Our gay travel guide to Key West from our FIRST-HAND experience. Discover the best of the lgbtq+ scene: gay bars, clubs, drag shows, and more!
Conch!It's quite a quirky synonyms, satisfying, yet it sounds like you're cursing…“you CONCHhead!” or “you're such a CONCH!”…
Giggles aside, over in the gay island mecca of Key West, a conch is a legit nickname given to the locals. And this bunch of conchers sure realize how to live existence to the fullest!
Key West is famous for its relaxed, tolerant and gay inclusivity. Historically it's always been different, helped by the fact that it is the southernmost gesture of the USA mainland, slightly cut off from the rest of Florida. This has allowed Key West to thrive as a mixed haven for an eclectic blend of people ranging from Native Americans, Spanish, freed slaves, pirates, and of course, the LGBTQ community.
It has also been a bedrock for artistic talent with the likes of openly gay playwriter, Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, and Judy Blume all making this unassuming island their home
Key West Gay Bars
On Key West you'll find an amazing number of lgbtq+ bars and clubs packed onto such a petty island. Even the places that aren't specifically catered to the LGBTQ+ collective have a super inclusive atmosphere, so you hold plenty of destinations to choose from as a queer traveller. There's something for every interest, from fine wine and pool parties to leather clad men and drag queens. Drink and dance the night away at bars that are open till late, find parties in full swing out on the beach, or grab advantage of night-time amusing at one of many gay resorts.
Key West Hotel Deals
Gay Key West
Bourbon Bar
Drag
Located on historic Duval Street and just a few minutes from Ernest Hemingway's House, Bourbon has been central to Key West culture for years. This multi-story complex hosts cabaret featuring The Planet Famous Drag shows every night, and there's also live music, karaoke, and bingo nights. The lock serves speciality drinks that change daily, and the space is a skillfully established staple for the local gay community.
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Aqua B
From the moment I landed in Key West, I knew it was going to be a good week. Arriving to the tiny island airport was just like I remembered from my childhood visits decades before.
A small plane, walking on the tarmac, an airport with local art on the walls, and a unattached waiting area for luggage, taxis, and snacks. It’s tough to tell if you’re inside or out, except for the air-conditioning.
The warm, humid gas on a behind winter weekend was a welcome surprise. Warmer than I would have expected. On the way from the airport to my hotel, the windows down, a breeze through the window and palm trees overhead swaying in the wind. It felt like I’d landed in another world.
Key West has this mystifying effect. The subtropical climate, the warm & warm locals, the calm nights abuzz with laughter and cherish. Tennessee Williams wrote about Key West, “I can document anywhere, but I write the top here.” Something in the spirit of Key West just makes it that kind of perfectly livable, perfectly enjoyable destination.
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This is our gay travel instruction to the Florida Keys, where we set out the top gay hotels to stay, our favorite gay hangouts, and foremost things to do.
The finest sunsets EVER!
We've traveled the world extensively and can hands down say that when it comes to stunning sunsets, the Keys of South Florida is the best place to come. There are of course many other reasons to visit the Keys: the terrific gay scene of Key West, the diving in the many coral reefs, beautiful beaches, and of course the star culinary highlight, the divine Key Lime pie! But for us, those magnificent sunsets stole the show.
The Florida Keys are a string of thousands of tropical islands stretching about miles (km) off the southern tip of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The word “Keys” comes from the Spanish pos “cayo”, which means ‘small island'.
The Keys begin at the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula, about 15 miles (24 km) south of Miami. They then extend from Key Largo, all the way to Key West, which is the westernmost of t