Yay! I have a functional computer again, and a zillion and one things I’d like to blog about. So let’s get back to Key West.
Our trip down U.S. 1 ended at the Key West airport where we dropped off the rental car. Here’s my second Key West travel tip: stay on the west side of the island. The east side has a small airport, several hotels and a waterfront view, but not much else. The west side is where most of the restaurants, shops, bars and attractions are located. Now, Key West isn’t that big (2 miles by 4 miles). So you could taxi, bike or walk across it. But it’s much nicer to be close to the action. That being said, I don’t imagine that actually staying on Duval Street is very nice either. My recommendation is to stay a block or so off Duval.
The Duval Inn has rooms available in the main house, the yellow cottage, and the bungalow
When traveling, I prefer to avoid large chain hotels. I adore bed & breakfasts and am a sucker for cheesy old-school motels. If you’re like me, I recommend staying at one of Key West’s many B&B’s or inns. I found The Duval Inn on Tripadvisor, where it gets rave reviews for its location, price and service. This B&B is located on Angela Street, within a block of Duval Street. It offers a range of room options, from basic rooms to suites. We opted for a cozy and very affordable poolside bungalow room. The only downside was that it had a shared bathroom (which was really not a big deal at all). And for $129 a night, the room was a steal.
One of my favorite things about B&Bs is that they’re a lot more social than hotels. The Duval Inn’s amenities enhance the social aspect. There is a complimentary happy hour every night with good cocktails, music and company. Breakfast, which consisted of bagels and pastries, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, coffee and juice, is set up in the B&B’s registration area. Guests often choose to eat their food in the courtyard, sharing travel tips while they enjoy their meals.
After enjoying a nap, a margarita and some laughs at happy hour, Jared and I headed out in search of El Siboney. This Cuban restaurant was recommended to us by one of Jared’s friends whose family owns a house in Key West. The taxi driver who took us to the B&B also had good things to say about it. This brings me to a couple more travel tips – Taxi drivers are a great source of information and dining recommendations. Also, you’ll find some of the best and most affordable meals off of Duval Street.
My sangria & bistec de palomilla from El Siboney (told you the portions were huge!)
El Siboney is located at 900 Catherine Street, in a residential area. It is a local favorite that we probably wouldn’t have found if people hadn’t told us to seek it out. From the outside, the restaurant is unassuming. Once inside, you are greeted by the aroma of roasted meat and garlic, and the sight of happy people enjoying huge portions of good Cuban food. El Siboney has a fairly small selection of menu items; but they do them all very well. Jared ordered the Puerco Asado (roasted pork). I ordered Bistec de Palomilla (grilled steak). Both meals were served with Cuban bread, black beans, saffron rice and fried plantains. The meal was amazing. The meat was tender, well-seasoned and covered with a generous portion of grilled onions. The Cuban bread was soft and sweet, the beans had a rich meaty flavor, and I don’t think I could ever say anything bad about fried plantains.
After such a filling meal, we definitely needed to go for a walk. Fortunately, Key West lends itself very well to walking. Jared and I wandered through El Siboney’s neighborhood, down Duval Street and to the waterfront at Mallory Square. We spent several hours people-watching, wandering in and out of shops and bars, and just talking and relaxing before heading to the Margaritaville Cafe for live music and a late-night snack.
I’ve been to several of the Margaritaville restaurants and have always liked them. They’re full of Jimmy Buffett-related items and serve decent pub grub with a Floribbean twist. This was my favorite Margaritaville experience though. The Key West Margaritaville is a lot smaller than the others, giving it more of a local bar feel. We lucked into a seat front and center of the band and ordered a plate of Volcano Nachos and a couple drinks. The nachos, while huge, are nothing special. They are covered in cheese sauce, melted cheese and all of the standard nacho toppings (guacamole, sour cream, green onion, jalapenos, etc). But then again, I don’t think you go to Margaritaville for incredible food. You go because you are a crazy fan who enjoys the atmosphere and the experience.
When we arrived, we hadn’t intended to spend the whole night at the Cafe. But the drinks were good, The Key West Band did an excellent job of covering Jimmy’s songs, and we were surrounded by fans of all ages singing along. So we passed a pleasant Saturday night “wastin’ away again” with a soldier who was about to be deployed to Afghanistan, a bachelorette party, businesspeople on vacation, a guy who lives on his boat and several old hippies and beach-bum types. This is what I love so much about the Parrothead community – you meet people of all ages and backgrounds and instantly become friends with them, if only for a night.
