Monday Night Martinis - FYI the place doesn't open until 7:00 pm for the martini special. Â Also FYI: You have to go down the side/back of the building to get in, don't mistakingly go into La Trattoria like we did and think that you've arrived to Virgilio's. Â Either I ordered the wrong martini or the bartender made it wrong - the Martini Virgiiio was nasty, but my wife loved her martinis. Â Either way the martini night is a great deal, and when you go around 7:00 there is a nice chill vibe.
Review Source:Went there a few weeks ago with out of town friends I was embarrassed by the nasty, snappy bartender and poor service. Â She was short with us and when I asked when the band would return from their break she replied "Don't you think they deserve to take a break for a drink and cigarette?" Â We waited forty five minutes and then left. If you advertise live music, you better have live music, and a friendly bartender wouldn't hurt either!
Review Source:A couple other reviewers hit the nail on the head with this place, and that's actually the reason my friend and I ended up checking it out. We're from DC, and the Duvall Street shenanigans just wasn't our cup of tea (I know, I know - so how did we end up in KW?)
So we actually dressed up that night (well, not DC dressed up, but dressy for KW) and were looking for a chill place to have some drinks on a Wednesday evening. Although the reviews sounded good, we were still a little hesitant. When we arrived at about 10pm and looked in the window for La Trattoria, we thought - it looks dead, maybe we should cut our losses and leave. But then we saw the sign that the bar/lounge was in the back and decided to pop our heads in. And what a difference the back was! Very cute place, dimly lit, exposed sky in the back bar, yes a tree growing in the middle, and Audrey Hepburn making her mark on the wall. Only negative is the smoking.
We got there right as the live music was starting and were told it was blues/rock. Once again, we were hesitant, but stayed...didn't want to waste the makeup, LOL! But the drinks were on point - had both martinis and champagne, and the music was pretty good (one lady singing, a drummer, and a guitarist) doing covers like Macy Gray, Alicia Keys and some 80s stuff I had heard before but don't know the band names.
Overall, this was a great find for two single ladies who enjoy the lounge scene. We were told there would be salsa the next night (Thurs) and intended to come back, but had a little too much fun on the Fury Rum & Reggae cruise *wink*!
Restaurant, Bar, Zoo. That is what the sign says on the entrance of the building. I'm assuming they are talking about an evening's chain of events. Or that it is an indoor/outdoor bar, Tree Bar as the locals call it.
The food is delish. If you haven't been to Virgilio's accompanying restaurant The Tratertoria, I highly recommend it for an old-school Italian restaurant dinner. Viriglio's serves a special "late late night" version of The Trateroria's menu. The pasta is fresh, the sauces are flavorful and salads are always a bit different according to the season.
Yet, food isn't the main thing at Virgilio's. The martinis are. Their list is pretty extensive and they make something for everyone. I've had the a Mango Martini and a Chocolate Chip Martini. I don't recommend drinking more than 1 unless you want to be very, very drunk (hence the "Zoo" part of their sign).
They always have live music later on in the evenings and the place gets jumping with all the local Key Westers. Mondays they have $5 martinis which is probably one of the most dangerous deals I've heard in a while considering the alcohol in those things. However, everyone knows Key West locals drink a tad more than the usual human being.
My husband and I went here the other night. Â Granted that it is spring break time, and we both look very young. Â I was disgusted by the service. Â Having worked in the industry for a number of years, I was thoroughly insulted by both the bartender and waiter just assuming that we were going to not have a high bill and/or tip well. Â After a hefty wait, we were seated and not even greeted for another ten minutes.
Not once did he look either of us in the eye, and proceeded to leave our table without even waiting for us to finish our order! Â We were planning on buying a bottle of wine, apps/dessert, however, my husband and I couldn't even finish our first drinks because of the poor service, especially when he was spending so much time at the table directly to our left. Â Not once were we asked how our food was or if we wanted dessert, we were just given the check once our meal came out. Â I will never come here again, nor would I recommend this place to anyone.
two words....martini monday!
virgillios serves the best martinis on the island. they have an impressive selection of liquor, and pip the bartendress behind the bar is just about my favorite person on earth. always polite, always a smile, always great company, and always an amazing accent.
back to my first two words. you MUST experience a martini monday. they serve 5 dollar martinis, and have a local band playing almost all the way through the night. this used to be a permenant outing on mondays for me.
The place is VERY small. the populatiry of virgillios has outgrown the capacity level. MM is shoulder to shoulder almost every monday. show up early, or you WILL not find a place to sit or stand comfortably.
