Glazed Donuts — Restaurant in Key West

From a local: I used to enjoy this place a lot..."used to". I think place has suffered too much popularity, too fast. Quality has suffered and they now are content to cater to the cruise ship crowd at the expense of servicing the locals that put them on the map originally. Changing the recipe of the maple bourbon bacon doughnut was a mistake, in my opinion. My feeling is it changed because of complaints from a vocal minority. That's only part of the problem, and a personal criticism as the original recipe was my favorite. But let's be clear...their doughnuts are good: "good", not great. Which is why the following experience has landed this store, on the list. A few mornings ago I found myself in the area on my way to work. I thought, "Cool, I'll get a couple of doughnuts!" I checked the clock: 7:00 am. Perfect timing, or so I thought. I approach the entrance only to find that the door is locked. "Hmmm." Maybe I'm a couple of minutes early. Maybe my cell phone clock is fast (not likely). That's okay. I can wait. Oh look, I see the proprietors inside the door...six feet away...just on the other side of the huge, GLASS door. Surely they see me. It's not as if it's a huge store and they're all the way in the back. I get nothing no wave, refused eye contact. They just continued on, head down, eyes to their shoes. "That's odd", I thought. Let me go back the vehicle and check the time. I must be a few minutes early. Nope. 7:02 am. Well, okay, surely by now after I walk back up the sidewalk they will have opened the door. Still locked...and still zero acknowledgement, or awareness of my presence at their glass storefront (I'm 6'1" 217; respectable. Not a giant, but not small). Even if you got a late start that morning, "Hi good morning, come on in and hang out for some chit chat while we set up our store for the day , regular customer. Sorry we're late opening, we'll be right with you" etc, etc. Again: your doughnuts are good...not great. And your effectively the only game in town, for doughnuts. But, I get it: you can survive on cruise ship traffic. So my boycott of your store will not...

Nestled in the heart of Key West, hidden from the tourist-heavy streets, is a spot the locals know as a treasure: Glazed Donuts. But this isn’t your typical donut shop. Glazed is a donut bakery, and once you grasp the difference, you’ll never settle for just any donut again. Here, the dough is crafted like a masterpiece, and the flavors aren’t just tasted—they’re experienced.

But let’s talk about one particular standout creation: the key lime donut. This isn’t just another Key West homage to the famed key lime pie—this is a revelation. Imagine the tart, bright burst of real key lime, perfectly balanced against a soft, fluffy donut. The glaze is light but tangy, offering just enough sweetness to cut through the citrus while still allowing that signature zing of key lime to shine. It’s like biting into a bite-sized piece of Key West sunshine.

You know that perfect moment when a key lime pie hits that magical balance of creamy tartness and sugary sweetness? Now, imagine that distilled into the ideal donut. With each bite, the soft dough gives way to an explosion of flavor that captures the tropical essence of Key West. It’s refreshing, indulgent, and completely unexpected—transforming the simple donut into an unforgettable taste experience.

If you’re in Key West, trying the key lime donut from Glazed Donuts is a must. Sure, key lime pie is a staple of the island, but this donut could easily rival even the best slice of pie you’ve ever had. In fact, if you were to rank the greatest key lime creations on the island, this donut would be second only to the legendary key lime pie at Old Town Bakery. It’s that good. One bite and you’ll realize that this donut isn’t just a tribute to Key West’s iconic flavor—it’s a new way to savor it.

PSA: At Glazed Donuts, don’t even think about ordering a dozen. That’s not how this works. You’ll grab one, maybe two if you’re feeling adventurous, and then guess what? You’ll be back tomorrow… and the day after that. This isn’t just a donut shop—it’s a donut commitment. Proceed with caution; you might just end up planning your entire week around...

Nestled on a side street just off Duval, Glazed Donuts presents a cute classic entry into the tiny bake shop realm. Greeted by artsy chalk lettering describing the offerings and coffee suggestions and an example of each donut in glass display I was excited to try. We picked the Key Lime Pie (because Key West), the Maple Bourbon with candied bacon (because great flavors), and a chocolate glazed (because simple classic to really tell how the donuts are) and we were not disappointed with any. 2 cups of cold brew rounded out our breakfast. We say at the tables offered in their small but clean white and airy doing section behind the coffee roaster and surrounded by robots on the walls. Glazed Donuts supported artists to decorate and paint fun playful robots on the walls and a donuts at the beach scene in the bathroom. It just adds to the fun. The donuts: delicious! The key lime pie was our favorite expression of the classic dessert on the whole island. The Maple Bourbon was a great blend of flavor without being too sweet and the chocolate glazed hello is taking that not only are the flavors good but the donuts are good--fluffy and quality. As we say an enjoyed an article posted revealed that the guy ringing us up and the woman dumping a new batch in the fryer we're in fact the owners, dedicated to their craft and creating a great vacation memory...