Capt Tony’s Saloon — Restaurant in Key West

CRM in Miami said to visit. order Hand-Cut Fries: Freshly prepared fries, crispy on the outside and soft inside, making them a perfect side dish. Captain Tony's Saloon, located at 428 Greene Street in Key West, is a historic bar renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and rich history.

Mahi Bites: Succulent pieces of mahi-mahi, seasoned and fried, providing a taste of fresh Key West seafood.

While the saloon primarily focuses on drinks and live entertainment, it also offers a selection of bar food to complement your experience

Cracked Conch: A local delicacy, this dish features tender conch meat, lightly battered and fried to perfection. ​

Favorite watering hole of such legends as Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Shel Silverstein and Jimmy Buffet, Captain Tony’s Saloon is not just a bar it is a piece of living history. The saloon’s namesake, fishing boat captain gunrunner, gambling casino operator and Mayor of Key West the late Captain Tony, was a larger than life character who was often described as a dropout from a Hemingway novel.

Originally built in 1851 as an icehouse that doubled as a morgue Captain Tony’s Saloon is steeped in history. When you stop in for a cold one, remember you are drinking where legends have been drinking for decades. We’re glad you’re here and we welcome you to stay a while and learn about us!

Browse around the site and please come down and pull up a barstool next time you’re in paradise…we’ll have a cold one waitin’ for you at the bar!

Early History: The building at 428 Greene Street, where Captain Tony's Saloon is located, was originally built in 1851 as an icehouse and morgue.

Evolution: Over the years, the building served various purposes, including a telegraph station, a cigar factory, and even a speakeasy. Captain Tony's Era: In 1958, Captain Tony Tarracino bought the building and transformed it into the iconic Captain Tony's Saloon. Legacy: Captain Tony's Saloon is known for its rich history, quirky details, and the legends associated with it, including the fact that Jimmy Buffett got his start there. Mayor of Key West: Captain Tony was also the mayor of Key West from 1989 to 1991 Sloppy Joe's: The building was also the original home of the famous...

As someone who works in the service industry, never have I ever experienced such horrible customer service from the apparel side of this place. My friend and I went there not long after they opened in the morning to buy some shirts before we left Key West. We were told by the bartender he didn’t know when the employee for that side would arrive, told us it should be the next couple minutes. After waiting 45 minutes, we were told to come back in a little. We killed some time by walking around and grabbing brunch for 2 and a half hours. We then came back to grab these shirts we really wanted. We noticed a new face who acknowledged us and asked if we wanted to buy shirts. He came over and from the get go was rude. He got my friend the shirt he wanted, and when he went to pay, the employee then stated, “cash only”. We had no cash, and had to use the atm (extra fee). I then was telling him what I wanted and he kept walking away ignoring me. Then coming back, and doing it again. Then when he was ready to talk to me, he got me the wrong size. I asked for the size I originally asked for and he got extremely irritated with me. After he was about to cash my friend out, he said, “register is not opening, come back another time” We were livid!!!! I told him how disappointed we were, and he put his hand on my arm and said, “sorry sweetheart, that’s the way the world works sometimes”. First of all, don’t EVER touch me and don’t call me sweetheart!!!! Poor poor poor service!!! All the older men were awesome, I don’t know bout the younger generation, but god. Get some...

🍹 Captain Tony’s Saloon: A Hemingway Fan’s Hidden Gem If you're tracing the footsteps of Hemingway in Key West, it’s easy to be drawn to the current Sloppy Joe's bar on Duval Street—but the real magic lies just a short stroll away at Captain Tony’s Saloon, the original location of Sloppy Joe’s where Hemingway himself used to drink. Walking through the doors feels like slipping back into a grittier, wilder version of old Key West. The walls are drenched in history (and business cards), the ceiling’s decorated with bras and dollar bills, and live music floats through the dimly lit saloon like a siren song from a bygone era. It’s chaotic, quirky, and full of stories. The drinks are great, the locals are colorful, and if you’re lucky, you'll catch a storyteller spinning tales that blur the line between myth and memory. Whether you're sipping a rum punch or a cold beer, you're not just having a drink—you're having an experience. So yes, stop by Sloppy Joe’s, but don’t leave Key West without raising a glass at Captain Tony’s. It’s not just a bar—it’s a slice of literary and...