Capt. Tony's Saloon
Capt. Tony's Saloon
4.5
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Monday
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Friday
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 12:00 AM
About
A popular Key West saloon which Hemingway is said to have frequented and used in his novels.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,100 reviews
Excellent
595
Very good
311
Average
128
Poor
29
Terrible
37
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smilgaki
London, UK2,416 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
I quite like a dive bar, and this was the original Sloppy Joe's where Hemingway used to drink, before the owner moved location.
So we thought we'd have a drink here.
It is dark, very dark - so you can do plenty of daytime drinking pretending you have waited until after dinner. It's also covered in $ notes, which makes for a fun round of 'guess how much the wallpaper cost'.
Coming from the UK we also marvelled at the ashtrays on the table - for us it's kind of the equivalent of entering a Victorian opium den.
These points of interest aside it was rather underwhelming. I had the pirate punch, which more or less seemed to be commercial orange juice with a tad of alcohol. Also, this bar was one of the few places that still uses plastic rather than paper straws.
The darkness got a bit boring as there was not much to look at.
It wasn't all that friendly either.
Ok to visit once.
So we thought we'd have a drink here.
It is dark, very dark - so you can do plenty of daytime drinking pretending you have waited until after dinner. It's also covered in $ notes, which makes for a fun round of 'guess how much the wallpaper cost'.
Coming from the UK we also marvelled at the ashtrays on the table - for us it's kind of the equivalent of entering a Victorian opium den.
These points of interest aside it was rather underwhelming. I had the pirate punch, which more or less seemed to be commercial orange juice with a tad of alcohol. Also, this bar was one of the few places that still uses plastic rather than paper straws.
The darkness got a bit boring as there was not much to look at.
It wasn't all that friendly either.
Ok to visit once.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QueenJEsq
Washington DC, DC8 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
Really unclear why and how this place has such good reviews. It can only be because everyone inside shares one thing in common- they are all white. We are Black.
The first time in key west and my partner and I stopped in because of the history and reviews. Despite Trump flags flying we went in - not always an indication of wanting to associate the establishment with the views of the past administration but in this case it seems to fit. Waited to get a drink a long time - even though it was pretty empty for a Thursday night. Then asked if we could put a dollar on the wall as his tradition but the bar tender couldn’t be bothered and told us there’s no pen / black marker available. In a bar known for letting people write on dollar bills and place it on the wall. We walked out. Save yourself the experience if you are a person of color and head to Willie T’s. Better music, nice people and you can put up a dollar to make your visit no matter the color of your skin.
The first time in key west and my partner and I stopped in because of the history and reviews. Despite Trump flags flying we went in - not always an indication of wanting to associate the establishment with the views of the past administration but in this case it seems to fit. Waited to get a drink a long time - even though it was pretty empty for a Thursday night. Then asked if we could put a dollar on the wall as his tradition but the bar tender couldn’t be bothered and told us there’s no pen / black marker available. In a bar known for letting people write on dollar bills and place it on the wall. We walked out. Save yourself the experience if you are a person of color and head to Willie T’s. Better music, nice people and you can put up a dollar to make your visit no matter the color of your skin.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MRG13
Tampa, FL5 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
I love this place. It has every thing a good dive bar should; a rich history, strong drinks, live bands and a great location in the middle of Duval Street in old Key West. This building served many capacities over the years, but its most famous as the original Sloppy Joe’s where Ernest Hemingway was a regular. Captain Tony served as mayor of Key West and Jimmy Buffett got his start playing here. The song “Last mango in Paris” is about Captain Tony”. Any trip to Key West should include at least a quick visit to Captain Tony’s.
Written November 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S&R
53 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Touted as a great bar for ‘pirates punch,’ the drink was nothing more than weakly spiked juice in a cup full of ice... mostly ice and mostly juice.
It’s a local hangout that was dark and dingy. Decor of dollar bills, bras, and license plates tacked to the walls and ceiling was nothing special and found in many bars in Key West. The ‘hanging tree’ in the middle of the room is a different story. That’s unique!
Still a dark bar, with live music (not necessarily good music!), and weak drinks in a souvenir cup. For me, it’s not a place to return to.
It’s a local hangout that was dark and dingy. Decor of dollar bills, bras, and license plates tacked to the walls and ceiling was nothing special and found in many bars in Key West. The ‘hanging tree’ in the middle of the room is a different story. That’s unique!
