The Shebeen on Georges St. in Dublin (http://www.shebeenchic.ie) features live music and bar menu. Access to the pub is level from the street and there is plenty of room to move around. The tables are low and comfortable to sit at. Although the walkie toilets are downstairs, there is an unmarked door on the ground floor which is actually a handicapped toilet. Unfortunately, the establishment stores all the floor-cleaning equipment (mops, buckets etc.) in this toilet making it almost impossible to use if you are in a wheelchair as there is no room to turn.
It could be a great pub but unfortunately I can only say - Avoid!
Showing posts with label Bars and Pubs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bars and Pubs. Show all posts
Friday, January 15, 2010
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Dublin, Ireland - Pub (Legends at the Arlington Hotel, Temple Bar)
The Arlington Hotel Temple bar is located a few minutes walk from Trinity College down Dame street. Legends is the bar attached to the hotel, and it hosts a "traditional Irish night" of song and dance most every night of the week. This is one of a half dozen or so such shows that have popped up since Riverdance made Irish dancing cool (and sexy) again. The better ones are out of town (for example, Johnnie Foxes) but the Arlington Temple Bar (and it's sister hotel, the Arlington on Bachelor's walk) offer an opportunity to catch some vaguely traditional stuff at the very convenient location of centre city and just a few steps from the tourist hotbed of Temple Bar (see The Temple Bar Pub access here).
Legends offers a dinner and dance deal. The night I was there the band were good, very professional and the dancers talented although the dance show was very short and the choreography un-inspired. Or maybe I've seen too many of these shows. In any case, this entry is supposed to be about the wheelchair access, not the show so...
The bar has several levels. To get to the level where the dinner is served you need to enter via the middle door off Dame St. This door is normally closed, so you may need to go through the Legends main door and notify a member of staff.
The tables normally used for dinner are tall and too high to eat without a difficult transfer from the chair to a high stool. If you inform the management when making your reservation, they will provide a regular height table for you to eat at.
The handicapped toilet is downstairs and accessed by a lift (elevator). The night I was there the lift was bust, so the manager and a staff member carried me down the flight of stairs in my chair. The toilet (once I got there) was fine - a large, unisex, accessible toilet.
(As an aside, I can assure you that the toilet in the suite is not accessible as this was an option we tried due to the broken lift. The hotel has at least one accessible bedroom, but it was occupied so I did not get to see it!)
The staff went out of their way to meet my requirements so for that reason I give it a thumbs up despite the "difficult" nature of the access. It's not the best "Oirish" show out there, but in terms of convenience it is one of the handiest.
Legends offers a dinner and dance deal. The night I was there the band were good, very professional and the dancers talented although the dance show was very short and the choreography un-inspired. Or maybe I've seen too many of these shows. In any case, this entry is supposed to be about the wheelchair access, not the show so...
The bar has several levels. To get to the level where the dinner is served you need to enter via the middle door off Dame St. This door is normally closed, so you may need to go through the Legends main door and notify a member of staff.
The tables normally used for dinner are tall and too high to eat without a difficult transfer from the chair to a high stool. If you inform the management when making your reservation, they will provide a regular height table for you to eat at.
The handicapped toilet is downstairs and accessed by a lift (elevator). The night I was there the lift was bust, so the manager and a staff member carried me down the flight of stairs in my chair. The toilet (once I got there) was fine - a large, unisex, accessible toilet.
(As an aside, I can assure you that the toilet in the suite is not accessible as this was an option we tried due to the broken lift. The hotel has at least one accessible bedroom, but it was occupied so I did not get to see it!)
The staff went out of their way to meet my requirements so for that reason I give it a thumbs up despite the "difficult" nature of the access. It's not the best "Oirish" show out there, but in terms of convenience it is one of the handiest.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sao Jose dos Campos, SP, Brazil - Restaurant (Mad Jack Steakhouse)
Mad Jack (Avenida Eduardo Cury, 100 – Colinas – São José dos Campos (SP)) is a large pub and restaurant on a sort of American theme - pizzas, steaks, burgers etc. It is within rolling distance of the IBIS Colinas and just across the road from Colinas shopping center.
Access from the car park is via a gentle ramp. There are several levels inside, but the door level has plenty of space and quite a few tables so there should be no problem. Toilets are accessible.
Access from the car park is via a gentle ramp. There are several levels inside, but the door level has plenty of space and quite a few tables so there should be no problem. Toilets are accessible.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Dublin, Ireland - Pub (Paddy Cullens, Ballsbridge)
Paddy Cullens pub in Ballsbridge, Dublin, is a small, cost, very traditional style pub. There is level access from the street to the bar area. The bar area itself and the snug are wheelchair accessible. There is a back area that is up two steps.
