Eating Gluten Free in Key West & The Florida Keys 

If you’re heading down to the Florida Keys and looking for the best gluten free places to eat, you’re in the right place! Whether it’s pizza, brunch, key lime pie, conch, the best seafood or bar snacks, I’ve got you covered in this gluten free guide to Key West, Marathon and Islamorada.  

Disclaimer: Items labelled gluten free does NOT mean it is celiac/coeliac safe. Always check with your server or manager at the establishment to ensure the food is safe for your needs. 

Gluten Free Options in Key West 

Restaurants on Duval Street

Duval Street is the main street running through the historical district of Key West. It is full of restaurants, bars, markets and food stalls/trucks, and an area all visitors will check out. These are some of the restaurants I’ve had success finding gluten free options, in no particular order. 

Caroline’s Café is a laid-back bar and restaurant serving salads, sandwiches and a range of main dishes. It looks unassuming, but the manager paid complete attention to my order when I asked about gluten free options. I got the fresh catch of the day, Mahi Mahi, with rice and broccoli. We sat at the bar as it’s raised off the street and perfect for people-watching. They also have some great cocktails. 

We popped into Viva Argentinian Steakhouse as we wandered down Duval Street in search of dinner. They have a large patio outside with live music and a seating area inside next to the bar. The manager took care of my order, and I enjoyed a cheesy veggie appetiser and a skirt steak served with chimichurri, vegetable risotto and veggies. Overall, a great dinner with amazing staff. 

Bagatelle kept cropping up as an ideal place for brunch. I checked the menu before booking, and there seemed to be many gluten free options. However, the menu items listed as gluten free are at a cross-contamination risk so be aware. I enjoyed a western omelette and a side salad without any issues. They also have some tasty cocktails on their menu. 

At the end of Duval Street by the Southernmost Point is the Seaside Cafe at the Mansion. It has some of the best dining views, service and food in a casual and relaxed setting. It is the perfect place to chill out and enjoy good food and a cocktail. I tried out their prosciutto & four cheese gluten free pizza and regular mojito. Both were delicious. They offer several gluten free options on their menu, and I’d love to go back to try out their sandwiches. My server also informed the kitchen of my gluten free requirement. Great service, and a must-visit! 

I also enjoyed a buckwheat gluten free crêpe from La Crêperie. It’s the perfect place to grab brunch or lunch as they have several gluten free options on the menu. I ordered the house special galette with avocado, goats’ cheese, sunny side up egg and salad, delicious! The salads looked great, and it’s what I’ll try next time I’m in Key West.

Restaurants Near Duval Street

Located in the Bahama Village on Petrona Street (just off Duval Street at the rainbow crosswalk) is The Red Shoe Island Bistro. This restaurant is a bit of a splurge and offers an intimate dining experience. The kitchen and staff are well-trained in gluten free and cross-contamination risks. There were multiple options on the menu, and it does look to change with the seasons. To start, I had crab stuffed squash with a key lime cilantro dressing. For my main course, I opted for crusted grouper and Key West pink shrimp with sweet potato. This meal was one of the best I’ve had in Key West. 

Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar not far from Sloppy Joe’s on Duval Street is this hidden gem. I love Thai food and was not disappointed with my visit here. The staff knew what dishes I could have, so I went for the green curry with rice. There were also some sushi options available if I wanted those. 

Conch Republic Seafood Company is a popular spot by the marina with the freshest seafood, great happy hours and harbour views. If you’re looking to try some conch, a type of sea snail famous in the Caribbean waters, the conch chowder here is gluten free. There are also various gluten free options to enjoy here. I went for the catch of the day with rice and veggies. 

The Green Parrot Bar is a famous bar in the area, and it’s been serving local residents and sailors since 1890. It doesn’t serve food, but it does have a self-serve popcorn cart. You can help yourself to some freshly made gluten free salted popcorn while you enjoy a drink and live music. 

Restaurants Near Mallory Square

Mallory Square is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Key West. There are nightly sunset celebrations with vendors and street performers filling the square, alongside restaurants and bars.

Latitudes is an upscale restaurant located 1 mile off the coast on the private island of Sunset Key. It’s one of the most unique sunset dining experiences in the Florida Keys. You need a reservation to board the ferry that takes customers across to the island. They tend to book up months in advance, so keep that in mind if you wish to go. 

Hot Tin Roof is rated one of the best places in Key West for brunch. Sadly, it was fully booked when I wanted to try it out. From what I understand, they offer many gluten free options and bottomless cocktails. If you head there, let me know how it is! However, for the sunset head to their bar in the same location, it is aptly named Sunset Pier. The views are incredible, and they often have live music on too.

