Top 5 Best Places Key Lime Pies in Key West

“Key Lime Pie Paradise: A Taste of Key West's Finest"

Key West is renowned for its Key Lime Pies, much like Chicago is known for its Deep-Dish Pizza or Philadelphia for its Philly Cheese Steak. This tropical paradise is the birthplace of the famous key lime pie, a beloved Florida delicacy that rose to fame in the 1950s. And where better to indulge in this delightful treat than in Key West itself? Thus, we embarked on a compulsory mission to sample the various pie establishments scattered across the island.

The thing that distinguishes key lime pies is the presence of tiny, sour limes that naturally thrive in the Florida Keys in the late 19th Century but were totally whipped out in the 1926 Miami hurricane. These limes have a special taste that is livelier than the larger Persian limes that are more commonly sold. Each skilled baker adds their own special touch to the pies, resulting in a delightful variety of flavors, some pies topped with meringue or a dollop of whipped cream. Although the visual appearance of the pie may not be the most crucial aspect, the crust and tanginess play important roles in determining the overall flavor of the pie.

However, we must emphasize that for our ratings, we did not partake in, nor do we endorse, the consumption of frozen novelty Key Lime Pies with a chocolate coating on a stick. This fails to capture the true essence of a genuine pie, with its invigorating tartness and refreshing qualities.

1. Blue Heaven (729 Thomas Street)

If famous fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga were a chef, he would most likely create the key lime pie served at Blue Heaven. Unlike most key lime pies, this one comes with a huge generous amount of lightly browned "spiked" meringue on top. The bakery chef at Blue Heaven uses a buttery graham cracker crust and fills it with a delightfully tart key lime pie filling before adding the delicious 6" spiked meringue topping. It's a must-try dessert before experiencing heaven itself.

Price Per Slice: $12
Tartness: 7
Presentation: 8

2. Old Town Bakery (930 Eaton St.)

Old Town Bakery is a charming bakery housed in a 19th-century building, rich with history. Here, you can find a delightful selection of baked goods, such as pastries, breads, cookies, and pies. One particular gem is their key lime pie, which stands out among a lot of pies on the island. The crust boasts a toasty flavor, complementing the firm and tangy key lime filling. To add the perfect finishing touch, they crown their pie with a dollop of whipped cream instead of meringue. For those in search of a truly scrumptious tarte key lime pie, the locals unanimously recommend Old Town Bakery as the go-to destination.

Price Per Slice: $4.95
Tartness: 8
Overall Presentation: 6

3. The Key West Key Lime Pie Co. (511 Greene Street)

Hey, you might have heard about that pie shop that Marcus Lemonis bought on "The Profit"? Yeah, he had a tough time trying to make it profitable, so he gave it to the manager. But the good news is that the manager is still making their amazing key lime pies with all-natural ingredients, real key lime juice, and a homemade graham cracker crust. Yum!

Price Per Slice: $4.95
Tartness: 6
Overall Presentation: 5

4. Kermit's Key Lime Shop (200 Elizabeth Street)

Perhaps the most well-known key lime store in Key West. On certain days, you might spot Kermit Carpenter, donning his lime-themed chief uniform, standing outside with a faux pie. While Kermit's is the #1 Pie shop on the island, and have been effectively promoted for decades, they seem to lack the desired wow factor.

Price Per Slice: $4.95
Tartness: 5
Overall Presentation: 5

5. Key Lime Pie Bakery (412 Greene Street)

Did you know this local bakery claims to be the birthplace of key lime pies? They've been around since 1856! But apparently, Aunt Sally at the Curry Mansion also made the same claim in the 1890s. The thing is, sweetened condensed milk was invented by Bordon's around that time and it was super helpful for the Florida Keys because they didn't have fresh dairy readily available. Anyway, this bakery makes key lime pies every day and they're pretty good, but they're not as tangy as some of the other ones out there. Definitely a lot better than Marie Callender's!

Price Per Slice: $4.95
Tartness: 4
Overall Presentation: 5

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