My wife and I are both in our mid-20s and recently took a vacation to Key West, where we decided to splurge on a truly special lunch experience—and this place absolutely exceeded every expectation. Without hesitation, this was a 10 out of 10 experience and one of the highlights of our entire trip.
If you are looking for a high-quality, upscale lunch experience that feels exclusive and memorable, this is the place to go. The restaurant is located literally about 15 feet from the ocean, creating an almost surreal beachfront dining experience that feels both relaxed and refined.
My wife deserves full credit for finding this gem and coordinating the logistics. The experience begins with a ferry ride from Key West, which is very easy to locate near the marina—simply searching for the ferry pickup location on Google makes it straightforward. The ferry ride itself is short, approximately 15 minutes, and takes you directly to Sunset Key Island, where you are dropped off at the same dock used by island residents and property owners. That alone makes the experience feel exclusive and unique.
From the moment you step onto Sunset Key Island, the ambiance sets the tone. As you walk in from the pier, you immediately see the restaurant’s beachfront patio and seating area, with stunning ocean views that instantly make you feel like you’ve arrived somewhere special. The lobby is absolutely beautiful, featuring rich mahogany wood that gives the space a warm, elegant feel. We visited close to Christmas, and the décor was exceptional—tasteful holiday decorations, garland, soft lighting, and thoughtfully arranged tables. Each table had a fresh rosemary centerpiece paired with a small yellow dandelion, a subtle detail that showed how much care goes into the overall presentation.
The food itself was outstanding. I ordered the blackened grouper, while my wife chose the yellowtail fish. Both entrées were incredibly fresh and expertly prepared. The grouper had a firmer texture with bold, well-balanced seasoning and was served as a sandwich, which made it hearty and satisfying. My wife’s yellowtail was noticeably softer and sweeter, served as a beautifully plated fillet, and was equally delicious. While the textures differed, both dishes were high-quality, flavorful, and thoughtfully executed.
We were especially glad we chose to go for lunch rather than dinner. We personally prefer heavier meals earlier in the day, and the lunch crowd was significantly smaller, allowing us to enjoy a more relaxed, intimate experience without feeling rushed or crowded. It truly felt like a peaceful escape.
Finally, a sincere thank-you to the management and staff for making this such a memorable experience. The customer service was excellent from start to finish. A special shout-out to Erik, who is young, hardworking, and clearly takes pride in providing great customer service. His attentiveness and professionalism stood out and added to the overall experience.
This lunch was well worth the splurge, and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Key West who wants a refined, scenic, and unforgettable dining experience. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity and would absolutely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tammi “WillowLaker” TARVIN
Gorgeous location. The sunset views live up to the hype. Transfer to island was organized and expedient. Maybe the best lobster bisque I’ve had. Bread fresh and flavorful. Considering the fact that the menu is heavily seafood, we were shocked at how bad the fish entrees were. The grouper was dry and tasteless, served over black beans, basically $50 spent for what tasted like a plate of beans. The salmon ordered medium was a bit overcooked and bland, needed a sauce. The accompaniments were strange and did not complement the dish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Chika
This place is so nice, great food and perfect vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
G Wendt
Fantastic! Great food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Noah Body
Completely changed menu for the worse. There’s is not anything special about the new menu. They removed the key lime French toast. No more breakfast fondue. Now it’s no different than any place on key west for breakfast other than the view.
Do not recommend and taking time to come out and eat when they can’t update their menu online to match what you’ll see when you get to the island.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Jailine B.
We had a really nice experience coming to this place for our anniversary, the service was really good, our waiters went over the top getting us free dessert due to the occasion! The food was good, very different flavors and my steak was super tender very well cooked. We were satisfied with our meals and everything in general.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carey Stansbury
My wife and I love this place. The service has always been great, we’ve never had a bad meal and you can’t beat the atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michele Hughes
Love this place! Went for dinner and lunch the next day. The beet salad is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Hasbrouck
Your reservation time is the time you get on the boat not your table time we didn't know so I'm telling you. So good here the view is great we love it at night here
Key lime Martini not as good as before, not charged
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
lm Useless
The food took over an hour to arrive, and we watched several tables who came in after us get served first. Another table even walked out because they never received their food. I was told this place was amazing, but the service was totally lacking—staff felt avoidant, and we were even getting rained on without anyone noticing or caring. There was absolutely no sense of attention or hospitality. Even once the food finally came, I was already so disappointed and popped poached eggs just added to the dissatisfaction.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Isabel Abreu
I really wanted to like this restaurant because the atmosphere is beautiful, but the experience was unbelievably disappointing. It took over an hour for us to get our food, and we weren’t the only ones. Two other tables around us waited just as long and ended up leaving entirely. Meanwhile, parties that arrived well after us were served within 15 minutes.
When our food finally came, it was overpriced for the quality. I expected higher prices because of the setting, but not for food that tasted cheap and poorly prepared.
Service was also lacking. We were barely checked on the entire time, and when it started raining, our server casually said, “Oh, I didn’t even notice,” which summed up the inattentiveness perfectly.
Overall, this was nowhere near the high-end experience we were expecting. Not worth the time, cost, or frustration.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Werner Andrade
Highly recommended. If you are staying and sunset key cottages, opal hotel or visit key west, you must visit this restaurant. Take the ferry from Key West and dine here. The sunset view from here is stunning. We ordered the skirt steak, the yellowtail snapper and Cesar salad. For dessert the banana cake. All of them exceptional. Thanks to our attendant Ivo and even more to the chef. Excellent casual, upscale, romantic ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Luke Johnson
Ambience at sunset is great. Food is just mediocre and incredibly boring and overpriced. Nice experience, I wouldn’t recommend for the food though.
