Bongo's Botanical Beer Garden and Cafe

Excellent place for breakfast or brunch (or any meal). Had steak and eggs, which was absolutely flawless. The kombucha on draft was crisp and refreshing. The staff were very friendly and laid back, with no bad attitudes anywhere in sight. The art on the buildings is amazing…all done with SPRAY PAINT! This place oozes character and charm. Highly recommended for a chill vibe, excellent food, many beers on tap, and just a really good time.

This place is a gem, tucked a bit out of the way but with everything you’d want. One of the few spots to eat in the area, yet it doesn’t take advantage of that and delivers a memorable experience. Peaceful outdoor seating, super chill ambiance, friendly staff, and very good, filling food. Loved it!

Bongos Beer Garden is a true hidden gem in the Keys, and I’m so glad we stumbled upon it! From the moment we walked in, the laid-back atmosphere and great music made it the perfect place to unwind. It has that ideal Florida Keys vibe — casual, welcoming, and full of character. The food here blew me away. The quinoa salad was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had — super fresh with bold flavors, and the candied walnuts gave it that perfect sweet crunch. I also loved the tuna bowl; it was packed with fresh ingredients, and the edamame added a great texture and flavor balance. What really set this place apart was the fun family-friendly setup — they had a floating water pad for kids to play on, which was such a cool touch. We even got to watch people wakeboarding nearby, adding to the laid-back, adventurous energy of the whole place. Whether you’re looking for a spot to chill with friends, entertain the family, or just enjoy some really great food in a cool setting, Bongos delivers. It quickly became my favorite spot in the Keys, and we can’t wait to come back again soon!

What a great little gem. This place is kinda tucked away but well worth going to. Great outdoor seating between all the trees. The food was delicious. Definitely recommended. I had the lobster eggs Benedict and it did not disappoint.

Absolutely loved this place. Will definitely return. Great food, beautiful garden setting, friendly service and they had my favorite drink. 🍹 All around an excellent place to stop for a drink and some lunch.

Great stop on our way to and from Key West. Atmosphere is fun and relaxed, drinks and food are delicious.

Had lunch here on a Sunday. Excellent atmosphere. Outside, breezy, guitar payer singing, great drinks. I had a watermelon margarita and my guy had a painkiller. We also had the tuna poke bowl and garlic onion shrimp bowl. Yum. Will definitely be back. Dog friendly always a plus!

The atmosphere was really relaxed and friendly. Parking was easy. The drinks were good. Food was really good - loved the bowls. Portion sizes were good. Family friendly. Would definitely return.

Fun atmosphere, great staff, and delicious food. Some of the best we had during our time in Key West! Must try the quinoa bowl, fish tacos, and fries! All delicious! Live music was an added bonus!

This place was near our hotel in the keys (sister property) so we popped by on our way home. I wish we went there every day for meals! Seriously! The tiki hut vibes are so fun, and the food was 10 out of 10 good, we all really enjoyed it. One of my friends in fact is willing to drive the hours south just to go there, it was that good! Everything was so fresh and yummy. I got "The Grassy Gaucho" which had Marinated CAB Flank Steak, Chimichurri Sauce, 4 Scrambled Organic Cage-Free Eggs, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Avocado, Pico De Gallo, and Mixed Greens- soooo good!! There was a little garden onsite where they grow some of the food. Nearby there's also a cable area and an overwater "playground" that we saw but was too cold for us to try, but another time for sure! The service was fine, Mike G took care of us, the food was brought out to us. The only disappointing thing was I was SUPER excited to have a fresh coconut drink and he said there was not enough people to make the coconut drink. :( But it was so good I won't deduct a star for that. I am 1,000% returning next time I'm in the keys!

Had the chimichurri steak rice bowl and it was delish. The chimichurri was flavorful. The rice, beans, onions and avocado allixed with the steak and sauce was delightful. Service was friendly. It's outside, so in the summer it can be a little buggy. But they have fans blowing and it was okay when we were there.

Holy buckets, if I could live here and eat/drink their food forever, I would!!! This was our favorite food and dining experience of our trip to the keys. Ambience: - Fantastic live music - casual outdoor setting - lots of macrame swings! - our kids loved exploring the little gardens and swinging! Food and drinks: - super friendly staff! - I encourage everyone to order the Lagoon Punch. Maybe two or three of them. So tasty!! - the bowls are so refreshing and filling and tasty! And not outrageously priced. I loved the poke bowl and my husband really enjoyed his Haitian griot (fried pork) bowl! My picky kids split the Huli huli chicken and actually ate it, so that tells you something! Overall a 10/10 experience!

