There’s a lot to be thankful for in Key West: crystal-clear waters, powdery white sand, warm weather, casual living and a multitude of things to see and experience. So it’s no surprise that Key West is a special and unique location to spend your Thanksgiving. Eat, drink and be merry – and then sleep off your tryptophan daze on the beach!
Have A Turkey Day Getaway With Us!
Put a fresh spin on a traditional holiday, and set sail with Key West Boat Trips. Cast tradition to the wind, and explore sandbars, slip through mangroves and even snorkel in enchanted sponge gardens. Make this a Key West Thanksgiving truly extraordinary experience!
These pristine, sun-kissed spots offer the perfect escape for relaxation and adventure. With our knowledgeable crew by your side, you’ll discover hidden gems and create unforgettable memories in one of Florida’s most beautiful settings.
Join us for a day of fun and exploration at the sandbars of Key West!
Get Stuffed With A Key West Thanksgiving Dinner
Say goodbye to that awful canned cranberry sauce and Sahara-dry, packaged stuffing. Good riddance to prep, cooking and cleanup. You’re in Key West now, where your only responsibility on Thanksgiving is to eat.
If you’re a purist, you can easily find a traditional turkey meal, also called a New England style Thanksgiving dinner, featuring iconic dishes including:
Roasted turkey
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Pumpkin pie
Sweet potato casserole
Green bean casserole
But why stop there? This Thanksgiving, why not expand your palate and experience new flavors that reflect the vibrant culinary scene of Key West? Dive into a delicious seafood feast with fresh catch options like grilled mahi-mahi or succulent lobster, perfectly paired with tropical sides like coconut rice or mango salsa.
Savor the unique taste of Key West with dishes infused with local spices and ingredients, such as conch fritters or Key Lime Pie, which add a refreshing twist to your holiday meal.
Whether you choose to indulge in traditional fare or explore the island’s diverse flavors, a Key West Thanksgiving dinner promises to be a delightful culinary adventure. So gather your loved ones, raise a glass of rum punch, and celebrate the holiday in style!
Are The Island’s Restaurants Open On Thanksgiving?
The majority of Key West restaurants are open on the Thanksgiving holiday and have special holiday menus that usually include a traditional turkey dinner. It’s helpful, however, to call or check their website beforehand, as their availability and hours can vary.
Keep in mind that popular Key West’s top restaurants may rapidly fill up, so it’s helpful to make a reservation, even for a Thanksgiving lunch. Reservations are recommended for restaurants including:
Blue Heaven
Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday amidst the charm and laid-back tropical vibe of Blue Heaven. The restaurant provides a traditional Thanksgiving dinner along with island-inspired dishes and a to-die-for Key Lime Pie. Be careful, or their menagerie of cats and chickens may steal your Thanksgiving dinner!
A & B Lobster House
If you’re looking for a chic place to celebrate Thanksgiving in Key West, visit the renowned A&B Lobster House. One of Key West’s top restaurants, large portions and a picturesque waterfront setting make A&B Lobster House an exceptional Thanksgiving holiday eatery. Celebrities including Michael J. Fox and Chris Bosh have eaten there – so you never know who might be having their Thanksgiving meal next to you!
La Trattoria
La Trattoria is an upscale restaurant offering a traditional Thanksgiving menu featuring oven roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie or apple pie with ice cream. After your meal, pop into Virgilio’s martini bar behind La Trattoria for delicious cocktails and live jazz.
Café Sole
Bring a hearty appetite to Café Sole, an intimate, fine dining restaurant whose traditional New England style Thanksgiving dinner – with a twist – includes roasted turkey, country-style gravy, smoked oyster and apple stuffing, green beans in bacon, candied yams and the finishing touch of apple or sweet potato pie.
