Meet the Team: Discover the restaurants, rituals, hidden gems, and island experiences a 20-year Key West resident loves most.
Ask most people what they love about Key West and you’ll hear about Duval Street and the sunsets. Ask someone who has lived here since 2005 — someone who spent years in marine science before ever selling a home — and the answer runs deeper. As a Senior Advisor with The Donnelly Advisory Group, I spend my days helping clients understand not just a property, but the water, the neighborhood, and the rhythm of island life that surrounds it. Here are a few of the places and rituals that make this island home for me.
Favorite Local Restaurants in Key West
Santiago’s Bodega – Photo by: @NikaStroblePhotography
My go-to is the saganaki at Santiago’s Bodega, tucked into Bahama Village — the flaming cheese is a little bit of theater and a lot of comfort, and the whole tapas-style spirit of the place is exactly how I like to eat: unhurried, shared, and a little indulgent.
When I’m craving something lighter, it’s a roll at Sushi Song. Fresh, unfussy, and a reminder that on an island surrounded by water, the sea is never far from the plate.
A Hidden Gem in Key West: The Key West Wildlife Center
If I could send everyone to one under-the-radar spot, it would be the Key West Wildlife Center on White Street. Peggy and Tom, who help run it, are absolute saints — the kind of quietly devoted people who make this community what it is. Tucked into the greenery of Indigenous Park, it’s a peaceful place to walk among native birds and rescued wildlife, and a lovely reminder of the natural richness that makes the Keys so special.
Given my background in marine science and conservation, this one is close to my heart.
My Favorite Key West Ritual
Nothing grounds me like a bike ride through the neighborhood before sunset. The light softens, the streets slow down, and the whole island seems to exhale. It’s the simplest thing, and it’s the moment of the day I protect most. On a flat, walkable island like this one, life really does move at the speed of a bicycle.
The Florida Keys History That Fascinates Me
I never tire of Pigeon Key. The tiny island once housed the workers who built Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railroad — the audacious early-1900s engineering feat that first connected the Keys to the mainland. Standing there, you feel the sheer ambition it took to stitch these islands together, and you understand a little more about how Key West became the place it is.
Where I Shop in Key West
Soul House – Photo by: @NikaStroblePhotography
For finds you won’t get anywhere else, I love Soul House and The Green Pineapple for their island-cool style and easy, coastal sensibility — and Fast Buck’s for home pieces with real Key West character. These are the shops that give the island its texture; the ones that make a house here feel personal.
What I Love About My Own Neighborhood
Honestly? Waking up every day and getting to see the ocean from my living room. After two decades here, that view still stops me. It’s the thing I try to help my clients find — not just a home, but a place where the everyday feels like a privilege.
Meet Callie Harris
Senior Advisor | The Donnelly Advisory Group
Callie Harris serves as Senior Real Estate Advisor with The Donnelly Advisory Group, working closely alongside Brenda Donnelly in the representation of luxury properties throughout Old Town and the Lower Florida Keys. Her practice is distinguished by a deep understanding of waterfront ownership, coastal environments, and the lifestyle considerations unique to island living.
A full-time resident of the Keys since 2005, Callie brings firsthand knowledge of neighborhood character, boating access, marine conditions, and the regulatory nuances that influence waterfront real estate. She is particularly valued by clients seeking guidance on coastal homes, live-aboard suitability, dockage considerations, and environmentally sensitive properties.
Prior to her career in real estate, Callie spent more than 15 years in marine science education and conservation, working with respected organizations including The Turtle Hospital, Reef Relief, and Mote Marine Laboratory. She holds a degree in wildlife studies and a U.S. Coast Guard 100-Ton Captain’s License — credentials that give clients rare, practical insight into the maritime aspects of property ownership in the Keys.
Callie’s approach is calm, analytical, and detail-driven. She is known for helping clients understand not only the property itself, but the broader coastal environment, regulatory framework, and lifestyle alignment that inform long-term value and enjoyment. Working in partnership with Brenda, she provides a highly personalized, informed experience for buyers and sellers seeking exceptional representation in Old Town and the waterfront communities of Key West.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where do locals actually eat in Key West?
A: Callie’s go-to spots are Santiago’s Bodega in Bahama Village for tapas (don’t miss the saganaki) and Sushi Song for something fresh and light — both local favorites away from the Duval Street crowds.
Q: What’s a hidden gem in Key West most visitors miss?
A: The Key West Wildlife Center on White Street, set within Indigenous Park. It’s a quiet, free-to-walk sanctuary for native birds and rescued wildlife — a peaceful counterpoint to the busier attractions.
Q: What’s the best way to experience Key West like a local?
A: Slow down. A bike ride through the neighborhoods before sunset is, in Callie’s words, the moment of the day worth protecting. The island is flat and walkable, and its charm reveals itself at that pace.
Q: What should I know about buying waterfront property in the Keys?
A: Waterfront ownership involves considerations most buyers don’t anticipate — boating and dockage access, marine conditions, live-aboard suitability, and environmental regulations. Callie’s marine-science background and Coast Guard captain’s license give her clients unusually practical insight here.
Let’s Find Your Place on the Island
Whether you’re drawn to Old Town’s history or a home where the ocean greets you each morning, I’d love to help you find it.
Callie Harris — Senior Advisor, The Donnelly Advisory Group 305.240.1155 · [email protected]
Brenda Donnelly Real Estate — the art of luxury island living.