The bars in Key West that matter most to music fans sit within a few blocks of each other, from the top of Duval Street near the harbor to the quieter corner of Whitehead and Southard. Most of them have a stage that runs from late morning to closing time, so the question is less where to find live music and more which room suits your night. Venues in our venue directory link to their full profiles.
The Green Parrot
A block off Duval at the corner of Whitehead and Southard, The Green Parrot has been a bar since 1890 and is the room locals point to first when you ask about live music. It books regional and touring bands rather than the cover sets you hear on Duval, and the bar says it has been voted Key West’s Best Live Music Venue in the Keys Weekly readers’ poll for ten straight years. It also runs a ukulele night and charity bingo.
Hours run 10am to 2am Sunday through Thursday and 10am to 4am on Friday and Saturday, which makes it the natural last stop of a long night. Best for people who want a real band, not a jukebox crowd (get directions).
Sloppy Joe’s Bar
At the corner of Duval and Greene, Sloppy Joe’s Bar is the most famous name on the strip. Its own site promises live music every day from 10am to 2am, with dancing every night, and the stage rotates through several acts a day.
The bar also hosts the island’s best known New Year’s Eve tradition, the dropping of the conch shell at midnight, plus themed parties during Fantasy Fest. Go in the afternoon for a seat, or after 9pm if you want the full crowd (get directions).
Captain Tony’s Saloon
Around the corner on Greene Street, Captain Tony’s Saloon sits in an 1851 building that served as an ice house and the city morgue before it became a bar. It is named for Captain Tony Tarracino, the charter boat captain who bought it in 1958 and later served as mayor, and Jimmy Buffett played here early in his career.
The saloon lists live entertainment every afternoon and a live band every night. It opens at 10am and closes at 2am Monday through Saturday, and at 1am on Sunday. A good pick if you want history with your music and a darker, cozier room than the Duval corner bars (get directions).
Hog’s Breath Saloon
Near the foot of Duval at Front Street, Hog’s Breath Saloon has a stage that runs all day. Its schedule usually splits into an early afternoon act and an evening headliner, and the artist listings on its site show admission as free. The bar opens at 9am and serves until 2am.
It is a short walk from Mallory Square, so it works well right after the sunset celebration. Good for groups who want food, a full bar and a band in one place (get directions).
Schooner Wharf Bar
On the Historic Harbor Walk at the foot of William Street, Schooner Wharf Bar is a waterfront, open air bar at the Key West Bight, away from the Duval crowds. Its monthly entertainment calendar is posted on its website and follows a steady pattern: a solo act from noon to 5pm, then an evening act from 7pm to 11pm, with bands playing until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Magician Frank Everhart also performs on several nights a week.
It also serves breakfast, so it is one of the few music bars where you can start the day. Best for people who want boats, a breeze and a band without the Duval noise (get directions).
Smokin’ Tuna Saloon
The Smokin’ Tuna Saloon closed its original Charles Street spot in 2024 and reopened in fall 2026 at 313 Duval Street, in the historic building that used to house the Hard Rock Cafe. The new space has a stage facing Duval, an upstairs listening room and a balcony, and the bar runs two live music sets a day, with DJs and karaoke added for special weeks. A good fit for listeners who want a seat and a real room (get directions).
Irish Kevin’s
Next door to Sloppy Joe’s, Irish Kevin’s has been on Duval since 1998 and is the island’s loudest sing along bar. It opens daily at 11am with live entertainment seven days a week until closing, and the house performers, including Irish Kevin himself, Jeff Harris and NY Pauly, lean on crowd participation, requests and comedy. The kitchen stays open until 11pm and the balcony can be booked for private parties.
Not the place for quiet listening, but hard to beat for a bachelor or birthday group that wants to shout every chorus (get directions).
Willie T’s
In the middle of Duval at number 525, Willie T’s is a restaurant and bar known for walls covered in signed dollar bills and a stage that rarely goes quiet. The bar lists live music daily from 11am until 1:30am, split into several time slots through the day. Hours run to 2am Sunday through Thursday and 4am on Friday and Saturday.
It sits between the upper and lower ends of Duval, so it is an easy stop when you are walking the strip and want food with your music (get directions).
Planning a Night of Live Music in Key West
Old Town is small enough to walk. Schooner Wharf, Hog’s Breath, Sloppy Joe’s, Irish Kevin’s and Captain Tony’s sit within about a ten minute walk of each other at the harbor end of Duval, while Willie T’s and the Green Parrot are a bit farther up the island. Parking in Old Town is limited and mostly metered, so if you are staying outside the center, use rideshare, a taxi or a bike and leave the car at your hotel.
A simple plan: start at Schooner Wharf for an afternoon set on the water, walk to Mallory Square for sunset, then work up Duval through Hog’s Breath, Sloppy Joe’s and Captain Tony’s before finishing at the Green Parrot, which stays open until 4am on Friday and Saturday. Weekends, holiday weeks and Fantasy Fest in late October are the busiest times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best bars in Key West for live music?
The Green Parrot is the top pick for touring and regional bands. Sloppy Joe’s, Captain Tony’s and Hog’s Breath Saloon are the classic Duval area stops, and Schooner Wharf Bar is the best choice on the water.
Where can I find live music in Key West tonight?
Sloppy Joe’s, Irish Kevin’s, Willie T’s, Hog’s Breath and Captain Tony’s all list live music every day, so any of them will have something on tonight. For specific acts, check the calendars posted by Schooner Wharf, Irish Kevin’s and the Green Parrot.
Which Key West bars have live music during the day?
Schooner Wharf runs a solo act from noon to 5pm, Willie T’s starts at 11am, Captain Tony’s has afternoon entertainment, and Sloppy Joe’s lists music from 10am.
What is Key West nightlife like?
It centers on Duval Street, where several bars run live music from morning until 2am. The Green Parrot and Willie T’s stay open until 4am on Friday and Saturday, and the harbor bars offer a slower pace.
Do Key West bars with live music charge a cover?
It depends on the bar and the night. Hog’s Breath lists its shows as free, but special events and ticketed shows can differ, so check each venue’s calendar before you go.
Header photo: C Watts, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