When the kids are in town, Bongos is always a hit. Great ambience and beer garden. Always good food and service. They even have a nice garden hammock area to walk around.

Great service and south Florida atmosphere. We had a classic margarita and a watermelon/jalapeño margarita that were both very good. The bar is close to a water sports park that looks fun.

Cute little place. Great food. Great drinks. Loved the ambiance and the live music! We were here in April and needed a break from the resort. This was just what we needed. Hidden gem!

What a great hidden gem. You are very much in the keys at this location. Great fresh fish tacos, lobster roll and amazing margaritas! Bartender was fabulous and welcoming.

Service was good, ambiance was great. My partner orders the fish sandwich. His fish did not taste fresh and his waffle fries were cold hard and stale. I ordered the steak bowl. Steak was good the bowl lacked favor but was over all pretty good.

What a fun place! This feels like somebody's backyard bar and grill on Gillian's island! The food was unique and delicious. I really like tofu and don't see it often, so I had the crispy tofu dish - did not disappoint! My husband AND both of our friends who were with us had the Hulu Huli Chicken and they all said it was great. There are games and little fun things all over for the kids, a botanical garden and just a really cool atmosphere. The bar has your basic drinks as well as delicious specialties. Service is an odd setup with everything going through a counter line (food and drink), but they move as quickly as they can. Sit at the bar if you just want drinks for the best service. We will be back later during our visit for sure!

The atmosphere of this place is so unique. We were so happy to be able to go in our second day in the area as our first day it was raining and the seating is all outside. They had live music and there was lots of folks there when we were. They had a contest and it seems like people are engaged with this place and it is a great community spot. I loved the smoothie I got. I thought it was absolutely delicious and can't stop thinking about how refreshing it was. I really enjoyed the katsu tofu bowl and thought it was a really great dish. I needed a vegan option in the area and thought it was really excellent. I hope one day to visit again. They also have an adventure park outside in the water as well as wakeboarding on site which seems like a really fun option and then you could enjoy food and drinks afterwards. Worth checking out!

As Miami locals and Keys enthusiasts, we stay at Jolly Roger every year and have always wanted to visit Bongo's. We came & were not disappointed! From the croquettes to the Grassy Gatorade, everything lived up to the hype! Jazmine was so amazing, very attentive, and friendly. I can't wait to come back!

We were looking for a vegetarian friendly restaurant after a visit to the Dolphin Research Center and this was the choice. We each had bowls that were abundant and delicious. They also had brunch options and handhelds that were appealing. It operates in the same way as a food truck. You pick your table and place your order at the bar. The food came out promptly and more than met expectations. I had the fried tofu bowl and made use of the sriracha sauce to amp it up a little because I like it hot. The bowl also included sliced cucumber and edamame and was on a rice basis. They also offer a mixed greens base. I went with qn IPA - the bartender was helpful and friendly and offered samples to help me decide. It has the feel of a beachfront tiki bar. Give it a try if you're in Grassy Key. We're going to be back the next time we're in the Keys.

We've driven by this place numerous times while visiting the Marathon area--this beer garden has always caught our eye. We finally stopped in, and we're so glad we did! This spot is a hidden gem for both beer and food. They aren't open for dinner, as their hours align with The Lagoon cable park schedule, but it's absolutely worth planning around. The food was some of the best we've had in the area. We tried a cheeseburger in paradise-style single patty topped with an egg and served with waffle fries, plus a Candied Bacon BLT--both were delicious! The beer garden has a great tiki vibe, perfect for relaxing. Mike behind the bar was awesome--super friendly and welcoming. We'll definitely be back!

WOW! A hidden botanical beer garden right off of Route 1. My family and I were on the way to Key West when we were looking for a good place to eat lunch. This was definitely my favorite meal of the trip, with the warm atmosphere of casual outdoor seating with live music. The chimichurri steak rice bowl was the best dish, as it was flavorful and juicy. The shrimp Poboy was also a great choice, with large shrimp well seasoned. The only issue I had was the service was a little slow, but understandable because the food was fresh and cooked with a lot of thought. Definitely a must stop place on your way to and from Key West!

Food was extremely tasty. The chimichurri was amazing and I couldn't get enough of it. The dining area is so cute and has a garden feel. Staff was very polite and attentive.

