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Tag: Key West News

Get the latest LGBT+ Key West News from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Key West.

  • 10 best places to eat in Key West

    10 best places to eat in Key West

    If you’re looking for places to eat Key West has a huge array of restaurants, cafes and bars all servicing delicious food.

    FitzFox / Pixabay

    Without a doubt. seafood is the mainstay of Island eating – but there’s a fusion that happens at many of Key West‘s restaurants. There’s a strong Carribean and Latin influence, thanks to the Keys’ geographical location. Boatloads of trawlers ensure daily arrival of fresh fish. Vegetarians, vegans, meat eaters and pizza lovers won’t be disappointed by what’s on offer as well.

    There are over 300 restaurants listed for Key West, but here are just 10 of our favourites.

    Bagatelle (115 Duval Street, FL 33040)

    Go to Bagatelle for the ultimate in people watching and the best mojito on the island. Be sure to book first and ask for a seat on the veranda on the second floor. There you’ll be able to watch the streams of people who are on the strip below as the island’s night scene comes to life. Slip your ice-cold cocktail as live music drifts from a nearby venue. Heaven. https://bagatellekw.com/

    Island House (1129 Fleming Street, FL 33040)

    Island House is one of the gay-go-tos on Key West. The food is of good quality, but the real reason you’ll stay is for the poolside view, as you chow down on your club sandwich. Island House resort has a clothing optional policy for its guests.  Sip a cocktail while checking out the local talent. https://islandhousekeywest.com/

    The Flaming Buoy (1100 Packer Street, FL 33040)

    If going gay is your policy then The Flaming Buoy should be on your list of places to eat. It opens nightly at 6 PM. This highly rated eatery offers Key specials including the fresh catch, pan seared with banana salsa ($28) or the red Thai curry with grilled Key West pink shrimp.

    Hot Tin Roof for Sunday Brunch. ( 1 Duvall Street)

    One more absolutely gay thing to do is Sunday brunch at the Hot Tin Roof. This is one of Key Voices Magazine’s must do’s. Author Greg informs us, “my FAVORITE meal there is Sunday brunch. The indoor/outdoor dining venue offers delightful ocean views and unlimited small plates a la carte (no buffet lines for me, thank you!)”.

    A word to the wise, arrive hungry and make your reservation a COUPLE OF MONTHS in advance. The set price is $49 and includes a full Bloody Mary bar and bottomless mimosas!

    Bien (1000 Eaton Street, FL 33040)

    Bien is the highest rated restaurant on Key West according to Trip Advisor. It serves a fusion of Latin and Caribbean food with good vegetarian options. Best still it’s well priced. Average prices are between £3 and £12 for a dish.

    Duetto Pizza and Gelato (540 Greene Street FL 33040)

    According to Trip Advisor, there’s only one place to get pizza in Key West, and that’s over at Duetto Pizza and Gelato on 540 Green Street. It’s a small place and is famed for its pizza, which you can eat in, takeout or even get delivered. At the time of publishing, It has amassed over 2300 reviews with 94 percent of them rated as Excellent or Very Good. It’s cheap too, at $20 for a margarita to share (6 big slices in total) you really can’t go wrong.

    Azur Restaurant (425 Grinnell Street, FL 33040)

    There’s a special deal at this gay-owned restaurant, get 50 percent off your food if you join them for dinner from 5:30 PM until 7:00 PM. Here you can experience Mediterranean specialities in the comfort of the shaded terrace or from the newly renovated dining room. Find out more: https://www.azurkeywest.com/

    Nine One Five Restaurant and Bar (915 Duvall Street FL 33040)

    If you’re looking for Tapas, there’s only one option 915. It is one of the sister restaurants to Bagatelle, mentioned above. The menu is stuffed with wonderful, well-priced options and you can eat on the typical Key West style veranda. Brendan Orr, the restaurant’s executive chef, has called Key West his home for 20 years and is famous locally for his New Island cuisine, described as “an artful combination of fresh local fare, Caribbean spices, Asian influences and French technique”. Yum!

    Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen And Bar (7001 Shrimp Road Drive, FL 33040)

    Although technically not on Key West, it’s one Key over; we couldn’t help but include Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen and Bar. The food is sensational and the service excellent. Try the Black Grouper one of the restaurant’s specialities and get some Cornbread Mash – it’s to die for. Follow with their sublime and traditional Key Lime Pie. Find out more: https://www.perrykeywest.com/eat-and-drink/matts-stock-island

    Better Than Sex (926 Simonton Street, FL 33040)

    What is better than sex? Dessert. Always. One reviewer on Google wrote,  “Is it really better than sex, though? It had me moaning, groaning, and saying phrases like, “Oh my God”. So, it has got to be close!” With infamous names like The Klimax, The Slip Inside and The Money Shot, we know where we’re retiring after our meal, and it isn’t the bedroom.

     

    Where to stay?

    The Equator Resort offers the perfect gay away and offers rooms from as little as $159 per night.

  • Top 10 gay things to do in Key West for free

    Top 10 gay things to do in Key West for free

    Making a trip to Key West? Here are some of the must-see, free things to do while on the gay-friendly island.

    free things to do in Key West, USA

    Big gay road trip

    Firstly getting to Key West can be one big gay affair with your very own big gay road trip. Key West is by far one of the most friendly areas for gay travellers in the United States outside San Francisco or New York.

    Travelling by car to any of the keys is definitely the most impressive way to see all the keys and their different styles. Simply slap on some Shania Twain, Britney and Kylie and sing your heart out in a convertible for mile after mile.

    Gay Key West Visitors Centre

    Want to find out more about what’s gay in Key West the helpful Gay Key West Visitors’ Centre should be your first stop.

    Hot tub it at a gay guest house

    Bourbon has an all-male guest house called New Orleans House (724 Duval Street). You don’t need to be a guest to use their facilities, but drinks and foods are chargeable. So why not take a dip in one of their pools and feel free to shed some clothes as the resort is clothing optional.

    Pan Am’s birthplace

    Pan Am was an iconic airline which can trace its roots to Key West. Pan Am was seen as one of the world’s finest airlines. It introduced the world to the Jumbo Jet, was the first airline to space (in film anyway, thanks to 2001: A Space Odessey) and its camp but classic uniforms have been copied and revered countless times, including in the Britney Spears’ music video for ‘Toxic’. As far as we know, Pan Am is the only airline that has a drag queen named after it, Pam Ann.

    Photograph yourself with an icon

    Fancy getting up and close to a true icon. Outside the Tropic cinema, there’s a life-size model of Marilyn Monroe. Make sure you see the cinema at night when the neon lights shine brightly making the independent cinema complex a must-see on the island.

    Gay bar crawl

    It’s quite easy to do a gay bar crawl in Key West, after all, they are, for the most part, on one street, Duval Street. There’s the Bourbon Street Pub, 801, Bobby’s Monkey Bar, Aqua Key West, La Te Da, Saloon1, Garden of Eden. Duval Street is also famous for having the world’s biggest pride flag unravelled along its 1.25 miles.801 Bourbon Bar and Bobbies Monkey Bar provide free Karaoke most days of the week.

     

    Key West Historical Memorial Sculpture Garden

    Key people to Key West are memorialised at the Sculpture Garden, including writer Tennessee Williams who was key to assimilating the LGBT community into Key West. While you’re at you could pop into the Tennessee Williams’ exhibit. He lived in Key West until his death in 1983. It is open daily from 9:30 AM til 4:30 PM (there is an admission charge for the museum).

    Kissing your partner at the southernmost sunset in the USA

    Every night hundreds of people gather at Mallory Square to watch and applaud the setting of the sun. It’s one of the most beautiful sights you’ll see and well worth giving your partner a quick smooch as the sun goes down.

    Holding hands at the southernmost point of the USA

    Hold your partner’s hand at the southernmost point on continental USA.

    Higgs Beach

    Although technically not a “gay beach” Higgs has a poignant AIDS memorial, which informs visitors about gay history. The beach is at the southern end of White St. with Higgs Beach Dog Park on the Westside.

    Find out more about the Keys at the official website

     

  • Where is the world’s biggest Pride flag?

    The world’s biggest pride flag was revealed in Key West in Florida.

    Where is the world's biggest Pride flag?

    In 2003 Key West was the staging ground for the world’s largest Pride flag, which measured 1.25 miles. It ran the length of Duval Street – 14 blocks to be precise. Duval Street is where most of the island’s gay venues are situated.

    The flag was created by the original designer Gilbert Baker who spent three months in Key West assembling the flag. It weighed a massive 3 tons and took about 17600 linear yards of fabric.  It took 2000 volunteers to raise the flag in 2003.

