The Gardens Hotel

“The Soul of Key West”

This stay was nothing short of magical. My husband and I planned a two-night trip to Key West to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. We thought that would be the highlight of our vacation—but we couldn’t have been more wrong. The Gardens Hotel completely stole the show. From the moment we arrived, … more

This stay was nothing short of magical. My husband and I planned a two-night trip to Key West to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. We thought that would be the highlight of our vacation—but we couldn’t have been more wrong. The Gardens Hotel completely stole the show. From the moment we arrived, we experienced hospitality unlike anywhere we’ve ever stayed. The manager greeted us warmly, helped with our luggage, secured our parking, gave us a tour of the property, arranged our taxi for our early morning ferry, and even introduced us to another couple staying at the hotel. We ended up sharing dinner and drinks with them that evening, and it became one of our favorite memories of the trip. The property itself is breathtaking. Every corner has its own personality, and wandering through the lush gardens feels almost dreamlike. There’s an unmistakable sense of peace here that’s difficult to describe—you simply have to experience it. Our room was beautiful, comfortable, and impeccably maintained. I’d seen a few reviews mentioning that the rooms were small, but I honestly couldn’t disagree more. We had plenty of space, the bed was incredibly comfortable, and our balcony was huge. The gardens, pool, live music, and historic inn create an unforgettable atmosphere. But the true magic of this place is its people. On our first evening, we met Annette at the bar. She made phenomenal cocktails (order her mojito!), but even more memorable was her warmth, humor, and infectious personality. She had us laughing all night, and we genuinely wished we’d had more time to chat with her. On our second evening, Phil took over behind the bar and was equally wonderful. His drinks were fantastic (again, another divine mojito!), and our conversations with him made for another perfect night. We also had the pleasure of meeting the owner, and what an incredible woman she is. She’s charismatic, gracious, hilarious, and absolutely unforgettable. Her passion for The Gardens Hotel radiates through everything she does, and it’s obvious that the warmth and charm of this property begin with her. I left thinking, “I hope I’m that effortlessly joyful someday.” One of the most unexpected joys of our stay was getting to know the other guests. My husband and I are in our twenties, yet we found ourselves having wonderful conversations with people spanning several generations and from all over the world. There was such a genuine sense of community here—something that’s increasingly rare to find while traveling. Breakfast was another delightful surprise. I expected a simple continental buffet, but instead we were treated to a thoughtfully prepared, made-to-order menu. It was genuinely one of the best breakfasts we had anywhere in Key West. Leaving after just two nights was surprisingly difficult. In fact, I’m writing this review from a beautiful luxury resort in Islamorada, and we both keep saying the same thing: we wish we had stayed at The Gardens Hotel instead. We’ve been fortunate enough to travel to many places around the world, and it’s rare to find a hotel that leaves such a lasting impression. The Gardens Hotel isn’t simply a beautiful place to stay—it’s a place that makes you slow down, connect with people, and feel genuinely cared for. It’s where luxury feels warm instead of pretentious, where relaxation comes naturally, and where strangers become friends. Thank you for giving us a stay we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. We already know we’ll be back. Bravo, bravo, bravo.

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“Great place to stay!”

Great place to stay. The rooms are very nice & clean. The bartender, Phil was excellent. The grounds are beautiful! All the staff was very helpful & so nice! I highly recommend booking a room here, it’s very close to Duval but so peaceful.

“Great Stay”

Lovely place to stay. The Gardens hotel is a little paradise, beautiful landscape. We really appreciated Rhoda. She took us on a tour of the property and suggested local restaurants, near the hotel, for lunch. Rhoda was very helpful.

“Wonderful experience”

Great location, friendly and helpful staff, music every evening