If you are driving from Miami to Key West, plan a stop at one of the best restaurants in Key Largo to fuel your drive! Don’t just drive through town. You’d really be missing out.
So many people drive through the Upper Keys, not knowing everything they have to offer.
The Upper Keys are part of an island chain off the coast of Florida, technically consisting of Islamorada, Tavernier, Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Tea Table Key, Lignumvitae, and, of course, the first and longest key, Key Largo. It’s also the most happening hotspot in the area.
The Upper Keys have a reputation for offering a slice of the good life, and we all know that’s impossible without an abundance of tasty eats to try. The cuisine scene here is top-notch, with delicious dishes ranging from fresh seafood to authentic Italian.
On our last two road trips to Key West from Miami, we spent at least a few nights in Key Largo. There are a ton of things to do in Key Largo, and it’s a great place to break up the drive. There are also a ton of great restaurants in Key Largo as well.
You’re sure to enjoy a delicious sojourn exploring all of the best restaurants in Key Largo.
Best Key Largo Restaurants
1. Key Largo Conch House
The Key Largo Conch House is a family-owned and operated eatery with a commitment to creating sustainable fares. The ambiance is relaxed and cozy as it’s set inside an actual home that comes complete with an adorable garden space.
As their name suggests, conch is the thing to order, no matter whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner! You can even order conch at breakfast. Make sure to try the cracked conch benedict.
The menu is both extensive and eclectic, with an array of delectable plates from Vegan Curry to Ahi Tuna Tacos to Chicken Roulade. The Conch Fritters are a super popular staple here as well. You can even order a platter entree, which allows you to share with the table or enjoy a little taste of everything offered.
For any adventurous eaters, a classic Florida cuisine, Gator Bites, graces these culinary choices too. You can learn about the history of the area and the restaurant by reading tidbits and tales on the menu as you consider which tasty creation to try.
2. Buzzard’s Roost
Buzzard’s Roost is one of the best restaurants in Key Largo. It’s set along the stunning seas of the Garden Cove Marina. The tropical environment creates a paradisiacal feel, complete with tiki bar decor.
Ordering the catch of the day is always a great call here, straight out of the sparkling seas right in front of you! You can even get there by boat, and what a way to arrive. There’s a wide variety of delicious seafood dishes to choose from. The menu is extensive, with plenty of plates to pick from for meat-eaters and vegetarians.
The weekends can get busy as the beautiful brunches have become a beloved tradition. The evenings are just as happening with super happy hour deals and fun live music out on the deck. I love their outdoor waterfront patio. It is an excellent Key Largo waterfront restaurant to enjoy a meal or glass of wine before dinner.
If you are coming from John Pennenkamp Coral Reef State Park, this restaurant is really close. It is a great place to relax after out diving or snorkeling in Key Largo.
3. Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen
Mrs. Mac’s is an award-winning dining destination and a long-running local legend of the Upper Keys. They have great food, and is a Key Largo stop we always make when driving down the Florida Keys headed to Key West.
The kitchen opened in 1976 and has been an iconic institution ever since. It has a kitschy cafe ambiance that feels homey and unique all at the same time.
They serve American and Caribbean-style cuisine using all original family recipes passed down over many years. Classic home-cooked fares include hearty Homemade Chilli, Crab Cakes, and Conch Chowder.
It’s a hometown haunt offering an authentic atmosphere in Key Largo, perfect for any meal of the day. Brunch specials even come with a glass of champagne to pair with shrimp and grits, fluffy gourmet omelets, or delicious dishes from the henhouse, and what a way to start the day!
If you are looking for the best breakfast in Key Largo, make sure to head to Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen! Oh, and if you have room, make sure to get a slice of key lime pie! They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The restaurant become so popular there are now two locations. They are within minutes of each other. One is open much later than the other.
4. The Fish House
The Fish House specializes in dock-to-table fares and is a stalwart restaurant fixture of the foodie scene in the Upper Keys. The laid-back environment is authentically fun, perfectly encapsulating Florida culture.
The restaurant and bar dining room ceiling is covered in colorful lights, and the walls are adorned with framed photographs, creating a festive and nautical feel. It is one of those Key Largo restaurants that everyone knows about and is always busy.
The focus here is conch cooking, and they have many signature chowders along with fresh fish dishes that are either smoked, steamed, or sauteed. Besides conch, the menu offers tons of other fish options, including yellowtail snapper, shrimp, mahi mahi, grouper, Florida lobster, shrimp, stone crab, and a few meat dishes for those non fish eaters. Make sure to save room for their award-winning Key Lime pie.
