New Year's Eve in Key West!
How – And Where – To Party in the Conch Republic
Everyone is welcome to this perfect party: It's NYE in Key West!
By Dana Koplik, PubClub.com Correspondent
Key West – what a great way to bring in the New Year while pretending it’s summer. Grab a group of friends, book a beach cottage, head to Duval Street and let the games begin!
The great part about Key West is you don’t have to agonize over your evening plans or even book anything in advance (other than a room). Here, there's no need to pay a bar an outrageous amont of money ahead of time to be sure you get a "table," because there is a huge party on Duval Street and everyone is on island time.
The best way to do Key West for New Year's Eve is to arrive a couple of days early. And we'll get to that in a moment.
But for NYE here's the drill: After breakfast (okay, really it's lunch) at a place like Louie's Backyard and a few afternoon drinks at Sloppy Joe's and Captain Tony's Saloon, catch the sunset at Mallory Square. This is where the party starts for the night. For it is at sunset where the real magic of Key West emerges, like an angel coming out of the clouds.
It's a daily scene for sunset on Mallory Square.
Key West is one of those magical places where one can see both the sunrise and sunset over the water and Mallory Squre at sunset is where to spot to see the characters that make Key West so unique. In addition to the entertainers there's shopping and a historic sculpture garden. It is known as being a Key West “must see" and is truly incredible.
The scene on Duval Street on New Year's Eve.
After that, it's easy to get lost in the atmosphere that is Key West. Just wander up and down Duval Street like you're lost in a Jimmy Buffett song and all will be fine.
In Key West – and only in Key West – there is a high heel drop.
There is a conch shell drop at Sloppy Joe's, the Schooner Wharf bar (off Duval Street but right on the water) drops a wench and there is a high heel drop is at Bourbon St. Pub/New
Orleans House. There are fireworks at the end of White Street Pier over Key
West Harbor.
Admission and minimum charges apply to Sloppy Joe's and
Bourbon Street Pub.
So be on Duval Street throughout the night and let New Year's Eve just happen, Key West style. Any place is great, but most people squeeze into a breathing space in front of Sloppy Joe's by midnight.
But we will not stop here, because New Year's Eve in Key West is much more than just New Year's Eve. It's the days preceding and the day(s) after it that make Key West such a sensational party destination.
The PubClub.com New Year's Eve reporters are on the job!
With that in mind, here is PubClub.com's guide to the COMPLETE New Year's Eve Experience in the Conch Republic.
A great spot for dinner is the Conch Republic. Not only does it have great food and beautiful views of the marina but you have to walk to the end of Duval Street to get there so you really get to check out the town on the way.
Nothing gets a good night going more than a visit to Fat Tuesdays, where a blended “Hurricane” or “Miami Vice” ensures that you are truly on vacation.
Irish Kevin’s is the type of bar that keeps you coming back for more. With live music and entertainment this is a bar you wish you could have in your neighborhood. This bar feels like a pub and draws in a great crowd with lots of energy.
If you are looking to do some dancing head to Rick’s across the street. Rick’s has multiple levels and the patio upstairs really has a tropical vacation feel with great music. There’s an awesome little karaoke bar downstairs if you long to belt out a ballad. If you are looking for a more mellow atmosphere WillieT’s is your bar. You can drink up delicious mojitos while a guy plays his heart out on the guitar.
If you are looking for more than simple bar hopping sign up for the Scavenger Hunt Pub Crawl (at the Conch Republic). This scavenger hunt goes all over Duval Street and even includes 2-for-1 drinks at all the bars along the way!!
PubClub crew takes time out from NYE partying to sightsee 90 miles from Cuba.
For some fun daytime activities check out the Southern Most Point in the Continental USA. There is monument built to resemble a buoy, which great for photo opportunities and a feeling that you are at the end of the world (or just 90 miles from Cuba).
For more beautiful pictures, book a boating/snorkeling adventure at the Hurrican Hole Harbor. Take a boat tour through the mangroves and tropical waters where you stop on a sand bar for some snorkeling and sun. When the excursion ends the delicious food begins.
Relax after the big night poolside Dante's in the Conch Harbor Marina.
Grab lunch right there on the harbor at the Waterfront Bar and Seafood Grill, where they serve up the fish that they caught that morning. If an excursion sounds like too much for you, cruise over to Dante’s for some fun in the sun. This restaurant and bar is around a large pool and is located at the Conch Harbor Marina, so the views are amazing.
If you like the sound of a restaurant with a view, go to the Schooner Warf Bar and sit on the rooftop patio.
The PubClub party crew loves New Year's Eve in the Conch Republic.
– Key West Tips, Links and the Weather –
Top Tip: Sleep when you can. Seriously, here's what it's like in Key West. You go out the first night, think you overdid it a bit and plan to ease into the next day. So in the mid-morning you go to, say, Louie's Backyard (because Buffett TOLD you so!) and, feeling a bit more lively, take a walk down Duval Street. Next thing you know, you're in Sloppy Joe's, then Captain Tony's Saloon, then it's time for sunset on Mallory Square...
Weather: Warm. Sunny and in the 60s-80s, humidity likely but far less than many other times of the year. Pack sunscreen.
Hot Links: Key West Bars. Driving the Florida Keys..
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