Hemmingway
House
Duval Street
The pool at Island House
dance parties. And the venues vary just as widely too—from big
bar blasts to crazy karaoke to howl-at-the-moon dance parties to smooth, intimate vibe lounges—there is a party waiting
for you and yours. Grab a cocktail or three and get your island
groove on!
Key West has 14 gay bars ... the most famous is 801 Bourbon
Street which has been going for over 30 years which is a great
bar and upstairs there is nightly cabaret shows.
The Bourbon Street Pub is the hottest video and dance bar in
Key West is open 6 days of the week from 11:00 am to 4:00 am
with Happy Hour Specials daily and dancers on the bar nightly.
Enjoy La Te Da, a beautiful Terrace Bar, with entertaining By
George Piano Bar, or one of the many great performances at the
upstairs Cabaret at La Te Da.
Saloon One is the only gay leather bar in Key West. Where the
real men come to play! Cock Shock is on every Friday @ Midnight!
At Schooners Wharf Bar you can take in great musicians while
you gorge yourself of a variety of fresh seafood.
Aqua Night Club is a bar / club with drag show nightly.
Bobby’s Monkey Bar is a favourite with locals - it has a juke box,
karaoke evenings and special events. Then there’s the Green
Parrot Bar which has live musicians and has been proclaimed as
the best venue for live music. The Hogs Breath Saloon is a great
place for great entertainment and great food. A real fun place.
The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy serves spectacular cocktails and
is a great place to watch the passing parade.
Key West is famous for its fresh seafood and has several award
winning restaurants The Azur Restaurant is Gay owned and
conveniently located in the heart of Old Town and is a locals
favourite for creative Mediterranean specialities. Abbondanza
Italian Restaurant has won several awards and is well worth the
visit. You can also dine at La Te Da
We stayed at the Island House, a very comfortable gay guest
house where clothing in the pool area is optional. They have a
great restaurant where you can dine under lazy ceiling fans and
rustling palms looking at naked men in the pool. The cuisine at
The Café and Bar at Island House is creative and sophisticated
and they have an extensive wine list.
Ricky’s Blue Heaven specialises in Caribbean cuisine, sea food
and vegetarian dishes and if you want to sample local dishes
this is a good place to try. But with over 38 restaurants on then
island you won’t be disappointed either in the choice or the
quality.
When looking for a place to stay the Island House in Fleming
Street is highly recommended. As already mentioned, it is a
clothing-optional resort for men with a pool-side cafe and bar.
Island House has a heated pool, fully equipped gym, sauna,
steam room, two Jacuzzis, erotic video room and was recently
named “The best gay men’s resort in the world,” by OUT Traveller Magazine. But if a clothing optional men only spot is not
your cup-of-tea there are numerous guest houses and hotels on
the Island to choose from.
Key West is not just about partying and naked men. The beaches
are pristine and the weather is kind most of the year. Gay Key
West is blessed with an incredible array of attractions, architecture, historic sites, theatre, concerts, art galleries, water sports,
cinema, drag shows, burlesque, one-of-a-kind shops and live
entertainment all year long. The beautiful, crystal clear waters
are renowned as scuba divers, snorkelers, boaters, fishermen,
paddle boarders, kayakers, waterskiers, and swimmers of all
stripes can testify.
A day trip to Fort Jefferson, 69 miles west of Key West and the
most remote property in their national park system, is a must.
For the truly adventurous there is back country kayaking, skydiving, shipwreck diving and eco-tours. On the rare rainy day
on the island, there are lots of shops, art galleries, studios and
the “best independent cinema in Florida” Visit Hemingway’s
House and the Southernmost Buoy. Of course the most popular
activity often is to do nothing at all! Want to chill? Reserve a
favourite hammock or chaise lounge, break out the sun block,
mix an excellent cocktail and open an interesting book. You will
quickly learn why the most popular bumper sticker in Key West
states: “Slow down! This AIN’T the mainland!” ... so book your
next holiday and visit the Keys...
Mag 13