The Keys Top Dive Bars

When you head to the Conch Republic, you want to leave the glitz and overly civilized world behind. You want old school Florida, old school Keys where the atmosphere is laid back, the beer is cold and ocean breeze feels great on a hot summer day. The Keys offer everything from the over touristy bars to places that those who live there call their neighborhood spots. If the latter is what you're looking for, check out these top picks.

Green Parrot Bar

601 Whitehead St
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 294-6133
www.greenparrot.com
The Green Parrot has a great vibe, reasonably priced drinks and really cool bartenders. Its off the beaten path of Duval Street and a great place to enjoy some really local Key West flavor. The bar features original live music most nights and weekend days, which is a welcome relief to the Jimmy Buffett wannabe's you'll find at some of the more tourist oriented spots.

Captain Tony's Saloon

428 Greene St
Key West, FL 33041
(305) 294-1838
www.capttonyssaloon.com
Captain Tony's is legendary in Key West. Located just off Duval St., Captain Tony's is located at the site of the original Sloppy Joe's where writer Ernest Hemmingway used to hang out when he lived in Key West. The bar has been around forever and has not changed with times, thankfully. The bar itself is fairly small and is nearly always crowded. Many visitors make Captain Tony's their first stop when they visit Key West.

Sharky's Beer Co

522 Caribbean Blvd
Key Largo, FL 33037
(305) 453-0999
(Near the intersection of Caribbean Blvd and Bahia Avenue)
Well off the Overseas Highway, Sharky's overlooks a waterway which makes outside dining a relaxed, enjoyable experience. The food is pretty good, especially the burgers and the conch fritters. The prices are reasonable and there are always locals have a beer (or two) to give you advice on where to go for dinner what to see before you leave town.

Hog Heaven Sports Bar & Grill

85361 Overseas Hwy
Islamorada, FL 33036
(305) 664-9669
www.hogheavensportsbar.com
The view of the ocean sets Hog Heaven apart from the rest - along with their incredible Happy Hour specials. Monday through Friday Hog Heaven happy hour specials, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. include 50¢ domestic drafts in a 10oz mug or 75¢ for a 14oz glass. While there be sure to check out Mahi sandwiches and the caesar wraps. There's plenty of outdoor dining on the back and it has a beach area, plus it's open until 4 a.m.

No Name Pub

30831 N Watson Blvd
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
(305) 872-9115
www.nonamepub.com
Kind of hard to find if you are not familiar with the area (its tucked away in the Key Deer Sanctuary) the No Name Pub has made quite a name for itself among the locals. The menu is full of lots of favorites including made from scratch cheese fries, pizza, and an astonishing large grouper sandwich. They also serve a really tasty key lime pie.