The Best Key West Beachfront Hotels

A Key West icon, Pier House Resort & Spa opened in 1967 and has welcomed esteemed guests like Truman Capote and the Rockefellers. Today, it continues to be a favorite among vacationers for its location right on the water on the northern end of Duval Street. Just close enough to all of the action on the island’s main drag, it also feels just far enough removed that you still can enjoy a tranquil getaway. Some rooms are more dated than others, but many have a private balcony where guests can take in the Gulf of Mexico. The property also offers guests an outdoor pool, a full-service spa, a private white sand beach, and great dining options. Make sure to stop by Chart Room Bar, where Jimmy Buffet and Bob Marley got their starts.

• Outdoor pool
• Private beach
• Complimentary self-parking

Key West on a budget can be rather difficult, and wallet-friendly hotels by the water just don’t exist. But Blue Marlin Motel gets you as close to the ocean as possible without having to break the bank on accommodations. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it’s just a short walk to the beach and one block over from Duval Street. The property also has an outdoor pool, and each room has a refrigerator and microwave.

• Outdoor pool
• Complimentary continental breakfast

When it comes to traveling with kids, having enough activities to keep them busy is key, and Barbary Beach House Key West offers just that. With a daily schedule of events that includes campfire stories with s’mores, a seashell scavenger hunt, and pool games, they’ll have plenty to do when they’re not playing in the sand at Smathers Beach. Complimentary treats also are plentiful at the resort, such as poolside smoothies and popsicles as well as fresh-baked cookies in the lobby every afternoon. Just make sure their appetite isn’t too spoiled for a meal at the all-day Drifter’s Cove Restaurant. Once everyone is ready to retire after a day of fun in the sun, head up to well-appointed accommodations with a salvage-inspired design featuring worn wood and a neutral palette.

• Outdoor pool with a waterfall
• Daily poolside and lobby refreshments
• Complimentary self-parking
• Complimentary kids activities
• Complimentary use of non-motorized watersports equipment
• Downtown and airport shuttle service

Since opening on New Year's Eve in 1920, Casa Marina, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, has played host to notable guests from Ernest Hemingway to Helen Mirren. The art deco landmark was designed by the same architects behind the New York Public Library and holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Accommodations are sparsely decorated, but the majority boast large picture windows and ocean views. The crown jewel of the property is the 1,100-foot private beach that it sits on, the largest in Key West. Guests also can relax by two outdoor pools where they’ll be spoiled with full service, including eucalyptus towels and popsicles that are brought around to sunbathers.

For some extra pampering, head over to the spa where you can enjoy your treatment indoor or outdoors. There also are four food and beverage options, including an alfresco bar and grill. Should you want a change of scenery, transportation and access to sister property the Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton, can be arranged.

• Private beach
• Two outdoor pools
• Watersports rentals
• Bike rentals

The Marker Key West made a splash when it opened in 2014 as the area’s first new build in more than two decades. Now, following a multi-million dollar renovation, it’s better than ever. Nestled within Old Town along the harbor, the hotel’s conch-style architecture is a nod to Key West. The accommodations, swathed in white and bright blue, feature sliding French doors, walk-in showers, soaking tubs, and furnished balconies overlooking the water or the property’s lush gardens. Despite the hotel’s relatively small size, there’s a trio of palm-tree-lined pools, one of which is reserved just for adults, allowing plenty of space for guests to spread out and unwind. When hunger strikes, head over to Starboard Restaurant & Bar for some waterfront dining and daily happy hour.

• Three outdoor pools
• Live entertainment
• Complimentary introductory scuba classes
• Bike rentals

Just a skip away from the mainland, Sunset Key Cottages is sprawled across a lush 27-acre island. Accommodations come in the form of spacious one- to four-bedroom cottages with private verandas, full kitchens, and breakfast baskets filled with freshly baked pastries and fruit delivered to your porch every morning. The pastel-hued buildings are surrounded by verdant gardens dotted with jasmine and frangipani trees.

Enjoy the resort’s very own exclusive beach, lounge by the pool, book an excursion on the water, or unwind at the spa. For those who like to remain active, there’s a 24-hour gym in addition to beach yoga on Saturday mornings and two tennis courts. While you easily can hop into town for a bite via the property’s private launch, don’t miss out on a delectable meal highlighting locally sourced seafood at the property’s award-winning Latitudes, where you can also enjoy a complimentary rum tasting every afternoon.

• Private beach
• Outdoor pool with two jacuzzis and a waterfall
• Two tennis courts
• Complimentary breakfast baskets
• Daily ice cream treats
• Complimentary Saturday morning beach yoga

One of the newer properties in the area, the Perry Hotel Key West is located on neighboring Stock Island and boasts an on-site, 288-slip marina. Guests easily can rent a spot to park their boat just a few steps away from their room. All of the spacious accommodations boast private balconies with water views and coastal-inspired furnishings while some have the added bonus of an open-air shower. The contemporary hotel also boasts several other desirable amenities, including two heated outdoor pools, an F45 gym with complimentary training classes (high-intensity group workouts), a free scheduled shuttle to and from Old Town and Higgs Beach, and an on-site scooter, bike, and Arcimoto electric vehicle rentals. When hunger strikes, there are four food and beverage outlets to choose from, three of which are dockside so you can enjoy the calming vista while noshing on fresh seafood.

• Two outdoor pools
• F45 gym
• Outdoor fire pits
• Complimentary shuttle service
• Complimentary self-parking
• Two dog parks