We came here a few times whilst in Key West. It was pretty quiet Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in early April although Saturday was definitely the busiest. The inside bar allows smoking (not being illegal here I suppose that's to be expected but it is deeply unpleasant when most of Europe are now smoke free and unpleasant when it's been years since you last had to put up with it).
The back garden has loads of space, not that there were loads of people there. It's men only and we witnessed some rather atrocious behaviour by some of the customers when an older woman came out with her male friends. She was shouted at and escorted away by a customer, the staff didn't do anything to save her embarrassment  as she was booed and then cheered whilst being led back inside.
At this point we were in no mood to stay any longer. We left as the inside rooms were getting busier... it didn't feel especially gay inside. Lots of tourists doing the 'gay bar' thing on Duval St gawping at the male dancers.
I suppose I'm used to a far better gay scene in London so am always a little disappointed visiting gay bars abroad. Having said that, one of the bar tenders was extremely friendly and drinks were cheap enough, especially during happy hour.
I have been told by good friend who on occasions attending Fantasy Fest, that if I am to vacation in Key West one day be sure to check out the spectacle that is Bourbon St Pub, which is, among other things, one of regular sponsors of the festivity.
I think I read it somewhere this place is less inviting, and I concur. I mean. I get it. I get this place. You called yourself Bourbon St Pub (even though my memories of Bourbon St. in NOLA is nowhere close to what I've experienced here.) Even without anyone telling me what this place is really about, I get it. It will be hard not to. They are not exactly subtle about it, and they will literally, and physically, dangling it in front of you.
It's not like this place is unfriendly. Au contraire. The people who are officially associated with the bar have been top notch friendly. I'm just not too fond of the type of crowd this place tends to attract. Persistent, and way overboard friendly advances, even to someone like myself.
No, I'm not afraid of the advances, it's actually quite interesting; but now I kind of know how pretty people feels like in the clubs that gets constantly hitting on by people you want nothing to do with.
Safe to say, I enjoyed the experience, but perhaps this maybe as they said "once in a lifetime," because I don't think I need another visit.
P.S. Oh yeah, if you enjoyed yourself past the front portion, you might as well go a little further and check out the Garden Bar. It's very... revealing.
While visiting key west for my annual pilgrimage for fantasy fest, I popped in to bourbon street for a " look see". And boy was I surprised. Gorgeous men dancing completely nude, adult movies playing on flat screen tv's and awesome music playing !
I wandered to the rear of the building where a pool, hot tub, bar and bubble waterfall were in full tilt with happy patrons. I must say that the nude people in the waterfall weren't very cute..... So I returned indoors where the real talent was!
Greeting me back was a hot as can be young man from the Ukraine . Dear heavens I'm in love. We chatted, I lusted and ordered a drink from a superb bartender. The drinks were great and the staff was friendly.
I'm going to brush up on my Russian and return next year!!!!!
Tonight I arrived in Key West for one of my many visits to the island. Â Key West has always been my favorite reason to live in Miami. Â
I arrived on a vacation and examined my optioned for the evening. Â While passing by the Bourbon Street Pub I saw that there was an event happening supporting a local charity. Â The event was the Miss Firecracker Pageant.
The Bourbon Street Pub has always been the least inviting place for a gay night out for me in Key West. Â This place always seems to exude a 'big city club' vibe...and being from Miami...I feel I have the right to say that. Â Â
But tonight, July 1, 2011, I'm in town and there is a charity event happening. Â The event is the Miss Firecracker Pageant as I mentioned. Â Upon some research I find it's an event supporting the local AIDS charity. Â So I decide that is worthy and despite my previous experiences I will attend. Â
So I pay the $20 to get in and see that there is a really nice event planned. Â Tables are set up in the back patio area and a very nice stage for the event. Â I introduce myself to a nice lady (Renee) seated at the bar and open a tab with a bartender (Wes).
The night gets off quite nice! Â A nice show. Â A nice bartender.
But then I have to use the bathroom. Â This turns out to be my human flaw. Â
I let my new friend, Renee, know I'm going to use the bathroom. Â I mention to the check in people that I just need to use the restroom and all is well.
Upon returning. Â There is someone in my seat. Â I introduce myself and the gentleman moves. Â Only to be immediately replaced by his friend. Â
His friend is not so nice. Â He informs me that, 'if you snooze you loose.' Â With this statement his friends ask him to be nice and give up the seat. Â He refuses. Â I'm left standing in front of my beverage and tab and new friend Renee. Â This person is relentless. Â I politely let him know that I just used the restroom and was sitting in this space.
His response is unwavering and definitive. Â He informs me that he knows the owner...even pointing him out. Â I decide that this is not a situation at a charity event that I wish to be in and turn and choose to stand. Â
After a few moments this rude person's friends convince him to get up and he then proceeds to ask me to sit. Â He also asks me to move my seat I've been in since I arrived so he can accommodate himself and his friends. Â
In disbelief that I am being asked to further satisfy this individual I respond that I wish nothing more than to be removed from the presence of this man. Â Then he proceeds to call the bartender, Wes.
As Wes turns his attention to us, I ask for my tab to be closed. Â
With this the rude 'Conch' resident changes his tune and removes himself from my seat and asks me to sit. Â I ignore since the tension is rising and his friends remove him from the situation to a couple of spaces away from me. Â
I close my tab and give my raffle tickets to the new person I've met, Renee, to which she responds...'those guys weren't very nice.'
