Where can you dine on the east coast of Florida with lots of funky, kitschy appeal, scenic water views from every table, delicious seafood, and some of the best key lime pie in the state? That would be at the Old Key Lime House on Ocean Avenue in Lantana.
Located on a bustling street right near a drawbridge at the Intercoastal Waterway, Old Key Lime House is the oldest structure in the state to house a waterfront restaurant, and it claims to have the largest tiki bar in South Florida. It’s close to Route 1 and easy to find. Once you spot the historic, bright-green building, you know you’re there. From out front it looks much smaller than it really is. But behind this colorful house, overlooking the wide-open, picturesque Intercoastal, is the full sprawling property with a fun potpourri of dining and bar areas. You’ll be glad you found it.
With four bars (including one up a high staircase to a porch above the water with great views of the boats below), a central stage for live music, several large-screen TVs, and many areas for waterfront dining, Old Key Lime is popular for lunch, dinner, and nightlife. I’ve been there for all three, with various friends and family members. We always have a nice time and good food. People come for the locally caught seafood and the key lime pie—not to mention sunsets over the water. It’s always a party at the Old Key Lime House. As night falls, it’s usually rocking with great live music.
It started as a two-story home built in 1889 from sturdy heart of pine by Morris and Mary Lyman, who were among Lantana’s founders and who sold fish and oysters locally. Morris Lyman was a storekeeper and postmaster and named the town, incorporated in 1921. Their building eventually became the Old House Restaurant in 1989 and was renamed the Old Key Lime House in 2000. Owner Wayne Cordero was at the helm then, perfecting the restaurant’s famous cornbread as well as its even more famous item, the key lime pie. It came from the recipe of his grandmother, Agnes, and was part of his cherished memories from childhood summer visits to visit family in Key West.
This historic site has a storied past. “Originally a boarding house for travelers, it later became a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, attracting a colorful cast of characters and stories that still echo through its weathered walls,” according to the Dean Mitchell Group. “Today, the restaurant and bar preserve the charm of days gone by, with its original Dade County pine construction and nautical decor.”
Old Key Lime House is a colorful testament to the history and flavor of this coastal community. It’s usually packed with both locals and visitors who savor its laidback, Florida Keys–style atmosphere. Tourists often come to check it out, but with the numerous packed bars and live music on the property, it’s also a popular watering hole for the community. Everybody enjoys the lovely waterfront views as well as quirky décor inside and out.
To get out to the dining areas, you first go through the original house, which has a fireplace and vintage collection of memorabilia, photos, and documents on the walls throughout the foyers. You can read about the recipe for the key lime pie. There are lots of antiques around, such as a vintage cash register and an old gas pump. It’s like a little museum of the town’s history. You can watch aquatic life in two giant tanks in front of the check-in booth, as well as visit the gift shop and explore merchandise for sale, such as “Old Key Lime House” collectible T-shirts.
Outside, there are tables in several different covered sections, around the bars, on wooden decks, and even out on the docks. Kids can enjoy a large play area complete with giant skeletons for extra thrills.
There are plenty of spots for patrons to secure a boat for those who come by water. Signs pepper all the posts there, with messages such as the typical “No Shoes, Shirt, No Service” along with others like “Slow Please: Report Manatee Injuries,” “No Boat Boozing,” “Dock at Your Own Risk,” “No Sailboats, No Catamarans,” and, at the floating boat bar, “No High Heels.”
Old Key Lime House has weathered several hurricanes and tropical storms, and repairs always bring it back to life. Recent damage to a dock, in December 2023, happened after a storm swept through and two nearby sailboats came loose and slammed into the dock. Hopefully, nothing bad will close this place for long.