Luxury dining, cooking with local chefs and new brews: Culinary updates from the Florida Keys & Key West

The Florida Keys & Key West may be best known to foodies for its iconic Key lime pie, but this autumn, a range of new restaurants and culinary experiences have opened up which will tempt food and drink aficionados to visit, including the opportunity to sample locally-brewed beers.

Sample award-winning locally-brewed beers at the recently opened Waterfront Brewery British holidaymakers exploring Key West's Historic Seaport district this autumn can be among the first to experience one of its newest culinary properties, The Waterfront Brewery. Opened on 18 September, it has already peaked local interest as it has begun brewing up its own homebrews, including the award-winning Key Lime Witness. Serving American cuisine alongside its home- and locally-brewed beers, it features its own tasting room and brewery and is styled with a nautical theme. During the coming months, the brewery is planning further growth by opening an additional space on its upstairs deck. For more information, visit waterfrontbrewery.com.

Enjoy a cooking class Keys style with local chefs Foodies looking to improve their culinary talents can now participate in cooking lessons at Isle Cook Key West. Led by local Key West chefs, the culinary experiences include a wide variety of cuisines and topics and aim to teach participants how to create healthy and exciting recipes, which 'students' can then make at home. Suitable for groups of up to 12 people, the classes run during the afternoon and evening with wine and beer available for purchase during them. For participants keen to stock-up on new kitchenware or Christmas gifts, Isle Cook also has a boutique emporium that sells high-quality kitchenware and colourful indoor and outdoor tableware. For more information, visit islecookkeywest.com.

Oceanside gourmet dining at a new luxury location For culinary connoisseurs looking for a luxury dining experience in Key West, the newly-opened Spencer's by the Sea at The Reach, A Waldorf Astoria Resort is the perfect place to sample gourmet, locally-sourced seasonal cuisine while enjoying picturesque views out across the Atlantic Ocean. At breakfast, why not try a daily favourite such as Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes, or at lunch, sample Spencer's Key West Lager Battered Fish & Chips while sitting on the outdoor veranda, and for dinner enjoy popular entrees such as Peppercorn Crusted Tuna and 72 Hour Beef Short Rib. For more information, visit reachresort.com.

For further information on the Florida Keys & Key West, visit fla-keys.co.uk.