Yeah, you can probably get sweet, fruity rum drinks at most bars along Duval Street, but I doubt any of them will be as good as Bahama Bob makes them. Â What is his secret - balance! Â There's a reason why my husband and I came here everyday while we were in Key West, the drinks were just that damn good.
The Rum Bar is small. Â But every one who was there, was always friendly, and somehow we always seemed to find ourselves in a conversation with someone at the bar. Â
Between the 2 of us, we tried almost every rum drink on the menu. Â My favorite was the Mojito. Â The Mojito is a wonderful drink, but so many times it's done wrong. Â Either the mint leaves are over muddled, making the drink a bit bitter, as well as getting bits of mint stuck in your throat. Â Or they're too sour or too sweet. Â Bob's Mojito's were perfect. Â The husband preferred Bob's Hemingway Daiquiri. Â This isn't your typical Daiquiri aka booze slurpee - but the perfect blend of rum, citrus, and maraschino liquor. Â Also try Bob's original version of the Mai Tai or Corn & Oil.
There's also Bob's Bark Juice - 151 Rum that's been marinating various types of barks. Â It's not for the faint of heart - but is tasty when sipped on the rocks. Â Also, Bob has over 200 types of Rum. Â So if you're a rum nerd, definitely hit up The Rum Bar.
My wife and I had just come a disappointing wine tasting at a close by wine tasting store so we were ready for something stronger. Â We had already eaten so we were here for rum. Â With over 180 different rums we had a hard time deciding. Â We ordered the rum flight that gives you four different tasting rums. Â You are served the rum straight up in a large shot glass and you are offered what ever way you might want to mix it, coke, ice etc. Â They offer you a pre-selected menu of flights which basically gives you 25% off the normal shot prices or you can select different rums from the "RUM BIBLE" which is very descriptive in the different flavors they have to offer. Â We had a vanilla, coconut, a 14 year old and our favorite, Jumbie. Â Weather you like rum or not this is a place to kill a few hours. From here we went to the Museum which made the museum more fun. LOL
Review Source:Every time I see the word "Rum" for some reason I think of Captain Jack Sparrow, stranded in that island and telling Elizabeth "welcome to the Caribbean love" while searching for his rum. Â Well, I am from Puerto Rico, and in the Caribbean yes, we drink Rum. Â
My friends know this so, they knew I would like Rum Bar, especially since they make my favorite drink right now, the Dark & Stormy.
It's a small bar with a lot of different bottles of rum. Â Their specialty is, of course, rum drinks like the mentioned Dark & Stormy, Rum Punch, Rum Runner, Pain Killer, Mojito, and more. Â To please everyone they also have some Tequila, Vodka, Whiskey... Â But, again, I was there for the rum.
The Dark & Stormy is prepared perfectly, with the dark and light division effect on the tall glass, with a lemon wedge on the rim. Â To try something new, I had the Pain Killer. Â I thought it would be a little too sweet for my taste because of the cream of coconut but I was pleasantly surprised, Â it was really good, smooth, and refreshing, especially on a hot summer day. Â
Bahama Bob is not a chatty bartender. Â He's there to make your drinks. Â He's one of the best and takes it very seriously but, if you talk to him, he happily replies and continues the conversation.
Everyone having a drink was friendly and in a good mood - why wouldn't you be when having these amazing drinks. Â Plus there's a little porch to sit outside if you choose to.
This will be one of my "mandatory" stops whenever I go to the Keys.
The Rum Bar is a good, albeit, small, bar attached to an Inn on Duval Street. Â My wife and I stopped in before a recent dinner reservation and had a couple of cocktails.
Very friendly atmosphere-the bartender, Jill, was friendly and poured a generous, tasty drink. Â My wife had the Painkiller and I had a drink or two-lived up to its name. Â
The bar had a good selection of rum and enough bottled beers, and I'd never been witness to conversations involving rum connoisseurs before (plenty of wine snobs, craft beer "experts" and scotch/whiskey self-proclaimed aficionados)!
One of my favorite places in Key West, I love the front patio, its the perfect place to sit, people watch and enjoy reminiscing of KW and a bygone era. Â The Rum Menu is outstanding, they have hard to find unique Rums and mix incredible drinks that really cap off that Key West Bohemian feel we all seek when visiting the Southern Most Point.
