10 Best Adults-Only Hotels in Key West

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Pick the pool first, then the street. Some Key West guesthouses set a minimum age of 21, and one asks for 25, so check the age before you fall for a room. Duval Street at night is not aimed at kids, and the quieter blocks sit a few streets off it. Here’s where I’d book.

The 10 Adults-Only Hotels

Pick Your End of Duval Street

Duval Street runs from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean, and the two ends feel different. The end you sleep near sets how much nightlife you hear.

• Harbor activity fills the north end: Both the Historic Seaport and the cruise-ship port lie at the northern end. Mallory Square sits on that waterfront.
• The south end runs quieter: The southern section has a calmer atmosphere than the bar blocks. The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory sits here, and the street ends at the Atlantic.

Whitehead Street and Bahama Village

Whitehead Street holds several of Old Town’s best-known sights. Bahama Village sits just west of it.

• The lighthouse and Audubon House share the street: The Key West Lighthouse and its adjoining Keeper’s Quarters Museum stand on Whitehead Street. The Audubon House and Tropical Gardens is at 205 Whitehead.
• Petronia Street leads into Bahama Village: Petronia Street runs into the neighborhood from Duval, and Blue Heaven restaurant sits at Thomas and Petronia streets. Bahamian settlers gave the area its name.

Minimum Ages Differ by Hotel

Adults-only does not mean one age limit. Check the hotel before you book, especially with a younger partner.

• Several hotels ask for 21: Coco Plum Inn lists a minimum age of 21 to book on its policies page. The Saint Hotel is an adult-only Marriott Autograph Collection hotel with a check-in age of 21. L’Habitation also asks guests to be 21.
• H2O Suites asks for 25: H2O Suites calls itself adult-only for guests 25 years or older on its own homepage. Younger couples need a different hotel.
• Douglas House sets its line at 18: Douglas House lets in children only at 18 or over unless it approves them. Almond Tree Inn and Orchid Key Inn say adult only without giving a number.
• Some hotels give conflicting ages: The Mermaid & The Alligator words its age policy differently on different pages. Simonton Court and Paradise Inn show different ages on different sites. Ask each hotel directly before booking with a younger guest.

When Key West Fills Up

February through April are the busiest months in Key West. Book those months first.

• Winter into spring fills the island: From February through April, Key West hotels run close to nine rooms in ten full. Rooms and rates are easier outside that stretch.

Fantasy Fest Weeks on Duval

Fantasy Fest runs ten days in late October and draws tens of thousands of visitors. Duval Street is its stage after dark.

• Old Town sells out months ahead: Hotels and guesthouses in Old Town sell out months ahead for the festival. Book those dates before any other stay.
• Hotels set minimum stays: Many hotels set minimum stays and deposits for the festival. Read the terms before you pay.

Getting Around Without a Car

A car is optional in Old Town. Walking and biking cover most of it.

• Parking sits off site at L’Habitation: L’Habitation has no on-site parking. A paid lot on Southard Street and metered street spaces sit nearby.
• Bike rental is on site at The Mermaid: The Mermaid & The Alligator rents bicycles to guests. A bike reaches most of Old Town quickly.

FAQs

1. How long is Duval Street?

Duval Street runs about 1.25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. Walking the whole length takes about 30 minutes without stops. Allow far longer if you browse the shops, galleries or bars. Many of Old Town’s best-known sights sit within a short walk of it. The street is named for Florida’s first territorial governor.

2. Which adults-only hotel is closest to Duval Street?

Orchid Key Inn is on Duval Street itself, at number 1004. Almond Tree Inn sits a block away on Truman Avenue. Both lie toward the quieter southern half of the street, away from the Mallory Square end. Choose Almond Tree Inn for a block of distance, or Orchid Key Inn for the shortest step to the street.

3. Where is the Hemingway Home?

The Hemingway Home is at 907 Whitehead Street in Old Town. The Key West Lighthouse stands directly across the street, so one stop covers both. The house is a museum, and its address sits west of Duval Street. Bahama Village lies a little further west. Tour the house and its gardens, then cross the street to the lighthouse.

4. How big is Old Town Key West?

Old Town covers about one square mile and radiates from the harbor on the Gulf side of the island. Duval Street cuts through it for 1.25 miles from the Gulf to the Atlantic. Most of the sights, restaurants and bars sit inside that small area, which is why walking works so well.

5. Is Fantasy Fest suitable for children?

No. Fantasy Fest is an adult event at its core, and Duval Street at night is not aimed at kids. The festival runs about ten days in late October. Families do better to visit in another month, and adults-only hotels keep children out of the rooms. Plan around the festival if you want a calm stay.

6. Where can you watch the Key West sunset?

Mallory Square, on the Gulf waterfront near the northern end of Duval Street, hosts the Sunset Celebration each evening. Street performers and vendors gather there as the sun drops. The square faces west across the Gulf, so the sun sets straight into the water. The square is a short walk from the northern end of Duval Street.

7. Which adults-only hotel in Key West asks for the highest age?

H2O Suites asks for guests 25 years or older, according to its own homepage. Coco Plum Inn, The Saint Hotel and L’Habitation set 21. Douglas House lets in children only at 18 or over, so check each hotel before you book. Almond Tree Inn and Orchid Key Inn say adult only without a number.