Dog Beach, Key West's only true off-leash dog beach, sits tucked beside the historic Louie's Backyard restaurant at the corner of Vernon and Waddell Avenues at 700 Waddell Avenue. The 20-foot wide pocket beach occupies a prime location on Key West's southern shoreline between Southernmost Point and Higgs Beach. Louie's Backyard itself holds significant historical importance, having been built by Captain James Randall Adams around the turn of the 20th century when Key West thrived as a salvaging center for shipwrecked goods. In 1971, Louie Signorelli transformed the oceanfront Victorian home into a restaurant, and Phil and Pat Tenney's 1983 renovation earned the structure placement in the National Register of Historic Places. The restaurant's early days featured performances by neighboring resident Jimmy Buffett, adding to the area's cultural legacy.
Dog Beach provides a rare off-leash experience where dogs can play freely in shallow Atlantic waters while owners relax on the small sandy strip. The beach's protected pocket location creates calm conditions ideal for canine swimmers of all sizes and experience levels. The adjacent Louie's Backyard Afterdeck welcomes dogs, making this one of the few Key West locations where pets and owners can enjoy both beach and dining experiences together. Nearby Higgs Beach Dog Park, located across Atlantic Boulevard from Higgs Memorial Beach, offers an alternative with divided sections for large dogs and small dogs under 25 pounds, complete with shaded benches, water fountains, grass areas, fencing, and dog waste stations. The park operates daily from sunrise to sunset with free parking in the adjacent lot.
Dining at Dog Beach centers on Louie's Backyard at 700 Waddell Avenue, featuring Caribbean-American cuisine in a stunning oceanfront Victorian setting with the dog-friendly Afterdeck. The menu showcases fresh local seafood with creative preparations reflecting Key West's culinary heritage. Nearby restaurants include Seven Fish, a Key West classic serving the freshest local fish in a casual contemporary bistro. A&B Lobster House offers upscale seafood dining, while Antonia's features Italian cuisine with salmon and swordfish specials. Cafe Marquesa prepares in-house dishes with the freshest seafood sourced from local vendors. La Trattoria Old Town serves Italian fare, and Nine One Five provides contemporary American cuisine.
