Where to brunch in Key West: morning spots worth the queue.
Where to brunch in Key West. The morning rooms worth the queue, and the kitchens still doing it right at noon.
Blue Heaven's breakfast is Key West's most famous morning: pancakes and benedicts under the Bahama Village canopy while chickens work the courtyard.
Order: Richard's Very Good Pancakes straight off the griddle
Tip: The courtyard closes for a holiday each September and reopens in October, so check ahead if you visit in hurricane season.
Moondog Cafe serves Key West's Bib Gourmand brunch on a Whitehead Street patio, breakfast tacos and quiche lorraine across from the Hemingway House.
Order: Breakfast tacos, then key lime pie with charred meringue
Tip: It sits across from the Hemingway House queue, and half the bakery case is vegan; the patio suits a long breakfast.
La Grignote plates Key West's French brunch on upper Duval: benedicts, Belgian waffles and croque madames from a scratch bakery open 07:00 to 15:00.
Order: Croque madame with an almond croissant to finish
Tip: The kitchen closes at 15:00 and the pastry case sells down by late morning, so treat it as a breakfast stop.
Banana Cafe griddles sweet and savoury crepes at the quiet end of Duval Street, Key West's French breakfast porch from 07:30 through dinner service.
Order: The strawberry cheesecake crepe with a mimosa
Tip: Upper Duval stays quieter than the bar blocks; the porch tables catch the morning shade before the day heats up.
Two Friends starts breakfast at 08:00 with live music already playing, the Key West patio where Bloody Marys arrive before the eggs on Front Street.
Order: A Bloody Mary with the breakfast platter
Tip: Karaoke runs Friday and Saturday from 20:00; mornings are calmer if you want the breakfast and Bloody Mary combination.
Harpoon Harry's opens at 06:30 for Key West's diner breakfast, key lime French toast and lobster benedicts served on Caroline Street kitsch.
Order: Key lime French toast with the home fries
Tip: It is cash only with bike racks out front; the nightly blue plate special is the best value dinner near the seaport.
Pepe's Cafe has served breakfast in Key West since 1909, squeezing juice and baking its own bread daily in the eating house it calls the Keys' oldest.
Order: Fresh-squeezed juice, house-baked bread and eggs
Tip: Breakfast runs 07:30 to noon; the operator dates itself to 1909 and calls itself the Keys' oldest eating house.
Azur runs a daily 09:00 to 15:00 brunch on a shaded Grinnell Street corner, the sit-down Mediterranean morning Key West locals book for occasions.
Order: Whatever benedict variation is on the brunch board
Tip: Azur takes a long September holiday most years, reopening in mid-October; brunch tables go quickest on weekends.
Matt's runs Stock Island's weekend brunch over the Perry Hotel marina, New American comfort plates a dog-friendly drive from Old Town Key West.
Order: Black bean fritters with avocado sauce
Tip: Bring your own catch for the You Catch We'll Cook service; Monroe County residents get 20% off dinner with ID.
Schooner Wharf serves breakfast from 08:00 at weekends on Key West's harbour walk, eggs and coffee at the shrimp-dock rail before the music starts.
Order: Dockside eggs with a pina colada chaser
Tip: Breakfast starts at 08:00 Friday to Sunday and 08:30 Monday to Thursday; the bar calls itself a last little piece of old Key West.