The Ultimate Gay Guide to Key West Pride — Top LGBTQ+ Bars, Restaurants & Tours in the Florida Keys
Your Guide to
Key West Pride
Happy Pride 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ from Key West! 🌴
Key West is a vibrant, fierce, and welcoming city full of pride! We’ve fallen in love with The Florida Keys and this community.
Pride is a time where the community comes together, celebrates our individuality & beauty, and remembers all those who’ve stood up for our rights before us. 🌈 Celebrating pride is a movement towards greater equality. Celebrating pride makes communities feel safe, seen, and understood. Celebrating pride is a message to others who can’t come out or do not feel safe to do so, that there are welcoming and loving communities beyond their current circumstance. That there is hope. No matter where or how you’re celebrating #pride today, we hope you feel this love and unity. ❤️
We went to Key West for Pride and there’s so much to do that we decided to pick out the top places and put them in this guide:
When is Key West Pride?
Key West Pride typically takes place the second weekend of June every year. It's a vibrant celebration featuring a huge outdoor festival down Duval Street, the Sunday Pride parade, various parties, drag shows, many pool parties, and more informal community gatherings.
The dates may vary slightly from year to year, so it's always a good idea to check the official Key West Pride website or local event listings for the most up-to-date information.
How Do I Get to Key West for Pride?
The best airport to get to the Florida Keys depends on where you plan on staying. If you are planning to begin your trip in Key West, fly into Key West International Airport (EYW). If you are heading to Key Largo and the north eastern keys, fly into Miami International Airport (MIA).
For the ultimate roadtrip through The Florida Keys, check out our guide:
What are the Best Parties and Events to Attend During Key West Pride?
Key West Pride Parade — The parade typically starts in the evening (5PM) to account for the summer heat. The parade starts at the Quay located at the Truman Waterfront, continues to Whitehead St, turns left on Whitehead to Front St., then right onto Duval Street, ending on United Street with a Tea Dance. A great location to camp out for the parade is around Bourbon Street Pub and Mangoes.
Pro-Tip: If you grab a table at Mangoes, you can enjoy the parade from the patio while enjoying a cocktail
Key West Pride Street Fair — On Saturday, check out the street fair on the 700, 800, and 900 blocks of Duval Street! The Street Fair typically features a wide range of performances and vendors and runs until 8 pm. After that, get ready for the street to erupt in partying and dancing!
Island House Pool Parties — Throughout the week and Pride weekend, Island House hosts pool parties during the day and into the evening. It’s a great way to meet others traveling to Key West for Pride!
Clubs & Dance Parties — Make sure to check the bars websites on this blog to see what dance and club events are happening. The themes change from year to year, but the bars and parties are just as great! Mangoes, Aqua, Bourbon Street Pub, and 801 Bourbon Bar are a few to check out.
Where to Stay in Key West
🌈 Stay at Alexander’s Guesthouse
We stayed at Alexander’s LGBTQIA+ Guesthouse, an exclusively LGBTQIA+ clothing optional resort. When we were checking in, there was already a pride pool party underway around the main central pool at the back of the house. Alexander’s Guesthouse is a lovingly restored Key West “conch house” built in 1902 and boasting original pine floors and stately windows. The well-air-conditioned rooms provide the perfect private space to relax, and some include clothing-optional decks overlooking the grounds. This lovely three-story house is located on a quiet, tree-shaded street in the heart of Key West’s Old Town within a close walk of Duval St.
Alexander’s Guest House is the last remaining exclusive LGBTQ+ accommodation in Key West. Other accommodations in the region have either changed to specify for men-only, or open up to “all are welcome,” meaning, not specifically LGBTQ+. @alexanderskw
🌈 Stay at Island House Key West
Island House is where you can find the party. During Key West’s Pride Week in June, Island House hosts daily parties with plenty of attendees ready to swim. Chique furnishings and a large outdoor pool, Island House may make you want to stay in Key West just a little bit longer.
Image Courtesy of Larry Blackburn Photography
LGBTQ+ friendly Eden House is your home away from home. Located just minutes from Key West’s historic Duval Street, Eden House is at a great location, provides free coffee & water on tap, runs a happy hour daily from 4-5pm, with incredible staff and a lovely pool and jacuzzi to relax in after a long day touring the city.