Such a simple statement. Â But so true. Â
This whole review is for what Key West might become to the gay community. Â And Bourbon Street Pub is an anchor of this community. Â If this is how the residents that know the owners and the bartenders of an establishment like Bourbon Street Pub choose to treat the guests of the island like, then the gay tourism...whether a close local like myself from Miami or a tourist from another part of the country...is going to continue to decline. Â
And from what I've seen in my eleven years of living in South Florida and being a huge advocate of the Florida Key's this is not something that gay tourism can afford to suffer at the hands of rude 'Conchs (the tern Key West residents use for themselves.)' Â
This is not something that I've experienced new this trip. Â But this is something I've experienced exclusively and previously at Bourbon Street Pub on Duval. Â I hope it is something that owners and employees of a well known establishment in Key West will lash out against in the future.
VERY FRIENDLY bartenders pouring drinks so strong (that's a switch) that took me 30 minutes to drink (usually have to swig them down).
On Saturday night there was a cover charge...no big deal. Now here's the weird part: have to assume this a a Gay bar...98% Gay men at the bar. The dancers were more than obviously straight and totally without any rhythm (could not dance worth a damn) just standing there back and forth. One in particular was way too aggressive!!! Stepping off the bar, offering his dick for touching and massaging without asking first. Saw him take a customer into a back room. That's all okay but they need some real dancers on the bar.
Sunday night had a drag queen who was excellent but the show was tiring it was so long. She actually sang her won songs i.e. no lip sync. Big girl, long blond wig, in a  silver sequin dress. Again, good and very amusing but TOO LONG for one performer.
IF ONLY FLORIDA WOULD OUTLAW SMOKING INSIDE PUBLIC VENUES..
Great location, friendly staff, and there is a guest hotel and pool out back that is awesome. Â Have a reasonable bar food menu which is very inexpensive. Â $2 for a hot dog; $3 for a hamburger, etc.
Open early to late, you can chill out at the pool during the day or get crazy at night.
Not to be missed for a night out in Key West.
Lord have mercy on the Saturday night of Fourth of July weekend I had at Bourbon St with my friends. $5 cover and we walked right in carrying red solo cups with straws in them. No problem. Inside were some hot strippers from out of town and a few not so cute locals. I would imagine it was one of their busier weekends. There was a foam party outside at the Garden bar and naked HUNG strippers. Imagine this, a 40ft projector screen with hardcore porn on it right behind the naked pool with naked strippers on either side. We all got pretty wasted and it got progressively dirty to a point I don't even want to describe on here. Lets just say its about as dirty as Ive ever seen. Our "straight" friend even got some action. Â Oh, there was a "clothing check" not a coat check.
Review Source:We were here almost every night for vacation. We loved hanging out at the garden bar. It is clothing optional, but it was rare that we saw any naked men. There is usually some form of entertainment there each night from male dancers, to drag shows, to watching Glee by the pool! Highly recommend to anyone coming the the island, gay or straight!
Review Source:Went in to see a show and thoroughly enjoyed it, and no doubt the general fun vibe of the place contributed! Cute and barely clad waitstaff were buzzing about (one of ours was drunk off his gourd, but he was still entertaining and managed to bring our drinks just fine, so what the hey!).
Review Source:If you want cheap drinks come here for a beer, cocktail or a drinks. You can't go wrong here. I been coming here with a group of friends decided to get some beers while the other half of out group decided to venture out to the Hemmingway House and shop. We decided to have some cheap beers and cocktails while we wait for them for lunch.
Ask for Milan. He was an amazing bartender and took care of us. Great service and he even made us popcorn to much on. He was amazing while we take his picture or pictures that is.
If you want to have really cheap drinks the Bourbon Pub is the place to be with the nice decor and windows that overlook the street while you have a smoke or drink with friends.
I highly recommend this to group of friends if you like cheap drinks and by night it's a fun atmosphere with the dancers.
Here's a formula for debauchery:
Lots of booze + clothing-optional swimming pool area + large group of crazy friends from West Hollywood
Put them all together and what do you get? Scarred memories! Ha ha.
We spent almost every night at this bar on Duval during our stay in Key West, and between the drinks, the scantily clad dancers and the swimming pool, the stories of the several nights of debauchery will go down in infamy amongst my friends. I, of course, heard of said craziness second hand, since I was in bed, sleeping soundly by midnight each night.
Stop laughing.
Bourbon Street is a large two-bar space with big windows open to Duval St.. The bartenders are not terribly friendly but hot, and there was one confirmed penis-sighting at the front bar.
The big draw here is Porsche's show. Porsche sings her own, and covers all the divas, including Cher, Carol Channing, Marilyn Monroe, Judy, Liza, Barbra, and even Janis Joplin. She is a force of nature and a must-see.
The Bourbon Street Pub is a bar attached to The New Orleans House, a gay guesthouse. Â I got drunk here 3 times, and everyone was always super-friendly. Â I met most of my locals here when I was on vacation. Â On one night, they were having a benefit for some guy who had to wear a colostomy bag. Â How's that for community togetherness? Â Out back was a pool where supposedly nasty things went on. Â I never saw anything though. Â Definitely worth checking out along with the 801 Bourbon across the street. Â Drag shows and go-go dancers on select nights. Â But beware, it's not super-crowded during the day or off season. Â Get there around 11 PM.
Review Source:
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
