This is truly a relaxing place to be yourself and not be stressed about anything. The pool area has a laid back atmosphere whether you're there at 7 AM or 7 PM and you are sure to enjoy good conversations and drinks with your fellow guests. Service at the cafe is very attentive and the staff are good at noticing when your drink is getting low and seeing if you want another one, as well as clearing away used cups to keep the area clean. I was really impressed that the happy hour for guests is not significantly "nerfed" down, with plenty of options available in every category of wine, beer, and mixed drinks so there is sure to be something you'll enjoy that is included. The key lime martini is quite good and you should definitely give it a try! read more

Island House used to be the vacation destination for us. This was our first stay since the remodel so it's been a few years. OK, where do I start? I'll start with the positives and then get to the negatives and rank them in order. Positives: 1. The palm trees and lush vegetation. 2. The decorations for pride and their 50th anniversary. 3. The food is still reasonably good, although the prime rib came out cold. 4. The rooms have been generally remodeled to be more modern. Negatives: 1. The room is cool in the morning, warms up by late afternoon, is hot by 9 PM, and doesn't start to cool back off until 2:30 AM. 2. The bar staff plays Spanish music only all day until you ask the front desk to have it switched to English to which the bar staff takes offense. 3. The bar staff is more interested in watching the FIFA soccer tournament than actually waiting on any guests. 4. The further you went back into the room away from the front door the weaker the Wi-Fi signal got until there was no signal. 5. The soap dispenser leaked onto the towels hanging on the towel bar below it. Instead of having it fixed, the towels were put on the floor. 6. The gang shower between the gym, indoor Jacuzzi, and steam room area smells like sewage. 7. The sitting area above the stairway and at the end of the hall next to room 210 is covered in and reeks of pigeon feces. See attached pic. Although the front desk and management are responsive, it used to be that these things were taken care of without guests needing to point them out or request they be fixed. Not sure if it's due to staff turnover and/or management turnover but hopefully this review will be taken seriously and help future guests as we will not be coming back anytime soon. My overall rating is a 1 because the negatives far outweigh the positives in importance for the price you pay. And when prices are raised, you would expect the service level would raise as well or at least stay the same, which, in this case has not. Please remember that you're in the HOSPITALITY SERVICE industry. This is basically lipstick on a pig. read more

This is by far the worst staff I have ever come across. The place has really deteriorated in the past few years along with the staff. There are rats everywhere, the inside steam room and hot tub smell of urine and the so called "red room" is a nasty mess. Albert at the front desk is the rudest employee of all. I have had my share of bad experiences there and would not recommend this place at all. read more

The best fish taco I've ever had. Not breaded pan fried. See below. Fleshy meat large pieces read more

Island House - Fish taco - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Haven't yet been, but a review I saw somewhere said, they are "very welcoming". It's LGBTQ oriented, yet as a "breeder", I'm tempted to see how welcoming they are indeed (who doesn't like being warmly welcomed ANYWHERE ?). Also one of the only places around open 24/7, which is nice for folks with all different lifestyle hours. Will go soon. I'm not a drinker, and I quit smoking a few years back, but I'll bet the atmosphere alone is worth taking in. read more

They advertised a lunchtime Key West Pride event on Friday June 27th open to everyone. We expected to be buying lunch and drinks but couldn't stay a long time because we had a tour planned. When the first two of us got there they said everyone has to buy a day pass to enter, cost was 66 each if using a credit card. If they had put this in the advertising for the event we would have considered the value in advance, We went to lunch at Pepe's instead. Very poor of them to spring a relatively high cover charge on people like this. On principle we would never go back there to stay or eat again. read more

This place used to be so good. Such shit attitudes from everyone that works there. Expensive af. The new owner took over and made a lot of bad decision's. read more

The portions are out of this world , good food , quick and not to bad in the price . I had the grouper sandwich , on a kaiser roll with lettuce tomato and red onion. The sandwich was paired with onion rings, they have a great flavor and are larger than life in size lol . read more

Island House - Grouper sandwich - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

