Yelp suggests I consider food , service, and atmosphere for this review. Let's take those in…read morereverse order, Yelpers. Atmosphere: no better place on earth. Quintessential Key West establishment. The Schooner Wharf Bar at the Key West Seaport is why we come to Key West. Live music is phenomenal. Beers are ice cold. Floors are dirty, bathrooms are clean. Dogs welcome. Gosh I love this place. Service: professional and fast and efficient. Staff know how to run a bar restaurant. Food: do not come here for the food, but it is fine. Hamburgers, fish, shrimp, and hot dog fine. Keep it simple here. Fish is excellent. Fries are coated and not for me and partner.

Top of the morning to ya. Our family stopped here for an early dinner around 2:00pm on St patty's…read moreday. Paul was our server and he was very attentive to us. We ordered the seafood combo with a side salad. (this was like fast bar food , fish was overcooked and conch fritters were nasty). 1- fish platter, blackened (overcooked, tough, dry). 1- Philadelphia cheese steak with onion rings ( steak was good, onion rings started to repeat an hour later. Place was packed for st patty's day. But our server was nice. Whole bill for (4) people $114.00 plus tip

Lured in by the sandwich board sign out front advertising $5 pickle shots…read more Bartender served them up lickity split, shots were taken, and we were on our way. Interior was classic Key West dive bar vibe with neon signs, high tops and bar seating.

Brief stop over during our meandering walk around the area near Mallory Square. Dive bar vibe and…read moregreat venue to relax and enjoy a cold beverage. Friendly staff and plan to return to sample the menu.

I like mine with lettuce and tomato Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes big kosher pickle and a cold…read moredraft beer, good God Almighty this is a great place to eat for a Buffett Fan from Cincinnati. We ate at the bar and the bartender Igor was great. He was working his butt off to make drinks but he still found time to talk to us and make sure we had what we needed. We eat at Margaritaville restaurants whenever we get a chance. They never disappoint. This location is the true Mother Church of the chain and you can feel Jimmy's spirit everywhere. So when this world starts a-reelin' from that pressure drop feelin' and your just treading water each day. There's a way to feel better. Bubbles up, they will point you towards your closest Margaritaville. Just know that you are loved, there is light up above. And the joy of eating there is always enough.

Extremely attentive & friendly servers (Anasthesia & Oleg), super polite General Manager that…read morecares, and very tasty & simple food quickly. I am a retired US Army Soldier and they gave me a military discount (on everything but alcohol, or they might go broke:)

Mary Ellen's Bar and Kitchen…read more From the outside, it's just a plain white building sittin' in the sun nothing flashy, nothing pulling you in. Real easy to walk right past it without a second thought. But step inside... and now you're in a whole different story. The walls, the ceiling, the corners every inch feels like it's been collected over time, layered with memorabilia and personality. And the wild part? It doesn't stay the same. The décor can shift with the mood, like the place is alive and just decides to reinvent itself whenever it feels like it. You go in thinking it's just a quick stop. Then the drinks start flowing, the room starts buzzing, and next thing you know you're laughing louder than you planned, talking longer than you expected. Sure, maybe there was a little drinking involved but truth be told, it's the atmosphere doing most of the heavy lifting. They've got events, music, off-the-wall fun mixed in with a laid-back crowd, and it all just works without trying too hard. The food holds its own too solid comfort stuff that hits right when you need it and the service keeps things moving smooth without missing a beat. It's one of those spots... looks like nothing on the outside, but inside it's a whole experience. Another one of those "hidden gems," yeah but this one earns it the hard way. Mary Ellen's Bar and Kitchen From the outside, it's just a plain white building sittin' in the sun nothing flashy, nothing pulling you in. Real easy to walk right past it without a second thought. But step inside... and now you're in a whole different story. The walls, the ceiling, the corners every inch feels like it's been collected over time, layered with memorabilia and personality. And the wild part? It doesn't stay the same. The décor can shift with the mood, like the place is alive and just decides to reinvent itself whenever it feels like it. You go in thinking it's just a quick stop. Then the drinks start flowing, the room starts buzzing, and next thing you know you're laughing louder than you planned, talking longer than you expected. Sure, maybe there was a little drinking involved but truth be told, it's the atmosphere doing most of the heavy lifting. They've got events, music, off-the-wall fun mixed in with a laid-back crowd, and it all just works without trying too hard. The food holds its own too solid comfort stuff that hits right when you need it and the service keeps things moving smooth without missing a beat. It's one of those spots... looks like nothing on the outside, but inside it's a whole experience. Another one of those "hidden gems," yeah but this one earns it the hard way.

