Key West Bed and Breakfast

Breakfast is Served in Key West, But Not Always

The map of Key West is dotted with B & B style accommodations.  From small Conch homes to large historic inns, visitors have lots of choices when it comes to where to set down their bags.  But if you want breakfast with your room, make sure that’s part of the package before you book a room.  Many of them don’t serve breakfast.  Even though they may look and feel like a B & B, the best they can do for breakfast is to point you in the direction of the nearest cafe.

You may have noticed that lots of B&B style accommodations in Key West actually call themselves Guest Houses.  That’s partly because they don’t serve breakfast.  But don’t worry – there are so many options for eating out in Old Town you won’t go hungry.

One of the nicest places for breakfast or even a light lunch is right on Duval Street, convenient to most guest houses in Key West.  It’s called Croissants de France, and it’s located in the 800 block – the quieter end of town!  Their website was down at time of publishing this, but they open early enough in the morning to accommodate must breakfast-goers.  Needless to say, their pastries are divine, their bread is heavenly, and even their coffee is unusually delicious.

Drinks by the Pool in Key West

Vacationers who want a personal experience in their accommodations will often choose a B&B.  And there’s no place better for the selection of great B&Bs than Key West.  Aside from wonderful hosts, lush tropical gardens, and beautifully decorated rooms, many Key West Bed and Breakfasts offer special perks like complementary poolside cocktails in the evening.

Not all Key West B&Bs offer this thoughtful service, but many do.  It offers guests a chance to unwind after the day’s activities.  It also gives them a chance to meet other guests and make lifelong friends.  Key West’s relaxed pace brings out the best in everyone as they forget the worries of everyday life back home and truly unwind.

Usually poolside cocktails are served during the happy hour, anywhere from 5 to 7 pm.  This special treat is a nice way to start your evening, too.  Sip cocktails before you stroll out into the evening as the sun sets.  What better way to enjoy paradise?

The Palms Has First Come First Serve Parking for Guests

Key West is noted for its charm, history, and fun water sports.  The island is ideally situated for the perfect tropical vacation, not far from home but far enough so you feel that you’ve escaped the daily grind.  Part of the ultimate Key West experience is where you stay, and the classic accommodation would be the Key West Bed and Breakfast.  The historic Conch style architecture has made Key West accommodations famous, and here’s how to make sure you find the perfect guest house while visiting the Southernmost City.

First of all, if you’re after an authentic, historical property to stay in while visiting Key West, it won’t be hard to find  a guest house that’s converted from an old, historic home.  In fact, many Key West bed & breakfast establishments are on the historic register.  These days, it’s so easy to find out what a place looks like before you go – just look on the internet for pictures.

Second of all, not all Key West Bed and Breakfast properties have parking!  That’s right, some guest houses expect you to find your own parking on the street.  In Key West, especially Old Town, this can be very difficult.  When you’ve just driven 128+ miles from Miami or Fort Lauderdale Airport, who wants to crawl around the narrow streets of Old Town  looking for a parking spot?  Ask before you book!

Part of the perfect vacation is how you spend your down time.  Visitors who choose to stay at a Key West Bed & Breakfast know how true this is!  Chances are, you’re visiting Key West to enjoy a slower pace of life, and leisurely taking breakfast by the pool in the a.m. is a good way to set the pace for the day.  You can tell when a B & B gets the pool-breakfast combo just right: they proudly display pictures on their website of visitors enjoying the serene oasis of the garden and pool area.

The Alligator and the Mermaid Bed and Breakfast does breakfast very nicely.  Guests are invited to dine by the pool on homemade muffins, yogurt, coffee, juice and fresh fruit.  Then they are invited to the garden area for a hot breakfast entree.  There’s one special hot entree each day, always delicious.

And if a Key West B & B serves breakfast by the pool, you can bet they also serve cocktails in the evening by the pool.  Enjoy cocktails or wine poolside before you head out for dinner in Old Town.

How About a Bed and Breakfast Wedding?

Key West is one of the top picks in the nation when it comes to destination weddings.  Second only to Las Vegas, the Southernmost City hosts hundreds of beautiful weddings each year.  They range from simple beach ceremonies to fully arranged ceremony plus reception for large groups.  A popular way to go if your wedding party is smaller, is to have a Bed & Breakfast wedding.  The happy couple can enjoy the seclusion and ambiance that go hand in hand with a Bed and Breakfast stay, creating the ultimate romantic, private wedding.

Key West has several wedding planners that can help a couple and their friends and family put together an intimate, special wedding at your choice of B&Bs.  Be sure to coordinate with your hosts on everything, to ensure your wedding goes off without a hitch.  Book an entire Key West B&B and get the place all to yourself, with friends and family.  Many Key West Bed and Breakfast properties feature a central courtyard, garden or pool, or all three.  You can create a beautiful and memorable wedding ceremony for everyone right there at the B&B.  How convenient as well as totally romantic and beautiful.

