Papa Joe's Waterfront

Papa Joe’s is a beautiful spot with an atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sunset. The views from the outdoor patio are lovely and elevate the dining experience. The food is excellent, full of flavor, and clearly made with care. The drinks are just as enjoyable—well-crafted and refreshing. The service is wonderful as well. The staff is friendly, attentive, and makes you feel welcome from the moment you arrive. The restaurant is clean and well-kept, and there’s quite a bit of parking. Overall, Papa Joe’s is a great place to unwind, enjoy a great meal, and take in some beautiful scenery. Highly recommend!

Papa Joe’s was a great dinner spot with awesome vibes and beautiful views. The atmosphere really stands out, with fun decorations and a lively, welcoming feel that makes it a memorable place to eat. The food was very good and clearly well prepared, even though the portions were a bit on the smaller side for the price. That said, the overall experience, setting, and quality made it worth it. A great place to enjoy a nice dinner and soak in the views while you’re there.

We got there right as the sun was going down. There were no tables available, but we were able to get two spots at the bar and our bartender was landing. The young man is absolutely phenomenal at his job on top of the customer service being A1 the food was absolutely incredible. We got the tuna nachos and the Wagyu beef hotdog and they were probably some of the best food we’ve had in years so a couple of that with the Sunset views the customer service and the ambience they have a the upstairs is fine or dining and downstairs seems to be a food truck picnic tables and bar games so it is a very diverse place to go. I promise you if you stop and try this place out you will not be disappointed.

This has absolutely got to be one of the coolest restaurant / Bar places I’ve ever stopped to check out! Talk about views and amazing customer service! Amazing!! We stopped by on our way down to check out the keys- this place is extremely clean, well staffed , and beautiful! Drinks, food, and atmosphere are all 5-stars. Do your self a favor and stop by to check it out !

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great experience at Papa Joe’s Waterfront in Islamorada, FL! The gator bites were the best thing on the menu—crispy, saucy, and delicious. The succotash was a real nice surprise - corn and Edimame served hot Mexican street corn style. We also loved the lobster mac and cheese and finished with key lime pie, which was the perfect ending to the meal. Fun waterfront atmosphere, good food, and a great spot to stop while in the Keys. Would definitely come back!

My boyfriend and I came to Papa Joe’s from out of town really looking forward to a whole fish because we have had it many times before but they didn’t have any that day. In the end, it didn’t matter at all because the service and hospitality were outstanding. The stone crab was fresh and delicious, the drinks were perfect, and the whole experience felt warm and welcoming. What truly sets this place apart is the people. Sebastian and Pedro, the manager, were absolutely amazing. You can tell it’s a family that genuinely cares about how they treat their customers—they make you feel like part of the family the moment you walk in. Their kindness and attention to detail are the reason we don’t even want to go anywhere else when we’re in Islamorada. Papa Joe’s has officially become our must-visit spot. Highly recommend best food drinks and atmosphere don’t waste your time anywhere else period.

Yes, the sunset is beautiful — and I’m posting a photo of it because that is honestly the only positive part of this experience. Unfortunately, the service completely ruined what was supposed to be a pleasant family afternoon. I used the outdoor self-service ordering kiosk at the bar to order margaritas (see receipt photo). The system accepted the order, but afterward they claimed they did not have regular tequila. The bartender had already prepared the drinks when the manager, Asia, stepped in and demanded that we pay an additional charge for a different tequila. I calmly explained that this was not my mistake, that I did not intentionally select a premium tequila, and that this was clearly a failure of their own ordering system. Her response was cold, rigid, and completely dismissive. She made it very clear that she preferred to throw the margaritas away rather than serve them unless we paid the extra. We were there with our daughters, enjoying the sunset (photo attached), and the situation became awkward, tense, and unnecessary. It did not feel like she was trying to resolve a problem — it felt like she was trying to impose her point, regardless of fairness, logic, or basic customer service. The receipt photo shows the order went through exactly as placed. The sunset photo shows what could have been a nice moment — instead, it was overshadowed by poor management and zero empathy. Beautiful view, terrible management. We will not return and do not recommend this place.

The views from the bar are breathtaking! The mahi in the fish and chips was done perfectly and drink prices were reasonable. We had a great time at the outdoor bar watching football with the very friendly bartenders and wait staff. We’ll absolutely be back!

Best smash burger I've ever had. Fun place. Next time I'm bringing my swimsuit! Owned by a local guy.