Gluten Free Key West Key Lime Pie

No trip to Key West would be complete without trying some famous Key Lime Pie. Good news, Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe has a couple of locations in the historical district serving up slices of gluten free Key Lime Pie! They’re marked in the refrigerators with a label and taste so good! 

Where to Stay in Key West

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Key West, I recommend trying out one of the bed and breakfasts occupying the old historical homes. We stayed at the Seascape Tropical Inn due to its location off Duval Street and next to Hemmingway’s House. It offers parking with a stay and breakfast, including mimosas, and bike rentals. It’s surprisingly quiet for such a great location. As far as the gluten free breakfast items go, there is yoghurt, fruit and hard-boiled eggs. 

Gluten Free Options in Islamorada

For the ultimate breakfast, brunch or lunch spot Mangrove Mikes. It’s a popular place, and it’s easy to see why with its extensive menu. They offer gluten free pancakes, French toast, bread and wraps. There is so much choice! I went for a steak and tater tots as we arrived around lunchtime, but I’d love to try out their gluten free pancakes next time. 

The Square Grouper is a popular restaurant, and they don’t accept reservations, so plan to arrive early or have a wait. It has an upscale décor vibe, great food, atmosphere and craft cocktails. While waiting for our table, I ordered a Key Lime Pie cocktail without the graham cracker crust, from their bar and enjoyed the marina views. They cater to gluten free dining, and I ordered the chicken wing lollipop to start, followed by one of my favourite dishes, Mahi Mahi. It’s a little pricey, but the overall atmosphere is worth it. 

I’m including Lazy Days Islamorada on the list because it was recommended several times. The ocean views here are worth a visit. However, the limited gluten free options mean I don’t recommend it for dining out. Some dishes can be modified to suit, but the solution is non-seasoned fish or shrimp. Grab a drink, take a seat in their cool beach area, and enjoy the views instead. 

We’ve tried to check out Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar to watch the sunset, but it has been packed each time. So instead, we head to the Islamorada Fish Company just along the road and part of the Bass Pro Shop. They have a large tiki restaurant and dock overlooking the water, and it’s perfect to watch the sunset. Once the sun has set, they also feed the tarpon that come into the shallows. They have gluten free buns for burgers and sandwiches, but overall, the food is mediocre. The atmosphere and sunset are the stars here. 

Where to Stay in Islamorada

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Islamorada, I recommend booking into a resort or trying out a self-catering villa or apartment. We stayed at the Pines & Palms Resort in one of their one-bedroom apartments. The décor is classic old Florida style, but clean and comfortable and in a great location. The apartment had everything we needed, a kitchen, laundry facilities, barbeque, tiki bar, freshwater pool, bikes and kayaks/paddleboards for guest use. On our next visit, we want to kayak out to Alligator Reef.   

However, if you’d like more of a luxury resort, I recommend checking out Cheeca Lodge & Spa. The resort has a golf course, restaurants, tropical gardens, swimming pools, a fitness centre and a range of accommodation types. There are bungalows and suites to choose from depending on your preference. 

Gluten Free Options in Marathon

The Island Fish Company is the perfect tiki bar and restaurant for some casual island food by the marina. They have a dedicated gluten free menu and some beautiful views overlooking the water. I ordered one of their Caribbean specials with fish, which included salsa, rice and black beans. I highly recommend a visit here. 

Keys Fisheries is one of the best places we ate fresh seafood in the entire Florida Keys. Set in a small marina with a tiki raw bar, market and restaurant area, you can’t miss this place. They have a lot of gluten free options to choose from, just ask a member of staff when you order.

 If you’re looking for a restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or fancy some good food, check out The Butterfly Cafe. It is located within the beautiful Tranquillity Bay Resort and offers a menu with several highly rated gluten free dishes. Sadly I’ve not tried it out yet, but it’s on my list for a future visit to Marathon. 

Gluten Free Restaurant Map

Use this handy map to navigate around the Florida Keys by establishment. Click the square on the top left-hand corner to view restaurants, bars and recommended places throughout this glute free guide.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope this has been a helpful guide to eating gluten free in Key West and The Florida Keys. I’ll continue to update this guide as I try out more places. You can also check out more Florida travel inspiration as well as gluten free guides throughout the blog. Have any other gluten free recommendations? Let me know in the comments below or find me on Instagram.

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