I just may have to proclaim this my favorite bar in Key West.
The bf and I were wandering down Duval, kind of over the Sloppy Joe's/Irish Kevin's lame vibe/blah music, and we saw a sign for Virgilio's. I remembered having read something about it online, so I encouraged him to amble down the street and into the side entrance with me.
We walked in to a dimly lit, intimate evening spot with a low-key speakeasy feel and good music. There were two bars, some tables and a sofa or two. The lighting and small space made it feel like we discovered an awesome secret spot a bit off the beaten path. As a girly girl, I loved that there were pictures of Audrey Hepburn everywhere, even on the coasters!
We stopped in here every night on our trip (Sat-Wed) and were pleased to find live music from a different artist each time. Unlike some of the other spots in town, the artists changed nightly and all were very talented. Yeah, many played covers, but they took their own spin on the songs and had very unique vibes. On the first night the band reminded us of the Mommas and the Poppas; the next night the musician sounded remarkably like Elton John; one night the band was more hippie-inspired; and one night it was just a guy with a piano. Lots of different vibes, all very good.
They also had an awesome drink list! Great music and a martini bar?! I'm so in! Can't remember the name, but I highly recommend the kahula-based martini that comes with a whipped cream float. So good!
One of the nights we stopped in happened to be $5 Martini Monday. Even better! This night the joint was hopping with friendly locals.
Another night we stopped in after the band had finished. Even though the staff was cleaning up and getting ready to close, they served us one round while they wrapped up. The service was great all week, especially considering most people were ordering complicated cocktails.
This place was just awesome. Can't wait to return!
One of my very favorite places in Key West! Â The restaurant is great, and the bar is even better! Â Great live music, great dancing! Â It's conveniently on Duval, but it's a world away from the rest of Key West! Â (Not to mention any bar with a tree growing inside of it always gets good reviews from me!)
Review Source:Okay, this place is fantastico!
We ambled in drom Duval shopping and sidled up to a mini-table at the window for some people-watching-while-eating. Â Sadly, we had to move to the bar to get a bite to eat with our backs to the window, we lost our view.
However, the service was great, mussels were delicious. Â Great stopping place.
This is a great little bar that is a nice restaurant in the front, La Tratorria, and has a bar in the back with live music. Â We couldn't get a seat outside so we cam back to the nice part in the front. Â It's basically a martini bar. Â Lots of unique martinis. Â We had classic vodka martini, a berry martini, Â and a Ketel One straight up with three olives. Â Basic but great stuff. Â It's really the best bar in Key West for a more mellow evening, good people watching inside and on Duval out the window, and a cool atmosphere. Â If you want loud and crazy you have to go further down the main drag. Â Otherwise, this is your place.
Review Source:So last night was fun. Â I actually went t several bars and had a straight red wine night. Â Straight Red
Wine and a White dress shirt do NOT go well together by the by. Â The Second place I ended up with my trusty new wine glass in tow was Virgilios back room. Â It kinda has this cool vibey speakeasy feel to it. Â Very cool. Â I think I just had the guy fill my new wine glass with red wine.
Very cool. Â I don't remember the wine prices being very bad at all. Â I was pretty buzzed though at the time and in my Red Wine zone where everything is amazing and fun. Â I think my friend was trying to have a serious talk with me but my brain couldn't wrap around the concept of serious. Â Either that or she was coquetting - but still... same thing, I'm drinking red wine - my brain is PLOWING me with fun vibes to make up for the fact that in the morning when I wake up, my brain will be (or already did in this case) plow me with a disgusting and terrible feeling. Â When it's on the good side, though, it's like I have a firewall to bad stuff. Â It just doesn't register.
But I totally digress. Â This is a nice little backroom addition to the Fine Dining establishment up front. Â I'll have to go back a few times for the update.
Virgilio's is a great time , it is located right behind (and attached to) La Trattoria Restaurant which is on Duval ST. just walk right around the corner. Its lay out is not altogether unique for Key West , there is both an indoor and outdoor bar ,quite common there, but it comes off feeling a bit classier than most of those joints.If its a nice cool night you sit at one of the tables built around the lit trees which is really cool might I add, or if its a typical sweltering Florida night go into the indoor bar , neither half of this place is huge but they still manage to fit in a mini stage for bands to play there and there is a dance floor as well. Its a great place to go if you just had a nice meal at La Trattoria , the only drawback is its mighty pricey, but that does keep out a lot of the garden variety Duval Crawlers that are just trying to get drunk. Despite the price it was always one of the place i took friends when they where visiting the Keys and they always walked away impressed.
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