Papa Joe's Waterfront in Key Largo is such a great family friendly spot, especially if you're out on the boat you can just pull right up. They've created a really fun space for kids, with a dedicated play area that includes a giant Connect Four and several cornhole boards to keep everyone entertained. There's also an upstairs seating area that gives you a nice breeze and beautiful views of the water, which makes it a perfect place to relax. I didn't try the food this time, but judging by what I saw coming out of the kitchen, it looked fresh and inviting. Overall, it's a casual and welcoming spot to hang out with family, enjoy the Keys vibe, and take advantage of the easy boat access

Nice place... enjoyed the ambience and service last night was pretty good. I liked the Conch Soup, while my wife found the Lobster Bisque to be pretty salty, but edible. She got Mussels as a main... found them to be good. All was pretty good.

We arrived around 5pm when the table seating starts. They don't take reservations. The sun wasn't quite setting yet, and it was pretty hot, so we started with a drink in the shady overwater tiki hut. Such beautiful views! The double trouble is delicious - like a painkiller at soggy dollar in JVD. When we started seeing the tables fill up, we moved to a table where a friendly server greeting us quickly. We started with Baked Oysters. Yum! My husband has the bucatini carbonara calabrese special. Wasn't bad but probably wouldn't get it again. I had the shrimp curry dish and it was fantastic! We were enjoying the soft music and the beautiful sunset. Then a boat showed up with a bunch of kids. They were running around screaming with no one telling them not to. It really killed the whole vibe. Someone working there should have spoken with the parents or kids to stop this behavior. It went on for a long time.

We came here because I had seen online that it had been redone. I don't know what it looked like on the inside before but it was modern with a touch of Florida. The deck area was also really nice and they also have a live camera so you can tune in and watch the sunset too. Now for the food, easily one of the best tuna bowls, I've ever had. It was seared tuna on a bed of coconut rice, and it was absolutely delicious. In fact, everything was, the watermelon salad, the pickle bites and the calamari too. What really won us us over was the fact that we were a big group and the service was great. Definitely a stop to make while in the keys.

The food was delicious, the ambience was great for a date or hanging out with friends. At first, I ordered the lychee martini, but it tasted more like peach than lychee. I told the server and even though that is how it is made at this location, he did not charge us and let me pick out a different drink.

Papa Joe's delivered! Great restaurant, excellent service and varied food choices. Restaurant is spotless, open area with lots of windows to enjoy the beautiful scenery, plenty of outdoor seating, tiki bar area is super fun. First floor has picnic tables, faux grass and corn hole game as well as giant connect four game making it great area for families with children. You can come by boat and dock there and there is also plenty of parking if you come in a car. The Cesar salad I ordered is served in a non-traditional way (at least for me), but it was nice and fresh and the grilled chicken breast was nice and moist. My husbands classic fish sandwich was also very good, nice size piece of mahi in a brioche bun served with french fries. The menu has lots of choices making it a great family restaurant or just a group gathering place.

Last time we were in town, we came here to Papa Joe's and we LOVED it. So we had to come back while we were in town last week with some friends. It's an amazing place to watch the sunset, first of all! We spent most of our time at the outside bar upstairs - great views and drinks! The bartenders were very friendly and we always got what we needed. We ordered the gator bites and conch puppies - and they were both delicious!!! This place has definitely been added as a "must go to" when we were down in the Keys!

Ambiance very chilled! Starters: raw oysters on the half shell absolutely fresh and divine! To my surprise I ate more than 3thank you Amanda for your amazing service! Food was lovely and delicious

Just wanted to say thank you to the management and staff of Papa Joe's Waterfront for a lovely afternoon late lunch with the family. Was pleasantly greeted and seated by Brittany, who accommodated our party of 4 at the peak of lunch, on the South side patio overlooking the jetty and the bridge! Although, it was the hottest time of the day to be out, you simple cannot beat the stunning views. A huge shoutout to Sadrac, for his drink and food recommendations. The food was exceptional, everything we order came together perfectly. Highly recommend, coming to Papa Joe's for the amazing views, family fun and great food! Thank you to Sadrac, for being so accommodating especially to the kids who wanted to order ( specialty drinks kids drinks soda/with extra cherries). It's the little things, that stand out! Thank you again Papa Joe's for the warm hospitality.

Great food, great service! Heather was great. We had the surf and turf special and the local snapper. Very fresh and delicious.