    Where is the world’s biggest Pride flag now?

    The flag has, since 2003, had sections displayed at global events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, and Australia’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. They have been shown internationally in Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, England and Australia; and domestically in cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Atlanta.

    Where’s the biggest pride flag in the UK?

    The UK’s biggest pride flag was revealed by Cornwall Pride and was extensively photographed at the world’s first pride tour, which stopped by 11 towns and cities in England’s southernmost county. Here it is being displayed by St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

  • What’s the best way to get to the Keys in Florida?

    What’s the best way to get to the Keys in Florida?

    The Keys in Florida is a must visit for any gay traveller to the States, but what’s the best way of getting there and which Key should you go to?

    Gay and LGBT things to do in Key West.
    FitzFox / Pixabay

    At the far reaches of the Keys is Key West, which is where you’ll find most of the Keys’ gay life. There are three main ways in which you can arrive to the extremely gay-friendly Key – by car, plane and boat.

    From the latter, you can fly directly into Key West International Airport. Despite its name, you won’t find any direct flights from the UK flying into the airport. There are a number of ways you can make the journey – a standard transatlantic flight (British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, AA and Delta all make these flights) into Miami, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa or Atlanta and then getting a connecting flight to Key West International with AA, Delta or Silver Airways.

    One of the most impressive ways to arrive is by car, but be warned the journey is quite long from Miami to Key West (about 4 hours, including comfort and food breaks) and there’s no guarantee of parking once you get there. Space is limited in Key West and there are many resident-only parking spaces. Hotels and resorts in Key West tend not to have their own parking.

    Along the scenic and historic drive, you’ll cross over 42 bridges that connect the islands. One of the most famous is the Seven Mile Bridge, which connects the Knight’s Key and the Little Duck Key. While on the Seven Mile Bridge you’ll be able to see an original bridge built in 1909 – 1912 which is now restricted to cyclists and pedestrians. This was the bridge that was constructed under the direction of Henry Flagler, whose vision of connecting the Islands with an Overseas Railroad ensured the growth of tourism in the region.

    You can also travel by sea. Key West Express operates a high-street ferry from Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island on the west coast of Florida. It takes three and a half hours.

    Authors tip: When I travelled to Key West (in April time) we managed to find a parking space relatively close to the hotel we were staying at, The Equator Resort. The spaces are marked. Some have “residential” printed on the ground next to them – others do not. We asked a local whether the space in which we had parked was okay – and he told us, “you’ve won the lottery ticket” – meaning that parking spaces are few and far between. During our stay, we didn’t move the car – but opted to get taxis if we decided to leave the Key. However, it should be noted that Key West is not that big and most of the places of interest like the: Southern Most Point, the legendary Pan Am’s birthplace, the gloriously iconic Tropic Cinema and the poignant Key West Historical Memorial Sculpture Garden.

    For more information on the Keys be sure to visit and bookmark the official website.

  • In defence of gay hotels and resorts

    Our editor in chief, Jake Hook looks at why gay resorts and hotels are still necessary in 2018.

    I’ve just come back off holiday – and while I battle the post-holiday, aeroplane lurgy, I can’t help thinking that one of the most memorial moments of the holiday was our 2 days in a gay-only hotel.

    There was a time when the idea of choosing a “gay hotel” as a place to vacay was totally off the cards. Why would I want to segregate myself from the rest of society? Why would I want to just limit myself to “gay conversations”? And anyway, aren’t guys who go to gay resorts just after one thing?

    Perhaps some of them are. But here’s what I learned from my stay at Key West’s The Equator Resort, in Florida.

    Not everyone who’s at the resort is looking for sex

    Okay, some are. Whacking on your Grindr will identify those around you who are looking for something a little more than a suntan, but there aren’t people actively pursuing you around the pool. Guys are there to chill, check out the sights, get to know new people and generally hang out in a safe, non-judgemental space.

    Bodies come in all shapes and sizes

    My historical success with nudity is somewhat patchy, but what I learned from this stay was that us gay men come in all shapes, colours, sizes and well dick sizes – and it’s all good. Yes, even I may have slipped off my trunks in the pool.
    Even better, however, is that seeing all those bodies really helped me tackle my own body insecurities. Seeing others in the altogether help me reevaluate my relationship with my love handles.