The season dictates the menu, with conditions and availability affecting what the local commercial fishermen can catch daily. If you love fresh seafood and fish, this is one of the best restaurants in the Florida Keys for you.
There’s even a cool fish market right on-site, making it easier than ever to shop for that perfect souvenir. The full bar offers craft beers or specialty cocktails to indulge in as well.
The Fish House is open for lunch and dinner. Because it is one of the most popular Key Largo restaurants, they are always busy. You can get your order to go. On our last visit to the Florida Keys, we went in and ordered our fish to go. We had the kids with us, which was just easier for us. The restaurant is the busiest for dinner.
5. DiGiorgio’s Cafe Largo
Digiorgio’s is the place to be for authentic Italian fares set right in the heart of Key Largo. It’s been around since 1968. It’s an old-school family joint with elegant decor that creates a very welcoming ambiance.
The menu features traditional eats with a modern twist and focuses on handmade pasta and red sauces. It’s also a fun way to enjoy fresh local seafood in a different style, such as the Mussels Arrabiata.
The pasta your way option is also such a cool custom part of the menu, where you can pick the sauce, noodles, and protein to make your very own mouth-watering masterpiece. We also highly recommend the truffle lobster mac & cheese, which was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive Inn’s and Dives TV show.
Every recipe has been around for hundreds of years, and there’s an extensive selection of Italian wines for pairing. They have new and creative specials on the menu each day as well.
6. Sal’s Ballyhoo’s
For over 30 years, Chef Salvador Barrios has been serving up some of the best seafood in Key Largo. His restaurant Sal’s Ballyhoo’s serves upscale fresh seafood dishes that all have a surprising Southern twist.
You’ll go for the sweet, silly name and stay for the inviting and cozy atmosphere at this loveable local haunt. It’s a no-frills space decorated with quaint nautical touches. There’s even a tiny outdoor garden that is lovely.
There are vegetarian and vegan options here, plus an all-you-can-eat crab choice, which is always a crowd-pleaser. The Cast Iron Mahi, Conch Fritters, and the Bayou Pasta are some other stand-out tasty dishes at Sal’s Ballyhoo’s.
There are daily chef specials as well, which usually feature fresh fish catch cooked up in a creative way. It’s also a place where it’s wise to try and save some room for dessert. They’re known for having some of the best Key Lime Pie in Key Largo!
7. Hideout
The Hideout is a delightful diner cooking tasty, traditional, Southern-style breakfasts and lunches. Plates heaped with hearty portions of favorite comfort foods for an affordable price, this place is a great pick of all the best restaurants in Key Largo.
The cozy space is packed with personality! There’s a lovely outdoor deck that’s dog-friendly for soaking up some beautiful Florida sunshine. Biscuits and Gravy, Country Benedict, and the Pulled Pork Sandwich are some of the savory standouts.
There’s an authentic all-you-can-eat fish fry every Friday, a time-honored tradition in Florida. For honest and straightforward food that always hits the spot, hit up the Hideout.
If you ask locals what one of their favorite Key Largo restaurants is, often the Hideout restaurant is one of their favorite restaurants.
8. Sol by the Sea
The definition of coastal chic, Sol by the Sea, is located at the Playa Largo Resort. The cuisine is Caribbean-inspired cuisines.
The airy restaurant atmosphere is charmingly rustic with a bohemian flair, and the beachfront location boasts some of the best sunset views around. The setting alone is worth a stop here, but every bite does its best to match the beauty too.
Everything from the steamed mussels to the wasabi tuna burger is prepared fresh using local, seasonal ingredients. We like to start our meal with the peel & eat shrimp. The seafood mac and cheese makes for a mouthwatering meal as well. If you are looking for a sandwich, the lobster roll is really popular with diners.
Some cocktails available here are expertly crafted, with creative choices like the Amante Buck. They are open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
If you are looking for one of the best restaurants in Key Largo for a date night or romantic setting, come here during sunset. You will not be disappointed.
9. Bayside Grille & Sunset Bar
If you are looking for a Key Largo restaurant with a view, head to Bayside Grille. If you’ve been following us for a while, you know we love sunset, and nothing is better than eating fresh seafood on the beach while watching the sunset.
If you aren’t hungry, come for just a drink. Bayside Grille is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Key Largo.
Their menu is full of seafood options, which, given on the sea, is all the tasty fresh seafood. For a fun seafood twist on classic dishes, try the seafood nachos with pink shrimp, scallops, and Mahi. You can never go wrong with calamari; they serve it with a really good orange chili dipping sauce.
For the mains, I would suggest asking what the fresh catch of the day is my go-to. There is something special about fresh fish in Florida. I then love getting that cajun seasoned and blackened.
