31 Best Hotels in Key West, The Florida Keys

Built in 1875, this gloriously shaded property was a labor of love from the get-go, and it covers a third of a city block in Old Town. Winding brick pathways lead past rare orchids, ponytail palms, black bamboo, fountains, a gazebo, and earthenware jars (called tinajones) imported from Cuba, each of which weighs a ton. Stone ostriches stand guard, close to the live tortoises. The romantic inn offers several types of accommodations, from standard rooms with garden and courtyard views to a two-bedroom carriage-house suite. Decorated with Bahamian plantation-style furnishings, the quiet and elegant rooms are a luxurious tropical retreat. All have private verandas. The wine bar draws locals and guests, as does free jazz on Sunday. What's more, its sister property, The Garden Cottages, immediately adjacent to the hotel, offers several luxurious apartments with full kitchens. A lagoon pool adds to the serenity.

This property, which definitely has a modern-beach-house feel, features a lagoon-style pool with a waterfall; lush landscaping with pathways, hammocks, and lawn games; and Jimmy Buffet–inspired flair with poolside entertainment and colorful artwork. Rooms—handsomely outfitted with whitewashed accents and reclaimed wood—have kitchenettes with microwaves and mini-refrigerators. Although the hotel is a bit removed from Duval Street, there's a complimentary shuttle bus to all the action, and Smathers Beach is a two-minute walk away. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served on an elevated, covered patio overlooking the pool at the Tin Cup Chalice restaurant, where dishes are often classics with a twist (perhaps pineapple beet salad or curry shrimp). Daily lobby refreshments include LaVazza coffee in the morning and fresh-baked cookies in the afternoon.

In a town that prides itself on its laid-back luxury, this complex of four restored 1884 houses stands out. Guests—typically shoeless—relax among two richly landscaped pools, rock waterfalls, and peaceful gardens. Elegant rooms surround a courtyard and have antique and reproduction furnishings, earthy tones with black-and-white accents, marble baths, and outdoor sitting areas. The lobby has several outstanding works by local artists. The clientele varies from mature and affluent to baby boomers who've discovered its romance.

This full resort—relatively rare in Key West—has large, tropical-look rooms and excellent on-site amenities, including a pool and bar overlooking Sunset Pier and a Thai-inspired spa. Toast the day's end at the waterfront bar or from the private balconies that extend from the stylish and homey rooms. High ceilings, hand-painted furnishings, wooden chests, and lavish whirlpool tubs create a personally designed look. The spa is small and without locker rooms, but it's the best in Key West, and three (of six) treatment rooms come with a Japanese-style tub on the balcony. The second floor's elegant restaurant is cleverly named Hot Tin Roof, a reference to its construction as well as to Tennessee Williams's Key West connection.

It's odd to call this a hidden gem when it sits on a prominent corner just one block off Duval, but a concrete facade keeps this luxurious find well secluded from the outside world. Six two-story buildings completely surround the courtyard filled with towering date palms and free-form swimming pools. And the suites offer as much inside as the courtyard does outside. Hello, gorgeous. Modern, spacious, with a touch of tropical verve and an overload of high-end style, the units have a chef's kitchen with a Jenn-Air cooktop, Cuisinart pans, and stainless fridge and freezer drawers (filled with ice-cream bars). Bathrooms are sleek with dual shower heads and vessel sinks. The long list of extras includes in-unit washer and dryer, umbrellas, toiletries, free poolside smoothies, a daily happy hour, and a nightly delivery of muffins. There's beach-chair setup at nearby South Beach, too.

Rooms at this hotel on the quiet end of Duval—a 20-minute walk from downtown—are modern and sophisticated, and although the area around it gets some car and foot traffic, the property is far enough from the hubbub that you can relax but close enough that you can participate if you wish. Each room has a sophisticated color palette of blues and browns, which is a nice change from the standard bright, tropical colors found in other hotels. Many of the accommodations in the property's Guesthouses section—which encompasses 50 units in the adjacent Avalon and Duval Gardens properties—are adults only, and all include complimentary Continental breakfast. Grab a cold drink and light snack from the pool bar and join the crowd around the pool, or venture across the street to the beach, where there's a restaurant and other amenities.