Review Source:Our bartender....I wish I got his name....he's probably in his 40s or 50s...from New Jersey...got divorced and moved down to the Keys (lol)...he was ultra cool!! We are from NJ so that's probably also why we think he's awesome!
My crunchy fish tacos were really good! My brother got the fish sandwich dealio which was also very delicious!
I also LOVED the fact that I could get my beer to go! Is that even legal? Maybe in KW and Vegas it is...?
While in Key West, the boyfriend and I stayed two and a half blocks off of Duval St., so getting to and from the Rum Bar was never an issue.
We stumbled upon this little precious gem after lunch on our second day in Key West and from there forward, made an effort to stop in at least once a day (which we did).
Being a resident of DC, paying $12 for a drink is considered "cheap"; at the Rum Bar, Bob only charges you anywhere from $5 to $9 per drink and they're damn good/strong drinks. He has a list of six or seven specialty rum drinks that he makes and the rest you can ask upon request, but trust me, there is no need to deviate from that wonderfully short list. Not a rum drinker? Neither am I, but those cocktails made by Bob went down so easily that I am now questioning if its because of the rum or is it because of the mixologist that deters me from drinking rum infused cocktails.
His Mojito was the perfect balance of mint, lime juice, sugar cane syrup and an excellent quality rum. Don't be fooled by his mix, you might not be able to taste the alcohol, but you will definitely feel it when its time to walk. If you're in the mood for a bloody Mary, his specialty mix is fantastic... This is coming from a girl that is hard pressed on bloody marys.
The boyfriend enjoyed the dark and stormy. The boyfriend was most impressed that Bob uses the "original" ginger beer and not the imitation.
As others mentioned, if you want something quick and blah, go somewhere else. Bob is an artist and a piece of fine art takes time to make.
Came here at the end of the night with the guidance of my girlfriend over the phone, advising me on which places to go in the Key West area. It's all the way down on Duval Street far away from the tourist area. Pretty laid back place, nice low music playing, old guy bartender who told me the history of the bar and the area and shared some funny stories with other patrons also made some killer rum drinks, i mean they definitely were not the sugary nonsense you get elsewhere, good stiff drinks. Great time loved.
Review Source:Time to PAR-TAY ! ! !
Ready to get LOADED? Get up on a table... shake your money maker... maybe strip off a layer or two.... entice some locals to toss you some beads for flashing the "high-beams"...
Getting all psyched up for a rambunctious night that you hope to wake the next day and remember tidbits of this you may or may not regret... maybe one of those coyote ugly sort of scenarios
***BIG HEADLINE***
You are barking up the wrong tree ! ! ! Â
If the analogy didn't do it for you, then let me make it a bit clearer... walk back out and head to all the cliche bars on the north end of Duval...
Now, if you're more like me and enjoy a place where you can have friendly conversation with your friends, rub shoulders with colorful locals, not feel rushed to give up your stool or table, small but always room to grab a seat, be able to carry on a conversation without screaming (try doing that at Sloppy Joes or Fat Tuesday).
***BOTTOM LINE***
Rum Bar is everything that the north end of Duval is not; Â quiet, laid back, chill...
and they make some decent rum drinks obviously
Ann. The sweetest most wonderful bartender you'll ever meet. Just one of the zillion factors that made us fall in love with this charming speakeasy on Duval Street. A few of the other reasons:
-The Pain Killer cocktail: sweeter than I usually go for but the coconut garnish and tall glass of tropical flavors lured me in for two servings.
-Garlicky chex mix on the counter - pairs well with the fruity drinks
-Far enough down on Duval Street that you can escape the flooded touristy bars like Margaritaville. Everyone in the bar during our visit was local (we know because they were all drunk - - and friendly). Adds an extra level of entertainment to a fairly calm and laid back bar.
-Warm and cozy feel
-Bahama Bob's Bark Juice ($5/shot): barks from around the Caribbean soaked in wine and honey then infused with Bacardi 151 - wow-wee, what a kick. Reminds me of the plum brandy that is very popular in Eastern Europe - particularly Croatia.
Traveling with your parents has never been so fun.
