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13 Places to find the Best Key Lime Pies in Key West

A bright yellow and green cottage with a sign reading Kermit's, surrounded by palm trees.

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If you’re looking for the best key lime pies in Key West, you’ve come to the right place! The Florida Keys are the ancestral homeland of key lime pie, which is made from key limes indigenous to the region.

I am OBSESSED with key lime pie and I eat it nonstop whenever I’m in the Florida Keys. And many of the best spots happen to be right here in Key West!

Key lime pie is a custard pie, and the main ingredients are lime juice, egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. It’s most commonly served on a graham cracker crust and topped with either meringue or whipped cream.

Beyond the basics, some people top their key lime pies with chocolate, some integrate coconut or mango, some people freeze them, and some even deep fry them!

Traditionally, key lime pie was made from key limes grown in the Florida Keys. Today, however, the limes are sourced from further afield destinations like Mexico. Key limes are more tart than the Persian limes we usually use, and are yellow instead of green. 

Despite being Florida’s most famous treat, the history of key lime pie is actually up for debate. Some say it’s a spin-off of a lemon cream pie recipe published in the 1930s by a food and beverage company out of Ohio. But others maintain that key lime pie originated in Key West when Aunt Sally made the first one in the late 1800s.

No matter how you like your key lime pie, we can all agree that it is delicious — especially in Key West!

This post was published in January 2024 and co-written by Adventurous Kate and Riana Ang-Canning.

Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe, via LMSpencer on Shutterstock

Where to eat delicious key limes pies in Key West

Kermit’s Key Lime Shop

Kermit’s Key Lime Shop is an institution in Key West, having celebrated their 30th year in business in October 2023. What began as Kermit Carpenter’s smoothie stand (no, it’s not named after the frog!) has now expanded to two storefronts in Key West and a 12,000 square foot shop, warehouse and production kitchen just outside of Orlando. 

In addition to their pies — which are unique thanks to Kermit’s double-strength lime juice — Kermit’s key lime Shop is well known for their pie bars. A key lime pie bar is a slice of key lime pie dipped in chocolate and eaten off a stick like a popsicle. Perfect on a sweltering Key West day!

Kermit’s…

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