18 Best Hotels in The Florida Keys, Florida

Brilliantly colored bougainvillea, coconut palm, and guava trees—and a botanical garden of other rare species—make this 2-acre adult hideaway one of the prettiest places to stay in the Keys. Each of the intimate cottages has furnishings that add to the tropical feel. Spacious studios and one- and two-bedroom suites—with full kitchens and original art—are filled with natural light. Outside, kick back in a lounge chair or hammock, soak in the hot tub, or contemplate sunset from the deck. The resort also has an art gallery and an orchid house with more than 225 plants. At the pool, help yourself to complimentary bottled water and fruit.

Owned by retired professional kiteboarder Matt Sexton, this relaxed, eco-friendly resort and beach club is popular with water-sports enthusiasts, who make regular visits to its sibling property, The Lagoon, for wakeboarding sessions. Ideal for families, the Conch House has two- and three-bedroom suites with private verandas and full kitchens. An adults-only section of the property has its own pool area and the Humidor House, where oceanfront accommodations include rooms and king suites with four-poster mahogany beds and private balconies. Suites in the Wrecker’s House have claw-foot tubs and private wraparound balconies. The resort's sustainability initiatives include using plant-based detergents, not using pesticides and herbicides in on-site gardens, and both in-house recycling and seaweed-composting programs.

Combining Caribbean luxury with Keys charm, this glamorous 24-acre resort is a destination unto itself with five pools, rooms along a sandy waterfront, toes-in-the-sand dining, and amenities like kids activities, resort bikes, and morning yoga. The one- and two-bed rooms and a handful of suites with kitchenettes have white and dark-blue color schemes and bathrooms outfitted with walk-in rainfall showers. The bottom-floor rooms feature large patios that lead directly out to the sand, while the upper floors boast spacious balconies with breathtaking views. A full-service spa, fitness center, and marina with charter fishing boats round out the ample offerings.

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.

At this simple yet chic resort, spacious rooms evoke well-to-do bachelor pads, complete with a counter and stools, wine chiller, minimalistic furniture, and artwork. Try to score a room with an ocean view. Hang out in the lobby (literally) in one of the hanging wicker chairs and admire the award-winning decor, or call dibs on a beach hammock or a seat at the oceanfront poolside bar. Guests can use the kayaks and paddleboards (included in the resort fee) or book a dive trip right on-site, as well as enjoy a casual bite to eat at the on-site restaurant, ReelCatch, which also serves breakfast.

The dock points the way to beautiful sunsets at this adults-only boutique hotel, which has been transformed from a run-down mom-and-pop place into a waterfront gem. As the innkeepers have backgrounds in the image business, the property offers great visuals, from marble floors and granite countertops to yellow-leather sofas and ice-blue bathroom tiles. Kayaks, paddleboards, barbecue grills, and a movie library are available for guest use, and two chickee huts on the beach are equipped with comfortable seating.

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.

Modern conveniences and a retro look are among the hallmarks of this boutique hotel on the beach. Rooms have a turquoise and sandstone color scheme and dark wood accents; each also has a porch or a balcony along with a mini-refrigerator and coffee maker. Most units are lined up along the long stretch of sand that all but encircles a lagoon; others overlook the tennis court. Thirteen oceanfront villas (including two stand-alones), a new tiki bar, and a boat ramp and dock round out the list of accommodations and amenities.

This waterfront haven is tucked into a residential neighborhood beneath towering palms and native gumbo-limbos. No wonder it's a favorite of travel magazines. Each unit overlooks part of the 400-foot beach, where draping hammocks beckon you to nap. Prefer to paddleboard or kayak? Just slide one off the sand and go. Or take a dip in the pool. Less adventurous types can head for the Adirondack chairs along the shoreline or to those placed at the far end of the docks that jet into the bay. Units are comfortable and spacious and could be the backdrop for a Tommy Bahama ad with their upscale tropical decor and hand-carved furniture. Small patios give you your own slice of paradise. Breakfast is served beneath the bayfront chickee.

Wildlife, including the endangered Key deer, roams the grounds of this bed-and-breakfast, which has four guest rooms, all with ocean views, cathedral ceilings, king beds, private baths, small porches, and calming decor. On-site massage therapy is available for an additional fee, depending on availability. Innkeepers Jen DeMaria and Harry Appel were way ahead of the green-lodging game when they opened in 2004, and remain far ahead, maintaining their State of Florida 3 Palm status.

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.

The Glunz family got it right when they purchased this former time-share property and put a whole lot of love into ensuring it achieved its full oceanfront potential—from the bottom-floor rooms, you can walk out your back door and your feet are in the sand, or you can also chill at the oceanfront tiki bar or one of two heated pools. Standard rooms have a small fridge and coffeemaker; kitchens (in suites only) are well equipped, too. To stay like royalty, opt for the three-level oceanfront villas, each with 2,300 square feet and a garage. Hungry? Walk next door to Havana Jack's for fish tacos, or have the staff drive you via golf cart to the local bars so you won't drink and drive.

Here you get to choose between a self-sufficient town home on the bay side or an oceanfront resort with on-site restaurants and oodles of other amenities. Either way, the interiors are bright and casual. The Islander Bayside's two-bedroom town homes have a gourmet kitchens, flat-screen TVs, washer-dryers, and all the comforts of home. A bayfront pool is ideal after a day of fishing, and if your boat is under 24 feet, you can dock it in the marina outside your door. On the ocean side, the villas and the resort rooms feature sophisticated furnishings, plantation shutters, full-size refrigerators, and microwaves.

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.

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.

The boathouse-chic units at this storied property have white wooden accents, faux-wood–tiled floors, and a comfy daybed. Some of the spacious one- and two-bedroom beachside cottages have a kitchenette; all have driftwood tile floors and rustic furnishings. If you like keeping busy, the marina offers fishing charters, diving, and snorkeling trips. Or check out the water-sports rentals and the famous Holiday Isle Tiki Bar.

Nicely tucked away in a residential area at the ocean's edge, this family-owned hotel draws returning guests who'd rather fish off the dock and grill up dinner than loll around on Egyptian-cotton sheets. Even those who turn their noses up at the plastic deck furniture and pine paneling admit that the place has a million-dollar setting, with fabulous ocean views. There's no beach, but you can bike across the street to Founders Park, where you'll find one with water toys for rent. Some declare the rooms plain-Jane, but they're clean and spacious, and the bathrooms have been nicely updated. A sandy area is perfect for kids to play in while waiting for manatees to make an appearance at the marina. Ground-floor units have screened porches; upper units have large decks, a number of windows, and beam ceilings.

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.