John and I went on a week long vacation to the Florida Keys in July. John has always wanted to drive down Route 1 to Key West. We flew into Miami and stayed for 1 1/2 days in Miami Beach. We rented a Mustang convertible and drove to Key Largo and did some mid-keys activities, and then drove all the way to Key West. I relied heavily on Happy Cow to find places along the way that would have vegan options. I did not go hungry, and we had an amazing time. I highly recommend going to Key West. The only downfall was that we went in July. I don't think I have perspired so much just by walking around! Below you will find pictures, links, and recommendations of places in the Florida Keys to eat yummy vegan food!
Miami
After we went on an Art Deco bike tour, we got sandwiches from La Sandwicherie which was right around the corner from out hotel. I got a veggie sandwich with all the veggies they offered with mustard. As you can see the sandwich was huge! It was really good and filling. The restaurant is just a walk up stand and they take cash only. They also make juices and smoothies.
http://www.lasandwicherie.com
We got sushi one of the nights we were staying in South Beach. We went to Moshi Moshi. I got the vegetable roll which had carrots, mushrooms, lettuce, and rice. It came with a super yummy carrot and ginger dressing. The rolls were huge and really good! It was a nice dinner considering how hot it was outside. http://www.moshimoshi.us
I used Happy Cow to find this Italian/pizza restaurant. It is called Amami. It is right off Collins Ave. in the heart of South Beach. We sat outside and enjoyed some wine with our pizza. The crust is very thin and in an oval shape. It had a great tomato sauce topped with an assortment of grilled veggies.
http://amamius.com/
The Keys
After Miami we ventured in our Mustang to Key Largo. We stayed at a resort for two nights. I knew the hotel wouldn't have any food for me, so again, I relied on Happy Cow to find places I would love. Only 2 minutes down the road from our hotel was a place called Ballyhoo's. They had an entire vegan/vegetarian menu! I was shocked! We at lunch and dinner here!
For lunch, I had their vegan grilled cheese sandwich. The bread was super crispy and delicious. The cheese was made at the restaurant and I chose the black bean soup as my side. It was really good!
www.ballyhoosrestaurant.com
We drove to Marathon and visited a Sea Turtle Hospital where they take in injured and sick sea turtles until they are well enough to release. The hospital is housed in a converted roadside motel off Route 1. The old pool now houses the permanent residences. All the ticket money collected goes right back to helping the turtles. I would suggest going if you are in Marathon.
We drove a little past Marathon to Big Pine Key to eat lunch at a fabulous place I found on Happy Cow called Good Food Conspiracy. It is a little place next to a yoga studio. It seems like it has been untouched since the day it was open. It is a health food store with vitamins, supplements, pantry items, etc. I was in heaven! I stocked up on snacks for the trip. They also have a small menu to order off of along with a little backyard where you can eat. I ordered a delicious veggie sandwich that came loaded with vegetables on a sprouted wrap with tahini sauce. I also ordered a fresh juice. The meal was so good and exactly what I needed: a huge helping of vegetables!
http://www.goodfoodconspiracy.com/
We also found a Thai restaurant further up the keys from where we were staying. I got a curry dish with tofu that was delicious.
http://www.happycow.net/reviews/num-thai-and-sushi-bar-restaurant-key-largo-28161
Key West
We were finally off to Key West. We drove all the way down Route 1 and dropped off the rental car at the Key West airport and we were greeted by noisy roosters! We made our way to the hotel and went straight to lunch at a great health food store called Sugar Apple Cafe and Market. It was only a few blocks from our hotel. One side as a health food store, and the other was a small cafe with a few seats against the wall. I ordered a green juice a pesto tofu over rice with a salad. It was so good! The portions, were again, HUGE!www.sugarapplekeywest.com
Then we were off to the Ernest Hemingway House. I basically only wanted to go to see his poly-dactyl cats. I was not disappointed. I may have been that person who was just a little too into the cats. I couldn't help myself! I had gone almost a week at that point from seeing my two cats! It was basically a cat safari for me! I loved see all the cute kitties and giving them some love!
The first night we were in Key West we went to The Cafe. It was off of Duval Street, It has many vegetarian items and clearly marked vegan items. We started with bbq tofu-which was delicious! I ordered the falafel sandwich. It was very tasty! It was light and the portion was too big! I wanted to try all the vegan items on the menu! Too many choices!
www.thecafekw.com
We went on a great sunset cruise on a catamaran. They served beer, wine, champagne, and some snacks like bread and cheese. Here is the beautiful sunset:
After the cruise, we headed to a fancy date night spot close to the hotel called SQ1. I believe it is owned by the same people who own The Cafe. They have a great porch area and they were not very busy when we got there. I had a delicious bourbon drink to go along with my dinner. I didn't get a shot of my dinner, but I did take a picture of our appetizer. We had the spinach gyoza. They were delicious! The menu clearly marks what items can be made vegan. I ended up getting the Mediterranean Mesa Board. Again, it was way too much food just for me.
www.squareonekeywest.com
There are vegan options in the Keys-you just have to seek them out and do a bit of research! I recommend going to the Keys and exploring all you can! We loved ocean kayaking and paddle boarding. You get outstanding views of the ocean and the water is so warm and calm! Just for good measure: one more picture! And do yourself a favor-watch Bloodline on Netflix-a drama that takes place in the Keys.
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