No Name Pub

No Name Pub, a Florida Keys classic in Big Pine Key

No Name Pub is a bar and restaurant located in Big Pine Key, Florida, whose history dates back to 1931, when it operated as a general store and bait and tackle shop. In 1936 its owners added a small room to the main building that became a restaurant, giving rise to the pub. In the mid-1950s the general store and tackle shop closed and the establishment remained as a bar and restaurant entirely, adopting the name No Name Pub.

Recognition in the ZAGAT Survey

According to the establishment's own presentation, No Name Pub has received top scores for food and service in the ZAGAT Survey's Casual Dining category for several years running. The survey, which evaluated more than 700 South Florida restaurants, rated it as the best casual dining experience in the Florida Keys. The review noted that if you can find it you'll be rewarded with the best pizza anywhere, chili, smoked fish dip and sandwiches served on paper plates in a real old rustic bar plastered with autographed dollar bills.

House specialties

Pizza and fish dip are the establishment's most recognized specialties. The pizza recipe dates back to 1960, when two Italian cooks brought it with them and left it written on the kitchen wall; according to the establishment, more than fifty years later the same recipe is still used. The menu also includes chili, smoked fish dip, sandwiches and fresh fish dishes, accompanied by beer.

History and atmosphere

The establishment has been a gathering place in the Keys since the mid-20th century. In its early years it welcomed travelers arriving from the mainland by ferry and local fishermen. In the late 1930s, the upstairs storage room was converted into a brothel in an effort to increase business, although the venture failed after several years. In the 1970s and 1980s the pub experienced a more carefree era, with music on the jukebox and customers hanging dollar bills on the walls, a tradition that continues. With the new millennium, the establishment consolidated itself as a place where people from all walks of life enjoy food, cold beer and conversation, and presents itself as one of the last great places with the classic Florida Keys atmosphere.

Souvenir shop

The pub has a shop where souvenirs can be purchased. The online catalog includes snapback and trucker hats, baseball hats, biker T-shirts, long sleeve Dri-Fit shirts, Marlin Dri-Fit short and long sleeve shirts, magnets and other categories such as No Name Pub T-shirts, tank shirts and miscellaneous items. The prices shown in the shop ranged from $7 for a magnet to a range of $40.50 to $43.50 for some long sleeve Dri-Fit shirts.

Guest testimonials

The site collects opinions from visitors who highlight the food, the staff's service and the atmosphere. A customer from Palm Beach County notes that they go every time they can and that they have always been treated like a regular; another, from Marion, North Carolina, describes the experience as great and the food as superb; and a third, from Big Pine Key, sums up the place as a nice place if you can find it, with fresh fish meals, great fish dip and the coldest beer.

Location and contact

30813 Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key, FL 33043 · Phone: (305) 872-9115 · Email: sales@nonamepubestore.com · Hours: Monday-Sunday: 11am – 10pm