Happy Hour Hustle in Old Town Paradise
Simonton Street / Old Town · Key West · American brunch with seafood-focused comfort fare · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Sarabeth's Key West’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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.
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Duval Street / Old Town · Key West · Seafood / New American
Bagatelle is doing more with wine than most restaurants in the Keys bother to attempt, and for a tourist-heavy Duval Street address, that matters. The markups are real and the list skews safe-prestige, but if you're in Key West and want a proper bottle with your lobster, this is where you go.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fleming Street / Old Town · Key West · Seafood / Raw Bar
Thirsty Mermaid is a Wild Card in the best sense — a no-frills raw bar that somehow sourced a wine list worthy of a much fancier room. The markups on the high-end bottles are steep and there's no wine program energy to speak of, but the Cava-and-oysters combination alone is worth the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Roosevelt Boulevard / Waterfront · Key West · Hotel Bar / American
The Roost is a hotel bar doing more than the minimum — there's real range here and a few genuinely good picks if you know where to look. Just go in expecting to pay for the waterfront zip code, and you'll have a fine time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Simonton Street / Old Town · Key West · Cafe & Bakery
Moondog isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but it offers a surprisingly considered little list at prices that don't insult your intelligence, which puts it well ahead of the tourist-trap cafes clustered around it. If you're in Old Town and want a glass with your morning or a light lunch, there are worse decisions you'll make in Key West.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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