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It's heaven! Tropical, gay heaven? With a pool + hot tub and everyone's in a good mood from open-bar Happy Hour?! *I can die happy now* (...joking aside...) I haven't stayed at the Island House myself, but this visit makes for the second time in 9 years that I've visited the poolside bar! Yes, there's a clothing-optional aspect to things, but 'ya can also wear clothes too. They have a day pass situation which makes for the following options: -- $0 - ask to go to the poolside bar. Get the drink specials below. $30 - access to locker + pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam rooms. $? - full room experience; during Happy Hour you get free drinks from the open bar as below -- Happy Hour = 5:00-6:30 = two for one drinks on special. 99% sure people reading on here aren't looking for an analysis of the drinks, but -- the Key Lime Martini was creamy perfection and I was so in love that the bartender told me the recipe! If I ever get the chance to stay in Key West, Island House is at the top of the list. Out of curiosity, I had looked for the night I was in town and room prices seemed reasonable around ~$200/weeknight; suppose it depends on when you plan to stay. So, I'll be back. Until then, I will be longingly sipping Key Lime martinis in Ohio, staving off the scurvy until my pale self hobbles back down to bask in the Key West SUN... **OKAY, but seriously, next time, I'm at least getting in the damned pool** ::wink:: read more

Island House - 6x key lime martinis coming up - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

This place was great. The staff was helpful and nice. The grounds are great. My only complaints are, The restaurant although very good got a little old. The menu is somewhat limited and when you're staying for a week, you run out of choices. Unfortunately if you want a traditional egg breakfast such as eggs, a meat and potatoes and toast, you have to order separately and it tends to get pricey. My biggest reason for only 3 stars are as follows: I was in a room that has a shared bath. On my last day there, I was in the shower. Suddenly I hear someone talking to me, he had a strong accent and I didn't know what he was saying, he got another staff member to let me know, they wanted me to turn off the water so they could replenish the liquid soap( they actually have to step into the shower stall to do that. I finally asked them to let me finish my shower in peace. Next I was in my room packing up, well before check out time. A staff member let themselves in and processed to start cleaning my room, I felt so rushed that when I got home I realized I had left some gifts for friends last n the room, plus a few of my hangers. Otherwise I would give this place 5 stars. read more

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Perfect 3 night stay! The food, the drinks, the drinks, the pool... the Island House team is always the best! Thank you Michael for getting me into my safe... and getting my drivers license to me, at the airport! Sorry to be a tiny bit high maintenance, but this must be one reason Island House stays full. THANK YOU AGAIN! read more

Island House - Michael, the Island House management team. - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

I can't say enough about island house. The beautiful rooms. The peaceful setting. The friendly staff. The camaraderie of the guests. The delicious food. Everything about it is exquisite. We will definitely be back. read more

I've been to Island House a few times, but I've never stayed there. If you're coming to Key West and are gay, this is probably the first place you're going to look if you're looking for a more happening place. Island House gets very busy, they allow day passes so there are tons of people in and out. I've been here a couple of times to sit at the bar and have a drink. The last time I was there I sat outside at the bar and watched Drag Race. It was really nice, great breeze and kind of quiet that weekend. The resort is a gay men's clothing optional resort. They have a gym/rec area as well. Day pass for non-guest is 20 bucks for I believe a full 24 hour experience there, but you don't have to pay that to get in. You can go in, have a drink, or even eat dinner and hang out by the pool for free. If you want to use the other amenities though, you will have to pay. The staff is nice and it feels really safe here, which I do appreciate as well. As far as the rooms. The rooms there are nice and typically the most expensive of all the resorts in Key West, but like they say, you get what you pay for, right? read more

Outstanding in every aspect. Excellent food and service, beautiful pool area. Very sexy place to be naughty and very classy at the same time. read more

Island House - Pool area - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

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How on earth have I never reviewed the Island House?? We've been staying here as our primary getaway for nearly a decade at this point. While there are lots of great places on Key West to stay, Island House is truly the pinnacle of accommodations for a gay couple. First, the rooms are always spotless on check-in. Great beds, bathrooms well stocked, etc. We personally prefer the apartments across the alley from the main property for the privacy and extra space, but I don't know that there's truly a bad room at IH. Second, the staff is amazing, from the guys at the front desk at check-in to the bar/restaurant staff to the housekeeping staff, they're second-to-none on the island. Finally, the amenities are wonderful. Full restaurant with good food, full bar, happy hour, pool, multiple hot tubs, etc. This place could be a one-stop vacation in and of itself if you wanted to. There's a reason we've been coming to IH for 9 years and intend to keep doing so. read more