There is a handicapped accessible toilet at the rear of the bar (between the bar and the associated lounge - Mary Macs). Although this is a large restroom with toilet, sink and grab-bars, the door opens inwards which makes it almost impossible to get a wheelchair in, and then close the door. It can be done but it may require assistance from a walkie. A pity, because otherwise this bar could be a great place to experience a real dublin bar.
There is a handicapped accessible toilet at the rear of the bar (between the bar and the associated lounge - Mary Macs). Although this is a large restroom with toilet, sink and grab-bars, the door opens inwards which makes it almost impossible to get a wheelchair in, and then close the door. It can be done but it may require assistance from a walkie. A pity, because otherwise this bar could be a great place to experience a real dublin bar.
Monday, May 25, 2009
San Antonio, Texas - Nightlife (Drink, Club Rive)
These notes are intended for wheelchair users visiting San Antonio Riverwalk district. They supplement more detailed notes recorded previously here.
Drink Cocktail Bar (200 Navarro St.)
A small, comfortable, contemporary bar serving wines, beers and cocktails. Friendly staff and clientele and (at least the night I was there) more locals than tourists.
There is a very large step from the street into the bar. However, there is an accessible side entrance. You may need to attract the attention of the bar staff to get someone to open the side gate for you (it is open only on some nights). Large, fully accessible toilet available.
Club Rive (245 E. Commerce St.)
The only barrier to entry here are the tough looking bouncers at the door.
This is a dance bar, a very popular spot at weekends. Fully accessible with fully accessible toilets. Loud, popular, and can be crowded.
Drink Cocktail Bar (200 Navarro St.)
A small, comfortable, contemporary bar serving wines, beers and cocktails. Friendly staff and clientele and (at least the night I was there) more locals than tourists.
There is a very large step from the street into the bar. However, there is an accessible side entrance. You may need to attract the attention of the bar staff to get someone to open the side gate for you (it is open only on some nights). Large, fully accessible toilet available.
Club Rive (245 E. Commerce St.)
The only barrier to entry here are the tough looking bouncers at the door.
This is a dance bar, a very popular spot at weekends. Fully accessible with fully accessible toilets. Loud, popular, and can be crowded.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Solomons, Maryland - Restaurant (CD cafe)
CD cafe is one of the better restaurants on Solomons Island, that small village in Southern Maryland - about an hour and a half from Washington D.C. It's easy to miss, situated in a non-descript building called Avonmore, on the left hand side as you approach the town.
Wheelchair access is from the rear of the building (there is a parking lot with two handicapped spots at the rear also) since the front has a fairly large step. The rear is ramped. There is level access into the restaurant proper. The room is small, and it is difficult to navigate around between tables, so a table near the door is best. It is not possible to make a reservation - they operate on a first come first served basis. At peak times the wait can be an hour or more since the restaurant is small (I would guess about 30 places). If a walkie goes in to put your name down for a table, be sure to mention the wheelchair. It's a big help for the staff when deciding where to locate you. The food is good - the specials are usually very good - with interesting appeteizers and desserts.
There is a bar next door (appropriately enough called the Next Door Lounge) where you can have an appetizer or a drink while you wait. They also serve light food. Access to the bar is completely level although space is again tight.
Both restaurant and bar have a large accessible toilet.
Recommended
Wheelchair access is from the rear of the building (there is a parking lot with two handicapped spots at the rear also) since the front has a fairly large step. The rear is ramped. There is level access into the restaurant proper. The room is small, and it is difficult to navigate around between tables, so a table near the door is best. It is not possible to make a reservation - they operate on a first come first served basis. At peak times the wait can be an hour or more since the restaurant is small (I would guess about 30 places). If a walkie goes in to put your name down for a table, be sure to mention the wheelchair. It's a big help for the staff when deciding where to locate you. The food is good - the specials are usually very good - with interesting appeteizers and desserts.
There is a bar next door (appropriately enough called the Next Door Lounge) where you can have an appetizer or a drink while you wait. They also serve light food. Access to the bar is completely level although space is again tight.
Both restaurant and bar have a large accessible toilet.
Recommended
Monday, April 20, 2009
Dublin, Ireland - Pub (Smyths of Haddington Road)
I last wrote about this pub last year - here.
On a recent visit I found the place changed. Thankfully, the refurbishment is very minor, more a botox injection than a facelift, and the old world feel is the same. The main difference in the bar area is the addition of a snug with wooden walls. Although this increases the homely atmosphere of the place, it makes it less friendly to wheelchairs as it very much limits the turning space at the front. No change to the access, or the toilets.