    There’s no heteronormativity

    We live in a world where 99.9 percent of everything is geared towards heterosexual couples and gender binaries. Hanging about with other guys who identify as gay or bisexual, makes being gay at the front and centre. Gay literally becomes the norm at a gay resort.

    You don’t have to watch what you say

    You probably realise that there aren’t many subjects that are off limits when you hang around with other gay guys. Everything goes: anal to sunscreen, hooking up to the best restaurant in town to coming out. Honestly, my conversations were so varied.

    There are no screaming kids

    There is nothing worse than seeing that the expensive resort you’ve booked has a “kids’ zone” or “kids’ pool”. I don’t want to spend my holiday listening to screaming, whining kids. I can whine enough for anybody. I simply don’t need the competition. Sorry, not sorry.

    Lifelong friends

    I’ve been on a gay cruise and stayed at two gay resorts, every time making new friendships that have lasted. The moment you arrive, there’s always someone to talk to, get to know – and you know, if it feels right to take things further.

    Here’s to gay stays and long may they last.

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • This is the world’s largest Key Lime Pie

    nom nom nom

    This is the world’s largest Key Lime Pie

    Culinary masters have created the world’s largest Key Lime Pie, one of Key West’s most famous of exports.

    Florida Keys, one of the gay-friendliest places in the US,  has just delivered one epic pie, overseen by chef and restaurateur Bobby Stoky who led a culinary team on Saturday, 24 March, to prepare a gargantuan Key lime pie to serve about 2,000 people.

    Measuring 8 feet in diameter – the size certified by the World Record Association as the globe’s largest – the giant pastry was made from ingredients including the juice from 5,766 Key limes, 200 pounds of graham crackers and 55 gallons of sweetened condensed milk. The finished dessert weighed around 1,000 pounds.

    “It’s a balance between sweet and tangy that makes this pie absolutely delicious,” Stoky said.

    Key lime pie is the official pie of Florida, as designated by the state legislature in 2006. Most historic accounts indicate Key lime pie was first created in the kitchen of the Curry Mansion in Key West and referred to as Key West pie.

    “The 8-foot pie was prepared in Atlanta, Georgia, at an upmarket shopping mall to showcase the culinary delights available to visitors holidaying in the Florida Keys”

    International visitors keen to get in on Key lime pie action can travel to Key West in early summer to attend the annual Key Lime Festival. Running from 30 June, to 4 July, the festival’s events include a ‘Mile High Key Lime Pie Eatin’ Contest’ on America’s Independence Day, where competitors attempt to be the first to devour a 9-inch Key lime pie.

  • Florida Keys and Key West set to reopen after Hurricane Irma

    After the Florida Keys were impacted by Hurricane Irma on 10 September, local government officials have announced that the island chain will reopen to visitors on Sunday, 1 October.

    Potential visitors are advised that while it is safe to travel to the Keys, recovery efforts are ongoing, especially in the Lower Keys and parts of Marathon which were hardest hit by the Category 4 storm. Not all lodging is operating on a normal basis currently and this includes RV resorts and other tourism facilities throughout the Keys. The districts of Key Largo and Key West were the least impacted, however, visitors planning to travel to the Keys in the coming months are advised to call ahead to ensure their chosen hotels1 and favourite attractions are open.

    Motorists should use extreme caution when navigating Marathon and the Lower Keys regions and stay off side roads to avoid hindering restoration activities. Bridges on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway have passed inspections and any necessary repairs have been made.

    Officials confirmed that the decision to open the Keys to visitors is based on some of the most immediate infrastructure repairs having been completed. Almost all power and water services have now been restored and mobile phone service is working well, however, the full restoration of television and internet connections is taking longer to re-establish. Throughout the Keys there are significant debris piles that are being removed by clean-up contractors.

    Monroe County Mayor George Neugent commented, “We know we have a long way to go before the Keys fully recover, but because tourism is our top economic engine and many of our residents’ livelihoods depend on it, we also know that we need to begin asking visitors to return.”

    UK travellers planning a visit to the Keys can access the island chain from this weekend through the normal gateway airports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. International airports in Marathon and Key West have also reopened to aviation traffic and The Port of Key West is now welcoming cruise ships again.

    While some special events have been postponed or cancelled, key upcoming events include Key Largo’s Humphrey Bogart Film Festival (18-22 October) and Key West’s Fantasy Fest (20-29 October), both of which will take place as originally scheduled.