The gay bars Key West is famous for sit close together on Duval Street, mostly between the 700 and 800 blocks, with a cabaret hotel a few blocks farther toward the Atlantic. That short stretch holds nightly drag shows, a video bar with live VJs, a piano bar, a Sunday tea dance and plenty of karaoke, and every one of these places welcomes all visitors. The listings below stick to the shows and nights each venue publishes itself.
Quick Picks
- Best for drag shows: 801 Bourbon Bar, Duval Street.
- Best for dancing and video: Bourbon St. Pub, Duval Street.
- Best for cabaret and piano: La Te Da, upper Duval Street.
- Best for a Sunday tea dance: La Te Da, upper Duval Street.
- Best for karaoke every night: The Karaoke Lounge at the EmPOURium, Duval Street.
801 Bourbon Bar
801 Bourbon Bar at 801 Duval Street is the center of drag shows in Key West. Its resident cast, billed as the 801 Girls, takes the stage every night at 9pm and again at 11pm, and tickets can be booked through the bar’s website, which is the smart move on weekends and holiday weeks.
Sunday is karaoke from 4pm to 9pm, which the bar says is when the island’s characters really come out. The bar opens at noon and stays open until 4am daily, so it works for a first drink, a late show or a last stop. Best for anyone seeing a Key West drag show for the first time (get directions).
Bourbon St. Pub
Across Duval and a block down at 724 Duval Street, Bourbon St. Pub calls itself the island’s original video bar, with live VJs every night, nightly live shows and five bars spread through the complex, including a garden bar. The bar also has a pool and jacuzzi area that is for men only and clothing optional. Friday is Boys Night Out from 10pm to close, and bingo hosted by Holly Dae runs Thursday and Sunday at 5pm.
The calendar fills up around special event weekends, such as Key West Bear Weekend in late October and early November, when the complex hosts themed parties with a resident DJ. Best for dancing and people watching after the drag shows finish across the street (get directions).
La Te Da
Farther up the island at 1125 Duval Street, La Te Da is a historic hotel with a restaurant, a cabaret room, a piano bar and an open air terrace bar facing Duval. The cabaret is headlined by Randy Roberts Live, with other billed acts that include Varla Jean Merman. Seating opens at 8pm, the curtain goes up at 9pm sharp, tickets are $35 online or at the box office, and guests must be 18 or older.
The piano bar has live music at 8:30pm with free admission, open 6pm to 11:30pm Monday through Saturday and from 4pm on Sunday. Every Sunday from 4pm to 6:30pm, La Te Da hosts a free tea dance by the pool with DJs. Best for a dinner and show night that is quieter than lower Duval. Our Key West Nightlife guide also covers La Te Da and 801 Bourbon Bar (get directions).
The Karaoke Lounge at the EmPOURium
A few blocks down at 618 Duval Street, The Karaoke Lounge at the EmPOURium is not an LGBTQ bar, but it is a mixed, easygoing room on the same walk with karaoke seven nights a week from 8pm to 1am. The EmPOURium also has the Backyard Bar with live music, open 5pm to 11pm, trivia on Thursday at 6pm, and a 4pm to 6pm happy hour with half off wine, well drinks and draft beer. Good for warming up your voice before the 801 Sunday karaoke crowd (get directions).
Planning a Night in Key West
Old Town is easy on foot. The EmPOURium sits in the 600 block of Duval, Bourbon St. Pub and 801 Bourbon Bar face each other in the 700 and 800 blocks, and La Te Da is a short walk or bike ride farther up. Street parking is limited and mostly metered, so walk, bike or take a taxi or rideshare. Weekends, holiday weeks, Fantasy Fest in late October and Key West Bear Weekend are the busiest times, so book ahead for the 801 Girls and the La Te Da cabaret. A good evening runs happy hour at the EmPOURium, the 9pm show at 801 or La Te Da, then late dancing at Bourbon St. Pub. For the island’s classic music saloons, see our guide to Key West bars with live music.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best gay bars in Key West?
801 Bourbon Bar for drag shows, Bourbon St. Pub for dancing and live VJs, and La Te Da for cabaret, piano and the Sunday tea dance. All three are on Duval Street.
Where can I see drag shows in Key West?
The 801 Girls perform every night at 9pm and 11pm at 801 Bourbon Bar, 801 Duval Street. La Te Da runs a ticketed cabaret at 9pm headlined by Randy Roberts Live.
Do I need tickets for drag shows in Key West?
Tickets for the 801 Girls can be booked online, and La Te Da cabaret tickets are $35 online or at the box office, with admission for ages 18 and older. Booking ahead is wise on weekends and during festivals.
What is Key West gay nightlife like?
It is compact and walkable, centered on the 700 and 800 blocks of Duval Street, with bars open until 4am, drag every night, and a long tradition of Sunday afternoon tea dances and karaoke.
When is the busiest time for Key West gay nightlife?
Weekends, holiday weeks, Fantasy Fest in late October and Key West Bear Weekend, when Bourbon St. Pub hosts themed parties. Book show tickets and rooms early for those dates.
Header photo: Ken Lund, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
