With apologies to Sloppy Joe's and every other place near Duval Street, for pure character, I think Capt Tony's is the unquestioned leader of the pack. Where else do you get pirates, hangings, tombstones, Jimmy Buffet and Hemingway on one package? It bills itself as the "Original Location of Sloppy Joe's" but it's way more than that.
It's easy to find. It's a big yellow building just a half block west of Sloppy Joe's on Greene Street and barely off Duval. There is a big ole Goliath Grouper out front as part of it's sign. Definitely hard to miss. After you've had some Pirate Punch, go outside, stand with your back to the fish and try to throw a coin in it's mouth.
This building truly was the original location for Sloppy Joe's and where Hemingway spent much of his time from 1933-1937. But all good things must get screwed up. In 1937, in a dispute over the rent, Joe Russell moved his place just down the street to it's current location. In 1958, this old bar was bought by a Key West icon, Tony Tarracino. He was a boat captain, gun runner and former Mayor. Hence, the current name. Tony ran for office on the platform that he intended to drink, gamble and chase women until the day he died. He also declared himself the most honest politician in America. He was elected. Classic Key West.
When you first enter the door closest to Duval, you'll immediately notice a large tree growing through the floor. Back in the day, it was deemed perfect for hanging pirates.
Unfortunately, when they began to construct the building, they found that dead pirates didn't get much of a burial. They apparently dragged them a short distance away and dropped them in shallow graves.
By now, you have certainly noticed that the ceiling is covered in signed bras, dollar bills and business cards. If you want to add yours, just ask the bar tender for the staple gun.
The bar stools are painted with the names of famous people who have sat on them and, in many cases, were frequent patrons. The biggest names, are actually on stools now hanging from the pool room ceiling.
If you come in the door just a little farther east of Duval, there is, almost always, a singer playing guitar for the folks. On this day, it was a talented fellow named, Gary. That is exactly where Jimmy Buffet got his start. As a matter of fact, if you go into the Men's Room, you can see where he penned the chorus to "Last Mango in Paris." I wonder what he was doing at the time?
Yes, Ladies, women go in there all the time. Guys, if it's a late Friday or Saturday, they don't always knock.
If you thought this was enough, you are sooo wrong. It's time to tell you about the two tombstones you'll find. Over near the pool tables, there is a tombstone in the floor (hell, it's apart of the floor) that belongs to a girl named Elvira.
The second stone is at the base of the tree but no one is buried under it. (Didn't expect that, did you?) The stone belongs to an old girlfriend of Tony's. Supposedly, when she passed away, her husband found old love letters between her and Tony. He got angry, ripped up the stone, drove it to Key West and threw it down outside the bar. He yelled in the door, "If you want her so bad, you can have her!" Unfazed, Tony had the stone brought in and protected in case the husband changed his mind but he never came back.
Now, there is no way you will ever go to Key West and not visit Tony's, is there?
“All you need in this life is a tremendous sex drive and a great ego, brains don’t mean a shit,” Capt Tony.
