Top 5 Key West Spring Break Hangouts

Like going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, doing Spring Break in Key West means going to the party. A week of placid serenity this is not. With that in mind, here's our list of the top five Key West Spring Break hangouts, from the best bars to the craziest clubs.

1. Top 5 Key West Spring Break Hangouts - Sloppy Joe's

You can't miss Sloppy Joe's. This 70-year-old Duval St. corner saloon is the one of the biggest and well-known watering holes in Key West. The drink prices are only a little north of average but you can't beat the crowd-friendly ambience or the live music ('til 2 a.m.) if you're looking for a good time.

2. Top 5 Key West Spring Break Hangouts - Mallory Square Sunset Celebration

After a little happy hour pregaming, take your buzz over to Mallory Square at dusk and watch the sun go down with a cavalcade of street artists and performers celebrating the beginning of another crazy Key West night. Get there at least an hour before sunset (around 6:30 during Spring Break) if you want to get a good view and still have time watch the fire dancers and get your palms read.

3. Top 5 Key West Spring Break Hangouts - Garden of Eden Bar

Nothing says spring break like "clothing-optional," right? Exhibitionists and voyeurs alike are welcomed with open arms into this Duval St. party destination, where you're invited to wear as much or as little as you please. The bar is open during the day, where you can relax and sun yourself (they'll rent you a towel for a few bucks), but things really get going at night when the DJ starts spinning and the club atmosphere takes shape. A body paint station in the back provides a happy medium for revelers who want to let loose and get nude, but not naked.

4. Top 5 Key West Spring Break Hangouts - Aqua Nightclub

Key West is a wonderfully LGBT-friendly place, and the way vacationers tell it, the Aqua Nightclub's drag show is not to be missed. A little gender-bending fun can be the perfect way to spice up an evening of run-of-the-mill partying, and Aqua is also known for having the some of the best music around. Leave your reservations at the door and go with the flow.

5. Top 5 Key West Spring Break Hangouts - Cowboy Bill's Honky Tonk Saloon

The self-proclaimed "Southernmost Country Bar in the United States" has built a reputation for itself chiefly on two things: its one-dollar PBRs until 10 p.m., and its mechanical bull, which runs perhaps not-at-all-coincidentally from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Toss back a few brews, dance to some country music, and take a turn – or dare your friends – to conquer the mechanical steed. Either way, Cowboy Bill's will be part of a night to remember.


Photo by Stig Nygaard via Flickr