Historic Caribbean Club: Where Hollywood Legend Met Key Largo Reality

KEY LARGO, FL — Tucked along the Overseas Highway at mile marker 104, the Caribbean Club stands as a living monument to Key Largo's golden age of Hollywood glamour and authentic Florida Keys character.

The weathered waterfront bar, which opened its doors in 1938, gained international fame when Warner Brothers selected it as a filming location for the 1948 noir classic "Key Largo," starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Director John Huston chose the unassuming establishment for its genuine Keys atmosphere, capturing the essence of the subtropical outpost that inspired the film's title.

During production, Bogart and the cast frequented the bar between takes, cementing the Caribbean Club's place in cinema history. The film, which also starred Edward G. Robinson and Lionel Barrymore, tells the story of a disillusioned war veteran who confronts gangsters during a hurricane at a Florida Keys hotel. While much of the movie was shot on Hollywood soundstages, the Caribbean Club provided authentic exterior shots and establishing scenes that grounded the thriller in real-world Key Largo.

Today, the Caribbean Club remains remarkably unchanged from its 1940s appearance. The open-air establishment still features the same rustic charm that attracted Hollywood's attention eight decades ago. Memorabilia from the film adorns the walls, and visitors from around the world make pilgrimages to sip drinks where Bogart once stood.

The bar's enduring appeal lies not just in its Hollywood connection, but in its steadfast refusal to modernize. There are no TVs, no blenders for frozen drinks, and no pretense — just cold beer, strong cocktails, and unobstructed views of the sunset over Florida Bay, much as patrons enjoyed in 1938.

Local historians note that the Caribbean Club represents a vanishing breed of authentic Keys establishments, predating the area's transformation into a tourist destination. Its survival through hurricanes, economic downturns, and changing tastes speaks to both the building's sturdy construction and the community's appreciation for its cultural significance.

The Caribbean Club remains open daily, welcoming both film buffs seeking Hollywood history and locals looking for an unpretentious waterfront watering hole — a combination that would likely have pleased Bogart himself.