We were stuck in Memorial Day traffic heading back from Key West and decided we needed a break--so glad we ended up at Papa Joe's! We sat inside, but still had an awesome view of the water. The atmosphere was super relaxed and welcoming, with a great mix of indoor and outdoor seating. There's also an outdoor tiki bar overlooking the docks where we saw tons of boaters pulling in to grab food, plus a downstairs area with Adirondack chairs and cornhole. It has that perfect Keys vibe. Food-wise, the appetizers were the highlight. The calamari was excellent--crispy and fresh--and the local fish tataki (wahoo with pepper jam and lemon aioli) was incredible. Easily the best dish we had. We also tried the coconut shrimp tacos and the fish sandwich--both good, but the starters really stole the show. Wish we had a place like this in Delray Beach. Great food, great views, and such a cool spot to relax. Definitely a memorable stop and worth a visit if you're driving through the Keys.

For a new business this restaurant is trying to capture the higher end market of the keys. The building is modern new and an incredible location. I was inside since it was so cold , but when things warm up I will discover the outdoor seating and see if the vibe is better. Floor to ceilings windows inside were great BUT the seating arrangement layout lacked a higher end vibe. Kind of just open tables and plain accessories. Had the grouper Everglades decent portion but look at the price. They price all the fish MP so you might want to ask what the charge will be for your fish choice. It can with rice and nothing else. Make sure you scan the menu since many items seem ala carte. Best item on menu. Lobster bisque. It is a darker color but richer than most you may have. BUT nonetheless awesome in taste off the charts. I gave 4 stars only because the grouper which had a medley of topping still seemed lacking in bursting flavor like I thought it would. Also the price was high even though yes, you are in the keys ....

The food was great. I wasnt too hungry and had the lobster bisque. It was decent. My husband had the fresh yellowtail snapper wonton style wow! The seaweed salad on the top was a great addition. We loved the green beans! Highly recommend

All the food and drinks incredible! Great atmosphere and service! 10/10 will be back next year!

Food was good, ambiance was great. My bf and I stopped by while in the area. It was a Sunday and the place was busy, but it's so spacious there was plenty of room without it feeling crowded. The restaurant is beautiful, still looks brand new and decorated nicely. We decided to eat outside overlooking the water. It was cool seeing so many people stop by arriving from boats. If you sit where we did by the bar you have to get up and order at the bar then you can go back to your seats, just a tip we didn't know until we asked. We ordered the chips and guac, the calamari and then the Costa Togo Bibb Salad to share. The three items were good. Not the best food I've had in my life but it was good, satisfying. The portions were good for the price. The bathrooms were small for such a big restaurant but they were clean so that was nice. Downstairs there was a big yard area to play games and hangout, the place itself is very cute and good for a place to spend some time it seems. I would recommend this place for the vibes, but I will have to try more items off the menu to see if there's something that stands out.

Delicious food and attentive and courteous service... JD was knowledgeable and recommended menu items!!

Loved our dinner at Papa Joes! The Caesar salad is amazing!!! Fresh mahi and steak was cooked perfectly... and that view is incredible!!!! Our server Heather was extremely helpful with suggestions that did not disappoint! We will definitely be back!

Papa Joe's is an elevated seafood joint with a great vibe inside and out. They have an outdoor waterfront bar serving a more casual menu than indoors. The seafood was great. The key lime pie was something left to be desired. I gave it 4 stars because the parking is awful, so be aware!

Excellent service, food, drinks, ambiance. And the view is killer! This is our new favorite spot driving down through the Keys!

Great view for a leisurely lunch. But please, change the oil in the fryer. Every order including mine was unappetizing. Cold fries never were replaced. Oh well, only lunch. Staff is very friendly and courteous.

Super chill vibes and a great view. If you're looking to make a stop on your way to or from Key West- I would def recommended this spot. We had lunch outside at the bar overlooking the water- super peaceful and a great way to end the trip. Service was a bit slow but friendly. We ordered the fried pickles and fish dip to start. The fried pickles were great. The fish dip was not your traditional fish dip- it was super fresh with chunks of fish. We both ordered a burger. My burger was topped with an onion ring and came with bacon jam. The burger was overall good, but a little salty.

Came here for dinner the other night and had an excellent meal. Started the meal off with the conch puppies which were super tasty. For entrees I got the full rack of ribs and my gf got the short rib special. Both were excellent but the short ribs were particularly good. I would come back just for those. We sat inside because outdoor seating was full. We still had pretty good views of the water and sunset without the bug bites. Service was great throughout the meal

Wow! What a great restaurant I'm Islamorada. The best seafood we have had and also a great view! The food was very chef driven and sophisticated for the area. Heather was our server was was super sweet and made our experience great! We will be back and highly recommended!

On our way to Mimi we made a stop at this location that was renovated. They have an incredible location and the view toward the water are spectacular. You can tell they invested money and time in the renovation. We only stopped for a drink and an appetizer. We did not each much. The conch fritters were too but could be more crispier. They have a sauce that makes it soggy. I had a piña colada be my husband order a beer. This is a great place for a sunset afternoon and drinks with friends. They have picnic tables, outdoor games and a small marina for boats.