Ahh our go to place. We stayed right around the corner on Amelia and The Rum Bar was our place to grab a few drink before we head out. The selection of Rum and other  drink was great. Service was very very friendly and prices were great too. If you are looking to have a few cocktail and site out side and people watch then The Rum Bar is your place. BTW look out for Matilda the cat is the Rum Bars honorary cat the likes to hang out with you and have a few cocktails.
Review Source:This place is so good even when Bob's not around the back up guy from Boston will have your friend from Boston talking nonstop except for when she stops for the drinking.
This is such a chill spot on Duval, well away from some of the busier places farther North. The bar only has 10 or 15 seats total and it has a cheers type feel to it, even though, in my case, no one knows your name. The endless list of rum make this a great place to dabble in a true caribbean cocktail. Let either Bob or Boston know your preferences and they'll make you up something special.
I find this place is great for relaxing Sunday's after a weekend of North Duval.
The rum bar was recommended to us by the owner of the local liquor store while we vacationed on Big Pine Key. Â He stated that if my hubby liked rum, this was a must.
The first night we went in we spent hours drinking rum and chatting with Nick. A+++ on customer service. Â The bar had a very cheers feel to it. Â We immediately felt comfortable. Â CLEANEST BATHROOM I HAVE EVER SEEN. Â The soap/salt stuff in the bathroom is incredible, we ended up buying some. Â
The second day we went in Bahama Bob was tending. Â He took my hubby on a "boat ride". Â Bob knows his rum would be an understatement. Â I had been drinking pain killers the night before, i decided to try a mojito on the second day - both were excellent. While my father-in-law and hubby enjoyed their rum he schooled them on flavor notes and tips to enjoy it further. Â
We had a great experience and would definitely return here again and again.
It is amazing hotel bar, well, technically it is a hotel bar, since it is attached to the famed Speakeasy Inn. Just imagine any hotel cocktail bar, like perhaps one in Waldorf-Astoria, bring it down to small scale, and put it in Key West.
Bahama Bob was a very chilled dude, quiet, always have a smile on the face, even if his clientele might not be so welcoming sometimes (I'll explain below.) This man's hands know how to make some good and stiff rum drinks. You like Mai Tai? Bahama Mama maybe? Just entrust Bahama Bob to entice your palate.
There was one famed drink back in the days (well, maybe not that far back,) and it was called the ROOT JUICE. It has now since retired from the entertainment arena, but not before bringing out a new kid to the scene, the BARK JUICE. Same infused rum, maybe a little bit more spiced, a little more strong.
I will be remiss if I did not mention (with no points subtracted on the part of Rum Bar) I was here two separate nights over the weekend. First (Friday) night was such a great night; I sat around, sipping on THE JUICE, watching the games on the tube until the ref blown final whistle. Second (Sunday) night, apparently, was also the first night these group of gaggling Miami girls with ironic sense of fashion (cardigan sweater and way too shorty shorts) who were already few drinks in (reads: bar-hopping from the top of Duval St. all the way down here) and being quite "We are in Vegas, bitches" attitude. They just have to sit down right beside me at the bar... I quickly finished up my Mai Tai that night, bid adieu to Bob, and rejoined Duval St.
What a great place in the midst of all the tourist traps on Duval. Come here if you want a legit mojito or bloody mary. Bob will create a great drink closer to artwork than the mundane rum and cokes you get up the road.
It's a small place and there are seats on the porch to sit on while you sip your drink and people watch. This place is a must if you are in Key West. Now if I can only find a place like this in the DC area...
The gem of key west! I don't even like tropical drinks and I could not get enough of the cocktails poured here. I was a fan of the dark and stormy and pain killer!
Of course Bahama bob is a class act and makes the place that much better!
My girl and I got a little crazy and tried the bark juice! It's bobs special cocktail made out of some bark 151 rum and voodoo!
Great place to come to get away from the crazy nightlife of Key West and just chill out with you, some company and your bartender. Â We were looking for some expensive rums that you could put in a snifter and sip. Â Look no further than this place. Â They have it all, and the bartender knows what he is doing. Â I highly suggest the sampler, where you (or the bartender) can pick out 5 different rums to try. Â We loved it. Â Now we are searching for a bottle of what we had! Â Great place, and a great find!
