Key West is a little wild, a little weird, and absolutely perfect for a girls’ getaway. Between the live music, late-night dancing, unreal sunsets, and more bars than seems humanly possible, this island knows how to show a group of girlfriends a good time.

Here’s the full rundown of what we did, what we loved, what we’d skip next time, and all the food and drink recs you’ll want for planning your own Key West escape.

Where We Stayed

Parrot Key Resort

• Price: About $800/night for a room accommodating 5 women
• Verdict: Fine, but likely not worth the price tag.
• Pros: Pool, on-site restaurant, great for groups, Walgreens next door, smaller restaurants across the street
• Cons: Cost didn’t match how little we used the pool and room
• Bottom Line: Convenient, safe, and good for groups… but next time, I’d likely choose a less expensive stay.

We ate breakfast and lunch here a few times. It was typical hotel food — not bad, not great, but definitely convenient.

Getting Around

Rent Bikes (Do Not Skip This!)

We rented from Bike Man, and it was one of the best decisions of the trip. They delivered the bikes to our hotel and picked them up when we left. Biking around the island was easy, fun, and honestly a whole vibe.

Lyft Exists… But Ouch

Lyfts were easy to get, but expensive. Expect $30–$40 each way for an XL/XXL to go less than 2 miles. Save your money and rent the bikes.

Coffee Stops

👍 Southernmost Sip

Good lattes. Not life-changing, but absolutely enjoyable.

👎 Key Cuban Coffee

Hated it. That’s all. Yuck.

Food & Restaurant Highlights

⭐ Bagatelle — Best Brunch on the Island (Our Favorite Meal!)

If you only eat one meal in Key West, make it brunch at Bagatelle. This was hands-down our favorite meal of the entire trip. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and flavorful.

Here’s what we ordered and loved:

🥗 Burrata & Heirloom Tomato Salad — bursting with flavor, perfectly seasoned, refreshing.

🥑 Avocado Toast — bright, delicious, and well-balanced.

🥯 Bagel with Cream Cheese & Lox — a generous portion and a total hit.

🌮 Breakfast Tacos — so good we kept passing the plate until they disappeared.

And then… the star of the island:

🍉 Watermelon Prosecco — Oh. My. Gosh.

Light, refreshing, not overly sweet, and the best drink we had anywhere in Key West. Do not skip it.

We also returned for dinner another night. It was good, (a side of Mac and Cheese could be a whole meal) but Bagatelle truly shines at brunch.

Santiago’s Bodega — Tapas + Light Dinner

An excellent choice for a lighter dinner—perfect if you’ve been day drinking and want delicious food without feeling stuffed.

Note: Beer and wine only. No cocktails.

Square Grouper — Amazing Appetizers, Skip the Cocktails

Must-order appetizers:

• Baked Goat Cheese
• Mexican Street Corn Dip

Cocktails: Too sweet, syrupy, and flavor combos that just didn’t work for us

The outdoor area was a highlight: ping pong tables, cornhole, and a bar window that made waiting for our table fun.

Old Town Tavern & Beer Garden — Get the Mac Daddy Flatbread and Thank Me Later

Dinner here was good, but the Mac Daddy Flatbread was unforgettable. I will be thinking about it for a month.

🍹 Nightlife & Bars

Nightlife in Key West is alive every night of the week, with many bars staying open until 2 AM.

Fat Tuesday — Best Cocktails + Great DJ

Small but high-energy. Surprisingly some of the best cocktails we had on the island, plus a great DJ. A perfect spot to start a night on Duval.

Rick’s — Open-Air Bar + Dance Floor

A Key West classic. Open-air setup, DJ every night, and an easy place to dance like no one’s watching.

Virgilio’s — A Total Vibe (and Don’t Miss Monday Martini Night!)

We went on a Thursday and the DJ was fantastic – intimate, trendy, and such a fun scene.

We also heard they have an incredible Monday Martini Night with a DJ as well. If you’re in Key West on a Monday, make plans to go. It’s supposed to be the spot to kick off the week.

Sunset Sail

Sunset Watersports

Highly, highly recommend. It included:

• Open Bar
• Live Music
• Beautiful Sunset Views

If you only book one excursion, make it a sunset sail. They sail slow and near the island, so you don’t have to worry much about sea sickness. Bring a light jacket though. It gets pretty breezy.

Airport Tips

The Key West Airport is tiny — just 7 gates — and most flights depart early afternoon.

Plan for:

• Long security lines
• Limited food options
• A much better time if you have TSA PreCheck

About Those White Tea Shots…

People in Key West love White Tea Shots. Vodka, peach schnapps, sweet & sour—dangerous. Not terrible, but we had too many.

At this point, I hope I never see another one.

Ever.

Woof.

Safety & Vibes

We felt very safe the entire time. Clean, walkable, and even late at night on Duval or a block or two away, we never felt uncomfortable.

Someone told us there are 400 bars in Key West. I didn’t fact-check it, but it feels wildly believable.

We saw several wedding parties, Bachelorette and Bachelor parties, etc. if that gives you some insight into the vibe.

Final Thoughts

This girls trip was a great time with sunshine, music, laugh until you pee moments, and memories we’ll be talking about for a long time.

If you go:

🚲 Rent the bikes

🍽️ Bagatelle for brunch (Watermelon Prosecco—trust me)

🍽️ Square Grouper for apps, Old Town Tavern for the Mac Daddy Flatbread

🍹 Start at Fat Tuesday, dance at Rick’s or Virgilio’s (especially Monday martinis!)

🌅 Book a sunset sail

✈️ Get to the airport early

🥃 Pace yourself on the White Tea Shots

And Remember… What Happens on the Rock, Stays on the Rock.