Despite it being a small island, Key West has already housed a plethora of accommodation options for locals and travelers around the world to stay. So, in your mind, you might be asking—which are among the best places to stay in Key West, Florida? Are there hotels, resorts, guesthouses, AirBnBs, inns, motels, vacation rentals in the area? There are hundreds, if not thousands of places to stay available in this petite island. Sounds unreal, right? Fret not, as we may have the best list for you.
This isn’t the most straightforward work for us to do, but after perusing the web plus our own experiences of actually staying at these hotels, we may find the answer that you are looking for. After 50+ hotels, these 13 hotels are actually the best hotels in Key West, FL. We’re able to compile through what may be the best for your purpose, budget and needs. So, can’t wait any longer? Let’s get right on with it.
The Gardens Hotel
This may be the prettiest hotel that we’ve ever visited in Key West, and it shows. During our stays, we’ve often found ourselves marveling at the century-old bricks of this Bahamian-style building from Cuba, Honduras and England that form pathways through the gardens and the one-ton earthenware jars (called tinajones) that create focal points throughout the grounds. You’ll enjoy a serene private verandah that overlooks the gardens if you stay in their Master Suite. If you'd rather stay in the two-bedroom Poolside Cottage, you’ll enjoy its front and back porches.
Ocean Key Resort & Spa, A Noble House Resort
If you want to stay at this classic island-style resort, we recommend trying their soundproofed Gulf-facing junior suites. The private balcony is spacious enough; there’s local art and hand-painted furnishings in the suite. Unfortunately, the Ocean Key Resort & Spa doesn’t merely offer dining options; it provides culinary destinations, mostly Caribbean cuisines like Hot Tin Roof and also Sunset Pier, which incidentally this resort owns. As for its namesake, spa-goers and other casual guests will have the ability to relax and chill at the property’s SpaTerre, treatments at The Tropical Essence Massage and Coconut Crush Body Renewal and enjoy the LIQUID Pool Bar & Lounge experience.
For those planning future visits, it's worth noting that Ocean Key will undergo limited renovations from July 7 to December 18, 2025, redesigning the main entrance and adding a stunning new lobby with a bar and lounge overlooking the marina.
Santa Maria Suites
This exclusive all-suite hotel provides expansive two-bedroom suites with full kitchens, in-suite laundry, tranquil garden pools and thoughtful touches such as complimentary poolside happy hour and interestingly, nightly muffin deliveries. Each suite is meticulously designed with both short and extended stays in mind. There are even patios that overlook either lush gardens or one of Santa Maria Suites’ two heated pools, each surrounded by tropical landscaping. During your stay, you can expect poolside happy hour and attentive poolside service. For dining, try the exquisite Bahamian Conch Chowder, grilled octopus, daily fish specials and also coconut-based concoctions at Milagro Restaurant and Bar, we heard that they are really tasty.
Ocean's Edge Resort & Marina
Ocean's Edge Resort & Marina is a 20-acre lush and tropical hotel with palm trees, 6 swimming pools and pristine waterfront views in every direction from every single one of its 175 rooms and suites. The pool areas are uniquely positioned—rather than one central pool that usually becomes crowded, the resort offers 6 different swimming pools spread throughout the property. Desire other water activities? You’ll have immediate access to a full-service marina where you can dock your own boats or arrange charters directly from the hotel.
H2O Suites Hotel
This small, all-suite and adults-only hotel centers around a stunning tropical courtyard with lush greenery, soothing water features, and a glowing fire pit. The boutique property’s 22 suites offer a plush king-sized bed with buttery-soft sheets that multiple guests have described as "the sexiest hotel room" they've ever experienced. There are also private plunge pools, accessible directly only for 11 of the 22 suites. While H2O Suites doesn't provide a full-service restaurant, there’s Frenchie's Café next door that serves excellent breakfast and lunch options.
Almond Tree Inn
For this contemporary, low-rise motel, we prefer you to try King Suites on the second floor (especially room 211). That room delivers exceptional space and comfort, tasteful tropical décor with a sophisticated Hemingway-inspired aesthetic. The plush Egyptian cotton bedding is genuinely luxurious and allows you a good, restful sleep after days of tropical garden and island exploration. We’ve found the heated swimming pool area particularly enchanting in the evening hours and the whirlpool spa, though not large, is immaculately maintained.