Review Source:I can't think of a bar that deserves 5 stars more then Rum Bar! Not to be confused with Rum Barrel on the other side of Duval.
First, Bahamas Bob is entertaining and a master of Drinks and full of knowledge about Rum. Â The drinks here are his artwork. These are not thrown together with a bunch of concentrated fake juices, these drinks are fresh and perfection! The painkiller has shaved fresh nutmeg!
I can honestly say I have never had a drink so good with so many hidden flavors and just the right amounts. Â If you are anywhere near Key West you should stop by for a drink. To top it all off the prices are great!
Forget all the other bars, if you want a real island drink go here!
I visited this place since many Yelpers had rave reviews. Â You will not be disappointed. Â Bahama Bob is awesome! Â He makes his own mixers. Â You have to love that. Â Everyone is very friendly and this is a very laid back bar. Â
I chose to have the Bloody Mary.  Hot Damn it was delicious!  It's spicy and tasty.  Bahama Bob makes these drinks pretty with the add ons of vegetables.  I sat on the patio outside.  Great for people watching.  The day I visited there were several locals who were patrons.  They are so friendly and recommend  places to visit.
For my second drink, I ordered a Painkiller. Â Oh my, this was the most delicious drink ever! Â I wanted another but decided against it since I was my own driver. Â Whaaaa!
If you are ever in Key West, you should visit The Rum Bar. Â I highly recommend it and you won't be disappointed with their drinks.
Finally had a chance to visit this gem on a recent visit to Key West.
Let me begin by saying that rum is my spirit of choice and this charming little bar on the quiet(er) end of Duval St. has over 200 to choose from.
Enjoyed the most delicious rum runner of my life for only $8, hand crafted by the night bartender, Nick.
If you are looking for a quality cocktail in a chill spot, definitely check out The Rum Bar.
I've been sick of all the tacky crap in Key West for a long, long time. Even when I was in college, I never cared at all for the lowest-common-denominator frat boy dives at the north end of Duval like Rick's, Irish Kevin's, and Sloppy Joe's. Hated them, if we're being honest. For so long, it was next to impossible to find a halfway decent bar without sneaking into, say, the Pier House, or the Casa Marina.
Finally, however, a more sophisticated imbibing culture has started to filter down to the "End of the Road." Given this area's long, sordid history and association with rum, from pirates to Prohibition, one might think that a "Rum Bar" would have popped up here yonks ago, but......nope. Oh well, here's to making up for lost time.
Proprietor and bartender Bahama Bob isn't much for the snobby airs of "mixology," well-versed mixologist though he is. He will tell you himself that it's not rocket science. Now, I don't mind talking the talk with liquor snobs, but it's still refreshing to find this kind of laid-back, knowledgeable bartender. There's a small list of house cocktails - all of the ones I tried (Dark & Stormy, Rumrunner) were top-notch, but I feel that the Pina Colada deserves special mention. I know it's a girly cocktail, but it's so good, with its crown of shaved nutmeg.
Not that there's any need to stick to the list, or even rum. If he has the ingredients on hand, in true craft cocktail bar fashion, Bahama Bob will make you whatever you want. Even if he doesn't know the particular drink, he'll jump on his smartphone and figure it out. I had him mix me a couple Kubler absinthe cocktails this way, and I dare say he got a bit of a kick out of mixing up drinks he'd not heard of.
I was never a "shot" guy, and after trying a shot of the infamous Root Juice, I'm still not - but you must try it. The jar of it is going to sit there behind the bar, mocking you, until you do. Root Juice is rum, infused with all kinds of oddball ingredients - nuts, herbs, dried shrimp, you name it. I found a lingering aftertaste of sunflower seeds and leather; you may find different flavor notes.
Rum Bar is perfect for lazy drinking during those sweltering afternoons on Duval St., but I'd have no problem coming here later in the evening, either. For entertainment, you won't find a drunk, foul-mouthed pissant with a guitar like you will at Irish Kevin's, but rather, alternative and indie tunes played at a level as to allow conversation without shouting. You know, a real bar.
This place is EPIC! If you are a fan of rum and you are in Key West this is a no brainer. You HAVE to come try their rum drinks. If you only go for one drink make it the Rum Runner, this was one of the best drinks I have ever had.
