TOP 10 Key Largo Restaurants on the Water
If you’re like me, one of the most important things to know before traveling to a new place is where you’re going to eat. Luckily, if you’re visiting the Florida Keys, there’s no shortage of incredible restaurants!
And one of the best parts about being in the Florida Keys, and Key Largo especially, is dining on the water! There’s truly nothing better than enjoying fresh seafood and a local Florida Keys beer while watching the sun sink into the sea.
After visiting Key Largo over 20 times, I can say I’ve tried a lot of restaurants! Compared to Key West, Key Largo restaurants are much more low-key (and cheaper!) with the same (if not better) quality of food.
In this post, I’ll go over my top 10 Key Largo restaurants on the water, so you know exactly where to eat and drink on your vacation! All of these waterfront restaurants have something special to offer!
A Mini Guide for Key Largo
Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to Key Largo to help plan your epic adventure!
Where to Stay:
Kona Kai Resort or Playa Largo Resort
(Full Guide on Key Largo Hotels here!)
When to Visit:
Low season: June – September due to hurricane season and heat
High season: December – March
Shoulder season: April/May & Oct/Nov
(Full Guide on When to Visit Here!)
Things to Do:
Snorkel at John Pennekamp
Glass Bottom Boat Adventure
Cruisin’ Tikis Sunset Cruise
Mangroves and Manatees Kayak Tour
Pilot House Restaurant & marina
Address: 13 Seagate Blvd, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11:30 am–9 pm, Closed Monday – Tuesday
Price Range: $$
What to Try: Steamed mussels, Mahi Rockefeller
To kick off this list of the best Key Largo restaurants on the water, let’s start with a local favorite! Pilot House Restaurant is a great spot if you are looking for a casual, local hang.
With happy hour daily from 4:30 to 6:30 pm and live music every Friday and Saturday, Pilot House is a great place to grab lunch or dinner in Key Largo.
Plus, you might even see some manatees in the water – they’re known to hang around here!
We love visiting Pilot House by boat when we’re staying in Key Largo for a casual but always delicious dinner!
Planning to explore all of the Florida Keys? Don’t miss my Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide and my Key Largo to Key West Itinerary to help with the planning!
Skipper’s Dockside
Address: 528 Caribbean Dr, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: 11am – 10pm daily (bar open til 11pm)
Price Range: $$
What to Try: Blackberry margarita, Fish dip
Located on the same property as Marina Del Mar Resort, Skipper’s Dockside is one of the top Key Largo restaurants on the water!
Open daily for lunch and dinner, they have both indoor and outdoor seating, including a large tiki bar and a sandy area with fire pits!
Skipper’s is also a great place to watch sports games, as the inside has large tvs, pool tables, and more. Plus, happy hour runs Monday-Friday from 3pm-6pm! What more can you ask for?!
We visit here a lot whenever we stay at the Holiday Inn Key Largo right next door! This area is popular for boaters since it’s right on the Key Largo Marina. This is where the glass bottom boat, the Key Largo Princess, and the African Queen leave from as well!
Sol by the Sea at Playa Largo
Address: 97450 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: 11am – 4pm (lunch M-F only); 4pm – 10pm (dinner daily)
Price Range: $$$
What to Try: Yellowfin Tuna Tiradito, Blackened Snapper
If you are looking for a unique waterfront dining experience in Key Largo, I highly recommend checking out Sol by the Sea at Playa Largo Resort. This beachside restaurant is a wonderful place to grab weekend brunch or evening drinks.
The restaurant is on the second level of the hotel and offers stunning bayside views – a perfect place to watch the sunset!
It also takes the term “waterfront dining” to a whole new level. At some times during the year, you can book a “Toes in the Sand” table at Sol by the Sea, where your table is literally in the water!
It’s a unique experience to add to your Florida Keys itinerary that you won’t find at many other places in the Keys. You can book this experience on their website!
P.S. Playa Largo is one of my favorite resorts to stay at in Key Largo! Wondering what else makes the list? Don’t miss my blog post on the Best Hotels in Key Largo!
Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant
Address: 139 Seaside Ave, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11:30am–10pm, Saturday – Sunday, 11am–10pm (Brunch from 11am-2pm)
Price Range: $$
What to Try: Seafood Enchiladas, Dakota Hogfish
Another classic Key Largo restaurant on the water, Snappers is a great place to unwind and listen to local music while enjoying the waterfront and delicious seafood.
Popular with tourists and locals alike, they’ve got incredible food and good vibes. Plus, 3 different bars and a delicious Sunday brunch!
My favorite part of Snappers is their custom seafood menu, where you can choose any fresh caught fish you want (like yellowtail, mahi, grouper, etc.) and then choose a “preparation style”. The Meunière is normally my top pick!
This is one of my family’s personal favorite spots to stop between Miami and Key West because my grandmother used to bartend here when my dad was a kid!
Snappers is also a great place to take the kids, as they have large sandy areas and docks where you can look at the fish.
Snook’s Bayside Restaurant
Address: 99470 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Open daily from 8am to 10pm
Price Range: $$
What to Try: Yellowtail Bayside, Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Snook’s Bayside has quickly become my favorite restaurant in not just Key Largo but in all of the Florida Keys!
Located mostly outside, Snook’s has a large open-air tiki bar to sit under, as well as umbrella-lined tables, and bar seating that overlooks the ocean (as shown in the photos below)!
I recommend sitting in these seats so you’ll have a front-row seat to watching an incredible sunset, one of the top free things to do in Key Largo!
We’ve been to Snook’s several times now, and each time is better than the last. Make sure to check out their tropical cocktail menu – I got the Tiki spritz on our last visit and it was soo yummy!
In terms of food, you really can’t go wrong, but my personal favorite is the Yellowtail Bayside!! I get it every single time we visit now because it’s that good.