The Marquesa Hotel
The Marquesa Hotel offers 44 rooms between its main location and the Marquesa 414 property across the street, with many rooms featuring secluded balconies, romantic porches or private sitting areas. There are 3 distinct swimming pools surrounded by the meticulously maintained tropical gardens, if you’re interested. The gardens themselves deserve special mention, too. Wild ferns, beautiful orchids, and colorful bromeliads line the walkways between buildings, while bougainvillea cascades dramatically across walls and fences to create intimate pockets throughout the property.
Not to forget, Café Marquesa, under executive chef Laurence Gottlieb (who brings over two decades of culinary experience spanning from Maine to Georgia), serves sophisticated coastal Southern cuisine—and you’d be pleased once you tried.
Perry Hotel Key West
Unlike the pastel-colored Victorian-style stays that dominate Key West’s hospitality scene, The Perry embraces the idea of an industrial chic aesthetic that feels refreshingly modern while still honoring the island's working waterfront heritage. The moment you step into the lobby, you will be struck by its design elements: board-form concrete walls juxtaposed with warm reclaimed teak flooring, nautical-inspired fixtures, and carefully curated artwork by local artists. The boat propeller installation at the front desk and hand-dyed string art installation in the restaurant will also uplift your entire experience when you’re there.
Pier House Resort & Spa
The 142 rooms and suites at Pier House Resort & Spa reflect what we consider the authentic essence of "old Florida" luxury-rattan furnishings, tropical color palettes, and spacious layouts that invite relaxation. Here, consider booking the oceanfront suite for its expansive balcony to enjoy both morning coffee and calming sunsets. While you’re there, try their exclusive beach experience. Here also, plenty of dining options are available: One Duval for fresh seafood, Beach Bar for casual oceanside dining, and the legendary The Chart Room Bar—where Jimmy Buffett and Bob Marley once launched their careers.
The Spa at Pier House stands as the island’s only full-service spa. The 10,000-square-foot facility houses 10 treatment rooms and offers an across-the-board menu of services. One of em’, deep tissue massage, which to us, ranks among the best we’ve experienced in Florida.
Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa
During our visit, we were immediately struck by the spaciousness of the accommodations—approximately 500 square feet of thoughtfully designed space. Every single one of them has a private balcony, and our king ocean-view room offers breathtaking panoramas of the Gulf of America. There, you’ll meet “The Porch”, where hammocks and rocking chairs are provided if you so desire afternoon catnaps or quiet reading seshs. While the beach area is admittedly small, you’ll be able to snorkel directly from the hotel’s dock. The Jala Spa, recently relocated to the ground floor and expanded with a third treatment room. Our 80-minute hot stone massage was professionally done and the fitness center—while not enormous, is well-equipped with treadmills, yoga mats, weights, and two Peloton bikes.
Parrot Key Hotel & Villas
This oceanside hotel sits on an impressive 5 acres of award-winning landscaped grounds. And the property’s post-Hurricane Irma renovation in 2017 has only enhanced its beauty even more. The architectural style of Parrot Key embraces classic Key West conch design with 148 rooms included. It’s spacious, even the entry-level rooms span an impressive 375 square feet. The villa options are ideal for family gatherings or friend groups while the 3-bedroom villas have over 1,500 square feet, if you prefer much bigger spaces.
Opal Key Resort & Marina
Opal Key Resort & Marina is a 178-room resort that integrates well with a working cruise port. The oceanfront king room that we stayed offers stunning water views through floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s also roomy, even the standard room measures a generous 375 square feet, while the multi-bedroom suites with full kitchens are great for families or extended stays. The 3-bedroom suite, which we toured during our trip, features 4 private balconies and spectacular marina views.
Blue Flamingo Resort Key West
Just like Perry Hotel Key West, this hotel doesn’t lean heavily on typical Victorian architecture or generic tropical motifs. Instead, it embraces its geographic connection to Cuba—which incidentally, is just 90 miles across the water. The oceanfront hotel has this laid-back island vibe, Cuban-themed design elements and curated artwork by local photographer Jorge de la Torriente throughout the property. Besides all of that, remember to also enjoy plantain French toast, conch fritters and many more at The Toasted Coconut poolside restaurant and bar, we hear that it’s *chef’s kiss*.
