Happy Hour Hustle in Old Town Paradise
Simonton Street / Old Town · Key West · American brunch with seafood-focused comfort fare · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Sarabeth's Key West’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Sarabeth's Key West doesn't try to be anything it's not — and that's actually refreshing. You're in Old Town, the ceiling fans are going, and the list is approachable without being an afterthought. It reads like a place that wants you to order a second glass, not stress about the first.
The list pulls from the usual reliable regions — California, France, New Zealand, Italy, Oregon, Spain — with enough range to satisfy the brunch crowd without overwhelming anyone. Recognizable names like Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay and Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc anchor the white side, while the Champagne section punches well above what most neighborhood spots bother with, stocking Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé, and even Dom Pérignon and Cristal for the celebratory crowd. Rosé gets a proper nod with the Peyrassol 'La Croix de Templiers', which is a legit Provence producer and not a label you stumble into just anywhere. The red side is the thinnest part of the story here, which tracks for a brunch-forward, seafood-leaning menu.
Thirteen by-the-glass options on OpenTable is a healthy pour count for a place this size — most neighborhood spots max out at eight and call it a day. Prices land in the $10–$25 range by the glass, which is honest for Key West where tourist tax is basically a fifth metric on every menu. Rotation isn't heavily documented, but the core pours seem stable and well-chosen for the crowd.
Peyrassol 'La Croix de Templiers' Rosé — $14–$16/glass (est. based on list range)
Peyrassol is a serious Provence domaine with real heritage, not a grocery store pink. Getting it by the glass at a brunch spot in Key West — especially during happy hour — is genuinely good value for what's in your glass.
Groth Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
Everyone reaches for the Whitehaven because it's familiar, but Groth's Napa Sauvignon Blanc is a rounder, more textured take on the grape that most people overlook. It's the sleeper pick on this list and works especially well with anything creamy or egg-forward on the menu.
Louis Roederer Cristal
Cristal at a brunch spot is a vibe, sure, but at $495/bottle you're paying for the name and the moment, not the optimal setting to appreciate it. The juice deserves better staging than a sunny patio with pancakes. Veuve does the job here for a fraction of the price.
Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay + Shrimp & Grits
Sonoma-Cutrer's Russian River Ranches Chard has enough richness and restrained oak to stand up to the buttery, savory depth of shrimp and grits without steamrolling it. It's the kind of pairing that doesn't require explanation — it just works.
Tuesday–Saturday — Happy hour runs 5:30–6:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday. Wine by the glass and small plates drop to $5.30 each — a structured deal, not a vague discount. Show up early or miss it.
The Bottom Line
Sarabeth's Key West won't blow any wine nerd's mind, but it's doing the right things — fair prices, a real happy hour deal, and a few genuinely good bottles hiding in plain sight. For a brunch spot on Simonton Street, that's more than enough to earn your order.
Old Town · Key West · Italian
La Trattoria isn't trying to reinvent anything, but it's putting in more wine effort than most of its neighbors on Duval Street. Fair prices on Italian bottles, a usable by-the-glass program, and real depth in the Italian reds make it a reliable choice — just don't order the La Marca Prosecco.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Key West · Seafood / Resort dining
The Resort at Southernmost Beach is selling the view, and the wine list knows it — there's no reason to put in effort when the sunset does all the heavy lifting. If you're ordering wine here, stick to the Ste. Michelle Riesling or just pop the Prosecco and enjoy where you are. Don't come here for the wine program; come here despite it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Duval Street · Key West · Wine bar
For Key West, a wine bar with a genuine Champagne focus and a mid-week deal is a minor miracle. We'd send a friend here for a pre-dinner glass on a Wednesday without hesitation — just know that we're working from strong vibes and limited menu data, so go in curious rather than with a specific bottle in mind. When we get the full list, this one could move up the rankings fast.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Key West · Cocktail & Wine Bar
Virgilio's is a cocktail bar that quietly keeps a wine list worth paying attention to — fair prices, a genuine Italian white program, and 13 pours by the glass that won't embarrass anyone. The Monday martini specials are the headliner, but the Albariño and Pecorino are the supporting cast worth showing up for. If you're on Duval Street and want a glass of wine that doesn't taste like an afterthought, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Key West · Winery tasting room
Key West Winery is a Wild Card because the concept itself is the draw — tropical fruit wines in the Florida Keys is exactly as niche and fun as it sounds, and it earns its badge on novelty alone. We wouldn't send a serious wine drinker here as a primary destination, but if you're already in Old Town and curious about what local winemaking looks like when grapes aren't the star, it's worth a tasting flight. Go in with the right expectations and you'll leave entertained; go in looking for a Côte de Nuits and you'll leave confused.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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