Seafood restaurants in Key Largo serve some of the freshest fish in Florida, thanks to local fishermen bringing in their daily catch. You'll find snapper, mahi, grouper, Key West pink shrimp, and Florida spiny lobster on almost every menu, along with kids' meals and plenty of Key Lime Pie. Whether you want a casual tiki hut or a waterfront spot with sunset views, Key Largo has something for everyone. These are the places we go to when we eat out in the Upper Keys.
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I've been living in Key Largo for the past 8 years, originally from New York, and these are the seafood restaurants locals actually go to. Some are more upscale, others have that old-Florida feel, but all are popular for a reason. You'll find fresh fish from local fishermen, waterfront views, kids' menus, and Key Lime Pie at everywhere.
If you're driving down the Overseas Highway, don't miss my guide to the Miami to Key West drive, which includes the best stops, restaurants, and beaches along the Florida Keys.
Buzzard's Roost Restaurant
- Buzzard's Roost Restaurant
- Address: 21 Garden Cove Drive, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 106, oceanside
- Hours: Open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch
- Happy Hour: Weekdays, 4 to 6pm
- Waterfront: Yes
- Dockage: Boat friendly
- Seating: Indoor and outdoor seating and bars
- Pet Friendly: Yes
Buzzard's Roost is a great place to relax and enjoy a meal, with indoor and outdoor waterfront dining. Outdoor tables overlook the water, and there's a waterside tiki bar for a more casual spot to sit.
Inside, the dining room and screened-in porch feel homey and comfortable. The menu has fresh fish, chowder, pasta, burgers, salads, and daily specials.
Sunday brunch is popular year-round. On Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, and high-season weekends, it gets busy, so arrive a little early before the 10:30 am opening.
Alabama Jack's
- Address: 58000 Card Sound Road, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Card Sound Road near North Key Largo and the Ocean Reef Club
- Hours: Open daily from 11 am to 6 pm
- Waterfront: Yes
- Dockage: Boat friendly
- Seating: Outdoor seating and bars
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- No website and no phone
Since 1952, Alabama Jack's has been hidden in the mangroves on Card Sound Road. It offers a true Old Florida experience that you shouldn't miss when visiting the Keys.
This rustic open-air waterfront restaurant has been a hot spot for locals and visitors for over 50 years. Known for its laid-back atmosphere, live music, and views of the surrounding waterways, AJ's is always fun and very crowded on the weekends.
The most popular dish on the menu is fried conch. The fish and salads are very fresh and always great. The chicken wings are really good! The drinks are cold and strong.
On the weekends, there's a band and dancing all day. You can pick up a t-shirt at the bar.
Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill
- Jimmy Johnson's Big Chill
- Address: 104000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 104, bayside
- Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner
- Happy Hour: Weekdays, 4 to 7 pm
- Dockage: Boat friendly
- Ladies Night: Tuesdays from 6-7pm
- Drinks: Full bar
- Music: Live music daily
- Views: Beautiful sunset views
- Seating: Indoor and outdoor seating and bars
- Pet Friendly: Yes
The Big Chill is a local spot owned by former NFL coach Jimmy Johnson. The waterfront setting gives you wide-open sunset views, and the menu covers everything from seafood and salads to New York-style pizza.
The big tiki hut, live music, and gorgeous view make it a lively place to hang out. On holidays like July 4th and New Year's Eve, it gets packed with people waiting for fireworks, and the energy is incredible.
Tuesday night is Ladies' Night and always draws a crowd. There's live music, free drinks for ladies from 6 to 7 pm, and happy hour food and drink specials from 4 to 7 pm. It's a fun night out and one of the most popular weekly events in Key Largo.
Snook's Bayside Restaurant
- Snook's Bayside Restaurant
- Address: 99470 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 99, bayside
- Hours: Open daily, 8 am to 10 pm
- Happy Hour: Daily, 4 to 6 pm
- Dockage: Boat friendly
- Drinks: Full bar with frozen drinks and tropical cocktails
- Music: Live music daily from 5:30 to 9:30 pm, plus weekend afternoon sets
- Views: Beautiful sunset views
- Seating: Indoor and outdoor seating and bars
- Pet Friendly: Yes
- Extras: Iguana Beach by the water (small sandy area with lounge chairs and tables)
Snook's has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Upper Keys. You can sit outside with a tropical drink and watch the sun drop over Florida Bay.