It was such a relaxing place to get away for the weekend with my husband. The staff was super kind and attentive to all of our needs while we were there. We loved the daily happy hour and all the amenities that came with the stay. We will definitely be back again. read more

Really great place to stay. Had a great time. The only thing I would like to see improved are the menu selections for vegan guests. Although there were a few items that could be made vegan, they were not very good. Would have given it 5 stars were it not for this Brian read more

I would give this place TEN stars if I could! When we booked online, the place touted itself as "The Best Gay Resort in the World". I thought, "how pretentious"... until we arrived and were greeted with an amazing staff, SUPER clean and comfortable accommodations, world-class cuisine, relaxing pool and hot tub experiences, etc, etc! After having stayed there four nights, we totally agree that it really is the best Gay Resort on the planet. Sure, Palm Springs has its clothing optional resorts with pools, play-areas and hot tubs...but they don't serve alcohol (and rarely food) and certainly not 24/7! Sure Puerto Vallarta has the Spartacus club... very similar to Island House in many regards but you cannot spend the night. Sure, other cities have a similar all-gay male experiences but do they also have the walkability that Island House has, surrounded by shops, narrow pedestrian alleys and even a free bus service if you don't want to walk. I know I am starting to sound like a broken record but we were truly impressed. Island House is a unique experience and yes, it was slightly above our normal pay range but it was also worth EVERY PENNY! Did I mention that the bartenders and waitstaff were super cordial and friendly... after five days we were on a first name basis with all of them. As vegetarians, we tried literally everything non-meat on their menu after we realized how great their food was. After a few days, we simply had no reason to actually leave the resort. We even met the owner, Bobi who gave us a history of his place and shared many interesting stories and laughs. Thank you Island House for lifting our spirits, offering us a relaxing vacation and for a great birthday (suit!) gift for my husband. We've already booked our return. read more

Island House - Happy hubby about to order breaky. - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

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I love this place but I can only give it 4 stars because it is a little over priced for what they say they offer. 30$ for a day pass but the pool and hot tub are nothing to complain about but also nothing to get excited about. Every time We've gone the men are nothing to complain about but again nothing to get excited about. If you have a partner or play bud - the video room is fun but if you're single and lower expectations, you might find fun. The best and absolutely best part about this place is the cute pool side restaurant. You don't need a day pass to eat here. The menu is huge. Prices and quantity are spot on. We had the tuna, pizza, cordon bleu, chicken club, and carrot cake. All were delicious and made us happy. The drinks were a bit expensive but the bartenders poured really strong. (It felt like a two in one drink so we feel the price verses quality of the drink was satisfactory.) They do have happy hour but they should have all day specials to make paying a high price for a day pass or hotel room more seductive. I do give credit to the owners and they are smart because they have a restaurant that would made us stay in the resort and not want to venture out. -If this place were competitive with their drink prices all day, a person staying there would have no reason to leave. read more

Island House - Pizza is fantastic - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

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My review is based on a visit for lunch. On one of my last days in Key west a few weeks ago I made my way to The Island House. My plan was to have lunch and check out the property for a future visit, and possibly grab a day pass and hang out. I didn't care for the location its pretty far back from Duval St about a 25/30 minute walk. I also wouldn't say the IH was in the most charming part of old town, up all the way to white st and you enter through an alley. After getting buzzed in I entered the lobby and a man at a desk directed me that way. I did eventually find the "café" and had a seat. The café was nothing like I had imagined and it could really have been in any tacky airport bar. it was well worn around the edges and table layout was thoughtless. Lighting was non existent and it was well shaded. There is a view of the pool but again what I had envisioned for the pool area was far from the older lagoon area I was looking on to. Everything just seemed dirty and cluttered, wet and moldy. A Cocktail was ordered, thinking maybe I would warm up, but I found the drink weak almost as if they forgot the orange vodka. So that didn't help. The Greek salad was selected and served on a 8 inch melamine plate. The salad was piled high with Iceberg, tomatoes, un-peeled cucumbers, (if they are paying extra for locally sourced produce like the menu says they are getting ripped off.) Kalamata olives (about 30 olives) 4 squared finger size slices of feta, and more then a dozen pepperoncini's, with a well cooked grilled chicken breast that was partially sliced. With my first fork a lot of the salad just fell off the tiny plate, and again and again. Maybe there was extra gravity that day, but I blame it on the size of the plate, and poorly composed salad. After a trip to the restaurants grimy restroom, coupled with a disaster of salad and weak drinks, I couldn't wait to leave. I am glad I stopped in only because my curiosity has been satisfied, but that's all that was satisfied. read more