What a great place...food was good..beautiful view from tiki bar but the bartenders were the bonus Hunter and Angelina are not only Beautiful but knowledgeable and very attentive!! If your in town do not miss this place and tell the give said hi

Love this place! Great ambiance, beautiful scenery, and excellent food! Service is also amazing! We did not realize how hot it was going to be on the patio and our server offered to bring us inside without us saying anything and was just overall just so sweet and helpful. I had the Oscar style snapper, my husband had a Caesar salad and sweet potato fries, and my son had a chicken fingers and fries. We also had a few mocktails. They have a super fun area downtown stairs overlooking the water with games as well. Great place to bring your family or a group for a fun night out!

I came here for lunch and I loved everything. I highly recommend the coconut shrimp tacos they were amazing and the key lime pie was delicious!!! Nice service and very pretty atmosphere! The drinks were so good I also recommend the sea cucumber was very refreshing:

My favorite restaurant on our trip to the keys - was the start of our "Islamorada day". Came for lunch, soaked in the ocean views with those floor to ceiling windows. Despite being a proper keys bar, the place was so clean and spotless. Our server was the friendliest guy ever. We both enjoyed our lunch - fish tacos, burrata salad with grilled shrimp, and we split some stone crab. Certainly pricey, but was expected for the food quality and ambience. Definitely keeping on the itinerary for the next trip.

What a lovely restaurant. The service was very friendly and the food was fantastic. Perfect food presentation, flavor and tasty dishes. I ordered the blackened shrimp tacos (excellent flavor and just the perfect amount of shrimps) with sweet potatoes and as for a drink I ordered the lychee martini. (Enjoyed my refreshing cocktail) The restaurant had a very welcoming venue. The inside area has plenty of tables at the outdoors area, on the second floor there are tables and also a bar area. It's a great place for family, friends and even dogs are welcomed. It also has a beautiful view of the water. The also hospitality of thetables, the staff were impressive. I highly recommend this restaurant for an incredible dining experience . Great music and plenty of parking available.

What a fun place to have lunch at! You can dine by the water or overlooking the water. They have indoor or outdoor seating. The drive there can be a bit much if there is congestion or traffic, but on the day I went it was smooth driving. The menu offers a lot to pick from, but I highly recommend the guacamole. Instead of coming with tortilla chips it comes with plantain chips and yuca fritz. This small change makes the appetizer ten times better. I also tried their fried fish basket and found it to be delicious and tasted fresh. They offer plenty of games likes Jenga, Connect Four, and corn hole. I love this spot for a summer lunch spot. Family friendly and dog friendly. I also really loved that the outdoor seating has a roof so it did not feel overly hot.

One of the best meals I have ever had! Large portions(of fish). Beautiful views of the water and sunset( but it was raining the night we went) floor to ceiling windows. It's a new building but with a lot of history! Owner was vey nice! We will be back and you should check this place out. My meal was blackened grouper and loaded fingerling potatoes. Yum!

Oh wow, I had the sweetest little dining experience at Papa Joe's Waterfront Restaurant in the Florida Keys this weekend, and it was pure bliss. The waterfront views were stunning, especially with the sunset painting the sky, and the vibe was so laid-back and fun. We indulged in the buffalo crawfish dip--spicy and delicious with a creamy kick--the shrimp cocktail, which was fresh and perfectly chilled, and the pork belly burnt ends that melted in my mouth with that smoky-sweet flavor. The service was super sweet, and sitting by the water with my girls made it a total treat--I can't wait to come back!

Delicious dinner and drinks. Atmosphere and views were incredible! The crab cake was one of the best we've had. Would absolutely visit again!

​We stopped in for dinner with our large group, and we ordered some beet salad, house salad, general Joe's stir-fry, rack of ribs, steak, yellowtail, fried pickles and gator bites. The food overall was very good and worth coming back in the future. There's also a nice patio to sit outside on during the cooler days and months.

The setting on the water is great, and so was the food. Our waitress, Heather, was wonderful!

The food preparation was not only creative but excellent flavors. Service was prompt, food was served at the right temperature The location is absolutely perfect for a romantic, scenic on the water ambiance.

Absolutely top.notch place. You can tell from the moment you walk inside a lot of thought was pit into the decor. The service was super, but I will say the people that clear the tables need to back off. Please have them come when they can see we are done with the meal not 3 times before. The tiki bar is awesome. The food is amazing, I think this place is our second favorite. We will definitely come back. I had the ribs which were yummy with a side of Mac and cheese. Hubby had the snapper with the succatash which was absolutely delicious. We had the cervechi as an app and oh wow I loved it. You all, don't go to lazy days and waste your money. Go to papa Joe if you want a great meal.

