Warm yellow/gold walls, accented by dark mahogany molding and large mahogany framed mirrors create an inviting atmosphere for Cafe Marquesa, an intimate 50 seat spot about two blocks from Duval. Add wide-paned windows with views to the street, shaded table lamps, crisp linens and you have the makings for a very romantic meal. The open kitchen adds a bit of theater and the buzz in the dining room tips you off that you are in for something special.

Start with a cocktail at the small six seat marble-topped bar and watch the evening unfold. Celia makes a killer dirty martini.

The kitchen is under the direction of Executive Chef Travis Lee, whose career spans more than two decades in luxury hospitality and Michelin-starred kitchens around the world. He spent more than a decade with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, refining his craft in some of the brand’s most prestigious Five Star and Five Diamond restaurants, including The Dining Room in Buckhead, Georgia.

You’ll marvel at dishes like Grilled Lamb Ribs, maple & confit garlic glazed, pickled shishito pepper, banana ketchup, Grilled Swordfish Piccata | Key West pink shrimp, fingerling potatoes, haricot verts, lemon caper sauce and for dessert, Beignets | powdered sugar, crème anglaise, fresh berries.

Extensive wines by the glass selection with some interesting choices.

ROMANTIC QUOTIENT: Medium. While the overall restaurant is sexy and intimate, individual seating is not. Opt for a window seat, tables #14 or #15, on Simonton Street side for the most privacy.

WHAT OTHERS SAY…
“For a taste of sophistication Key West-style, this superb 50-seat eatery in the Marquesa Hotel offers beautiful presentations of outstanding New American-seafood fare, a relaxing ambiance and excellent, unfussy service; if you find a few rebels railing against unnerving prices, royalists trumpet this oasis and want to make her a queen.- ZAGAT