Staying at The Gardens Hotel in Key West blends historical charm with tropical flavor. This boutique hotel is like an oasis in the heart of Old Town. Each room is uniquely decorated in a personal style. The Gardens Hotel offers laid-back luxury in the middle of Key West.
Top Gay Owned Restaurants in Key West
🌈 Dinner at Azur
Flavor is a thing that Azur does not lack. Perhaps our favorite meal of the entire trip, Azur is LGBTQ+ owned and offers a memorable dining experience featuring Mediterranean specialities. For dinner, try the yellowtail snapper with petite shrimp, diced yellow potatoes, capers, chives and lemon butter. Other must-tries include pulpo, or charred confit octopus, and branzino.
🌈 Mangoes Key West
Start any Sunday off right with a hearty Drag Brunch! Mangoes Drag Brunch has been voted in the Top 10 Drag Brunch Shows in the USA by the Miami Herald. Hosting a fabulous Drag show, a live DJ, and bottomless mimosas, every Sunday is one to remember (or forget!) when brunching in Key West. Mangoes is open for lunch and dinner as well, and don’t forget those happy-hour cocktails! Located directly on Duval Street, it’s the perfect place to stop for a bite.
🌈 La Te Da
This is the pinnacle of Key West dining. La Te Da, right on the main-drag of Duval Street, is a piano bar and restaurant serving artisanal cocktails and sass. Live entertainment takes the spotlight every evening from 8:30 P.M. to 11:30 P.M., ensuring your dining experience hits all the right notes. Don't wait to join the party – reserve your spot via OpenTable in advance to enjoy this beloved hotspot!
Top Gay Tours & Attractions in Key West
🌈 Snorkel and Sandbar Tour with Blu Q Catamaran
Sailing with the Blu Q Catamaran crew is the best way to enjoy the day out on the water. As an LGBTQ+ clothing optional catamaran tour, Blu Q welcomes all adults for snorkel and sandbar tours. Feel free to wear as much or as little clothing as you like and enjoy the company of like-minded people in a safe and welcoming space. Blu Q is Located three blocks North of the intersection at Fleming and Margaret Street – at the Key West Historic Seaport in Old Town – 120 Margaret St.
Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square
Picture this: artists, psychics, street performers, and chefs making something special, all mingling with a mass of tourists and locals eager to soak in the sunset. The Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is a nightly Key West art extravaganza on the north west waterfront close to the foot of Duval St. The event starts every evening about two hours before sunset and ends approximately after sunset and is completely free to experience! As the sun gears up for its daily dip into the Gulf of Mexico, crowds gather like bees to honey, creating a melting pot of cultures and creativity along the waterfront. It's not just a sunset; it's a kaleidoscopic fiesta where the magic of Key West comes alive every single evening!
Visit the Southernmost Point of the Continental USA
Back in 1983, the clever folks of Key West popped up a buoy at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets to mark that Cuba is just a stone's throw away—well, 90 miles, to be exact! The Southernmost Point Buoy is a sturdy concrete beacon proudly declaring itself as the most southern spot of the continental United States. This is a great photo opportunity to include in your Instagram photo-dumps, so make sure to get there early to beat the crowds, as quite a line can form later in the day with many waiting to take their photos!
Top Gay Bars in Key West
🌈 Aqua Nightclub
Located on the main drag of Duval Street, Aqua is a fierce and fab bar and club that hosts a variety of great drinks. It’s a great bar to lounge, but can also get quite busy and packed with people ready to dance on the weekends!
🌈 The Birdcage Cabaret
Get tickets to The Birdcage Cabaret and get ready for an epic performance by the beautiful Aquanettes. The Birdcage Cabaret, formerly SideBar, is the pinnacle of Live Drag! Key West’s newest live act features is produced and hosted by the iconic Christopher Peterson. The Aquanettes will dance and sing the night away! This performance is not only hilarious and contains great lip-syncing and comedy, but also some fantastic singing as well. Nothing’s better than seeing the queens belt it out!