Still worth a visit - but maybe the lounge would be easier.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Dublin, Ireland - Pub (The Temple Bar)
The Temple Bar Pub is located, not surprisingly, in Temple Bar in Dublin city centre.
The Temple Bar area is difficult to get around in a wheelchair. The streets are old and mostly cobbled, and the sidewalks are broken and have many lob-sided and ill fitting slabs. Although this is all part of the charm, it means that us wheelchair users have to travel slowly and take great care.
The Temple Bar Pub is centrally located and is a good venue for fine Guinness and live music. It is immensely popular with both locals and tourists so is usually crowded. There are three doors from the street and each one is accessible. Getting around inside the pub is fine if there are not too many people but on a Friday night it is near impossible. If you have not experienced an Irish pub in full swing then you should consider visiting at off-peak times.
There is a large handicapped accessible toilet but it is not well marked and is separate from the other toilets (which are downstairs). In addition, the handicapped toilet is sometimes locked to prevent abuse. So the best bet is to ask a staff member to point it our to you.
Recommended.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Dublin, Ireland - Pub (Leeson Lounge)
Located next door to O'Briens, this bar has a fairly unusual interior, probably dating from the 1970s. Roomier and slightly more plush than its more traditional neighbour, it is a little more comfortable for the wheelchair user. There is a small step from the door on Upper Leeson Street. There are no accessible toilets. The Gents toilet is "accidentally accessible". The door is wide enough for a chair to get through. There is a sharp right turn just inside the door into a narrow room with access to the urinal and sink for handwashing. The cubicle is not accessible.
This is a popular local bar and very busy for sports events.
Dublin, Ireland - Pub (O'Briens of Leeson Street)
Located at the corner of Upper Leeson Street and Sussex Terrace, this is an old world Irish bar that has not changed in decades. Thankfully, the owners resisted any temptation to "upgrade" during the booming first years of the 21st century and it retains all the original charm and idiosyncrasies of a genuine Irish bar. Unfortunately, this means no wheelchair accessible toilets. There is a small (50cm/2") step at one double door. The other doors are not accessible. Turn right after going through this door and you will enter the bar. Roomy, but the tables are high. Turn left and you enter the lounge. Tighter and difficult to get around, but the tables are lower. Both sides serve one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin and it is worth a visit although you will need to restrict yourself to one or two pints because there is no accessible toilet. And long may it remain so.
Friday, December 12, 2008
San Antonio, Texas - places bars and hotels
These brief notes are intended to help anyone in a wheelchair travelling to San Antonio, Texas. They are based purely on my own observations so they encompass only places I have been myself. Hopefully if you are a disabled traveler or wheelchair user you will find them useful.
Riverwalk
The Riverwalk area is one of the main tourist attractions of San Antonio (along with The Alamo - which is pleasingly close). It consists of over 2 miles of pleasant water side walking (rolling) with numerous bars and restaurants.
The City of San Antonio has done a pretty good job of making the Riverwalk area wheelchair accessible. However, you do need to plan your route with a little care to ensure you start and end near a ramp or elevator to access the riverwalk. There is a good website with a map ( http://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/maps/index.asp ) that indicates where the ramps and elevators are situated. There is one section (just East of the South Presa bridge) where the water level path comes to an abrupt halt at a gate. However, there is a ramp (some 50yds behind the point where you reach the halt) to a higher level that leads you past this obstruction and down to the river level again. The path can be rough in places, and there is one location where there are water comduits cut through the path whihc makes navigation very difficult (West of the Hyatt Regency on the Northern side of the river).
Most restaurants at the water level have access - again the Riverwalk map will help out here.
Worth a visit and a pleasant way to spend an evening.
The Cove (606 W. Cypress Av)
Eclectic and entertaining bar set behind a laundry and car wash. A great antitode to the tourist traps around the Riverwalk. Roughly finished, wide selection of beer, good food and live music. This place is rough and ready - don't expect white linen! But it is clean and has easy level access. The toilets are accessible with a large cubicle (no grab rails). The only issue might be getting to the toilets between the closely packed lines of tables. Arrive early and sit near the band.
Highly recommended.
Swig Martini Bar (111 W. Crockett St.)
Upmarket bar just by the Riverwalk. There are steps at the Crockett St. entrance, but if you turn into N. Presa there is another alley on your right with level access to the bar. The restroom is large and accessible.
Howl at the Moon (111 W. Crockett St.)
Just beside Swig is the entrance to Howl at the Moon (www.howlatthemoon.com ). There is an elevator up to the first floor (the main bar and entertainment is up here). The table area is difficult to move around in as the tables and chairs are very close together. The restrooms are accessible.
Coyote Ugly (409 E. Commerce St.)
