The Best Bars in Marathon, FL

Marathon, Florida, is a city that spans 13 islands in the Florida Keys. It is considered the elbow or bend of the Florida Keys, approximately halfway from Miami to Key West. Access to the Keys is easy. Highway 1 crosses over to the island chain at Key Largo and passes through Islamorada to Marathon.

Marathon City officially extends from Pigeon Key at Mile Marker 47 of the Seven Mile Bridge to Tom's Harbor Bridge at MM 61. Pigeon Key is accessible by walking, biking, or ferry and is one of many historical points in the Florida Keys.

Marathon is known for white-sand beaches, water activities, and hundreds of small islands that act as barrier reefs. The central islands of the city of Marathon include Marathon Key, Boot and Knight's Key, Hog Key, Vaca Key, Stirrup Key, Crawl Key, and Grassy Key.

With so many incredible access points to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a fantastic place to book a vacation rental home and stay for a while.You’ll love how easy it is to find great seafood restaurants and beach bars in Marathon FL, blanketing the coastline.

Inexpensive and Casual ($)

Brass Monkey

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234 55th St Ocean Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 743-5737.

Some consider the Brass Monkey the best dive bar and pool hall on Marathon Key. Nestled in a strip center, The Brass Monkey offers a full bar of both liquor and beer. Live music with outdoor bike parking. And there is even free wi-fi if you have to check your email. Casual beach attire is welcome, but no swimsuits.

Mile 7 Grill

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7601 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050.

The Mile 7 Grill sits at 76th Street and Overseas Highway just off the mile marker (MM) 47.5. Blink, and you might miss the pink Mile 7 sign.

The short indoor-outdoor bar offers cold beers and a quick bite. Travel and beach casual is the perfect attire for umbrella-covered outdoor snacks of hot dogs, hamburgers, or specialty sandwiches like the blackened grouper.

JJ's Dog House & Sports Bar

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10700 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 743-5919.

JJ's Dog House & Sports Bar is an authentic family-owned neighborhood bar with live music three nights a week. There is a full bar, and basketball, football, and other sports are broadcasted on several TVs. And the bar's simple layout provides separate areas for dart boards and pool tables. JJ's provides a casual atmosphere, plenty of bike and car parking, and inexpensive beer seven days a week.
 

Moderately Expensive But Beach Casual ($$)

SS Wreck & Galley Grill

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58835 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33040. (305) 517-6484.

The SS Wreck & Galley Grill is located next to the dolphin research center off MM 59 Grassy Key. Locally owned, this popular grill and sports bar also serves a Florida pub-style menu. The locals highly recommend it for happy hour, Monday through Friday. And if you stay for a bite to eat, don't forget to grab a piece of the Key Lime Pie.

Burdines Waterfront Bar & Grill

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1200 Oceanview Ave Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 743-5317.

Located next to Burdines Marina at 12th Street and Oceanview Avenue, Burdines Waterfront Bar & Grill offers daily drink specialties and ice-cold beer. The Burdines menu includes home-style burgers, fresh seafood, and fresh key lime pie. Boating casual attire is welcome seven days a week in this laidback setting. At the adjacent Burdines Marina, daily boat charters are available.

Barnacle Barney's Tiki Bar

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1688 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 743-9009.

An out-of-the-way local spot with live music nightly. A small tiki hut bar on the water with a full bar. Perfect for a quick drink or cold beer before you find a place for lunch or dinner.

The Island Fish Company

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12648 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 743-4191.

The Island Fish Company is one of the local favorite spots. Just off Mile Marker 54, Island Fish is the perfect place to enjoy cold drinks, crystal blue waters, and gorgeous sunsets.

As appetizers, the conch fritters and mango crab cakes are stellar. But if you want to relax by the water sipping a drink, the Island Fish Co has the longest tiki bar in the Florida Keys. It serves a large selection of wine, frozen concoctions, and ice-cold draft beer. Choose from a pint of Guinness or Planters Punch, a Chocolate Monkey, or the infamous Pain in the A#%$.

Tiki Bar at Hawks Cay

61 Hawks Cay Blvd Duck Key, FL 33050. (305) 743-7000.

Technically, on Duck Key, near Marathon, the Tiki Bar at Hawks Cay is one of the best bars, with outdoor seating for spectacular sunset revelry. Craft cocktails are served in the beach bar or can be ordered poolside in a cabana. Popular specialties such as Tequila Agua Fresca and Goombay Smash are frozen concoctions made with locally sourced spirits and fresh tropical fruit. These refreshing treats are served in a glass or shaker.

