s surely satisfies any rumbling stomach.

Bring your friends, your dog, your love of music, and your island attitude to 409 Caroline Street and enjoy the great outdoor ambiance for a perfect afternoon/evening. Your pal Spot will love it too, right Spot? WOOF WOOF!!!

Looking for a new music venue to explore in Key West? We’ve got one for you. In 2019, Rams Head purchased a bar and restaurant formerly known as the Blue Macaw. It was also the long-time location of the Bahama Village Straw Market. Now called Rams Head Southernmost, this family-owned location features craft beer, modern island fare, and of course some great tunes.

People who have come to Rams Head rave about the waitresses, waiters, and bartenders. They laud the staff as some of the friendliest, most helpful they have come across.

Rams Head offers some of the best of Key West’s local musicians, and regional artists as well. Check out their daily lineup of live music here. Most days the music runs from 11 am to 2 pm and then again from 5 until 8 pm.

This venue is an open-air outdoor venue set beneath palm and shade trees with a covered area for table seating and at the bar. Oh, they added some fountains to further add to the ambiance.

Locals and visitors alike are enthusiastically praising the food served here. The menu features local favorites like conch fritters, and Key West Pinks Shrimp. But that’s just the start. Fresh salads, tacos, flatbreads, sandwiches, and a varied dinner menu make your choices just a little more difficult.

Open for breakfast at 8:30 daily, don’t miss out on Key West’s largest build your own Bloody Mary Bar.

Choose from a host of unique craft beers you won’t find anywhere else on the island, as well as the traditional bottled favorites. Featuring tropical rum drinks, frozen island specialties, or just your favorite cocktail, enjoy their top-shelf options.

Sit back, relax and enjoy as the musicians strum some old favorites and some new melodies that are sure to become old favorites.

They may be one of the new kids on the block, at 840 Whitehead Street, but stop by and see what the buzz is all about. We wholeheartedly welcome Rams Head to our piece of heaven.

Want to pick up a souvenir or two? There is the Ocean Key Resort just a few steps away, and right next to the Tiki Bar is the Sunset Pier-Surf Shack, with unique tees and island wear.

Be sure to check out Mallory Square, just a short walk down from the pier. Mallory Square has performers, including jugglers and magicians, entertaining the crowds each evening and a collection of shops for all ages. And of course, scintillating views of the sunsets.

Make a plan to visit Sunset Pier and Mallory Square, definitely ‘must-stops’ on your Key West trek.

The American journalist Charles Kuralt once said of Schooner Wharf, “This must be the center of the universe”. No argument here.

Scenic views, a terrific musical aura, excellent food, all in an upbeat waterfront atmosphere. Need we say more? Stop on in.

Sloppy Joe’s

Sloppy Joe’s is technically an ‘inside’ venue, but that is a bit of a misnomer. The sun and the sea breeze flow through the always-open doors, and windows providing an outdoor tropical feel all year round.

Always a cheerful, electric, happening place. Sloppy Joe’s is absolutely a Key West Tradition.

Originally opened in 1976 in Ft. Walton Beach Florida, as a place where watermen and women could hang out after a day fishing or sailing. In 1988, Hog’s Breath was established in Key West with the same concept in mind. Being the ‘island nation’ that Key West is, Hog’s Breath has been a favorite ever since.  

Although the name may not have a tropical ring, it is absolutely one of the most popular local hotspots in Key West. Located at the corner of Front and Duval, Hog’s Breath opens every day at 10 am and delivers music starting at noon. Three different musicians play straight through until closing time.

The music is set up in the mostly covered open-air section as you enter from Duval Street. It is an intimate spot to perform and the interaction between performers and attendees is unique.

By the stage are two bars, one larger, one smaller, with plenty of seats and tables to sit back and enjoy the music. With the intimacy of the place, you’ll find that you are in conversations with locals and tourists from all over. In short, there is just an upbeat lively character here.

Hog’s Breath also has another fully covered bar with tables if you would like to catch the music in a slightly, very slightly, laid-back atmosphere. Find out who is entertaining here at their music schedule.

Their menu is varied, providing options sure to please. Start off with the raw bar and enjoy fresh oysters, gulf shrimp, and when in season, stone crab claws. Since the name is Hog’s Breath of course they have a wonderful pulled pork sandwich. Also, burgers, salads, and other house specialties.

They have great ‘gear’ too. In our travels up and down the East Coast, one of the t-shirts that we have seen most often from Key West is the Hog’s Breath tee. When we say that we have been to Hog’s Breath too, great stories are shared about the place.

Their slogan, “Hog’s breath is better than no breath at all” is a take-off of the owner’s grandmother who used to say, “bad breath is better than no breath at all”. We agree because that means, we are still alive and breathing.

So, when you find yourself at the corner of Front and Duval, take a deep 'breath’, come on in and enjoy the vibrant spirit.