Key Lime Inn Key West

Located within the historic district of Key West, The Key Lime Inn is a quaint and cozy mid-range hotel with a main reception building, several cottages scattered throughout the property, and rooms in the historic Maloney House -- which was built in 1854 and is included on the National Historic Register.The lovely Maloney House building has a white exterior and an inviting wrap-around porch. The reception building is a two-floor, yellow colonial-style building with white columns and a small patio.

The hotel doesn’t advertise itself as a bed and breakfast-style property, but some guests confuse it as such and they are disappointed when the free breakfast doesn’t live up to the standard they had hoped. The daily offering includes juices, muffins, cereal, and fruit and is served by the pool -- which is large, but has no frills.

Just two blocks from Duval Street, the Key Lime Inn is located close to all of the popular tourist attractions, but far enough away to avoid the traffic and noise in the heart of the entertainment district. Several bicycle rental stores, such as Island Bicycles and Lloyd’s Bicycle Tours are located just down the road from the Inn. The restaurants and shopping on Duval Street and the historic Ernest Hemingway House and Museum are located within five blocks of the property. Other popular areas, such as Smathers Beach, Southernmost Point, and Mallory Square (where there’s a nightly sunset celebration with street performers), are within one to three miles of the hotel, and can be easily reached by car, cab, or bicycle.

The rooms at The Key Lime Inn offer a quiet retreat from the action and entertainment on Duval Street. The property was renovated in 1999. The decor in the rooms is simple, with a splash of lime green on the beds (either queen or king sizes available). Each room has a private bathroom (unlike some of the historic properties in the area) though some of the showerheads and fixtures could use an update. Rooms labeled “superior” and “deluxe” have mini-fridges and more space. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, irons, and security safes.

The Key Lime Inn offers few on-site amenities, compared to other mid-range hotel properties. There is a large, heated pool and outdoor patio with sitting area. Guests say that the pool has better Wi-Fi service than any of the rooms, but the resort has made upgrades to the service so it should be more consistent now. A free, but basic continental breakfast is served poolside daily. The lobby has free newspapers and beverages like coffee, tea, and water. There are Adirondack chairs throughout the property and a green double-seat swing hangs from one of the trees. There is no bar and no on-site restaurant, but the outdoor cafes and lively bars on Duval street are just a two-block stroll away.