Walk the full length of Bournemouth Pier and the town gradually drops away behind you until there is nothing but water on three sides. Key West is what waits at the end: a wide, glass-fronted restaurant and bar with a terrace that hangs over the sea. It is one of the few places in Bournemouth where the view genuinely is the point.
The food
The kitchen keeps things relaxed and coastal rather than formal. Lunch, sharing plates, snacks to go with a drink and a properly long cocktail list are the backbone of it, and fish and chips is the order most people default to once they have seen where they are sitting. Gluten-free choices are marked on the menu and there is a separate children's menu, so mixed groups tend to sort themselves out easily. Drinks get as much attention as the food here, which suits the way people actually use the place, settling in for a couple of hours rather than eating and leaving. Menus change through the year, so it is worth downloading the current one from their website before you go.
The setting
The room is big, bright and unfussy, built to make the most of the windows. The real draw is the outdoor terrace, a large open deck set with parasols that catches sun for most of the day and turns golden in the evening. Sunsets from here are the thing locals recommend, and there is very little between you and the horizon. It is not a quiet corner restaurant. Live music runs through the year, along with tribute acts, comedy nights and DJ sessions on Sundays, and the space is regularly given over to birthdays, weddings and private events. If you want a scenic lunch, come earlier in the day. If you want atmosphere and a soundtrack, come later. The terrace does close in rough weather, which is worth remembering in winter.
Where it is
Key West is at the far end of Bournemouth Pier, reached from Pier Approach in the town centre. The pier itself is flat and level the whole way, so the walk is easy with a pushchair or a wheelchair, and there is no toll to pay to get out there. It sits directly above Bournemouth Beach, which makes it a natural stop after a morning on the sand or a stroll through the Lower Gardens. There is no parking on the pier, but several pay-and-display car parks in the centre are a short walk away. If you are building a longer day of eating and drinking, our food and drink guide covers what else is nearby.
Good to know
Dogs are welcome inside and on the terrace, with water bowls available on request, which makes it a rare find for a seafront sit-down meal. Baby changing facilities are provided, and the entrance has a small ramp and wide doors at ground level. Booking ahead is sensible in summer and on event nights, and groups can usually reserve an area subject to availability. Opening hours shift with the season and the weather, so check the venue's own listings before making the trip out along the pier.