Florida’s oldest waterfront restaurant is 136 years old—and famous for its key lime pie

When a restaurant has been serving on the same stretch of waterfront since the nineteenth century, it’s not just about the food; it’s a living piece of history. 

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Lantana, Florida, Old Key Lime House has been welcoming boaters, locals, revelers, and landlubbers for more than a century; its staying power has earned it recognition as the oldest waterfront restaurant in a state that’s full of them. 

But Old Key Lime House stands out in more ways than one: painted a shocking shade of green and accented with bright pink and blue shutters, the restaurant reflects Florida kitsch at its finest. 

Surrounded by palms and anchored by the largest tiki bar in South Florida (an authentic Seminole chickee hut), it’s the kind of place that puts you instantly at ease, at least if you’re a certain breed of Southerner—one with breezy inclinations and a love of the Florida Gators.

A House With History

Before it became a restaurant, Old Key Lime House was built in 1889 as a family home for the pioneering Lyman family, “who sold fish and oysters decades before Lantana was incorporated as a town,” according to a Coastal Star story. Morris B. Lyman was also the town carpenter, shipbuilder, and postmaster.

While ownership (and use case) has changed several times over the years—and the place has been hit by hurricanes more than once—the spirit of the building remains rooted in Old Florida hospitality, casual coastal dining, and a strong sense of town pride.

The pine Key West–style structure is filled to the brim with archival images, family photos, art, historic records, memorabilia, and funky decor; walking through the maze of space is also a bit of a trip through the annals of hyperlocal history, and even the walls tell stories here. So it’s little wonder this fascinating spot has been visited by celebrities and even royalty through the decades.

Pull Up By Boat—or Car

One of the restaurant’s enduring charms is its accessibility from the water. Boat slips line the dock, making it easy to pull in straight from the Intracoastal for lunch or dinner; the recently rebuilt docks have space for all types of watercraft, so it’s a fun place to arrive and depart for a waterfront meal. The covered outdoor seating sprawls across multiple patios and bars, and there’s even some tables on the docks themselves.

Of course, driving is always an option; though the restaurant has limited parking, complimentary valet makes it pretty seamless.

A Good Time If You Can Get In

No matter how you get there, you should know before you go that getting in is understandably tricky. A table or seat at the bar here, inside or out, is almost always in high demand (especially if the Gators are playing), and they don’t take reservations or even call-ahead requests. They also won’t seat incomplete parties. But if you can stand the wait, it’s a meal well worth your time.

The restaurant is open daily and has a regular rotation of live music, with bands and musicians typically starting on Wednesdays and playing through the weekend; expect a fun-loving crowd, good times, cold drinks, and the kind of laidback vibe that makes Florida the irresistibly sunny state that it is. 

Old Key Lime House represents a slice of the Floridian lifestyle you can drop into at any time. Don’t miss the gift shop to commemorate your visit—it’s a great place to while away some of that wait time.

Seafood Classics And Signature Key Lime Pie Slices

Predictably, the menu leans into crowd-pleasing staples like fish sandwiches, coconut shrimp, salads, and lots of seafood—what else would you want to eat with a vibe and view like what Old Key Lime House has going on here? 

There’s also a solid lineup of cocktails, beer, and wine, but please, for the love of all that is good about this kind of establishment, order something with rum in it.

As finger-licking as the savory food is, the real headliner here is dessert. The restaurant’s namesake key lime pie is legendary, striking that perfect balance between tart and creamy, with a heaping layer of fresh whipped cream and a thick cinnamon-infused graham-cracker crust I could eat all on its own. 

It’s the kind of slice foodies plan return visits around, and many “people who know” insist it’s one of the best key lime pies in the state.

Old Florida, Still Going Strong

What keeps Old Key Lime House thriving after more than a century of service isn’t trendiness but the consistently good time, good food, good service, and great vibe patrons can expect to find here. Tables have a time limit of two hours, so you’re probably going to leave wanting more, but that’s as good an excuse as any to return.

The lime-green paint job, easygoing environment, mix of locals and visitors, and simple pleasure of dining on seafood next to the water make it an enduring Florida attraction. In a state where so much is constantly changing, some of the best things are built to last, and this historic waterfront fixture has proven to be one of them.