Everything was perfect!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I are both in our mid-20s and recently took a vacation to Key West, where we decided to splurge on a truly special lunch experience—and this place absolutely exceeded every expectation. Without hesitation, this was a 10 out of 10 experience and one of the highlights of our entire trip.
If you are looking for a high-quality, upscale lunch experience that feels exclusive and memorable, this is the place to go. The restaurant is located literally about 15 feet from the ocean, creating an almost surreal beachfront dining experience that feels both relaxed and refined.
My wife deserves full credit for finding this gem and coordinating the logistics. The experience begins with a ferry ride from Key West, which is very easy to locate near the marina—simply searching for the ferry pickup location on Google makes it straightforward. The ferry ride itself is short, approximately 15 minutes, and takes you directly to Sunset Key Island, where you are dropped off at the same dock used by island residents and property owners. That alone makes the experience feel exclusive and unique.
From the moment you step onto Sunset Key Island, the ambiance sets the tone. As you walk in from the pier, you immediately see the restaurant’s beachfront patio and seating area, with stunning ocean views that instantly make you feel like you’ve arrived somewhere special. The lobby is absolutely beautiful, featuring rich mahogany wood that gives the space a warm, elegant feel. We visited close to Christmas, and the décor was exceptional—tasteful holiday decorations, garland, soft lighting, and thoughtfully arranged tables. Each table had a fresh rosemary centerpiece paired with a small yellow dandelion, a subtle detail that showed how much care goes into the overall presentation.
The food itself was outstanding. I ordered the blackened grouper, while my wife chose the yellowtail fish. Both entrées were incredibly fresh and expertly prepared. The grouper had a firmer texture with bold, well-balanced seasoning and was served as a sandwich, which made it hearty and satisfying. My wife’s yellowtail was noticeably softer and sweeter, served as a beautifully plated fillet, and was equally delicious. While the textures differed, both dishes were high-quality, flavorful, and thoughtfully executed.
We were especially glad we chose to go for lunch rather than dinner. We personally prefer heavier meals earlier in the day, and the lunch crowd was significantly smaller, allowing us to enjoy a more relaxed, intimate experience without feeling rushed or crowded. It truly felt like a peaceful escape.
Finally, a sincere thank-you to the management and staff for making this such a memorable experience. The customer service was excellent from start to finish. A special shout-out to Erik, who is young, hardworking, and clearly takes pride in providing great customer service. His attentiveness and professionalism stood out and added to the overall experience.
This lunch was well worth the splurge, and we would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Key West who wants a refined, scenic, and unforgettable dining experience. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity and would absolutely return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gorgeous location. The sunset views live up to the hype. Transfer to island was organized and expedient. Maybe the best lobster bisque I’ve had. Bread fresh and flavorful. Considering the fact that the menu is heavily seafood, we were shocked at how bad the fish entrees were. The grouper was dry and tasteless, served over black beans, basically $50 spent for what tasted like a plate of beans. The salmon ordered medium was a bit overcooked and bland, needed a sauce. The accompaniments were strange and did not complement the dish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
This place is so nice, great food and perfect vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Fantastic! Great food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Completely changed menu for the worse. There’s is not anything special about the new menu. They removed the key lime French toast. No more breakfast fondue. Now it’s no different than any place on key west for breakfast other than the view.
Do not recommend and taking time to come out and eat when they can’t update their menu online to match what you’ll see when you get to the island.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
We had a really nice experience coming to this place for our anniversary, the service was really good, our waiters went over the top getting us free dessert due to the occasion! The food was good, very different flavors and my steak was super tender very well cooked. We were satisfied with our meals and everything in general.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I love this place. The service has always been great, we’ve never had a bad meal and you can’t beat the atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this place! Went for dinner and lunch the next day. The beet salad is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Your reservation time is the time you get on the boat not your table time we didn't know so I'm telling you. So good here the view is great we love it at night here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Key lime Martini not as good as before, not charged
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
The food took over an hour to arrive, and we watched several tables who came in after us get served first. Another table even walked out because they never received their food. I was told this place was amazing, but the service was totally lacking—staff felt avoidant, and we were even getting rained on without anyone noticing or caring. There was absolutely no sense of attention or hospitality. Even once the food finally came, I was already so disappointed and popped poached eggs just added to the dissatisfaction.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
I really wanted to like this restaurant because the atmosphere is beautiful, but the experience was unbelievably disappointing. It took over an hour for us to get our food, and we weren’t the only ones. Two other tables around us waited just as long and ended up leaving entirely. Meanwhile, parties that arrived well after us were served within 15 minutes.
When our food finally came, it was overpriced for the quality. I expected higher prices because of the setting, but not for food that tasted cheap and poorly prepared.
Service was also lacking. We were barely checked on the entire time, and when it started raining, our server casually said, “Oh, I didn’t even notice,” which summed up the inattentiveness perfectly.
Overall, this was nowhere near the high-end experience we were expecting. Not worth the time, cost, or frustration.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Highly recommended. If you are staying and sunset key cottages, opal hotel or visit key west, you must visit this restaurant. Take the ferry from Key West and dine here. The sunset view from here is stunning. We ordered the skirt steak, the yellowtail snapper and Cesar salad. For dessert the banana cake. All of them exceptional. Thanks to our attendant Ivo and even more to the chef. Excellent casual, upscale, romantic ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ambience at sunset is great. Food is just mediocre and incredibly boring and overpriced. Nice experience, I wouldn’t recommend for the food though.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
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