It's a great place to enjoy fresh seafood, take in the view, and settle into island life. The outdoor seating works just as well for a quiet lunch as it does for a romantic dinner.
Popular menu items include crispy calamari, lobster mac and cheese, and the Caribbean jerk chicken sandwich. Pair any of them with a cold drink and you have the full Keys experience.
Lazy Lobster
- Lazy Lobster Seafood Restaurant
- Address: 104000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 104, bayside
- Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner
- Happy Hour: Monday to Thursday, 4 to 6pm
- Seating: Indoor and outdoor seating and bars
- Pet Friendly: Yes
The Lazy Lobster is a popular spot with a casual, friendly atmosphere. The menu has plenty of choices to suit everyone.
The Lazy Lobster Matecumbe, made with shrimp and scallops, is a local favorite. For something richer, try the Lobster Lorenzo, which is topped with a crab cake, béarnaise sauce, and key lime butter.
They also offer vegetarian pastas and stone crab claws when they're in season.
Outdoor seating under the tiki huts, with string lights and tropical greenery, makes it a comfortable place for a date night or a family dinner.
They also offer Cook Your Catch. Bring in your fresh fish and let the chefs handle the cooking while you enjoy the evening.
The Fish House
- The Fish House
- Address: 102401 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 102, oceanside (not waterfront)
- Hours: Open daily from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm
- Seating: Indoors
- Drinks: Full bar
For an unforgettable seafood dinner in Key Largo, The Fish House is a must-visit. Fresh whole fish arrive daily and are filleted right at the restaurant. You can choose from mahi, grouper, yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, and more. Pick your fish and they'll cook it the way you like. Fried, grilled, blackened, jerk, or broiled.
Their signature Matecumbe-style fish, Black and Blue fish, and the Hemingway are all local favorites. The Hemingway is breaded, served without the skin, and topped with a white wine, garlic, and basil cream sauce.
They also offer Cook Your Catch. Bring in your fresh fish and let the kitchen prepare your fresh fish any way you like it.
The rustic nautical décor and friendly service give the place a warm, old-Keys feel. It's a great place for anyone who wants fresh seafood cooked with care.
Sundowners
- Sundowners Key Largo
- Address: 103900 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 103, bayside
- Hours: open daily for lunch and dinner, Friday, Saturday Sunday brunch
- Happy Hour: Monday to Thursday, 4 to 7 pm
- Boat Docking: Yes
- Drinks: Full bar with frozen drinks and cocktails
- Music: Live music most evenings
- Views: Beautiful sunset views
- Seating: Indoor and outdoor
- Pet Friendly: Yes
Sundowners is known for its waterfront setting and some of the best sunset views in Key Largo. It sits right on the bay with plenty of outdoor seating, so it's a great place to enjoy a meal while the sky turns orange.
The menu leans toward fresh seafood, steaks, and classic Keys dishes. You can pull up by boat, sip a frozen drink, and listen to live music on select nights.
Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Café
- Key Largo Fisheries
- Address: 1313 Ocean Bay Drive, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 100, oceanside
- Hours: open daily for lunch and dinner
- Happy Hour: Monday to Friday, 3 to 5 pm
- Boat Docking: Boat friendly
- Drinks: Full bar
- Entertainment: Live music daily
- Seating: Outdoor
- Pet Friendly: Yes
Key Largo Fisheries is a local waterside restaurant, bar, and fish market serving seafood straight from the boats. The café has a laid-back outdoor setup with marina views, making it a great place to sit outside and enjoy a fresh meal.
Try their Lobster BLT, fried whole yellowtail snapper, or a Cuban sandwich served with tostones. When stone crab season rolls around, their chilled claws with mustard sauce are a must.