Cool place to grab a drink but food was terrible and flies are out of control here, to the point we had to leave

The food was delicious. Felt like healthier options, than most restaurants here on the keys. I had the mahi mahi tacos and a stout beer with coffee beans from Florida. All delicious. The atmosphere is fun and a lot of options on where to sit. Service was friendly and attentive. I would recommend trying this place and I plan on going back before I leave from my vacation.

This place is awesome! Super fun beer garden vibe with great service and great food! Went here for brunch and the breakfast sandwich and other breakfast items were great! Can't wait to come back.

Such a chill spot. It's tucked away so keep your eyes peeled. I never did see a sign off the road that said "Bongos". The sign was a hand written one that said something like "good drinks, chill vibes". Not that, but SOMETHING like that, where you're thinking "mmmm is this where I'm supposed to go?...". Once you drive in you veer to the right and then you will see the sign for "Bongos". Food was good! We got the poke bowl and split it because we were in a rush. But we were hungry and we could have easily each had our own. POG rum drink was good! Not too sweet, and very refreshing. Carli was awesome! She gave us such a good recommendation to "onlywoods" in Key West and we had such a great dinner there! Vibes here are so secluded and chill. Really enjoyed this spot. Wish we weren't in such a rush and could have enjoyed it more.

Stopped in while on a day trip in the Keyes. If you're not paying attention you'll miss the extremely small sign for this hidden spot. The outdoor bar is super cute with a nice garden area and some corn hole and hammocks to chill while having drinks. We only had drinks and didn't try any of the food so I can't weigh in on that. The place is chill and the drinks were good. It's not a full bar but all three drinks we had were very good. Great spot to have a few drinks is and enjoy the Keyes.

Unbelievably Great Food! Our experience here was outstanding! The service was excellent, but the food and ambiance truly stole the show--absolutely 10/10. We were three families visiting from California, Utah, and Florida, and we all loved it. Highly recommended

The pictures all look great. However, it's right off US-1 so the road noise is significant. Food truck-esque. Not really on the lagoon. When greeted, we could tell we were interrupting. He showed us where to find the QR code on the menu. Beer Garden?!? Nah, A few beer selections is more accurate. Not many food choices. We left before we ordered. Too many good options better options to try.

We arrived for an early lunch and it was quiet but we loved the vibe. It felt like we were in old Key West without having to make the trip down. The food was delicious too! We will be ba

Not a very friendly breakfast spot at 9:51am. Yes I get that they open at 10am but maybe show us some hospitality with a drink while we wait. The French toast with local fruit was a total fail. Banana was ice cold and the bread is your basic cheap sandwich bread. The made up for it by offering me a refund. Next time I'm in the area I might go around the sunset hour - the place is pretty chill for that kind of time.

Hidden gem!!! Ordered jammin burger, Huli chicken, steak and shrimp po boy. Every dish was delicious! The woman at the counter was very friendly and helpful. This place is easy to miss, but if you don't go, you'd be missing out!

Great experience tucked in a tropical garden environment - enjoyed the fish tacos. Bartenders were welcoming and friendly. Definitely enjoyed this unique gem during our stay in Marathon. Wish they had a bigger sign to attract more travelers. See you next year and thank you.

Chimichurri Steak Bowl and Drinks were awesome! Bartender Mike was great to talk to with recommendations for various local attractions. Coming back on our next trip!

This place was cool. It's right off the main drag but has a feel like you;re in the middle of nowhere. The food was far more inventive than our other sports around these parts, the staff was cool, and the vibe was great.

3 stars because it said on Yelp it was open until 6 and the website said it was open but food was only served Wednesday-Sunday. I called to find out if they were serving food today (Monday) but nobody answered. Drove past it the first time as we didn't see any sign except "Brunch". Turned around and drove past it again (going South) as it appeared to have a gate across the driveway (nope it was a gate but it wasn't closed) Got there and hubby used the bathroom , which was very clean he said. Then we went to the bar. Nobody there, but they had lots on tap and the menu for breakfast and lunch looked great. Walked to the botanical garden, saw bananas growing and around the big Tavern building. There were train cars with professional painting and then a beach with some sort of zip line thing. There were people on the beach riding some strange kind of wheeled board. Basically looked like a commune atmosphere and was really interesting but we had no interaction with anyone who worked there.

MUST VISIT. This was our third year in a row staying in Marathon and we finally tried this place. It was a lot of fun. Stop in and get a beer. Their selection is decent. A hair pricey but you are paying for the ambiance which is an awesome keys vibe.

Amazing vibe, food, and atmosphere! Customer service was top notch. BLT, frittata, burger and avocado toast - all were excellent. Bacon jam is jammin! You must go!

