6 Best Restaurants in The Florida Keys, Florida

This local favorite makes big waves with fresh seafood that's prepared with tropical flair. Carnivores can feast on prime-grade beef, which is carved in-house and has the kind of marbling that just melts in your mouth. Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian dishes are also available.

One of the Keys' most elegant restaurants, Pierre's marries colonial style with modern food trends and lets you taste the world from its romantic verandas. French chocolate, Australian lamb, Hawaiian fish, Florida lobster---whatever is fresh and in season will be masterfully prepared and beautifully served. Pierre's oozes style, especially the wicker-chair-strewn veranda overlooking the bay. Save your best "tropical chic" duds for dinner here. The downstairs bar is a perfect spot for catching sunsets, sipping martinis, and enjoying light eats.

The restaurant at the exclusive Little Palm Island Resort—its dining room and adjacent outdoor terrace lit by candles and warmed by live music—is one of the most romantic spots in the Keys. It's open to nonguests on a reservations-only basis, but no one under 16 is allowed on the island. If you can get a reservation, go. The oceanfront setting is one that can't be matched, except for maybe in St. Barts or Fiji. Keep that in mind as you reach for the bill, which can also make you swoon. The menu melds Latin and Caribbean flavors, with exotic little touches—think foie gras crème brûlée with mango and toasted coconut, followed by grilled Spanish octopus and corn-jalapeño pudding. The Sunday brunch, the full-moon dinners with live entertainment, and the Chef's Table Dinner are very popular.

Feast your eyes on a steal-your-breath-away view and beautifully presented dishes prepared by executive chef Doug Shook. Once you get over sticker shock on the seasonally changing menu, settle in on the outside deck and enjoy dishes like cracked conch with mango chutney, lamb chops with sun-dried-tomato relish, and tamarind-glazed duck breast. A more affordable option is upstairs at The Cafe at Louie's, which serves tapas such as shrimp fritters with coconut curry.

This local hot spot has a casual Key West vibe and an eclectic menu. The specialty is the local fish of the day (like snapper with creamy Thai curry), but you might also try the tropical shrimp salsa, wild-mushroom quesadilla, or old-fashioned meat loaf with real mashed potatoes. For dessert, the strawberry pie provides an added measure of down-home comfort.

This elegant, fine-dining restaurant in Hawks Cay Resort serves steaks and seafood. Chefs work with local farmers and fishermen to find what’s fresh and in season, then create a menu that will wow your palate (and your wallet). Don’t miss the short-rib onion soup with smoked provolone and Gruyère.