Skippers Dockside
- Skippers Dockside
- Address: 528 Caribbean Drive, Key Largo
- Location: Mile Marker 100, oceanside
- Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner
- Happy Hour: Weekdays, 3 to 6 pm
- Boat Docking: Yes
- Drinks: Full bar with frozen drinks and cocktails
- Entertainment: Live music nightly
- Views: Beautiful sunset views
- Seating: Indoor and outdoor
- Pet Friendly: Yes
Skippers Dockside is a popular waterfront restaurant in Key Largo. The setting is classic Keys. Big tiki hut, marina views, and live music. It's a great place to sit down, watch the boats come in, and enjoy a good seafood dinner.
The menu covers all the favorites. Locals like the conch fritters and smoked fish dip. Portions are generous and everything comes out hot and fresh.
They're also known for their Cook Your Catch. Bring your fish, pick your sides, and they'll cook it any way you want. It's a lot of food and always fun to see the plates coming out of the kitchen.
C&C Wood Fire Pizza
This one isn't doesn't have seafood, but they have really good pizza and is getting an honorable mention here.
- C & C Wood Fire Pizza
- Address: 99201 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
- Location: Mile Marker 99, oceanside (not on the waterfront)
- Hours: Open daily for lunch and dinner
- Happy Hour: Daily, 4 to 6 pm
- Drinks: Beer and wine only
C & C is a great casual spot for a relaxing meal. They use a true Neapolitan wood-burning oven, and the pizzas come out with that classic flavor. They're every bit as good as what you'd find in New York.
My husband is a serious pizza guy. He grew up in New Jersey and would live on pizza if I let him. His top pick is the Prosciutto and Truffle pizza with hot honey. He also loves their pepperoni pie.
The service here is excellent. Even with a limited bar, they offer plenty of options. The menu goes beyond pizza with steaks, salads, charcuterie boards, and pasta. Everything is fresh and well done.
There's usually a line out the door on Saturday nights, which tells you all you need to know.
Where to Eat Seafood in Key Largo
Key Largo has plenty of spots to sit down and enjoy good seafood. Some places overlook the bay. Others sit right on the ocean. You can get a simple meal or something more special, depending on what you're in the mood for.
Fresh fish is easy to find here. So are spiny lobsters, shrimp, and the classics you expect in the Keys. If someone in your group wants steak or a burger, most restaurants have that too.
When you're in this little stretch of paradise, try a few of these local places. They each have their own style, and they all serve food that feels like the Keys.
Here are our favorite spots for Breakfast. If you have any questions or need a recommendation, please let us know!
Key Largo Recipes to Try at Home
If you want to cook with the same fresh fish you'll find in the Keys, here are a few recipes you can make at home. These dishes use local favorites like snapper, mahi, and Key West pink shrimp.
You can pick up fresh fish at Key Largo Fisheries and The Fish House.
- Blackened Swordfish Steaks
- Pan-Seared Yellowtail Snapper
- Fried Mahi Mahi
- Florida Keys Pink Shrimp Cocktail
- Pan Fried Hogfish with Garlic Aioli
- Baked Grouper with Key Lime Butter Sauce
- Boiled Shrimp with Old Bay
For more Florida seafood dishes you can make at home, visit Recipes for Fresh Fish.
FAQ
Lunch and early dinner are usually the calmest. Sunset hours get busy, especially on weekends and during high season.
Yes. Many places have waterfront patios, tiki huts, or covered outdoor seating so you can enjoy the view.
Several restaurants offer Cook Your Catch. Call ahead to confirm and ask how they prepare it.
You'll find them at local seafood restaurants and markets during season. Key Largo Fisheries usually has them, along with several waterfront restaurants.
Most do. Yellowtail snapper, hogfish, mahi, grouper, and Florida lobster are common on menus all year.
Yes. Places like Snook's, Skipper's Dockside, and the Big Chill often have bands or solo performers in the evenings.
Any bayside restaurant will have sunset views. Sundowners, Snook's Bayside, and the Big Chill are known for stunning sunsets.
Most have full bars with tropical cocktails, beer, and wine. A few, like C & C Pizza, serve beer and wine only.
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