Access to Coyote Ugly is possible from E. Commerce St. There are six or seven steps into the bar, but they do have wheelchair lift although it is not always operational. Better to walk a few step down E. Commerce St, turn right into N. Presa and walk about half a block. There is a small shopping mall on the right, and a path through here to the Riverwalk area behind. (There is a small step and you have to look for the curb cut - but it's there!). Go through the mall and turn right again. This brings you to the back door of Coyote Ugly which has level access. Restrooms are accessible.
Mi Tierra (218 Produce Row)
This mexican restaurant is located in Market Square. there is level access from both front and back, and the restrooms are accessible. The restaurant is large and colorful, and navigating between tables is reasonably straightforward.
Recommended.
Mela (4987 NW Loop 410)
Indian restaurant - excellent food. Easy level access and large accessible restrooms. Large tables, easy to navigate and sit at.
Recommended.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Dublin, Ireland - Restaurant (Canalettos) and Pub (Smyths)
Canalettos, 71 Mespil Road Dublin 4, Ireland
Mid-price Italian restaurant. Level access from street. Toilets are up stairs, no accessible toilet.
Smyths,
A genuine old pub that hasn’t changed too much in at least 30 years. As such it retains the grimy charm of the old school Irish pub. Popular with young and old, it has a great mix of people. No food here other than crisps and peanuts!
There are no concessions for wheelchair access. There is “accidental” access. Level access to both bar and lounge from street. Toilets on ground level. Door about 700mm/28”. No accessible cubicle but enough space to get around. Cubicle doors are about 680mm/27.2”.
Worth a visit for the ‘old time” atmosphere. Check out if the toilets work for you before you have too many pints!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Dublin, Ireland - Restaurant (Langkawi) and Pub (Searsons)
Langkawi, 46 Upper Baggot St. , Dublin Ireland
Mid-to-upper price Malaysian restaurant. Great food. Level access from street. A tight turn into the dining room would be difficult for some wheelchairs. Several tables in the front section of the restaurant are up one step. Tables in the back section are on one level.
Toilets are downstairs and are not accessible.
Searsons,
Large bar serving lunch and dinner food. Popular bar. Level access from street. Accessible unisex toilet located in middle section. You may need to ask a staff member for keys.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Dublin, Ireland - Pubs (Johnnie Fox's)
Johnnie Fox’s, Glencullen, Co. Dublin, Ireland
This is a popular tourist destination and claims to be the highest pub in
The pub is an old traditional building so access is not easy. However, all doors have level access. Inside there are several rooms and moving between them is not easy due to the amount of furniture (and people). The Hooley room is not accessible from the inside (corridors are too narrow) but there is access from the outside. You will need to ask a member of staff to open the door.
There are no accessible toilets. The normal toilets may be usable for some. Level access through a door (about 725mm/29”) leads to a tight corner. Access to the cubicle is through a narrow walk way (about 700mm/28”). The cubicle is not accessible although the door is wide enough to let a chair in. Urinals and sinks can be reached from a chair.
This location is really not very accommodating, but if you can handle some obstacles is worth a visit if you are short of time in
Monday, October 6, 2008
Dublin, Ireland - The Waterloo
The Waterloo , 36 Upper Baggot St. , Dublin Ireland
Formerly a wonderful old style
If you go, check out the wonderful ceiling just inside the front door. It’s all that’s left of the original pub!
Recommended.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Key West - Information, Accomodation and Bars
These notes aim to provide guidance for handicapped, disabled or wheelchair users who travel to Key West. These informal notes are from a trip I took there with my wife.
Getting There
Key West is situated at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. We drove there from Sanford – an easy enough drive that took us 8 hours including several stops to look at the beauty of the keys. There is also a small international airport on the island.
Getting Around
The island itself is small, just a few miles square. You don’t really need a car once you are there, and indeed, because parking is difficult a car can be a distinct dis-advantage.
The sidewalks in some places are old and rough and you need to be alert to avoid catching your wheels in unexpected holes. Many also have trees growing out of the middle without enough room to get around them on a chair. Not every corner has a curb-cut. On Duval St. (the main strip) most corners do, but once you get off Duval you need to look ahead carefully to plan your route. I found it easier to abandon the sidewalks and go on the road once I was on the side streets.
Things to do
Key West is a noisy, friendly, chaotic party town with plenty to keep you occupied. Out of the myriad of things on offer, we took a train tour ride, a snorkel trip, a glass bottomed boat trip and spent a lot of time eating!
Beware of the hustlers at various stands in the streets. They will try to sell you tickets for boat rides, tours, anything they can. While they are official, and the prices are the same as you would pay at the main ticket office, they do not know their elbow from any other part of their anatomy when it comes to handicapped access. They just want to sell you a ticket so they will tell you whatever it takes to get you to buy. Every single thing we were told by these guys relating to handicapped access was wrong. Go to the main ticket office for each ride or trip you want to go on and get the information there.