This place has been closed for 19 years and finally reopened Service, food,cocktails, and views have all returned to this familiar spot. Your greeted by a hostess with the option of in or outdoor seating. Outdoor seating has a bar overlooking the bay and ocean. Inside the space is huge and a TV screen shows old pictures of the original structure. Still nautical decor inside and everything is just updated and new. We started with the crab and shrimp rangoon which was absolutely tasty with a hit of spice. For pur main I had a pomegranate cocktail that was refreshing along with the blackened shrimp tacos (which I opted for onion rings instead of fries) that were seasoned to perfection. He had the blackened fish sandwich on brioche bread. Didn't leave a bite of anything. The servers were so attentive and on point with everything. We definitely saw the team effort too. So glad to see this place back and running. Gotta stop here and eat and check the views on any of your trips to the Keys.

I would go there for lunch, downstairs or the tiki bar. I thought the food was good, the waiter was nice and knew the menu. Even the service staff was great...at first. We got our food and were eating and right about the 25 minute mark it was like a swarm....every couple minutes they'd come by and try and take our plates. We even said please stop. It continued and continued. Eventually we gave up but it was like standing water for mosquitos. I won't step foot upstairs again until they go through some extra training and learn SA etiquette. Just seemed out of place for a keys atmosphere. Especially when you're spending about 800 dollars on a dinner group. On a food note: The coconut crusted grouper was great. The pork belly was great. The calamari marinara is a little spicy but I like spice. The surf and turf stir fry was phenomenal according to my wife. The strawberry mezcal was also not overdone with syrup. Again it would be a 5 star if it were not for the mosquito SAs.

Beautiful location! Ceviche was amazing! Pina coladas could use some work though. If you do not like seafood, I would avoid this place. Great family spot!

Papa Joe's is somewhat bougie hence the food portions and presentation. So expect the expected when it comes to pricing. We got the baked oysters, gator bites, dumplings special, New York strip, and blackened mahi mahi. All were very enjoyable.

The food was fantastic, indoor and outdoor areas were inviting, and service was excellent! We ordered the ceviche, Asian bowl, catch of the day, and blackened shrimp. All were delicious! For dessert we had the hibiscus tiramisu, guava cheesecake, and ice cream with churros - we didn't leave a morsel behind. All of the food was soooo good!

Great food with a beautiful view :) The mood is relaxed with the waterfront breeze and the seafood is fresh. Yummy oysters and daily specials. Their desserts are. A+++ This coming from a key lime pie and chocolate tart connoisseur! Papa Joe's vibe is chill with live music and the legit Florida Keys feels. A definite must if you are in the area or are planning a drive down south to Key West.

Beautiful outdoor area for viewing the sunset... We had appetizers at the inside bar, which were delicious! Hal & Wanda White

Go for the view, for sunset. Service has been hit or miss every time. The onion rings are delicious, but they might tell you they don't have them. I have not enjoyed the caesar salad. I did not enjoy the vegetable stir fry. They won't switch out sides. They wont give you two scoops of different ice cream flavors. Not very flexible. They also don't sell the coconut shrimp tacos anymore (that other people rave about on here). I do love the affogato.

Amazing food, setting , service. The Island Hot fish sandwich could be the best I have ever had. Great menu and specialty drinks.

hands down the best experience of the keys for me. We spent several days in key west and while the drinking duval scene is not for me, where R&R in a private beach resort is my thing, the food there was so disappointing. Then we uncovered this place on the return leg home, and wow this made my entire holiday weekend. Not only was the food amazing... we both got fish and chips baskets with the guac and chips. great stuff and then had recommended to us the wings, but if you sit outside in the bar seating, its first come first serve, its dog friendly, and they have tons of variable seating from indoor ac spots, to outdoor tiki bar elevated over the water spots, to picnic table ground spots with cornhole for the kids and parking is free and not a problem. I strongly recommend this place, and it just makes you want to stay in Islamorada instead of going down to key west. This place gives you exactly what you asked for for the keys... a strong 100% stop. this will become our go-to everytime.

Love, love, love this place :) You can't beat the view and they don't rest on that; the food is great and so is the service. We've eaten at the main bar and on the patio. Both times were wonderful. The wings were meaty and crispy. The house salad has teardrop peppers that I'm now obsessed with. When we were in for dinner, the seared tuna was amazing.