This luxurious private island retreat with its own sandy beach feels completely cut off from the world, yet you're just minutes away from the action: a 10-minute ride from Mallory Square on the 24-hour free ferry. On idyllic, 27-acre Sunset Key you'll find swaying palms, flowering gardens, and a delicious sense of privacy. The comforts are first-class at the cluster of one- to four-bedroom cottages at the water's edge, some with garden or ocean views. Baked goods, freshly squeezed juice, fresh fruit, and a newspaper are delivered each morning. Each of the accommodations has a kitchen, and the resort offers a grocery shopping service (for a fee, of course). The spacious four-bedroom cottages also feature private plunge pools and washers/dryers.

If you desire personal attention, a casual atmosphere, and a dollop of style, stay at these twin inns spread out on nearly 2 acres. Ambrosia is more intimate, with themed rooms such as the Treetop, Sailfish Suite, and Havana Cabana. Ambrosia Too is a delightful art-filled hideaway. Rooms and suites have original work by local artists, wicker or wood furniture, and spacious bathrooms. Each has a private entrance and deck, patio, or porch. A poolside full breakfast is included, and children are welcome.

The ultramodern, nearly minimalistic redo of this classic, circa-1903 Queen Anne mansion—an adults-only property—offers a break from the sensory overload of Key West's other abundant Victorian guesthouses. The boutique hotel, 3½ blocks from Duval Street, combines original trim, high ceilings, and shiny wood floors with sleek furnishings, including a curved frosted-glass-and-chrome check-in desk and leather loungers. Some of the spacious, serene rooms have private verandas, flat-screen TVs, and remote-controlled fans and lights.

This luxurious property is on the largest private beach in Key West, and it has the same richly appointed lobby with beamed ceilings, polished pine floor, and original art as it did when it opened in 1920 on New Year's Eve. Guest rooms are stylishly decorated in neutral colors that evoke a certain comfortable crispness. Fluffy bathrobes, Nespresso machines, and luxurious designer toiletries make it feel like a boutique hotel. Two-bedroom loft suites with balconies face the ocean. Many of the main building's rooms open onto large outdoor living rooms, and the two pools (one adult, one family) have a view of the Atlantic. For the utmost in pampering, pay a visit to Spa al Mare. You can even enjoy a treatment right on the resort's beach (the only resort in Key West to offer this indulgence). Guests also have privileges at its nearby sister property, The Reach.

History and franchises can mix, as this 1920s-vintage hotel proves with its handsome atrium lobby and sleep-conducive rooms. The place where Hemingway and Tennessee Williams both once entertained their muses is a cool, mellow respite from the Duval bustle outside its door. The second-floor pool and green courtyard provide further escape, as does the spa on the seventh floor. Cozy rooms include plush bedding, laptop safes, and mini-refrigerators.

From the vintage metal rockers on the street-side porch to the old neon hotel sign in the lobby, this 1920s rambling Key West mainstay hotel is high on character, low on gloss. You'll get a taste of authentic Old Key West, without sacrificing convenience or comfort. Rooms come in all shapes and sizes, from shared-bath basic to large apartments with full kitchens and private decks or porches. The spacious outdoor area is shaded by towering palms. Grab a book and plop in a hammock in the outdoor library, tucked into a sun-dappled corner with a gurgling waterfall and potted bonsai.

It took nearly two years to restore this property—dating from the late 19th century and named after Walter C. Maloney, Key West’s mayor in 1846—into a chic getaway. The decor features a mix of the hotel’s historic elements and luxury finishes and features like a floor-to-ceiling, yellow-tiled shower, an in-room original brick fireplace, and colorful botanical print wallpaper. The double queen bunk bed room has a dusty-pink-and-white color scheme, and the living room lounge features a fancy espresso machine for guests to use at their leisure. A newly built swimming pool and outdoor space offer an additional area for groups. There's no staff on site, so you access your room via lock codes, but if you're looking for privacy and stylish decor you'll find lots to love here.

