Blue Heaven — Restaurant in Key West

There is nothing about Blue Heaven that is not 5 star. My advice if you're staying in olde town Key West is to take one morning to get up early and watch the sunrise, then take a walk over to Blue Heaven and try to be first on the list when they open. Having done exactly this twice now, it makes for a great start to the day. Blue Heaven seems to give their first customers a seat at a special two-top seated on a small stage area off to the left corner where you can sit, enjoy the view of the rest of the entire restaurant and enjoy whatever chickens and their babies might be walking by. If you happen to arrive any time after 8:00 AM they'll gladly add you to a wait list where they'll text you a link that you can use to check up on your status and receive a text when it's time for you to be seated. This in and of itself is a level of customer service you will not always find in Key West, and is head and shoulders above our recent experience at Hogs Breath. The lackadaisical approach to valuing your customer and general approach to customer service in the Keys is not represented anywhere near Blue Heaven. The atmosphere is 100% one of a kind but you'll have to go yourself to see what I'm talking about here. The lobster benedict is a staple, especially now that they serve breakfast all day now - genius level move by the owners. Service has never been anything but excellent - no feedback here other than 'keep it up guys!'. Blue Heaven is one of a special categories of places I've been many times where I would trust them to do anything well, so there is nothing on the menu that I wouldn't be interested to try. I've been there countless times in the past 10 years and have nothing but good memories. Blue Heaven is one of the few places in Key West that we absolutely have to go to every time, and often we try to make it the FIRST place we eat at whenever arriving in town. I hope it never changes. The gift shop sells key lime pie, local jewelry, art, t-shirts, hats, books, and so many cool things that anyone would be amiss to not stop by there on their way out or (more likely) to peruse while waiting for their name to be called. Nowadays Blue Heaven offers an open bar and live entertainment directly across the street to help pass the time during a lengthy wait. Some days I've eaten to a jazz trio, solo guitarist, and live bands - the scheduling of which I have no idea but have really enjoyed the added value to my dining experience. Random note - Back in Jan 2023 they offered a lobster grilled cheese one day for lunch which was amazing. I'm still talking about it in Feb 2024. Blue Heaven is nothing short of a must-go whenever in old...

A Bittersweet Return to a Once-Magical Spot

Back in 2009, Blue Heaven was one of the very first places I ever ate at in Key West—and it felt truly magical. There was a man painting in the background, another playing guitar, roosters freely roaming around—it was artistic, vibrant, and full of soul. The food was incredible, plentiful, and left a lasting impression.

Fast forward to 2025, Wally and I decided to return, hoping to enjoy a beautiful brunch and recapture that same magic I remembered so fondly. Sadly, the experience fell short—very short.

We paid $19 for what I had hoped would be a beautiful Key West shrimp Benedict. While the hollandaise sauce was still delicious, the rest was disappointing. Each poached egg came with just two small shrimp—not even enough to cover the English muffin. For the price, the portion felt almost insulting. There was no side, no salad—just 4 thin slices of fruit that felt like an afterthought.

Wally’s order didn’t fare much better. His egg was oddly flattened, and the ham was barely the size of a cracker—nowhere near the size of the Kaiser it was served on. Honestly, an Egg McMuffin from McDonald’s would’ve offered more value—at least the Canadian bacon there matches the size of the sandwich.

Not to mention to even sit in the Enchanting outdoor atmosphere was a two hour wait. We ended up in the inside bar. To wait an hour for our food.

It breaks my heart to say it, but a place that once carried the spirit and charm of Key West now feels more like a tourist novelty than a culinary gem. The ambiance is still enchanting, but the quality and quantity of the food no longer reflect the legendary status Blue Heaven once held.

It feels like greed has slowly replaced the legacy—and while the experience remains a luxury, it’s no longer a...

Heard this was one of the best places to go for breakfast in Key West. One of their main selling points was eating with chickens all around you, so absolutely I had to go. The stories were true. Chickens everywhere. Around the table, on rooftops, even on the table umbrellas. It was great fun sitting in their outdoor patio watching these critters going all around you.

Service was good. Our server was very nice and kept our drinks filled. The kitchen was painfully slow, which I thought was weird, since we were like second in line when they opened. But that's ok. At least there were chickens.

I had an omelet. It was a special that day, with lobster. I think it was a lobster BLT? That sounds right. Either way, it was delicious. Large chunks of lobster and everything else. It was less omelet and more a bunch of ingredients under an egg blanket, but it was still delicious. Not a ton of seasoning, because, clientele. Served with delicious toasty toast. Yum.

I also got to try the Rooster Special (Two Eggs Any Style, Potatoes or Grits, Bacon or Spicy Sausage and either little Pancakes (serving until 12pm), or Toast or Banana Bread). Fried eggs, good, potatoes, perfectly cooked with just a little bit of char, bacon, nice and crisp, and the banana bread, wow, the best part. Not too sweet, just dense enough, banana flavor present but not too harsh. I loved this.

Of course, we had to finish off with the Our Famous Key Lime Pie (Made with a buttery cracker crust, freshly squeezed lime juice, sweetened condensed milk and lots of meringue). Wow! A perfect curd that was just sweet and tart enough, balanced out with a Lot of meringue. It looks like a gimmicky photo op, but it's quality and delicious.

Overall, this was a lovely little breakfast. I can see why it's so popular....