Blue Waters Bar & Grill

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2146 Overseas Highway Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 289-2100.

The Blue Water Bar & Grill is located in the Marriott Courtyard in Marathon. A perfect location for sunset cocktails, the Blue Waters Bar features delicious frozen concoctions such as the Rum Runners and Mai Tais. The menu is just snack food, but the ocean views and nightly music make this a choice spot for beachside fun in Marathon. Locals love the adjoining beach with hammocks and a fire pit.

Herbie's Bar and Chowder House

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6350 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 743-6373.

Herbie's Bar and Chowder House is a perfect spot for a cold draft, a glass of cider, and some of the best conch chowder in the Keys. If you are looking for a bigger bite, try the Floribbean Tacos.

Initially opened in 1940, Herbie's is the oldest restaurant in Marathon, Florida. Currently owned by husband and wife culinary team Peter and Shirley Demaras, Herbie's is the epitome of a coastal Florida bar. Happy hour offers over 36 craft beers in this beloved beach establishment.

TJ's Tiki Bar

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600 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050.

TJ's Tiki Bar is a local cocktail spot at Tranquility Bay Resort with a covered tiki bar specializing in frozen tropical cocktails and offering open beachfront seating. The Tiki Bar lunch menu offers Caribbean shrimp, Blackened Shrimp Salad, and seafood nachos. A few TVs broadcast essential sports games, but the spectacular Gulf of Mexico view is the real draw.

Sparky's Landing - Fish n’ Cocktails

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13205 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 363-2959.

Sparky's Landing Fish n’ Cocktails is a local spot on the bayside of Marathon Key. Famous for its Sunday Brunch and BOGO Mimosas, Sparky's captured some of the best water views at its expansive bar. Locally sourced fresh seafood is combined in creative dishes like the hand-crafted wood-fired Shrimp & Bacon Pizza.
 

Expensive ($$$)

Lighthouse Grille

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1996 Overseas Hwy Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 434-9039.

The Lighthouse Grille at the Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club is one of TripAdvisor's highest-rated restaurants and bars in Marathon, Florida. It is renowned for locally sourced seafood, fresh ceviche, and tender prime rib.

The Lighthouse Grille sits in the shadow of the historic island lighthouse. The Lighthouse Grill is famous for its craft cocktails featuring local Papa Pilar rum. Fresh tropical fruits, including zapote, pineapple, and papaya, create one-of-a-kind tastes.

Sunset Grille & Raw Bar

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7 Knights Key Blvd, Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 396-7235.

The Sunset Grille & Raw Bar sits at the foot of the historic 7 Mile Bridge. It is the perfect spot to drink, dine and enjoy ocean views while sitting poolside or on the private beach.

Try the Bloody Mary Bar to complement your eggs benedict with crab cake, a local favorite for breakfast. For lunch, the Sunset Grill & Raw Bar serves over 75 items on its fresh Sushi bar and is famous for its Hogfish Snapper -- a unique local fish. For dessert, choose either the Key Lime Pie or the Chocolate Bomb. Or, order both and share. Live local music offers a nightlife of dancing and dining.

Key Fisheries

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3502 Gulfview Ave, Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 743-435.

Keys Fisheries Seafood Restaurant is centrally located in Marathon, situated halfway between Key West and Miami. The restaurant is known for its lobster Reuben and conch chowder. Keys Fisheries Market and Marina serve fresh seafood, quick bites, and gluten-free options.

Lazy Days South

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725 11th St Ocean Marathon, FL 33050. (305) 289-0839.

Lazy Days South offers easy-going, oceanfront drinking and dining Keys-style. A large bar accommodates for happy hour or just a cold draft beer.

Lazy Days South is known for great food, including fresh seafood and salads, but steaks are also an option. And if you are just off the water, Lazy Days South will cook your catch to order.

Dine outside on the water, and catch a sunset. Lazy Days South is a popular spot, so reservations are recommended. Upscale beach attire is recommended.

With this extensive list, you’ll be ready to drink with the best at these incredible bars in Marathon, FL. From dives to extravagant, pick the perfect atmosphere and drink up!