Latitudes on the Beach

Getting to Latitudes requires a boat. The complimentary ferry leaves from Slip 29 behind the Opal Key Resort, and the ride takes about seven minutes. Your reservation time is your departure time, so show up eight to ten minutes early. This small logistical barrier is the best thing about Latitudes. It filters out the casual strollers and leaves you on a private island restaurant with beachfront tables, lighted palm trees, and a sunset view that justifies every dollar on the bill.

Latitudes maintains a well-curated list that leans into whites and rosés that make sense with Caribbean-influenced seafood. The markup is resort-level, which means you are paying for the setting as much as the wine. Worth it? When you are sitting on the sand watching the sun drop into the Gulf of Mexico with a glass of something cold and crisp, yes. The answer is yes.

Local spiny lobster. Yellowtail snapper with cumin. Key West Pinks (shrimp done right). Black grouper with saffron crust and smoked paprika oil. The kitchen sources directly from local waters and treats ingredients with respect. This is not hotel food dressed up for a view. It is a real restaurant that happens to be on a private island. We have eaten our Thanksgiving meal here on multiple occasions. That should tell you everything about our confidence level.

Open 7 AM to 10 PM daily. Call (305) 292-5394 for reservations, which are required. Dress code is upscale resort: collared shirts for men, no beachwear. Go for a late afternoon meal. Arrive while the sun is still up, order a glass of wine, watch the light change over the water. Stay for dinner. The transition from daylight to candlelight on Sunset Key is one of the best dining experiences in the Florida Keys.