Daily live music and happy hour are just the cherries on top!
P.S. The famous Cruisin’ Tikis sunset cruise actually leaves right from the Snook’s dock! You can read more about this in my Guide to the Best Key Largo Sunset Cruises.
Bayside Grille & Sunset Bar
Address: 99540 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11;30am-9pm & Sunday, 11am–9pm
Price Range: $$
What to Try: Havana fries, Seafood curry
Bayside Grille & Sunset Bar is another fabulous option to dine at when visiting Key Largo! The restaurant and bar set up is pretty unique, with an upstairs, open air dining room and an outdoor sunset bar on the water.
What I love about Bayside Grille is how unique their menu is. It definitely has a Hispanic/Miami flare with foods like Havana fries, baked elote, and Cuban osso buco.
Plus, they have happy hour Monday-Friday from 4pm to 7pm and a specialitySunday brunch menu!
P.S. Planning to make the drive from Key Largo to Islamorada during your stay? Don’t miss my guide to the best restaurants in Islamorada too!
Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill
Address: 104000 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11am-9pm & Friday – Saturday, 11am–10pm
Price Range: $$
What to Try: White truffle Mac ‘n cheese, Mahi bites
If you are looking for a casual place to hang out and grab a bite for lunch or dinner in Key Largo, Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill is a great spot!
Owned by the famous football player, Big Chill is located right on the bayside with a long dock where you can watch some epic sunsets!
They also have daily live music and a great happy hour that runs from Monday-Friday. We’re talking $3 beers good.
In addition to a restaurant and bar, Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill also has an onsite pool, cabanas, and a poolside bar. You can buy day passes to access the pool for $25 per adult & $15 per child.
Of course, if you’re looking to watch some sports game, this is a great place to do so!
Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Cafe
Address: 1313 Ocean Bay Dr Suite B, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9am-7pm, Sunday, 11am–6pm
Price Range: $$
What to Try: Conch salad, Fish fingers
Looking for the freshest seafood in Key Largo? Check out Key Largo Fisheries Backyard Cafe! Here you’ll find a full service fish market where you can buy fresh caught, local seafood.
In addition to the market, there is a “backyard cafe” on site. Here, you can order from their restaurant menu and take your food outside to eat with a lovely view of the marina!
Trust me when I say, you need to eat fresh seafood in Key Largo, and this is the best place to do it!
Need help planning your trip to the Florida Keys?
As a Florida local who’s visited the Keys over 20 times, I’ve put all my knowledge and insider tips into this Florida Keys Digital Travel Guidebook!!
This guide offers everything you need in one place – from where to stay and what to do, to the best times to visit and essential driving tips.
With detailed breakdowns of each Key, 2 sample itineraries, a packing checklist, plus an exclusive Google Map with over 100 pinned locations, it’s designed to make your trip easy and unforgettable!
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The Buzzard’s Roost
Address: 21 Garden Cove Dr, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11:30am-9pm, Sunday, 10:30am–9pm
Price Range: $$
What to Try: Barbados Rum Conch Chowder, Filet Mignon
The Buzzard’s Roost is one of Key Largo’s best kept secrets! Located right after you arrive in Key Largo, it’s a great spot for lunch, dinner, or Sunday brunch.
They have fresh seafood, delicious steaks, and a variety of homemade desserts.
Plus, you can sit inside or outside here with different vibes. The restaurant sits on the end of a canal so you’ll have great views and may even see some wildlife!
Pssst: Planning a trip to the Florida Keys? Don’t forget to check out my guide on the Best Time to Visit the Florida Keys or my Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide!
Sharkey’s Pub & Galley Restaurant
Address: 522 Caribbean Dr, Key Largo, FL 33037
Hours: Everyday, 7am – 12am
Price Range: $
What to Try: Grouper bites, Fish taquitos
Last but certainly not least, Sharkey’s Pub and Galley is the perfect casual, waterfront restaurant in Key Largo that’s open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night.
It’s definitely not a 5-star establishment but is great if you are looking for a quick breakfast or late night grub.
Located along the Port Largo Canal right next to Rainbow Reef Dive Center, there’s an upstairs and downstairs portion of the restaurant.
Upstairs has more of a diner feel with downstairs being more of a sports bar. Their motto is “Come as you are”, so flip flops and t-shirts are encouraged!
We love swinging by Sharkey’s for delicious (and cheap) breakfast sandwiches and burritos before a day snorkeling in Key Largo!
Final Thoughts
That wraps up my guide to the best Key Largo restaurants on the water! As you can see, there’s no shortage of incredible places to eat in the Keys with a beautiful view.
Of course, not every restaurant you go to has to be on the water, but you’re in the Keys, so why not?!
If you’re looking to watch an epic sunset, my recommendation is to head to Big Chill or Snook’s. But again, you can’t go wrong with any spot on this list!
Next, check out my list of Free (And Cheap) Things to Do in Key Largo to help plan out your activities for your trip!
Or, check out my other blog posts about Key Largo and Islamorada below! ⬇️
Miami To Key Largo: An EPIC Mini Road Trip Guide
Key Largo To Islamorada: Ultimate Travel Guide For The Upper Keys
The BEST Hotels In Key Largo: Where To Stay In Paradise
A Complete List Of Free (And Cheap) Things To Do In Key Largo, FL
Key Largo Snorkeling: A Detailed Guide On Tours, Spots, & More
Best Sunset Cruises In Key Largo: Everything You Need To Know
TOP 10 Key Largo Restaurants On The Water
The 7 BEST Hotels In Islamorada, Florida
BEST Islamorada Restaurants You MUST Try In The Florida Keys
TOP 20 Things To Do In Islamorada, Florida
Islamorada Snorkeling: TOP Tours, Locations, & More
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