Still a dark bar, with live music (not necessarily good music!), and weak drinks in a souvenir cup. For me, it’s not a place to return to.
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MrEricG
Franklin, TN97 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
Captain Tony’s is obviously an historic bar. You’ve read about it, you’ve heard it in songs, and you may have even seen pictures of it. Unfortunately, the history is all this place has going for it.
This was one of the things my wife and I were really looking forward to when we visited Key West, and the bar/building was what all we hoped for. The Captain Tony’s Amber was good, and even my wife (not a beer drinker) liked it.
So why just 3 stars? The bartender and the pours. Your draft choices are 12 oz and 22 oz. Pick the 12, and it’ll come in a 9 oz lemonade-stand type of cup. Go with the 22 oz., and the bartender will charge you for the souvenir cup even after asking if you want the cup and you telling him no. There isn’t anything you can do about the 9 oz. cups, but you can pay in cash and let the bartender’s tip pay for the souvenir cup you aren’t taking.
If the bartender was pleasant, you might overlook the small pour and souvenir cup overcharge scam. But he isn’t. He’s a jerk to everyone, from the loud, obnoxious tourist groups who deserve it to the awestruck couples who just want to quietly have a beer at the bar, soak up the atmosphere, and think about all the people (famous, not famous, and infamous) who’ve had a drink there.
This was our third trip to Key West and our first to Captain Tony’s. We’ll be back to Key West, but we won’t come back here. If you decide to try it, order your beer in a bottle and hope that a different bartender is working the day you’re there.
This was one of the things my wife and I were really looking forward to when we visited Key West, and the bar/building was what all we hoped for. The Captain Tony’s Amber was good, and even my wife (not a beer drinker) liked it.
So why just 3 stars? The bartender and the pours. Your draft choices are 12 oz and 22 oz. Pick the 12, and it’ll come in a 9 oz lemonade-stand type of cup. Go with the 22 oz., and the bartender will charge you for the souvenir cup even after asking if you want the cup and you telling him no. There isn’t anything you can do about the 9 oz. cups, but you can pay in cash and let the bartender’s tip pay for the souvenir cup you aren’t taking.
If the bartender was pleasant, you might overlook the small pour and souvenir cup overcharge scam. But he isn’t. He’s a jerk to everyone, from the loud, obnoxious tourist groups who deserve it to the awestruck couples who just want to quietly have a beer at the bar, soak up the atmosphere, and think about all the people (famous, not famous, and infamous) who’ve had a drink there.
This was our third trip to Key West and our first to Captain Tony’s. We’ll be back to Key West, but we won’t come back here. If you decide to try it, order your beer in a bottle and hope that a different bartender is working the day you’re there.
Written September 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clemsontoby
Gladstone, MO189 contributions
Jan 2020
I think that this is a place that if you act like a tourist, you get treated like a tourist. If you act like you have been to a bar before, you get served accordingly. The prices are fine and the beer was cold. You can see graffiti that Jimmy Buffett wrote on the bathroom wall. For me, the best thing was that the random barstool I sat on had my favorite singers name on it - John Prine.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beto Simoes
Sao Paulo, SP549 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
Rating five only for those who are over 60, like beer and want to relive Hemingway's habits. Key West tourist spot is one of the must-see spots for nostalgia lovers in the city. Cold beer and guaranteed excitement like in the 50s and 60s
Written December 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaribMark
Charleston, SC166 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
This is a dive bar, which was the original location of Sloppy Joes when Papa Ernest Hemingway drank there. It's dark, all indoors but open to the street, covered in dollar bills and dusty bras and has had many famous visitors. Drinks are standard with collectable cups and souvenirs available. They have live music. No complaints, dress very casual and comfortable and toast Papa.
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lobsterlover99
Lincolnshire, UK1,450 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Called in for a very pleasant hour on a recent cruise stop. It’s dark and dingy but serves good beer and there was a great live singer playing for tips who was doing requests. Not sure the atmosphere would have been as nice without the music. Nevertheless we enjoyed the place
Written January 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
njnancy
Brick, NJ54 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Ducked into Capt. Tony's on a Tuesday morning. Wait staff was very attentive, but felt a little pushed when asked 3x if we wanted a key lime shot. There was a very good female vocalist playing at the time which we enjoyed.
Written February 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What's the smoking policy at that place? Is there any option (maybe outside seatings) to enjoy a nice cigar, while having a good drink?
Written February 15, 2020
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