Island Tours
There is a tram (or trolley tour) and a train (The “World Famous” Conch Train Tour) which offer narrated tours. Both are accessible, The trolley does the whole island and offers hop-on, hop-off to walkies but not to wheelies. The train does just old-town. On the advice of some friends we took the train. You need to go to the main ticket office at Duval and Front St. and tell them you want to go. Not ever train is accessible, but given an hour or two notice they will put one on for you. The same applies to the trolleys – not all are accessible and they need an hour or two to get one ready.
Boat trips
There are so many boat trips on offer that it gets confusing! A favorite trip is a day trip to the Dry Tortugas – islands off the coast with a fort and a national park. We did not do this in the end, but we did make some inquiries. We were told that the islands were of limited accessibility due to sand. The sea-plane that flies out there is not accessible unless you can walk up steps. Of the boats that go out there, the Yankee Freedom (www.yankeefreedom.com ) was accessible, the Sunny Days catamaran (www.sunnydayskeywest.com) was not.
Many boats offer snorkel trips to the barrier reef. We went with Seabago Catamarans (200 William Street * (305) 294-5687) who run two large catamarans. The larger one is more accessible but as luck would have it, they were running the smaller one the day we went out. Getting on and off required a couple of strong men to lift the chair onto a ramp and wheel me up it. Once on board I could get around the main seating area okay. To actually get into the water meant that I had to get out of the chair and drag myself to the front of the boat. They have steps there that the lower to the water, so it was fairly easy to slip down the steps into the water itself. The staff were friendly and helpful but had no experience with handicapped snorkeling, and since I had never done it before I was happy to just hang onto a few ropes at the back of the boat and peer into the water below. Not as exciting as the reef itself, but I was happy!
On the return journey we watched the sun set and drank complimentary beer, wine and champagne. There is no accessible toilet on board so be careful with those drinks!
There are at least two glass-bottomed boats. We took the Pride of Key West Glass Bottom boat (at 0 Duval St. – just walk down Duval until you can go no more and it’s there in front of you). The dock area was ramped, and again two crew members lifted me onto the ramp to board. Once on-board, there was plenty of space to maneuver in the main cabin. I could position myself to get a good view through the glass bottomed viewing areas. The boat goes out to the barrier reef or other areas near the island where fish are abundant and can be clearly seen through the bottom.
Honda Bahia State Park
Okay – this is not in Key West. It’s about an hours drive east of it on the way back towards Miami. We stopped there for a picnic on our way home. Note that it is a Florida State Park so no alcohol is allowed. There is a $6 charge per car for entrance. The park has a lovely beach (very calm waters, excellent for kids) with easily accessible picnic areas and accessible restrooms. It also offers a beach wheelchair for rent (free – but you need to leave a deposit). Inquire at the concession shop. I could not figure out how I would get onto it, and even if I got onto it I could not figure out how my wife would push me, but it might work for you! At least it’s there.
Places to Stay
There are quite a few chain hotels on the island. These tend to be on the Eastern end and are therefore a little bit away from Old Town. We wanted to stay close to the action and that proved a bit more difficult. The only B&B in old town that we could find that claimed handicapped access was the Angelina (www.angelinaguesthouse.com - on the corner of Angela St. and Thomas St., about two short blocks from Duval).
You need to have a walkie with you when you arrive (or call them) as the office and key-drop are not accessible. They have one handicapped room which is only accessible through a locked gate off Thomas St. When we arrived the room contained two queen beds which took up so much space that we had to move one to enable me to get to the bathroom. The management say they are swapping those out and replacing with a single King at the end of May 2005. The bathroom had a small lip (about 1” or 25mm). The door is a “pocket” (or sliding) door so it does not reduce maneuver space. The bathroom is spacious with a wash-basin, toilet with grab-bars and a roll-in shower. There is no shower seat so I took a plastic garden seat from outdoors and used that. The showerhead is fixed (they used to have a hand-held one but someone ripped it out! You can see where the fittings were).
The breakfast area is down one large (10” – 250mm) step, although there is a table on the same level as the room so if you have a walkie to get your breakfast for you, you do not need to negotiate the step. That single step leads you to the breakfast “fixin’s” area and two tables by the pool. The pool itself is down another two steps.
Eatin’, Drinkin’ and Makin’ Merry
Key West is a town for doing all three. It is impossible to cover all restaurants and bars and still maintain a liver in a usable condition but here are my observations.