For non-seafood lovers, this bayside restaurant offers burgers, chicken, steak, pork, and more. You won’t be left hungry, that is for sure!
10. Sundowners
Sundowners is an aptly named establishment known for being the best spot around to watch the captivating scene created by a Florida Keys sunset. It’s been drawing in crowds each night since 1982 to catch the natural show and chow down on tasty cuisine right along with it.
The restaurant space is set right on the sea and is covered in glass walls, though the shaded deck and picturesque patio are generally the preferred seating setups.
All of the fresh seafood is cooked up here in classic local styles. The Key Lime Seafood is traditionally tasty and super craveable. No matter if you order shrimp, lobster, etc. Make sure to get a side of the Key Lime butter sauce!
On top of all this, there are incredible daily happy hours, live music, and an impressive raw bar. If you are looking for Key Largo restaurants on the water with great sunset views, Sundowners is one of the best places.
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11. Hobo’s Cafe
Another good Key Largo seafood restaurant worth checking out is Hobo’s Cafe. They have been serving up local seafood since 1991. They source both the seafood and products from local fishermen, farms, and producers.
We suggest going for lunch, and it’s the best lunch in Key Largo if you ask us. Whatever you order, make sure to get the conch fritters.
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12. Skipper’s Dockside
Skipper’s Dockside is located at Mile Marker 100, located right in the Marina Del Mar Resort & Marina. It is one of our favorite dockside restaurants in Key Largo.
Their menu has something for everyone, from coconut shrimp, oven-roasted flatbreads, fresh seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and more. We suggest getting the Key Largo tacos or building your own burger.
If you go out fishing in Key Largo, you can bring your catch in, and Skipper’s Dockside will cook it up and serve it with fries, veggies, and slaw for a set fee per person.
If you happen to be driving by during happy hour, 3 pm-6 pm, make sure to stop in. They have both drink and food deals. Click here for current happy hour specials. Skipper’s Dockside is one of the best tiki bars in Key Largo!
13. Num Thai Restaurant & Sushi Bar
I am sure you weren’t expecting a strip mall restaurant, let alone a Thai restaurant on this list. Trust us; Num Thai is worth the trip. We spent over a year traveling around Thailand and consider ourselves Thai food snobs!
If you find yourself craving Sushi or Thai food, Num Thai is one of the best restaurants in Downtown Key Largo. If you are traveling with kids, they will love the robot that delivers the food to your table. Your wallet will love it here, too; the prices are super affordable. Our go-to is the Pad Thai!
14. Old Tavernier Restaurant & Lounge
This laid-back restaurant has been serving authentic Greek & Italian dishes since 1991. Everything is homemade, EVERYTHING. I am talking down to the extra-virgin olive oil that is grown in the family’s olive groves in Southern Greece! Yes, I am serious.
We suggest starting your meal with a Greek salad. For the main dish, both the Greek-style whole fish and the rack of lamb are solid choices.
15. C&C Wood Fire Eats
Our final best Key Largo restaurant is C&C Wood Fire Eats, which serves some of the best pizza in Key Largo. They are most known for their wood-fired oven pizza and cheese boards, which are both a must.
Their menu changes often, so make sure to check it out before dining. For an additional charge, you can make any of their pizzas with a gluten-free crust. They also have a great wine selection to pair with your meal. If you love pizza, put this restaurant on your list.
Bonus Restaurant and Bar Options in Key Largo
After publishing our Key Largo restaurant article, we got several emails from our readers with additional restaurants in the area they love.
Here are two restaurants that keep getting mentioned:
- Lazy Lobster Seafood Restaurant
- Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Cafe
Where is your favorite restaurant in Key Largo?
We are always looking for new Key Largo restaurants to try out on our drive from Miami to Key West, and we know we’ll stop and spend at least one night in Key Largo!
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Norma Ornelas
Wednesday 23rd of March 2022
Lazy lobster is the best in Key Largo!!!
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Wednesday 23rd of March 2022
Did you say the best lobster in Key Largo?!?! Ok, we got to check them out!
Lupita Ornelas
Wednesday 23rd of March 2022
Definitely need to try The High Tide Restaurant next time your in Key Largo!
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Wednesday 23rd of March 2022
We actually almost went there on our last trip, now I am super bummed we missed it. Adding it to our list for next time. Thanks!
Jeffrey Creen
Tuesday 22nd of March 2022
Great article, but you left out Doc's Diner, where you can enjoy one of the best breakfasts in the Keys!
Hannah Lukaszewicz
Wednesday 23rd of March 2022
We are always on the hunt for a good breakfast. If they have the best breakfast in Key Largo we will have to check them out next time. Thanks for the suggestion.