Key West, FL – September 2021
When I was getting married, my friends already knew to prepare for an adventure because a bachelorette party in Las Vegas or Nashville was far too basic for my style. Sorry, not sorry. And as soon as someone mentioned heading to Key West, I immediately jumped at the idea and started planning away.
There would be seven girls on this trip, so we’d need a place to stay that could fit us all, have a pool, and be walking distance to the bars. After looking through all our options, we ultimately ended up at The Marker Key West. The suite was large enough to all stay together, right near the water, 2 pools, and only a few hops away from the main street, Duvall Street.
Food Recommendations:
Moondog Cafe – Absolutely amazing. They had an incredible breakfast! I wish we could have eaten here every morning because it was that good, and the menu has tons of different drink and breakfast options.
Two Friends Patio Restaurant – We ate here on our first night. I don’t really remember the food since I was a little delirious after a 3 a.m. wake up call for our flight that morning, but I do remember the tastiest breakfast shots I’ve ever had. We even all ordered a second round.
Amigos Tortilla Bar – I loooove tacos, so, obviously, this place would be making my list. Once again, everything we ordered was delicious, and my plate of nachos was so large I couldn’t come close to finishing it.
Cuban Coffee Queen – I don’t even drink coffee anymore, but all the girls loved this place! The few sips I had were definitely some of the best coffee I’ve had, though. We even had lunch here one afternoon and enjoyed some of their amazing sandwiches and juice smoothies to help refuel after a night of drinking.
Angelina’s Pizzeria – Was it good? Probably. Was it good at 2 a.m.? Absolutely. Open late and next to our favorite bars, it was the best place to end every night.
Nightlife Recommendations:
Sloppy Joe’s – We visited every bar up and down Duvall and this was, by far, our favorite. Extremely large on the inside with multiple bar tops, a huge dance floor, and an amazing live band that played all the tops hits. Loved them so much Brenda wanted to ask the singer for his autograph before we left. And I can’t forget to mention, they somehow mastered the AC situation inside while still having all the doors and windows open, which was necessary in Florida’s humid weather.
Rick’s Bar – Located across from Sloppy Joe’s and next to the pizzeria. This outdoor spot has two stories with a live band downstairs and a DJ playing the usual club hits upstairs. Wish I could say the same about their AC, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen my cousin sweat so much in her life. I had to look up the bar name even, since we started referring to it as the “Sweaty Bar” all trip.
Aqua Drag Show – I know this isn’t going to be on everyone’s to-do list, but it was listed as the top Drag Show in Key West. At first, I was unsure how it’d go, but we all had such a blast! The girls did amazing, stunning outfits, and good performances! The host even said we were the best bachelorette group she’s seen. Joe thinks she tells everyone that, but I like think she truly meant it. We all made sure to bring cash, but your waiter will be able to provide dollar bills to tip during the show! On second thought, maybe it was our generous tipping that made us the favorites.
Duval Street – As I’ve already mentioned, this is the main street through the town. It’s where you’ll find all the bars and a majority of things to do. Start at Mallory Square and stop for drink as you make your way down the street, bar to bar.
Things to Do:
Southernmost Point – Not much to actually do here, but cool to visit as it’s the southernmost point of the USA — only 90 miles to Cuba — making it closer to Cuba than it is to mainland Florida. You’ll also find beaches to lay out at on this side of the island. (Tip: The west side of the island is all boat docks, so you won’t find sandy beaches there.)
Boat Day – This was the one thing I wanted to do all weekend. Actually, I wanted to lobster dive, and, although, everyone said they’d go and just skip the lobster diving part of the excursion, I decided I didn’t want to be the bride having to work to catch everyone’s lunch too. So… we booked a snorkel and sandbar tour instead through Fury. They took us out early morning — the only time the whole weekend it decided to rain, by the way — and headed to a remote spot where we were able to snorkel and see fish, lobsters, and according to my bridesmaid Savannah, a hammerhead shark. 30 people on the tour, and she claims to be the only person to see it. Riiiiight. After spending time there, we headed to a sandbar where we were able to kayak, hangout, and eat the provided lunch. We also spotted two jellyfish while enjoying this beautiful spot, so after falling on each other trying to get away from them, we soaked up the little bits of sun through the clouds before heading back to land in the afternoon.
Key Lime Pie – All the “best” spots had already closed down for the winter season while we were there, but you can’t go to Key West without trying some key lime pie, so we tracked down somewhere we could all still share a slice.
Toe Rings – This one is more of a to-don’t. Toe rings. There’s a guy located next to Harpoon Harry’s that sells these “famous most comfortable” toe rings. The rings are fine and all, but the guy is so rude, I wouldn’t even bother. And anyone who is rude to Brenda is cancelled in my book. Still looking at you, Kim Kardashian — that time at Disneyland you didn’t say hi back to her.
With gorgeous waters and lots of sun, you can spend your days relaxing, taking in the gorgeous views, and nights dancing surrounded by live music and friends. Key West is the perfect location to indulge in both!
• Everyday Davis • 