A nightlife guide for key west

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Nightlife in Key West starts with a ritual of paying homage to the setting sun. Go to Mallory Square and witness a spectacular sunset with milling crowds and assorted street performers. The place can get rather chaotic during the peak tourist season, so you have a choice of bars on the waterfront from where you can witness the scene is refined elegance. The Sunset Deck at the Hilton is amongst the best.

Key West has a vibrant Performing Arts scene that peaks during the main tourist season, but has plenty of variety throughout the year. The best musicals and other shows are highlights of most evenings in the area. The Waterfront Playhouse has performed for over half a century and is housed in a quaint building very close to where you may have gone to see the sunset. Drop in and check on the evenings show even if you have not called and booked tickets in advance. The Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center is state of the art and a contrast to the Waterfront in the University campus. It has a flair for Broadway-style productions, but the offerings are as wide in range as you might expect from an academic environs. The Red Barn Theater has been hosting shows for over two decades. It seats some eighty people and offers a range of drama, musicals and comedies. The Tropic Cinema has facilities for live shows though it is more in to classic and off beat cinema features.

Most visitors land at Key West looking forward to serious pub crawling and clubbing and the city is well equipped to take the most exacting test. Duval Street is a major area with pubs all in a row. Frozen drinks are a sort of common theme in most of them which goes well with sometimes live and always stirring music. The Hogs Breath Saloon is typical of the Key West spirit. Non-stop fun, good company and lively music are hallmarks of this entertaining bar. The Schooner Wharf Bar is an open air place with excellent music to go with some stiff drinks. Sloppy Joes has been around since the 1930s and is an integral part of Key West nightlife history. You can enjoy dancing well past midnight. The Lazy Gecko next door is famous for frozen daiquiris that you can enjoy in air-conditioned comfort. The Green Parrot Bar outdates even Sloppy Joe and has pool, darts and pinball, with throat wrenching drinks. Hemingway is said to have frequented Captain Tonys Saloon and the owner has been the citys Mayor. You should drop in to get a flavor of Key West as it was before the tourists descended in droves. The Two Friends Patio is a must if you are fond of Karaoke, while Virgilios is good for live jazz and blues over a glass of wine of some shots of single malt. Finnegans with Irish Kevins represent Irish pub culture in Key West. Finnegans is open until 4 am with a plethora of beers on tap and in bottles, while the owner of Kevins is active at the bar with singing and comedy skits. Durty Harry is a good choice if you are in a group. The complex has many bars, some of which are outdoor and most of which have live rock. One of the rooms features strip shows as well.

Key West offers a select list of Clubs. Epoch on Dival Street is best for dancing with energetic DJs keeping over a thousand people in frenzied gyration. The Crystal Room has some of the best cabaret you can see. Take in a totally nude Strip Show at Teasers on Truman Street, over a couple of spirited drinks. Keep in mind that Key West has thriving gay and lesbian communities. The citys liberal and modern outlook blends all preferences on common forums and many late night shows and spots cater to homosexuality in open but unobtrusive fashion. Divas and La Te Da are Drag Clubs. Divas has dancing as well. Aqua is more forthright and often holds wet jockey shorts contests.