There’s something about the Florida Keys that makes you slow down. Maybe it’s the water, the warm breeze or simply knowing there’s nowhere you need to rush off to. On our recent visit to Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club, we found another reason to stay put: the food.
Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club sits on Grassy Key between Marathon and the quieter stretches of the Middle Keys. This family-owned boutique resort combines a fresh coastal style with a touch of old Florida.
We were there for a special reason: the Italian Heritage Wine Dinner. But first, we had to check in.
We stayed in the Galleon Suite in Wreckers House, the adults-only section of the resort. The suite takes its name from the Spanish treasure galleons that once sailed these waters, and subtle touches throughout the room play into that history.
A wraparound corner window lets you watch the room change throughout the day. Truly, a room with a view. In the morning, sunlight pours in as the Atlantic turns gold. Later, the light softens and the sky takes on shades of pink. There’s also a private balcony, perfect for doing absolutely nothing except watching the water. We could have stayed there for hours, but dinner was waiting.
Once or twice a season Italy comes to the Florida Keys. This is when the Rhum House puts aside its regular menu and hosts a special dining experience. We happened to be there for the Italian Heritage Wine Dinner, a five-course meal with a wine chosen for each dish.
The menu took us on a little journey through Italy. One course brought the rustic, olive oil-rich flavors of Tuscany, while another leaned into the brighter, sun-soaked flavors of Sicily. It almost felt like traveling through Italy one plate at a time.
The wine was just as important as the food. The Rhum House works with small, family-owned wineries that farm sustainably. Instead of familiar commercial labels, we tasted wines from lesser-known producers chosen for their character and how well they complemented each course. I loved that part of the evening. Each pour was part of the experience, bringing out something different in the dish it accompanied. By the end of five courses, I was convinced the dinner alone had been worth the trip.
When the Rhum House isn’t hosting one of its special dinners, seafood takes center stage. Locally caught fish and a dining room opening toward the Atlantic make it exactly the kind of restaurant you hope to find in the Keys. But one dish stuck with me. The corn and coconut soup. I’m still dreaming about it. Sometimes the simplest things are what you remember most.
By the end of our stay, we realized something surprising. We hadn’t left the resort for a single meal. Between the Italian Heritage Wine Dinner, seafood at the Rhum House, the relaxed tiki-bar atmosphere of the Palm Deck, rooftop cocktails at Barrel & Bale and quick bites from the Land and Sea Market, we simply didn’t have a reason to go anywhere else.
There’s one moment I keep coming back to. The sun was dropping low over Hawks Channel. The tide had pulled back from the seagrass, the light was changing over the water, and something fresh from the garden and sea was sitting in front of us. The food, the wine, the water and that wonderfully relaxed feeling you only seem to find in the Florida Keys.
For more information about Grassy Flat Resort and Beach Club and beyond, contact me at catherine@seizethetrek.com