Such a hidden gem!! The ambiance was amazing. The seating is all outside, but under shade by the garden was perfect on a 92deg day. They didn't have coconut water for my drink so the guy ran to get a fresh one off a tree! The food and service was fantastic. Had the candied bacon blt, fish tacos, and poke bowl. Fresh squeezed juice and root beer on TAP!

The best food in the keys! Fun! Casters to adults and kids! Beautiful gardens, natural, local ingredients, good prices, rum rubber for water fun! Don't miss this place!

This place was amazing for lunch. I had the Burger and my wife had the Huli Huli Chicken. Both were amazing. The burger was juicy and flavorful. My wife said hers was amazing as well. This place is reasonably priced for really good food, friendly staff and drinks. You have to give this hidden gem a try. You won't be disappointed.

Huli Huli chicken did not disappoint. We showed up on a Thursday afternoon during holiday break and there was quite the crowd. Food took about 30 mins after ordering but was really delicious with generous serving. The burger was also delicious but just get the chicken!

Great spot to stop for lunch. Great hospitality and great food! I had the mahi fish sandwich. It was fresh and delicious with ripe avocado, fresh lettuce and tomato.

Fresh ingredients. Far from typical "bar food". Outside, tiki hut ambiance. Be patient with the service. They work hard and are excellent, but it gets busy. It's worth the wait.

Honestly if I knew Bongos was as big as it was, I would have planned more time to hangout here. We just stopped by passing through on our way south, but for seeing the little bit online I knew I wanted to stop. It looks like they have water sports, shopping, outdoor bar and botanical garden. Is a rather large outdoor area with plenty to explore and view, or sit and chill and talk. We felt like the vibes were very much local, but not in an off putting way. We were still welcomed in and served tremendously. Great strong drinks and a beautiful outdoor space... What more could you want?

Me and my hubby found this place on our way to the Key West. Wonderful please, food is DELICIOUS, that you want to order everything on it + they are dog friendly Love it

Amazing atmosphere, friendliest staff, and surprisingly better food! Best mojitos and best prices on drinks! We came here with family on vacation and enjoyed wake boarding, mimosas, mojitos, and an amazing lunch! This place is worth every penny and the staff made it all the better! We absolutely will be back and loved every second here!

Great hidden spot (you won't see a sign, just turn where the navi says!). Enjoyed a huli chicken bowl in the garden. Fantastic food and service, and a very cool vibe. Like eating in someone's back yard or something. Definitely will return!

This is an awesome eclectic place to sit and have a beer and listen to some good tunes! The food was good and gave large portions! We will definitely be back to this fun hideaway!!!!

Friendly atmosphere. Delicious Hawaiian style menu. Next to Cable Park Lagoon for fun water sports. Good beer selection on tap & great cocktails.

It brings me a lot joy to be able to write a good review about a restaurant in Marathon. I have been there twice this trip because there are many fun activities next door. The service has been friendly and the bartenders actually care about customer satisfaction. What a noble concept! The food is simple, tasty and their chef delivers every time. That's because they don't have a huge menu but the things that they do they do it well. The beer selection is pretty good and they have real lemonade like the one that grandma would make during a hot summer day. The place is Zen like, very minimalistic and relaxing. The other thing worth mentioning is that their prices are reasonable compared to all the other over priced places we have been to.

Just stopped by so our dogs could get a pint of I.paw. A. after a 'ruff' week. They had a good selection of craft Florida beers including a banana foster cream ale that was delicious. Our pup seemed to enjoy the 'good boy' dog beer but seems like the word is out because they only had 2 cans left. The menu looked good too but we had just ate before we arrived. Cute outdoor area with swings and hammocks. And obviously incredibly dog friendly.

I'm and long time local of the Keys and I love this place - super cool island vibe, good food for a reasonible price, great service! Definitely not your typical sterile ambliance tourist bar like Angler and Ale at Hawk's Cay.

Would have never known this place was here, but aren't those the best places? Amazing people, extremely friendly, accommodating. And apologetic if anything was too long of a wait. But well worth it, the food was amazing, we even ordered food to go, knowing that it would take a few minutes extra. Restrooms are extremely extremely clean and super attended to, drinks are delicious, and they really know how to cater to everyone with games, fire pits, great music, that you can still have a conversation over, can't say enough positive about this place. We will definitely be back every time we are in the keys.!!

Very cool place. Great beers and atmosphere. Staff were friendly. Lots to see and watch