You know what to expect from this chain hotel: well-maintained rooms, predictable service, and competitive prices. This one also happens to be on a 7-acre piece of property with ocean views next to the airport. Rooms are bright and modern with palm-frond patterns, crisp white linens, and mosaic-tiled bathrooms. Most have balconies. The palm-shaded pool and tiki bar looks over the Atlantic, and a covered picnic area with a large barbecue grill encourages socializing.

This little motel neatly packages three appealing characteristics—affordability, safety, and a pleasant location between Old Town and New Town at Garrison Bight. Units are boxy and basic, with little patios and lots of peace and quiet. For on-the-water living, book one of the four stationary houseboats with shiny new interiors; each sleeps four. Sportfishing charters are just a block away, and there's a fish-cleaning table on the dock. The pool is small but refreshing after a day exploring.

A private garden with brick walkways, tropical plants, and a canopy of palms sets this convivial guesthouse apart from the pack. The vintage-1880s property has wraparound verandas, pine floors, and charm to spare. Arch House, a former carriage house, has a dramatic entry that opens into a lush courtyard. Although all suites front busy Eaton Street, only Suites 5 and 6 face it. A reconstructed cigar factory has become the poolside Cigar House, with spacious rooms, porches, decks, and plantation-style teak and wicker furnishings. The private tropical garden wraps around a spacious pool area. Children are welcome—a rarity in Old Town guesthouses.

Geared specifically toward gay men, this hotel features a health club, a video lounge, a café and bar, and rooms in historic digs. Clothing is optional everywhere but in the gym.

There are accommodations for every budget here, but the owners reason that budget travelers deserve as pleasant an experience (and as lavish a tropical continental breakfast) as their well-heeled counterparts. Local art—large, splashy canvases and a Gauguinesque mural—decorates the walls, while handmade textiles (owner Jody Carlson is a talented weaver) drape chairs, couches, and beds at this historic home. Less expensive rooms burst with bright colors (hand-painted dressers add a whimsical flourish) and balconies on the second-floor rooms overlook the gardens. Spacious, and more expensive, third-floor rooms are decorated with a paler palette and original furniture.

This hotel attracts convention business by offering the biggest ballroom in Key West, but it also appeals to families with its spacious, impeccably and tastefully decorated rooms and one-, two-, or three-bedroom condo units. Designer furnishings reflect the resort's waterfront location. Real china in the kitchens and marble hot tubs add touches of luxury in the suites. Some rooms have spiral staircases down to the gardens and up to the rooftop sun decks. Families enjoy the beach and pool area. Adults enjoy the pool bar and fine on-site dining. Complimentary shuttles take guests to Old Town and the airport.

Hospitality and period furnishings make this 1891 home, once owned by a cigar executive, a wonderful glimpse into Key West life in the late 19th century. Each of the rooms has a private bath and king-size or double beds. All but one has a sitting area—the exception being a wheelchair-accessible room. None have TVs, but not to worry: there's plenty of entertainment on nearby Duval Street. Rates include daily continental breakfast in the dining room or on the veranda.

The Marker is a welcome and luxurious option on the waterfront in Old Town, with conch-style architecture and an authentic Keys aesthetic. Rooms, with their turquoise accents and natural textures, provide that oh-so-chic beach-house appeal. If you can pull yourself away from your private balcony, take a dip in one of three saltwater pools, or just bask beneath the palms in a chaise lounge. No need to get up and visit the poolside bar: your cocktail will be delivered. And that aroma of cooling key lime? It's probably you, as all bath amenities come from the local retailer Key West Aloe. In the event you long for anything, the "conchierge" will find it for you.

An enchanting combination of flora and fauna makes this 1904 Victorian house a welcoming retreat. The property is bathed in palms, birds-of-paradise, and royal poincianas, with colorful birds and butterflies adding a tropical punch. Rooms are Caribbean-colonial inspired, with polished Dade County pine floors, elegant molding, and French doors. Each room has a unique color scheme—some are bold, with navy, red, and green, and others more subtle with Key West shades of lime, coral, and coconut. Ground-floor rooms open onto the deck or covered porch, just a few steps from the pool and gardens created by one of the resident owners, a landscape designer. Upstairs rooms overlook the gardens. A full breakfast is served poolside, and guests can take advantage of complimentary parking, bottled water, soda, and an evening glass of wine.