May is a Great Time for Charter Fishing in Key West

Winter is the high season for visitors to Key West, and why not.  It’s cold elsewhere and people need to get away.  Key West is the perfect sub-tropical paradise that combines convenience with total escape from the real world.  Easy to get to, it’s just a couple hours’ drive from Miami or Fort Lauderdale International Airports, or you can fly directly into Key West International Airport.  Of course some of the nicest places to stay are at Key West Bed & Breakfasts, where hospitality, charm, and special perks make your stay extra special.

If you’re looking for a Key West Bed and Breakfast deal, then consider visiting after April 3o.  May 1 begins the second shoulder season, with peak rates found from the Christmas season through February.  The shoulder season, from mid February through the end of April, is cheaper, while the “second shoulder season” during the month of May and also the month of November.  Off season is summertime through September, when it’s hotter here and hurricane season is in full swing.

Key West Bed and Breakfast establishments often discount the month of May up to $60 off the peak price.  May is nice weather in Key West:  less windy than earlier months, but still not as hot as summertime.  In May, visitors can go Tarpon fishing, since it’s tarpon season.  They can also go snorkeling on the reef, scuba diving, or any other water sports Key West is famous for.  It’s warmer out there on the water so it’s even more fun!

Garden House Bed and Breakfast is a casual, relaxing Key West B&B located on the north side of Old Town, near the Ferry Terminal.  There are 10 guest rooms, each with private bath, tropical decor, and a very casual feel that speaks to the casual traveler in search of clean rooms, good location, and nothing too fancy.  This is not a luxury level Key West B&B, but rather a fun, casual, clean accommodation with reasonable prices.

Featuring nightly happy hour and breakfast every morning, Garden House Bed and Breakfast will be your home away from home as you explore the island of Key West and the surrounding ocean waters.  Explore Historic Seaport, which is only two blocks away, and also get water sports tours and boat rentals from here as well.  Free beer and wine from 5pm to 6 pm every night will get you started on your nightlife, which may include at least one time experiencing the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square.  Get there on bicycles which you can rent from the B&B itself.

Breakfast is served poolside, every morning for a two hour span and the gardens around the pool make for a wonderful way to start your day in Paradise!

The Grand Guesthouse B&B is a former boarding house for cigar workers in the late 1800s and turn of the century.  Far removed from its humble beginnings, this Key West B&B is now a cozy retreat with lush gardens and clean, tidy rooms.   As Key West B&Bs go, this one is just a tad more moderately priced and the decor is suitable but by no stretch of the imagination luxury level.  Amenities abound, however, and you’ll find everything you need at The Grand Guesthouse B&B, including concierge service and certification as a Green Lodging facility.

The Grand Guesthouse B&B is found at 1116 Grinnell Street, which is a central Old Town location, close to everything.  Walk to laundry facilities, shopping, dining, beaches, and nightlife from here, or rent a bicycle to get around faster.  A Key West B&B since 1998, The Grand Guesthouse B&B features a staff with extensive local knowledge and connections to watersports tours, bicycle and moped rentals, and anything else you’ll need for your relaxing Key West vacation.

The Mermaid and the Alligator is a well known Key West B&B located right on the main drag, Truman Ave.  You can’t miss it even if you’re not looking for it- right on the corner of Truman and Windsor Lane, a block over from the Key West Cemetery.  It’s on the edge of Old Town, and walking inward from the B&B you can easily stroll the back streets and discover the charm and beauty of Key West’s oldest part of town.

Built in 1904, The Mermaid and the Alligator is a stately large Victorian, and rooms are tastefully decorated in a rich, warm and slightly antique-ey style.  The porches are very wide, and the gardens are lush lush lush.  They call it a sunken grotto garden, and there’s a pool and patio for guests.  Sit under Poinciana trees or take a dip in the heated plunge pool as you unwind and sink into the ultimate Key West vacation you so badly need!

Breakfast is served every morning.  It’s  yogurt and home baked muffins followed by a hot breakfast entree.  You’re all set!  In the living room guests can get online or just relax in the rich surroundings before strolling down the street to Duval, the beach, or wherever their Key West vacation takes them from the doors of The Mermaid and the Alligator.

For historic charm and local flavor, The Popular House in Old Town fits the bill perfectly.  Built in  1898, this Key West B&B is listed on the National Historic Register as the William Russell House.  It’s on William Street, which is a lovely shaded part of Old Town, which is the most popular area in Key West.

The Popular House offers more than just historic charm and a great location, however.  Guests in any of the eight rooms will be delighted to find each morning a beautiful complimentary breakfast fit for a king.  And in the evening or whenever they need a break, guests can relax in the living room, exquisitely decorated in Caribbean island style.

Decoration isn’t really the correct word for the way Popular House is arranged.  There’s local art everywhere, and the owner has amazing taste.  It’s comfy and relaxed while also managing to be elegant and crisp at the same time.

That’s not all guests at the Popular House will find delightful:  prices are reasonable!  Not only that, but they have a special mini room for single travelers, which fits only one person.  Where have you ever seen that before?