Sunset Key in Key West, Florida – Is it worth a visit?

To celebrate my 1st birthday of the pandemic, I decided to go to Sunset Key, a private island located about 500 yards off the coast of Key West. As a local who was born and raised in Key West, I had only gone to Sunset Key once prior to this occasion. I wanted to do something special to raise my spirits as we were coming up on a year into the pandemic. A party was out of the question, so I asked my boyfriend to join me for breakfast at Latitudes on Sunset Key. (He said yes). We had a great time and would do it again, but not anytime soon. In this post I’ll discuss the pros and cons of our visit to Key West’s most exclusive island and you can decide for yourself if it’s worth a visit.

Your Latitudes reservation includes your boat ride to and from the island. The ride is short – less than 10 minutes – but I’m always grateful to be on any boat for any duration of time. I love to smell the salty ocean spray and feel the wind blowing through my hair.

The Opal Key Resort validated our parking. Our server did not mention this perk, but I knew to ask because I researched the parking situation online. Parking downtown can be tricky and expensive, so this was a huge WIN.

Sitting by the water and looking out over the ocean was incredible. The views were gorgeous and the ambience was lovely. Our server didn’t rush us, which was perfect, because we wanted to gaze out over the horizon for as long as possible.

Our favorite part of going to Sunset Key was feeling like we were on vacation! In reality, we were less than 5 miles from my house. But it felt like we were worlds away in a worry-free tropical paradise. I didn’t want to leave!

Latitudes’ brunch left me unimpressed. It was bland and uninspired. The dishes were presented beautifully, but ultimately that’s all they were – pretty.

I ordered an avocado Benedict and an iced coffee. Most breakfast entrees came with a side of breakfast potatoes, including my Benedict. The presentation was beautiful, but their breakfast options lacked flavor and originality. In other words, go for the priceless views, not for the food.

We were a little underwhelmed by the service. After the host sat us, we were left unattended for… quite some time. (But we enjoyed the view and each other’s company!!) After most of the other tables had received their entrees, a server came over to us and asked if someone had taken our order yet. We said no, and then he sort of went ‘ok, well, I guess I will.’ He was wonderful, but the inattentive service at the beginning made us feel a little unwelcome. I think we were neglected because of our age. We were definitely the youngest people there.

Sunset Key is an island of luxury hospitality. It’s not in every traveler’s budget. Visiting Latitudes for a meal is a great way to see the island without paying through the nose to stay overnight. We chose to go for breakfast because 1) I love breakfast and 2) It’s their least expensive meal. The breakfast prices are similar to most restaurants in Key West, but the dinner menu looked a little pricier than the average restaurant on the mainland. For more information on restaurants in Key West, you can check out my post, Key West’s Best Restaurants, from a local’s perspective.

There you have it! Pros and cons of Latitudes on Sunset Key. What do you think? Is it worth a visit? Have you already been? Let me know in the comments!

– Travel Alli