Hot Tin Roof

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Name with a Story

Hot Tin Roof takes its name from Tennessee Williams' beloved play — a fitting tribute for a restaurant in the city where the playwright made his home. Situated at Zero Duval Street within Ocean Key Resort & Spa, the restaurant has built its identity around what it calls "Key West Cuisine," a style the kitchen also describes as "conch-fusion": a layered blend of Cuban and Caribbean influences, fresh local seafood, and seasonal produce that reads as distinctly its own.

The Kitchen Behind the Plates

Executive Chef Scott Maurer has been devoted to resort dining since 1993, moving through top destinations before settling into the creative latitude that Key West allows. His philosophy is one of intention and restraint — every ingredient earns its place, and what's left off the plate matters as much as what goes on it. The Latin cuisine he shapes here carries a sense of place in every component, from chargrilled proteins to fruit-forward sauces that echo the island's tropical surroundings.

What to Expect at the Table

Breakfast leans into the locale with dishes like Poached Huevos — poached eggs over guajillo-spiced tomato sauce, pinto beans, queso fresco, and lime crema on crisp tortillas — alongside more familiar morning staples like Croissant French Toast with roasted strawberries and a Toasted Coconut–Key Lime Breakfast Bread served with key lime curd and whipped vanilla bean mascarpone. Dinner brings the full expression of the kitchen's Latin cuisine, with oceanic and fruity flavors balanced against chargrilled depth.

The Hot Tin Roof Lounge, tucked within the main restaurant, offers chef-designed small plates and a cocktail list steeped in local lore — the signature Hot Tin Tini (vodka infused with fresh pineapple) and a Hemingway Daiquiri made with local rum are the obvious starting points.

The Setting

Dining on the verandah, with the harbor stretching out below and the famous Key West sunset unfolding overhead, is the experience the restaurant is built around. Salt-kissed breezes, panoramic water views, and a room that hums with the easy energy of the island's most celebrated corner — it's a combination that earned Hot Tin Roof a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, recognition that reflects the care put into both the cellar and the overall dining experience.

Private dining on the Hot Tin Roof Terrace is available for parties of six to thirty guests, with customizable menus and the full backdrop of the harbor on offer.