The downside to a carefree vacation town when you live there is tourists and bad service. You won't find either of that at Island Dogs Bar on Front Street. OK, you will find a few tourists floating through the crowd, but this is a great place for young locals to hang out.
The bar's tagline is "come as you are," and people do. Some wear flip flops while others have on fancy sandals, but the setting is right for both. You can sit at the long bar in the center of the space and feel like you're in a swanky pub or you can grab a table outside underneath a yellow umbrella for an island bar vibe.
Adding to the upscale Caribbean feel is the live steel drum player, who's been there all three times I went. The bartenders are always the same, and they're friendly and fast. It's never too crowded and the food--albeit pub food--isn't too bad, either. My friends and I snacked on spinach and artichoke dip and while it was a little greasy, it was tasty. And the bar's affordable. A glass of wine is about $6, but it's served in a wine glass that's not glass--it's plastic. A domestic bottle of beer is about $3.50, and an import is $5 (standard island prices).
My only complaint is that smoking is allowed inside at Island Dogs (good ventilation, sure, but there's still smoke). I generally opt for non-smoking places, but because so many bars are indoor/outdoor in Key West, you see smokers in lots of bars. I'd trade a little smoke for great ambiance, good service and few tourists. And the name? Yes, pups are welcome anytime, too. Score one more for Island Dogs.
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