This waterfront resort's two three-story, Keys-style buildings huddle around its 37-slip marina in the middle of Old Town overlooking Mallory Square. Formerly the Margaritaville resort, it was revamped in 2021 by the Opal Collection, which gave the 178 guest rooms and suites a refresh with lots of natural light, rich woods, a neutral color palette, and private balconies. Most of the rooms, which are large by Key West standards, look out on the Gulf of Mexico, but you might end up looking at a cruise ship for your entire visit.

Rooms here have a crisp, modern look—with beach-cottage chic decor and upbeat pastel color schemes—but this property maintains its old-fashioned beach community feel with picket fences and rocking-chair porches. Mangroves fringe the man-made beach that edges Florida Bay, and the lush 5-acre grounds contain hammocks, four pools, and a sculpture garden. The resort fee covers a shuttle bus to Duval Street and nearby Smathers Beach, where lounge chairs are available for hotel guests.

This industrial-chic stunner—where spacious, airy rooms juxtapose crisp white linens with furnishings and fixtures in rich chocolate-browns and shades of gray—has made off-the-beaten-path Stock Island a Key West destination. The hotel is surrounded by water, so many of the rooms have truly wonderful views, and canine pals are welcome here, with pet-friendly amenities that include a dog park. Matt's Stock Island serves up some of the area's most creative food, with dishes such as crab beignets or grouper with cornbread gnudi (gnocchi-like dumplings).

This upscale resort, near Mallory Square in the heart of Old Town, offers a wide range of amenities, including a beach and comfortable, traditionally furnished rooms. The location—on a quiet stretch of shore at the foot of Duval—is ideal as a buffer from and gateway to the action. Its sprawling complex of weathered gray buildings includes an original Conch house. The courtyard is a riot of tall coconut palms and hibiscus blossoms, and rooms are cozy and colorful, with a water, pool, or garden view. Six top-of-the-line suites extend over the water with sunset views. Rooms nearest the public areas can be noisy.

Embracing Key West's only natural beach, this full-service, luxury resort offers stylish rooms—all with balconies and modern amenities—and access to the spa, pools, and other facilities at the nearby Casa Marina resort. Rooms have crisp white linens, a nautical palette with blue and dark brown accents, a Keurig coffee machine and a mini-refrigerator, and high-end touches like turndown service and plushly lined robes. For a glorious ocean view, dine at Four Marlins, the Hemingway-inspired restaurant that serves fresh, local seafood. Outdoor amenities include life-size chess and bocce in the courtyard and a pool concierge delivering Popsicles and drinks du jour.

A small world all its own, this adults-only maze of accommodations and four swimming pools makes you feel deliciously sequestered from Key West's crasser side but keeps you close enough to get there on foot. The "basic" rooms are in an old cigar factory, and each has its own unique decor (and street noise). There's also a restored shotgun house, cottages, and a town house. An over-the-top continental breakfast is served on the brick-paved courtyard.

Operated by the same company as the ultra-high-end Santa Maria Suites, this motel-style property is a good-value option in pricey Key West. Though some rooms have been updated with dark-wood furnishings, others still have older, white-wicker pieces. All, however, have 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and those with kitchenettes are spacious, with high ceilings and dining-sitting areas. Key West's famous South Beach and the Southernmost Point are just a few minutes' walk, and you'll find three pools on-site to keep you cool. If you're a light sleeper, the roosters may be a bother, but that's just part of Key West's charms. A modest resort fee gets you a simple breakfast and a voucher for a beach chair and umbrella at nearby South Beach.

During Prohibition, Raul Vasquez made this place popular by smuggling in rum from Cuba; today, its reputation is for having reasonably priced rooms within walking distance of the beach. Of course, the booze is legal now, and there's a bar in the lobby offering 350 brands of rum. Accommodations have kitchenettes that include a refrigerator, microwave, kitchen sink—everything you need. Pastel-painted walls are accented by bursts of color in rugs, pillows, and seat cushions. The rooms are basic, but some have nice touches like claw-foot tubs. Room 1A has a balcony that's good for people-watching.