Firstly, much of Old Town is (unsurprisingly) old. So the building are not accessible and have steps and small restrooms. However, many establishments have recently begun to make efforts to accommodate us. If there are steps look for signs pointing you to a ramped entrance at the side or back. Many places have this. Even if it looks inaccessible, ask as there may very well be a way in. The following is a list of the places I visited that are, to some degree or other, accessible:
Pepe's Cafe & Steak House
806 Caroline Street, Key West, Florida
Phone: (305) 294-7192
Café style restaurant/bar. Very popular. Serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Straightforward menu. Oysters are the specialty. Ramped entrance from Caroline St. In fact, the ramp is brand new. After I was seated at a garden table the manager came over to inform me that I was the very first wheelchair to use it. Didn’t get a free bottle of champagne to crack open though! The ramp leads into a garden seating area. There is a single step (about 8” – 200mm) into an indoor dining room. There is also a single step to the toilets and the doors are narrow. I did not attempt to use them.
Sunset Pier, Ocean Key Resort
Zero Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040
www.oceankey.com
American style food. Level access from Duval St. Outdoor seating on Pier. No accessible toilets.
Alonzos Oyster Bar (Raw Bar and Seafood)
Old Historic Seaport
700 Front Street, Key West, Florida
Phone: (305) 294-5880
www.alonzosoysterbar.com
Good seafood, large menu. Level access from seafront boardwalk to both outdoor and indoor dining. Accessible restrooms. Recommended.
El Meson de Pepe on Mallory Square,
410 Wall Street, Mallory Square
(305) 295-2620
Website: http://www.elmesondepepe.com/
Interesting menu of Cuban food. Locals consider it over-priced but it seemed okay to me. Great sandwiches and I loved the fried Plaintain. Level access from the Mallory Square end of the restaurant. Accessible toilets.
Blue Heaven Restaurant
729 Thomas Street, Key West , Florida
Phone: (305) 296-8666
www.blueheavenkw.com
A little off the beaten track this is a delightful restaurant. Although there may be an indoor part we ate in the outdoor area. Level access from Petronia St. The surface of the garden is a mixture of pavement, dirt, grass and sand and is a bit rough but I was able to get to my table without assistance. The staff toilet is accessible, but you will need to ask a member of staff to lead you there as it is a bit hidden away (and may be storing bottles of water!). Best meal we had in Key West although my opinion may be slightly colored by the 93 year old Madiera I splashed out on as a post-prandial!
Sloppy Joes
201 DUVAL ST, KEY WEST, FL 33040
www.sloppyjoes.com
Many, many establishments describe themselves as World Famous. In the case if Sloppy Joe’s it might actually be true. And they are accessible. Live music, food, drink, great bar atmosphere. I just had a few drinks and enjoyed the music.
Geckoes…?
Now this is a little embarrassing! This bar is between Sloppy Joes and Irish Kevins, but I can’t make out the name in my notes (in the interests of research I was hitting a lot of bars in a short time!). It looks like “Geckoes” but it could be anything – and I can’t find a Geckoes on the web! In any case, it’s accessible with accessible restrooms, had great music (not live) and a lovely bartender.
Irish Kevin’s
211 Duval St, Key West, Florida
www.irishkevins.com
Another great bar. The night I was there there was just one guy with guitar on stage – a genuine Irishman judging from his accent. To hear someone doing a U2 cover with an acoustic guitar and no backing is very impressive. No doubt my judgement was helped by the (by now Nth) Margarita! Accessible, but I did not try the restroom.
Bear Assets (or Bear Bottoms Beach Club)
281 Duval St., Key West, Florida
It was getting late so this was my last stop. Accessible from the street. I did not try the rest room. Good bar, live music. There is an “exotic dance” club upstairs but there is no elevator. If you are into that kind of thing I’m sure the bouncers will carry you up! (If you really are into that kind of thing, the similarly named “Bare Assets” club on Truman Road is a one story building that looked accessible. I did not try it!).
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
424A Fleming St, Key West, FL 33040
Office: 305.296.9089 Fax: 305.296.1084
www.margaritaville.com
Accessible and accessible restroom. A little anti-septic and touristy although the live band was good.
Getting There
Key West is situated at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. We drove there from Sanford – an easy enough drive that took us 8 hours including several stops to look at the beauty of the keys. There is also a small international airport on the island.
Getting Around
The island itself is small, just a few miles square. You don’t really need a car once you are there, and indeed, because parking is difficult a car can be a distinct dis-advantage.
The sidewalks in some places are old and rough and you need to be alert to avoid catching your wheels in unexpected holes. Many also have trees growing out of the middle without enough room to get around them on a chair. Not every corner has a curb-cut. On Duval St. (the main strip) most corners do, but once you get off Duval you need to look ahead carefully to plan your route. I found it easier to abandon the sidewalks and go on the road once I was on the side streets.
