Description:

The Florida Keys used to have many pubs and dives where local fishermen and folks could hang out. Some bars are getting gentrified, but not the Ocean View Sports Pub or O.V. as the Keys folks call it. Actually I am told it really did used to have an ocean view. In 1960 Hurricane Donna destroyed the original Ocean View and dumped the remainder of it where it is today. Now it overlooks the bay (the Gulf of Mexico) and it has a gorgeous bay view.

The food is good, they have daily specials and it is affordable. It has the Keysy decor – lots of turquoise bar stools and cute signs on the walls.

It has a nice inside bar and an outside one that overlooks the bay. A friend of mine sat at the outside bar beside a dog on the adjoining bar stool. There are flat-screen televisions for watching at least some kind of sports. One of the owners Gary Dunn played with the Pittsburgh Steelers; the other owner Dennis Harrah was with the Los Angeles Rams.

O.V. is a favorite of fishermen, charter boat captains, locals and tourists.

You can arrive by boat or car. I arrived by boat and the walk through the small mangroves is gorgeous.