Open Daily 12PM - 4AM. The ultimate gay hotspot with a splash of everything awesome: drag shows, bingo, karaoke, and more! Their “back bar,” Saloon One, lets the drinks flow strong and the prices are just right. The pop-music and videos set the mood, making the space a magnet for meeting new fabulous friends. Saloon One itself is a leather-lover's dream, decked out with all the trimmings, and a favorite hangout for Key West locals. Don't miss Cock Shock on Friday nights – a wild ride starting at midnight (pro-tip: squeeze in an afternoon siesta)!
Open Daily 10AM - 4AM. Bourbon Street Pub is a New Orleans-inspired gay paradise where every night is a themed extravaganza, complete with dazzling drag shows and an outdoor pool bar that doubles as a theater. From karaoke to private dancing, this place has many ways to take the night. There are nights where it can be a bit quieter, so just walk by and see if the current vibe is what you’re looking for! There’s even an LGBTQ+ pianist who performs some evenings in the main bar!
🌈 Garden of Eden
A scandalous slice of paradise where clothes are merely optional (yes, really!). From this rooftop bar atop the Bull & Whistle Bar, you get a panoramic view of the island, and perhaps a bit more, if you catch my drift... Forget about phones or cameras—they're a no-go here, so feel free to shed those inhibitions along with your clothes. During the day, it's a sun-worshipper's haven with lounge chairs and umbrellas, but at night, the Garden of Eden transforms into a pulsating dance floor under the stars.
🌈 Bobby’s Monkey Bar
This is an awesome neighborhood dive bar, where cash is king. It's a compact bar that may fit 20-30 people comfortably. It packs a punch with karaoke and strong drinks. The AC sometimes takes a siesta, so things can get steamy like a hot day in the Everglades, but hey, that just adds to the charm, right? But when the singing starts, it’s the kind of place that causes you to stay out too late.
🌈 Saloon 1 Key West
In the center of the gayborhood is Saloon 1. On a Saturday or Friday night, this historic gay watering hole can be electric with energy. Depending on the night, it can be a bit quieter, or have the tendency to get packed! The bartenders are super friendly and very entertaining, adding to the charm of the place. Saloon 1 scores extra points for its blend of dark, seedy vibes and outrageously fun campiness!
Top Gay Beaches in Key West
🌈 Smathers Beach
Smathers Beach is Key West's premier gay beach of choice. Within reach of Duval Street, where the magic happens, the beach spans just over a mile, making it one of the island's grander sandy stretches. This is the place to see and be seen! Smathers is very popular amongst tourists and locals alike, so brace yourself for a beach bustling with activity and no shortage of delightful distractions during high season when the weather is nice!
🌈 Higgs Beach
Higgs Beach is not just fabulous place to soak up the sun, but it holds quite a bit of history as well. Despite its rocky terrain, it's been a haven for gay men since the disco days of the '70s. As far as historical monuments, there is an AIDS memorial as well as a set of graves belonging to Africans who were brought to the US by slave-trade. The slave ship was sunk off the shore in 1860, and the graves remain as a reminder. Beyond the historical sights, you’ll find “The Rainbow Pier” or colloquieally known as “the dick dock” for reasons that supersedes the purpose of this blog!
Higgs Beach is located at the south end of White Street. It’s sandy beaches and crystal-clear Atlantic waters are definitely worth a visit.
🌈 Fort Zachery Taylor Beach
At Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, affectionately dubbed Fort Liz Taylor Beach by our fellow LGBTQ community, you'll find 54 acres of pure beach bliss. This beach is great for swimming and snorkeling, and its outfitted with all the great amenities you look for in a public beach: picnic tables, grills, trails, and a massive historic fort. There is a set of Australian pines along the beach, so if you’re looking to stay in the shade, this is a great option.
And if you wander to the left, keep an eye out for plenty of Speedo-clad gents – that's your cue that you've hit the right spot! It's where history meets Hollywood meets good vibes in Key West.
It’s like visiting the Caribbean, but in the US! Key West is so full of pride, great community, amazing food, and so much to see - we can’t wait to get back for next year’s Pride! Key West Pride is typically held every year the second weekend in June. ❤️
Visiting the Florida Keys is like visiting the Caribbean, but without needing a passport! We spent 5 days doing a roadtrip through the Florida Keys. Here is the full 5-day itinerary to Key Largo, Key West and the Florida Keys.