Another reason for the 5 stars is the amazing selection of rum in general. There were hundreds to try. So if you are looking for a nice aged rum to enjoy straight, or just something new in a rum and coke this place has you covered.
Also, Even though this is a bar it has some of the cleanest restrooms I have ever seen in a restraunt.
To recap -- IF you are in Key West, AND you love rum, THEN you must come to the Rum Bar!
A lot of Rums to choose from, but they also have a card that have the common drinks for those of us not well versed in Rum drinks.
Bartender was friendly.
Drinks were awesome!
Bathrooms were a shock, super clean, awesome soaps and lotions and salt scrubs. Smelled super clean for being in a bar.
Bar, Table, and outdoor seating with umbrellas.
Fun time. I stopped in here a few times during my 10 day visit.
Bikers seem to stop in pretty frequently but are a funloving crowd.
I can NOT say enough good things about this place! The bartender was super nice and really knows his rums! The atmosphere was laid back, and cool which was nice because it felt like it was 120 degrees outside.
The pina coloda that they created might have been one of the best things I have ever tasted, EVER! It had fresh coconut milk, pineapple juice, a few other mixtures that I promptly forgot, and fresh shaved nutmeg. The next drink that I had the pleasure of enjoying was the traditional mojito, BUT the mojito was made with fresh lime juice and not that horrible sugary mixes other bars on the street use. These fabulous concoctions did however come with a price. They were a little more then the other bars in the area but they were made superbly and well worth the extra $1 or $2.
If you travel to Key West and want a brief (or long) respite from the madness, stop here and grab a drink. You will not be sorry.
Be prepared to fall head over heals in love with this place... I'm not  joking. Â
There're usually very few things that can compare to the euphoric feeling that comes from enjoying reasonably priced mixology. If that isn't special enough, imagine that the person doing the mixing isn't your pompous, overly-arrogant hipster bartender, but your wacky "Uncle Bob", Â who is amusing you by telling you great "tales of the cocktail" Â as you relax in his super quaint, warm and cozy locale.
Enter The Rum Bar.  Please do yourself a favor and order The Pain Killer...suave rum elixir that will have you falling in love with the bar and Key West all over again. The only thing that could possibly make this experience  better is if you happen to be staying right across the street at the Douglas Guest-house... and it so happens that we did.
Take everyting Robyn C said and place in my review. Â Rum Bar is honestly one of the best bars I have ever been to.
Bahama Bob is one of a kind, and his drinks are what you dream of when you think of a good drink.
If your in Key West - I highly recommend stopping by to say hi to Bahama Bob. You'll leave happy, a little buzzed, and feel like your life is a little more complete (and possibly +1 facebook friend)
The Rum Bar itself is small and quaint, located inside the Speakeasy Inn and totally deserves it's own Yelp listing.
My love for the Rum Bar, though newly acquired, has flourished so much since those hours spent chatting & drinking bar-side. At this very moment, I've not only become facebook friends with the bartender but also came to the revelation that if a bar were a house, I would totally live in it.
And yes, I, Robyn C. has officially friend-requested Bahama Bob the Bartender, aka the coolest man alive, on facebook.
How could I not when every drink was made to perfection, secrets were shared and stories told. He even let us take a quick photo behind the bar, tre cool! This is the epitome of day-drinking at a small bar and I love it.
Did I mention that Bahama Bob the Bartender has a blog, facebook account and judges rum competitions? No? Well, apparently you also missed the part where I openly asked him to be my Grandpa. True story.
I must say, I was pretty damn impressed with the rum collection this place contained - close to 300 if not more!
Don't even think about leaving without trying the following -
- Mojito
- Bahama Bob's Root Juice*
- Bloody Mary
*This contraption, the Bahama Bob's Root Juice, has been said to cure allergies and make you calm-tose - as said by the half-naked man at the other end of the bar. Â Essentially it's 151 Rum with a whole shit-load of ingredients & spices submerged inside the bottle.
It may look scary but it's not that bad once your throat stops burning and your sinuses are cleared. You may even taste some of the roots he has soaking in the bottle if you have any taste buds left! :)
Don't be a bitch. Drink up. Oh, and say hi to Bob for me!
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