Conch Republic Seafood Company
Not into a traditional Thanksgiving dinner? The Conch Republic Seafood Company welcomes all Key West Thanksgiving nonconformists. Sip creamy lobster bisque, indulge in classic Key West’s cracked conch or enjoy their delicious lobster tail. And don’t leave until you feast on a slice of iconic Key Lime Pie topped with ribbons of raspberry sauce and clouds of whipped cream.
Four Flamingos
Helmed by celebrity chef and TV personality, Richard Blais, Four Flamingos offers waterfront views and spectacular sunsets to accompany your Thanksgiving meal. One of the best of Key West restaurants, they serve a creative Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings alongside items with a distinctive Caribbean flair. If you’re seeking an upscale restaurant for your holiday meal, visit Four Flamingos.
Fun Fact: The restaurant is called Four Flamingos because there are four species of flamingos in the Americas.
Feast Buffet-Style
In Key West, you can’t go wrong with a traditional turkey buffet. A buffet is great for enjoying a Thanksgiving feast without the nuisance of cooking and cleaning. It’s ideal for customizing your plate, regulating your portions, eating a wide variety of foods and sampling new ones. Key West restaurants that serve Thanksgiving buffets include:
Dante’s
Dante’s is a poolside restaurant that hosts a yearly, all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can engage in glorious gluttony at a buffet that features all the traditional deliciousness of baked carved turkey breast with gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie.
With a gorgeous, cascading waterfall, charming tiki bars and live music, Dante’s is a perfect spot to enjoy Thanksgiving in Key West.
Casa Marina
For a decadent, upscale Thanksgiving Day experience, enjoy what Casa Marina calls their “bountiful buffet and bottomless mimosas.” From 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the restaurant offers a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast including herb-crusted roasted turkey, fresh pasta, chilled seafood, short ribs, freshly caught snapper and mouthwatering deserts.
In addition to your Thanksgiving dinner, you can enjoy a dip in one of their crystal-clear pools, or take a stroll on their private beach. Add live entertainment to the menu and you’ve got a holiday that’s a creative alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving.
The Southernmost Beach Café
Named for its southernmost location in the continental US, the award-winning Southernmost Beach Café offers a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with a twist. Mixing local and classic dishes, the airy, beachfront restaurant offers endless, stunning ocean views and bright sunshine to accompany your meal. Afterward, enjoy Thanksgiving at the Southernmost Point Buoy, and get a selfie or two with this time-honored landmark.
Bourbon St. Pub
Located on legendary Duval Street, the Bourbon St. Pub offers a Thanksgiving celebration unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Called the Turkey and TurnAbout Show, it features a full buffet and a rollicking drag show starring the pub’s staff. All proceeds go to the Sister Season Fund, a local nonprofit organization that assists out-of-work hospitality/tourism employees in the Florida Keys.
Pro Tips For Dining At A Buffet:
Arrive early to avoid lines and eat the freshest food
Pace yourself. Go back for small portions, so you don’t overestimate how much food you can eat
Save room for dessert
Tackle A Football Game At A Local Bar
Thanksgiving Day and football go together like mashed potatoes and gravy. The 2024 Thanksgiving football clashes match the Chicago Bears with Detroit Lions, New York Giants with Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins with Green Bay Packers.
Fun Fact: The Bears-Lions Thanksgiving rivalry began in 1934. As of this November, they’ve battled on Thanksgiving for 90 years!
Cheer for your favorite team at some of Key West’s best sports bars, including:
The Green Parrot Bar
Quipping that they’re “a sunny place for shady people,” the Green Parrot has a strong local vibe that makes watching football a fun, down-to-earth experience. They have plenty of big screens, so you won’t be vying with the back of someone’s head to see the game.
Don’s Place
At Don’s Place, you can see the game from any angle – they have 19 televisions! Don’s also has nine screens in their outside tiki bar if you want check out the game while catching a tropical breeze. During halftime, enjoy a round of ping pong, corn hole, darts, or play a video game as you wait for the action to crank up.
