I Tried Eating in Key West for $70… and It Got STRESSFUL 😳 (Cheap Eats Challenge)
Key West is one of those places that feels expensive the second you step onto Duval Street… but it doesn’t have to be. On our latest Random Recess travel vlog, we tackled a Cheap Eats Key West challenge with a strict $70 food budget to cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack — all before heading back to the ship around 4:30 PM.
And yes… we ate a LOT of key lime pie. Don’t judge us. We’re adults. 😅
This post breaks down exactly where we ate, what we ordered, what it cost, and how to explore Key West on a budget while still hitting the iconic must-dos like the Southernmost Point and the Hemingway Home.
Why Key West is a great “cheap eats” destination (if you do it right)
Key West is super walkable, which saves you money immediately. No Ubers, no pricey tours needed. Most of the best vibes are found just wandering the streets, checking out the colorful homes, the shops, the waterfront, and the never-ending parade of roosters casually running the island like they pay rent.
If you’re visiting on a Key West cruise port day, this is the move: walk, eat strategically, hit 1–2 attractions, and keep your budget intact.
Cheap Eats Key West $70 Dollars a Day Food Challenge - Travel Vlog
Our Key West $70 food budget rules
$70 per person
Must cover: breakfast + lunch + dinner + snack
Prices shown include tax + standard tip (we tipped extra because it was Thanksgiving, but that was outside the challenge)
Stop 1: Pepe’s Cafe (Best budget breakfast in Key West)
We kicked things off at Pepe’s Cafe, known as the oldest restaurant in Key West (since 1909). Classic diner energy, tons of history on the walls, and a great place to start the day with something filling before all the walking.
What we ordered:
Chipped beef (aka SOS-style comfort food)
Pancakes + sausage (simple, perfectly executed, and honestly a 5/5)
Cost:
Chipped beef: $17.95
Pancakes + sausage: $15.93
Budget left after breakfast:
$52.05 remaining (after $17.95)
$54.07 remaining (after $15.93)
Budget tip: If you’re trying to do Key West cheap, breakfast is where you want to get full. A solid diner breakfast buys you time and prevents random overpriced “panic snacks” later.
Snack 1: Mattheessen’s Candy Kitchen (Key lime pie on Duval Street)
Before lunch (because we make great choices), we hit Duval Street for a must-do Key West treat: key lime pie.
Why Mattheessen’s works: It’s right in the heart of the action, easy to grab-and-go, and that thick crunchy crust holds up well in the humidity — no soggy pie sadness.
What we ordered:
A slice of key lime pie
Cost:
$8.65 after tax + tip
Budget left after snack:
$43.40 remaining
Key West cheap eats strategy: Pick one sweet stop (or two if you’re emotionally committed like we were). Key lime pie can quietly destroy your budget if you try “just one more slice” at every shop.
Free thing to do: Southernmost Point Key West
You can’t come to Key West and skip the Southernmost Point buoy — it’s one of the most iconic photo ops in Florida.
Good news: It’s totally free.
What to expect:
A line (but it moved fast for us — around 10 minutes)
Friendly strangers offering to take photos (Key West energy is undefeated)
Ocean views + a little beach area nearby
Budget tip: This is one of the best free things to do in Key West and a perfect “walk break” between meals.
Lunch: Boathouse Bar & Restaurant (Cheeseburger in Paradise moment 🍔)
For lunch, we went waterfront at Boathouse Bar & Restaurant (open-air, marina views, and a chill vibe — especially if crowds are lighter).
What we ordered:
Boathouse burger (“Cheeseburger in Paradise” energy)
Pork panini (not a Cubano vibe — more like a pork-forward Philly situation)
Fries that tasted dangerously close to McDonald’s fries 👀
Cost:
Burger meal: $22.29
Pork panini meal: $22.19
Budget left after lunch:
$31.78 remaining (after $22.29)
$21.21 remaining (after $22.19)
Cheap eats note: For Key West, a $20–$23 lunch with waterfront seating is honestly not bad — but this is where your budget starts getting tight if you still want dessert (we did).
Stop 2: Hemingway Home & Museum (budget-friendly attraction)
We worked off lunch with a visit to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, one of the best “worth it” attractions in Key West — especially if you want something beyond bars and shopping.
Why it’s famous:
Hemingway lived and wrote here
The property is home to dozens of cats, including the famous six-toed (polydactyl) cats
It’s a legit piece of Key West history
Cost:
Around $13 per person (give or take)
Budget tip: If you’re doing a cruise day, this is one of the easiest “1-ticket” attractions to pair with the Southernmost Point and Duval Street wandering.
Snack 2: Kermit’s Key Lime Shop (the frozen pie-on-a-stick situation)
This was the snack I planned for — and I regret nothing. If you want an iconic Key West dessert that’s easy to eat while walking, Kermit’s Key Lime Shop is the move.
What we got:
Frozen key lime pie slice, chocolate dipped (from the cooler)
It’s basically: crunchy chocolate shell → frozen tart custard → crust. In the heat? Game changer.
Cost:
$7.05 after tax + tip
Budget left after snack:
$24.73 remaining
Cheap eats hack: The frozen key lime pie is portable, filling, and replaces the urge to buy three other random desserts “just to try them.”
Dinner: Sloppy Joe’s Bar (Key West icon on a budget)
For dinner we headed to Sloppy Joe’s, one of the most famous bars on Duval Street — and yes, there’s a Hemingway connection here too.
Heads up: It was LOUD inside (live music + packed vibe), so we didn’t film much talking audio in there.
What we ordered:
Sloppy Joe sandwich (because… obviously)
Fried bologna sandwich (surprisingly iconic and genuinely hit the spot)
Cost:
Sloppy Joe meal: $19.15 after tax + tip
Fried bologna sandwich: $16.68 after tax + tip
Final budget results:
Ended with $5.58 remaining (after $19.15)
Ended with $4.53 remaining (after $16.68)
Key West cheap eats takeaway: You can eat at famous spots and still stay on budget — but you need to plan your day so dinner isn’t your biggest spend.
Our full Key West budget breakdown (quick recap)
Breakfast
Pepe’s Cafe: $15.93–$17.95
Snack
Mattheessen’s key lime pie: $8.65
Lunch
Boathouse: about $22
Snack
Kermit’s frozen key lime pie: $7.05
Dinner
Sloppy Joe’s: $16.68–$19.15
Leftover
$4–$6 remaining
Key West on a budget: pro tips that actually help
Walk everywhere. Key West is compact and walkable; your wallet will thank you.
Eat heavy early. A filling breakfast prevents spending on random “emergency snacks.”
Pick your splurge. For us, it was key lime pie (twice). For you, maybe it’s seafood, Cuban coffee, or a famous bar.
Do free attractions first. Southernmost Point + Duval Street vibes cost $0.
Expect closures on holidays. We had to pivot because some places showed “open” online but weren’t.
Watch the full vlog: Cheap Eats Key West ($70 Challenge)
If you want to see the full experience — the food, the walking route, the vibes, and our real-time budgeting — watch the full Random Recess episode: Cheap Eats Key West: $70 Food Challenge.
And drop a comment: what city should we do next for Cheap Eats? 👀