Things to do
Key West is a noisy, friendly, chaotic party town with plenty to keep you occupied. Out of the myriad of things on offer, we took a train tour ride, a snorkel trip, a glass bottomed boat trip and spent a lot of time eating!
Beware of the hustlers at various stands in the streets. They will try to sell you tickets for boat rides, tours, anything they can. While they are official, and the prices are the same as you would pay at the main ticket office, they do not know their elbow from any other part of their anatomy when it comes to handicapped access. They just want to sell you a ticket so they will tell you whatever it takes to get you to buy. Every single thing we were told by these guys relating to handicapped access was wrong. Go to the main ticket office for each ride or trip you want to go on and get the information there.
Island Tours
There is a tram (or trolley tour) and a train (The “World Famous” Conch Train Tour) which offer narrated tours. Both are accessible, The trolley does the whole island and offers hop-on, hop-off to walkies but not to wheelies. The train does just old-town. On the advice of some friends we took the train. You need to go to the main ticket office at Duval and Front St. and tell them you want to go. Not ever train is accessible, but given an hour or two notice they will put one on for you. The same applies to the trolleys – not all are accessible and they need an hour or two to get one ready.
Boat trips
There are so many boat trips on offer that it gets confusing! A favorite trip is a day trip to the Dry Tortugas – islands off the coast with a fort and a national park. We did not do this in the end, but we did make some inquiries. We were told that the islands were of limited accessibility due to sand. The sea-plane that flies out there is not accessible unless you can walk up steps. Of the boats that go out there, the Yankee Freedom (www.yankeefreedom.com ) was accessible, the Sunny Days catamaran (www.sunnydayskeywest.com) was not.
Many boats offer snorkel trips to the barrier reef. We went with Seabago Catamarans (200 William Street * (305) 294-5687) who run two large catamarans. The larger one is more accessible but as luck would have it, they were running the smaller one the day we went out. Getting on and off required a couple of strong men to lift the chair onto a ramp and wheel me up it. Once on board I could get around the main seating area okay. To actually get into the water meant that I had to get out of the chair and drag myself to the front of the boat. They have steps there that the lower to the water, so it was fairly easy to slip down the steps into the water itself. The staff were friendly and helpful but had no experience with handicapped snorkeling, and since I had never done it before I was happy to just hang onto a few ropes at the back of the boat and peer into the water below. Not as exciting as the reef itself, but I was happy!
On the return journey we watched the sun set and drank complimentary beer, wine and champagne. There is no accessible toilet on board so be careful with those drinks!
There are at least two glass-bottomed boats. We took the Pride of Key West Glass Bottom boat (at 0 Duval St. – just walk down Duval until you can go no more and it’s there in front of you). The dock area was ramped, and again two crew members lifted me onto the ramp to board. Once on-board, there was plenty of space to maneuver in the main cabin. I could position myself to get a good view through the glass bottomed viewing areas. The boat goes out to the barrier reef or other areas near the island where fish are abundant and can be clearly seen through the bottom.
Honda Bahia State Park
Okay – this is not in Key West. It’s about an hours drive east of it on the way back towards Miami. We stopped there for a picnic on our way home. Note that it is a Florida State Park so no alcohol is allowed. There is a $6 charge per car for entrance. The park has a lovely beach (very calm waters, excellent for kids) with easily accessible picnic areas and accessible restrooms. It also offers a beach wheelchair for rent (free – but you need to leave a deposit). Inquire at the concession shop. I could not figure out how I would get onto it, and even if I got onto it I could not figure out how my wife would push me, but it might work for you! At least it’s there.
Places to Stay
There are quite a few chain hotels on the island. These tend to be on the Eastern end and are therefore a little bit away from Old Town. We wanted to stay close to the action and that proved a bit more difficult. The only B&B in old town that we could find that claimed handicapped access was the Angelina (www.angelinaguesthouse.com - on the corner of Angela St. and Thomas St., about two short blocks from Duval).
You need to have a walkie with you when you arrive (or call them) as the office and key-drop are not accessible. They have one handicapped room which is only accessible through a locked gate off Thomas St. When we arrived the room contained two queen beds which took up so much space that we had to move one to enable me to get to the bathroom. The management say they are swapping those out and replacing with a single King at the end of May 2005. The bathroom had a small lip (about 1” or 25mm). The door is a “pocket” (or sliding) door so it does not reduce maneuver space. The bathroom is spacious with a wash-basin, toilet with grab-bars and a roll-in shower. There is no shower seat so I took a plastic garden seat from outdoors and used that. The showerhead is fixed (they used to have a hand-held one but someone ripped it out! You can see where the fittings were).