Pickle’s Pub
Pickle’s Pub is a football fan’s dream come true, with a whopping 40 screens, 40 draft beers and two liquor bars. Don’t forget to order the wings or their signature Pickle Shot (pickle brine and vodka) while watching the action, or sample their fun, Thanksgiving-themed drinks.
Capt. Tony’s Saloon
When you walk into Capt. Tony’s Saloon in Key West, you’ll be greeted by the jaw-dropping sight of thousands of business cards, bras and dollar bills cramming the ceilings and walls. This creates a unique and quirky backdrop for a Thanksgiving Day game. The saloon is also rumored to be haunted, so you just might be joined by a ghost or two.
Fun Fact: Capt. Tony’s is steeped in rich history: It’s been an icehouse, morgue, cigar factory and bordello.
Sloppy Joe’s Bar
Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite watering hole and the locale where he wrote many of his classic novels. It’s a lively hangout to catch the game while downing cold-crafted beers and their signature Sloppy Joe’s Island Ale. The bar also has nightly live music to keep the festivities rolling along.
Marvel At The Magical Lighting Of The Harbor Walk
If you want to start your Thanksgiving festivities early, stop by Key West’s dazzling Lighting of the Harbor Walk. Beginning at 6 p.m. the evening before Thanksgiving, this festive, annual celebration is held at the Key West Historic Seaport (near Elizabeth and Greene Streets).
The Harbor Walk becomes a radiant display of thousands of nautical-themed lights, including glittering boats, anchors, tropical birds and a lobster trap tree. The Harbor Walk is lit nightly through New Year’s Eve.
Float Away On A Sunset Dinner Cruise
Experience a Thanksgiving like no other on a dinner cruise. Watch the sun painting the sky with splashes of violet, amber and crimson while savoring captivating views of Key West’s coastline and water. On a dinner cruise, you can also expect:
Traditional Thanksgiving feast
Live music
Thanksgiving dinner cruise open bar
Relaxing, tropical vibes
Friendly, attentive crew
Possible sightings of sea turtles, dolphins and other marine dwellers
A Thanksgiving sunset dinner cruise is a wonderful way to draw an exceptional holiday to a close.
Run The Hog Trot
If you’re looking for an unconventional – and athletic – way to spice up your Thanksgiving weekend, look no further than the 30th annual Hog Trot. Beginning and ending at the Hog’s Breath Saloon (located at the corner of Front and Duval Street), the Hog Trot is a unique Florida Keys 5K run. Whether you cross the finish line first or last, every participant will receive:
A special edition 5K t-shirt
Post-race snacks
A frosty Michelob Ultra (age 21 and over)
Exclusive drink and food specials at the post-race party
If you do the Double Trot – two 5Ks – you’ll land swag from the first race, plus a signature pint glass.
Celebrate Your Inner Adrenaline Junkie
If you hunger for an adventurous Thanksgiving, scuba dive or snorkel among Key West’s gorgeous, world-renowned coral reefs. Whether you’re working up your appetite or working off your dinner, you’re guaranteed a holiday that’s anything but typical.
Try jet skiing, parasailing, standing paddleboarding, kitesurfing or adrenaline-pumping flyboarding. Definitely not a traditional Thanksgiving!
Expect Comfortable Thanksgiving Weather
November is a great month to visit Key West. Daytime temperatures are around 78 degrees and nighttime temperatures dip to about 70 degrees (although you may need a light sweater or jacket). Skies are sunny, the summer crowd is back in school and the snowbirds are roosting elsewhere.
Don’t Be A Turkey – Enjoy A Key West Thanksgiving With Us!
We’ll be thankful to give you the best Thanksgiving ever. You’ll be thankful you joined us. Have a great holiday adventure aboard one of our special, charter boats as we explore Key West’s stunning natural beauty. Call us today and we’ll fill your plate with excitement!
The post An Amazing Key West Thanksgiving – Tradition Meets The Tropics first appeared on Key West Boat Trips.