Mary Ellen's Bar & Kitchen is exactly the kind of place a weary traveler wants to discover in Key…read moreWest: a lively bar, cheap beer, and delicious Mexican food. The prices were friendly, the atmosphere was fun, and the combination of cold drinks and spicy food gave me enough courage to face whatever horrors waited outside. Unfortunately, after ordering my second beer, the lights began flickering and a mysterious voice whispered, "One more round." I assumed it was a ghost until I realized it was just someone at the bar making a recommendation. Then the salsa started moving on its own. I bravely consumed it anyway. By the end of the night, I had defeated the haunted salsa, secured another inexpensive beer, and escaped with my soul mostly intact. Mary Ellen's is a great stop for cheap drinks, Mexican food, and the possibility of being spiritually possessed by a particularly aggressive jalapeño. Five stars, though I recommend keeping an eye on the chips.

The Alamo is nice, cool entrance,, live band. Great place for a get together…read more Large fun space. Outdoors super fun location.

Fun bar. During fantasy fest it wasnt overrun by the college kids…read moreWe enjoyed the jalapeño poppers Bartender service

We tried many restaurants during our week in Key West, and our experiences were mixed. Some were…read moreoutstanding, while others were just average. The Kaya collection was recommended to us by some people we met, and it turned out to be a great suggestion. Our group agreed that the Backyard Bar was one of our favorites. Food: We didn't have reservations and were told there would be a wait for a table, so we settled into the Backyard Bar area and ordered a round of drinks. They have a creative and delicious selection of specialty cocktails. I had the Key West Colada, and it was excellent. It leaned toward the sweeter side, almost like a dessert, but I had no complaints. The food menu offered many tempting choices. Our group ordered the Poke Nachos, Boom Boom Shrimp, Korean Tacos, BBQ Pork Sandwich, Pork Sliders, Fish Sandwich, and Burger Sliders. The food arrived fairly quickly and was hot, flavorful, and generously portioned. The standout items for me were the pork dishes, especially the sandwich and sliders. The pork was incredibly tender and well seasoned, some of the best I've had. The Poke Nachos were also excellent, with a great balance of crunch, fresh fish, and flavorful sauces. Service: Even without a reservation, the hostess was welcoming and estimated about a 30-minute wait. It ended up being closer to 45 minutes, but since we were able to enjoy drinks at the bar, the time passed quickly. It was a busy evening, and there were moments when service could have been more attentive. We had to ask for additional utensils and water, and I needed to track down our server when it was time to pay. These weren't major issues, but they're areas that could be improved. Fixing this would have made it a 5-star experience. There was live entertainment that evening, including a steel drum performer who provided great background music while we waited at the bar. Once seated, we were treated to a personal performance by Nicholas Tweedy, a magician and mentalist. His act was incredible, including some impressive mind-reading tricks. He was friendly and engaging, and his performance added a memorable touch to the evening. Atmosphere: The Kaya complex includes several different venues, each with its own unique feel. My impression is that they share a common kitchen, although each space has its own personality. The Backyard Bar is likely the most casual of the group. There's also a central area with a pool table and arcade games, adding to the relaxed, social atmosphere. It was a beautiful evening, and the outdoor seating was perfect. There were plenty of spots near the bar with a clear view of the stage, and the picnic tables comfortably accommodated our group of six. Glad we found this place. With the exception of some service issues, it was a wonderful experience. Definitely a spot we would return to.

Awesome little bar of the main drag. Come relax and have. A drink. The staff made the drinks…read morespecial for us.

First I want to thank all the wonderful employees that helped get my dog cooled down. You guys…read morewere the bomb! They sat us immediately near the fan and brought ice cold water. The water never stopped coming. Even tho I am a Floridian and I know better to walk around during the heat of the day , we decided to go out. Thank you so much again. The local fish dip was wonderful too. lol. Great southern hospitality. Thanks again.

Cool place. Great atmosphere…read more Drinks were excellent as was the appetizers. Live music.

It was pretty warm out and the humidity was set on "Swampy" but the ladies at the bar were super…read morefriendly. Loved the concept and the setting. The live entertainment on stage was riding the struggle bus as he belted out some loud warbling that almost sounded like music. The best part was watching other customers try to figure out if he was seriously that bad or if it was just an act. We downed some cold beverages and pledged to come back soon.

We stopped here to take in a live musical performance by talented guitar player and singer, Noah…read more We were semi-covered beneath multiple sailcloth strung above us, but still able to see plenty of stars and an enormous bright moon between the gaps. Beer was cold and the crowd was having a great time. A food truck, Garbo's, is also on site to order fantastic food.