The breakfast area is down one large (10” – 250mm) step, although there is a table on the same level as the room so if you have a walkie to get your breakfast for you, you do not need to negotiate the step. That single step leads you to the breakfast “fixin’s” area and two tables by the pool. The pool itself is down another two steps.
Eatin’, Drinkin’ and Makin’ Merry
Key West is a town for doing all three. It is impossible to cover all restaurants and bars and still maintain a liver in a usable condition but here are my observations.
Firstly, much of Old Town is (unsurprisingly) old. So the building are not accessible and have steps and small restrooms. However, many establishments have recently begun to make efforts to accommodate us. If there are steps look for signs pointing you to a ramped entrance at the side or back. Many places have this. Even if it looks inaccessible, ask as there may very well be a way in. The following is a list of the places I visited that are, to some degree or other, accessible:
Pepe's Cafe & Steak House
806 Caroline Street, Key West, Florida
Phone: (305) 294-7192
Café style restaurant/bar. Very popular. Serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Straightforward menu. Oysters are the specialty. Ramped entrance from Caroline St. In fact, the ramp is brand new. After I was seated at a garden table the manager came over to inform me that I was the very first wheelchair to use it. Didn’t get a free bottle of champagne to crack open though! The ramp leads into a garden seating area. There is a single step (about 8” – 200mm) into an indoor dining room. There is also a single step to the toilets and the doors are narrow. I did not attempt to use them.
Sunset Pier, Ocean Key Resort
Zero Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040
www.oceankey.com
American style food. Level access from Duval St. Outdoor seating on Pier. No accessible toilets.
Alonzos Oyster Bar (Raw Bar and Seafood)
Old Historic Seaport
700 Front Street, Key West, Florida
Phone: (305) 294-5880
www.alonzosoysterbar.com
Good seafood, large menu. Level access from seafront boardwalk to both outdoor and indoor dining. Accessible restrooms. Recommended.
El Meson de Pepe on Mallory Square,
410 Wall Street, Mallory Square
(305) 295-2620
Website: http://www.elmesondepepe.com/
Interesting menu of Cuban food. Locals consider it over-priced but it seemed okay to me. Great sandwiches and I loved the fried Plaintain. Level access from the Mallory Square end of the restaurant. Accessible toilets.
Blue Heaven Restaurant
729 Thomas Street, Key West , Florida
Phone: (305) 296-8666
www.blueheavenkw.com
A little off the beaten track this is a delightful restaurant. Although there may be an indoor part we ate in the outdoor area. Level access from Petronia St. The surface of the garden is a mixture of pavement, dirt, grass and sand and is a bit rough but I was able to get to my table without assistance. The staff toilet is accessible, but you will need to ask a member of staff to lead you there as it is a bit hidden away (and may be storing bottles of water!). Best meal we had in Key West although my opinion may be slightly colored by the 93 year old Madiera I splashed out on as a post-prandial!
Sloppy Joes
201 DUVAL ST, KEY WEST, FL 33040
www.sloppyjoes.com
Many, many establishments describe themselves as World Famous. In the case if Sloppy Joe’s it might actually be true. And they are accessible. Live music, food, drink, great bar atmosphere. I just had a few drinks and enjoyed the music.
Geckoes…?
Now this is a little embarrassing! This bar is between Sloppy Joes and Irish Kevins, but I can’t make out the name in my notes (in the interests of research I was hitting a lot of bars in a short time!). It looks like “Geckoes” but it could be anything – and I can’t find a Geckoes on the web! In any case, it’s accessible with accessible restrooms, had great music (not live) and a lovely bartender.
Irish Kevin’s
211 Duval St, Key West, Florida
www.irishkevins.com
Another great bar. The night I was there there was just one guy with guitar on stage – a genuine Irishman judging from his accent. To hear someone doing a U2 cover with an acoustic guitar and no backing is very impressive. No doubt my judgement was helped by the (by now Nth) Margarita! Accessible, but I did not try the restroom.
Bear Assets (or Bear Bottoms Beach Club)
281 Duval St., Key West, Florida
It was getting late so this was my last stop. Accessible from the street. I did not try the rest room. Good bar, live music. There is an “exotic dance” club upstairs but there is no elevator. If you are into that kind of thing I’m sure the bouncers will carry you up! (If you really are into that kind of thing, the similarly named “Bare Assets” club on Truman Road is a one story building that looked accessible. I did not try it!).
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
424A Fleming St, Key West, FL 33040
Office: 305.296.9089 Fax: 305.296.1084
www.margaritaville.com
Accessible and accessible restroom. A little anti-septic and touristy although the live band was good.
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