Just got back from a wonderful stay at this hotel. We were greeted with champagne on our arrival by the front desk. The hospitaliaty was fantastic. Our room was beautiful with wood flooring, flat screen tv, very clean and decorative. The hotel was booked but it was so quiet we felt like the only guests.
The continental breakfast was wonderful with a large variety of pastries, muffins, toast, bagel, hard boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt etc..
We absolutely did not want to leave. After we checked out we stayed for a few hours relaxing by the pool and admiring the beautiful grounds. It truly is a hidden gem and we look forward to returning . Parking is limited but very secure off the streets and locked at night. Thank you to all the staff who made our stay magical.

Roseanne
boynton beach, FL

Lovely, quiet hotel located just off Duval Street (the main street). The pool was small but clean and quiet. Breakfast was excellent, you have to try the cinnamon toast with maple syrup! And the complimentary iced tea while sunbathing around the pool was delicious!
Room was a good size and very clean, although the fridge and coffee making facilities were in the bathroom which was a little odd!
I wouldn't hesitate in returning to this hotel.

First, I've seen reviews about the bartender....I don't know if the guy was on vacation or something, but the bar was relatively unimpressive, especially with the plethora of establishments (and I don't mean Sloppy Joes) waiting for you on Duvall Street. Anyway, not a negative in my opinion, but I was expecting more.

In terms of the hotel itself, the room was clean, well decorated, and comfortable. We stayed in the front of the building, which had a slight amount of noise from traffic on the road (it's right across from City Hall) and roosters (like many places in Key West). The amenities were nice and very well kept, including the private pool and hot tub, the lounge in the lobby, and the gardens.

Other notes:
- They have limited parking, so make sure you find out if they have spaces before you show.
- Staff was very helpful with walking directions, but we couldn't find anyone who had driven the island recently
- Staff was also very helpful finding restaurants, although they seemed to want us to go to Louie's Backyard really bad (tourist trap)

I'd definitely go back....While it doesn't have a water view, the location to Duvall Street is perfect....Just close enough but not right on it (so you can actually sleep!)

My husband and I chose the Gardens Hotel and the Island City Hotel for our 4 nights in Key West in June 2008.Despite the rave reviews for the Gardens we found it to be nice but nothing to get excited about. Our room near the pool was VERY small with a small closet and no drawer space. The grounds should be a plus but we found them to be neglected, with dead plants in many areas. The pool was romantic and a high point as was the staff. The breakfast was less than we expected. If we were to stay in Key West again we would opt for the Island City. The one negative there can be children who are noisy and constantly at the pool. Our room there was spacious with a full kitchen and private porch and the grounds were beautful. The price difference is another reason to choose Island City. The Gardens was NOT worth the price we paid.