If you live in the Florida Keys, you can usually count on at least a few family members and friends coming to visit you each year. For my Key West newbies, I put on my tour guide hat and give them my “Deluxe Fab Plus” tour (with a little splash of gay, of course).
Key West’s iconic La Te Da provides entertainment options and great food at 1125 Duval St. (Photo courtesy of La Te Da)
I do have to adjust the tour a bit depending on the audience. For example, Mom and Dad received a PG13 version, and my very adventurous brother got the full monty.
Entertaining guests in Key West is a breeze with limitless opportunities to raise that “fun-o-meter” sky-high. For my short-term visitors, I have my “go-to” place called La Te Da (located at 1125 Duval St.).
It offers incredible food, decadent libations and an unbelievable variety of entertainment options. Also, for your guests that might have stayed a bit too long at your place, there are beautifully appointed hotel rooms.
La Te Da has three bars including an open-air streetside bar, the Piano Bar and the Cabaret room. I usually bring my guests to the Terrace Bar first at about 4:30 p.m. for that first “it’s almost five o’clock somewhere” cocktail. The venue offers primo people-watching opportunities and martinis that will knock your socks off.
If it’s a Sunday, be sure to arrive a little earlier to catch Key West’s renowned Tea Dance which takes place from 4-7 p.m. During Tea Dance, the restaurant and pool area are transformed into a dance floor with local DJs Rude Girl and Molly Blue spinning excellent dance music to get your groove on.
La Te Da’s colorful and inviting pool area is located just steps from the Terrace Bar. (Photo courtesy of La Te Da)
The restaurant — which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — has absolutely scrumptious food prepared by chef and owner Christopher Rounds.
If you would like to catch a show after dinner, I suggest a 6:30 p.m. reservation so you can have a nice leisurely meal beforehand.
FYI, I highly recommend the organic stuffed chicken breast, which is breaded and stuffed with ham and Gruyere cheese and served with Parmesan cream, roasted Yukon potatoes and broccolini (OMG it is so yummy!).
Okay, now on to the entertainment (sorry, I can so easily get sidetracked when I’m writing about food).
The Cabaret and Piano Bar currently have four different performances which vary from season to season, so please check the website or give La Te Da a call for the most current details.
The Cabaret shows are performed by two of North America’s most talented female impersonators: Christopher Peterson and Randy Roberts. The two shows are all live with no lip-sync, incredible lyrics and over-the-top characterizations of more than 20 different entertainment legends including Marilyn Monroe, Carol Channing, Eartha Kitt and Cher.
The Fabulous Spectrelles wow crowds at La Te Da’s Piano Bar. (Photo courtesy of the Spectrelles)
Performing at the Piano Bar, the Fabulous Spectrelles bring back the female divas of 60s swing to the stage — and 3Sum will undoubtedly liven up your evening with marvelous vocals of everything from 50s to Motown, disco and current hit songs.
When it comes to other entertainment, the Florida Keys have it covered with a wide variety of theaters and Key West’s brand-new oceanfront amphitheater. So on your next visit, let us entertain you!
Click here to subscribe to the Florida Keys & Key West’s LGBT travel blog.
