Dine with the spirits in Key West’s best haunted restaurants!
First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery
Cleo Musick died on June 17, 1974, but her spirit remains in the restaurant building that was once the ticket office for Pan American Airlines. Cleo’s husband Ed was a star pilot with Pan Am. He died when his plane exploded over the ocean, and locals believe Cleo’s ghost is waiting for him to return. A man in a zoot suit is also sighted at the bar. Employees talk about a ghost called the supervisor who keeps them company when they open or close. Another ghost leaves mysterious stones in sinks or throws toilet paper in one of the upstairs bathrooms. Key West’s Original Ghost Hunt meets at First Flight. The food is excellent, and this haunt brews its own beer too.
Hard Rock Cafe
Local legends claim that Robert Curry, the son of Florida’s first millionaire, hanged himself in the upstairs bathroom of the Hard Rock Cafe when it was his home. His death, in fact, occurred in New York, but stories about a restless spirit haunting the building started when it was an Elk’s Lodge and have been retold for decades. Guests often experience a presence on the staircase leading to the second floor, and employees talk about a ghostly presence in the kitchen and office. Multiple Key West ghost tours share the ghost stories from the Hard Rock Cafe. This haunted restaurant has good food and good vibes. The music memorabilia adorning the walls is impressive and makes a visit worthwhile even if you don’t meet one of the resident ghosts.
Old Town Tavern
A furniture store and plumbing supply company occupied this Duval Street location in the past, but the building’s time as a tavern brings the greatest ghost stories. Tennessee Williams is rumored to have witnessed the ghost of a pirate storming from a bar's backroom out the front door knocking glasses and bottles over along the way. During its time as an Irish bar, the building was cleansed several times in an attempt to remove a spirit that turned on beer taps after the pub closed, draining multiple kegs dry. The tavern has a great chef and international influences. The ghosts are not the only thing responsible for cold chills here. The beer is cold too.
Fogarty’s
Before it became a bar, Fogarty’s was home to Key West Mayor, Dr. Fogarty. The location used to be a Hooters restaurant with the third flood used as a dormitory for several of the waitresses. Shortly after moving in, they noticed that the resident spirit had a fascination with their shoes. Any stray shoes were organized into a straight line while the employees slept. Lines of organized shoes were moved to the other side of the room. One staff member woke up to someone rubbing her feet. When she pulled her foot away, the person vanished before her eyes.
