8 Key West Bed and Breakfasts

8 Best Bed and Breakfast for You When Visiting Key West

 

Key West inns offer such unique opportunities that I want to stay at least 6 days on my next trip. That way I can enjoy more than one. I’d want to sleep in the 5-generation historic inn, have breakfast at the inns known for their fine hospitality and probably see each and every other inn in town. Finding the single most perfect Bed and Breakfast is not an exact science. That’s why I always choose at least two whenever I can.

Romantic Inns and Boutique Hotels

Azul Key West

• Originally built to be the home of a cigar baron.
• The adult-only boutique inn is a convenient three-and-a-half blocks from Duval Street.
• Guest rooms are decorated in a chic, minimalist style.

The Conch House Heritage Inn

• One of the first residents, Lance Lester, was the first graduate of Key West High School and the University of Florida Law School.
• The inn has been family owned and operated for five generations.
• The inn proudly serves Baby’s Coffee which they have shipped in from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.

Curry Mansion Inn

• The mansion was built by Florida’s first millionaire family. William Curry came to the U.S. as a penniless immigrant from the Bahamas.
• The famous Key Lime Pie is said to have been created in the mansion kitchen.
• The mansion incorporates a New England widow’s walk, New Orleans trellises and balustrades, and Southern columns.

Island City House

• The oldest operating guest house on the island. The main house was converted from a private residence into an inn before the railroad arrival in 1912.
• The gingerbread-trimmed Arch House is the last remaining carriage house in Key West.
• The Cigar House overlooks the heated pool.

Simonton Court

• The inn was once a cigar factory. The cottages housed the workers who hand-rolled the cigars.
• Two poolside rooms can be found in the Manor House which started its life as a shotgun house.
• The two-acre, adult-only resort contains four pools.

Westwinds

• Hallmarks of hospitality, intimacy and relaxation enjoyed at this inn.
• An extended continental breakfast is served by the pool every morning.
• The surroundings provide the perfect place to relax, unwind, and set worries aside.

The Mermaid & Alligator

• Enjoy the eclectic mix of local and Caribbean artwork and antiques.
• Private guest bedrooms all offer distinctive personalities.
• Duval Street’s many shops, restaurants and galleries are three blocks away.

 The Grand Guesthouse

• Lush, tropical landscaping, award-winning Old Town B&B.
• Deck chairs and small tables outside each room.
• Knowledgeable hosts always willing to assist with helpful suggestions for local recommendations.

Best Key West Outdoor Sites and Natural Attractions

Dry Tortugas National Park

• Made up of seven small islands, the park is 70 miles west of Key West and only accessible via seaplane or ferry.
• The historic Fort Jefferson was used as a prison during the Civil War.
• Visitors can sunbath on pristine beaches, snorkel, hike, and camp overnight.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

• The climate-controlled, glass enclosed habitat is home to 50-60 butterfly species and 20 exotic bird species.
• The gallery, Wings of Imagination, offers butterflies preserved in airtight, clear acrylic cases.
• The Learning Center has a 15-minute film, a wall size map showing the origin of multiple butterfly species, and live caterpillars feeding on host plants.

Southernmost Point

• The famous concrete buoy was erected in 1983.
• The continental United States is only 90 miles from Cuba at this point.
• It is one of the most photographed spots in Key West.

Sunset at Mallory Square

• The Sunset Celebration became popular in the late 1960s.
• Two hours before sunset, visitors are entertained by magicians, jugglers, musicians, and artists.
• Some visitors are lucky enough to spot a green flash just before the sun dips below the horizon.

 

Museums and Attractions

The Basilica of Saint Mary Star of the Sea

• The church is constructed from limestone and beach sand.
• First parish in the Archdiocese of Miami.
• First Catholic School in the state of Florida. The school is still used today.

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

• The home was in disrepair when the Nobel Prize-winning author acquired it. He restored it and then lived and wrote in the home for more than 10 years.
• 40-50 polydactyl (six-toed) cats live on the property.
• The in-ground pool was the first of its kind in Key West.

Harry S. Truman Little White House

• Served as the naval station’s command headquarters during the Spanish-American War.
• President Truman used it as his winter White House. The house is still used for some government functions.
• The living museum offers tours 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Key West Firehouse Museum

• The fire station opened in 1907 with horse drawn steamers and hose carriages.
• Visitors can watch as signals are sent from an early-1900s alarm box.
• The museum houses a 1929 American La France pumper.

 

Visit the Florida Keys Convention and Visitors Bureau or the Key West Chamber of Commerce for more attractions.

Read Before You Go

• The Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette – An Appetite for Murder is the first in the series about a foodie solving murder cases.
• Key West: History of an Island of Dreams by Maureen Ogle – An engaging account of the island’s history from 1819 to recent times.
• To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway – An adventurous literary tale of an honest man that finds himself running contraband between Key West and Cuba.
• Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm – A Newbery Honor winning title for children set in 1935 Key West.