Many surprises! 1. Often hotel receptions are robotic, though acceptable. Here felt very authentic. Real. They greeted me and chatted with me as though we were at a bar and had a nice first meeting. 2. The guests were super mixed but average age 30! I was expecting a more mature crowd considering off season and covid but the mix was very easy and pleasant. 3. Discretion was perfect. You can use your imagination here. If any suggestion, make drinks 15% stronger!! We'd order more!! read more

Go elsewhere! The facility and amenities are so NOT worth the money. We paid over $900 for 2 nights & were very disappointed, we actually left after the first night. The hotel would not refund the second night because we did not speak to the clustered group at the front desk prior to leaving. Rather, we immediately sent an email, to management, well within time to re-rent the room. Honestly, we just wanted to leave the drama behind us. There are soooooo many other wonderfully managed, CLEAN & modern options (even the inn across the street). The only positive is the pool area. It's beautiful. Not recommended. read more

Not trying to make a joke, but the fish tacos were the best I've ever had! I'm allergic to alcohol, so I went for lunch, instead of the free happy hour. The food was delicious, but the service was awful. I sat for 10 minutes before anyone even spoke to me. Zoltan was barely friendly to me. He talked and laughed with other tables. The guests there didn't seem very friendly either. Maybe it would have been different during happy hour with the booze flowing. read more

Island House - The fish tacos are incredible!!!! In my opinion, this place is completely worth the trip just for them! - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

After spending a week at Island House I can honestly say I was not impressed. We rented a one bedroom unit (across the alley from main property) and paid nearly $500.00 a night. The room was small and not particularly comfortable. There was constant noise outside our room from employees huddling around the make-shift break area by the garbage dumpsters. We did have access to the larger Island House property but only went inside once. The steam room was TINY. The one jacuzzi they had was loaded with people, making it impossible to get in. The dark room (play area) was smallish (more hallway than anything and reminiscent of something out of the 70's. The "gym" was literally a 10x12 room with ancient equipment (and only a few pieces at that). You are better off getting in a workout offsite. The one thing that was nice here was our bed. It was comfy and probably new. Otherwise, the nearly $4000 we paid was not worth it. We didn't even have silverware (had to call for it). It pains me to say this because I wanted to like this place. My suggestion to management is to match your advertising with what you deliver. I'm giving 3 stars but should be 2 or 1 because I try to support businesses in our community. read more

My husband and some boys decided to drive down from ft Lauderdale for a few days. We opt for the small 2 bedroom apt next door on their property. Nice clean in the high 400 but is to be expected for the amenities they have and time of year. Will say very nice apt clean and spacious ....HOWEVER WHAT GAY GUEST HOUSE ONLY HAVE A DOUBLE AND A QUEEN SIZE BED. 4 of us staying in the apt. Otherwise nice. POOL was packed with 50/50 local and tourists. Made it nice to see however after 11am chairs are for day passers too so if you sleep in forget lounging by the pool in a chase on weekends. Seems they should control that better. Pool was utterly discussing dirty from scum build up pool people come for about 7 mins and left Food is alway good we all said BUT a WAITER CALLED PATRICK WAS a complete asshole from the start and deal with him behind the bar too. If you stay there everything you want can be charged to room which is great but this goofball PATRICK said he was leaving at 4pm and needed us to sign close out our bill cause he won't get his TIP and he was very persistence on that worried about them steeling his tip. A...HOLE As it turned out he did not leave at 4 pm and worked behind bar when this A...hole started with the same crap about closing out so he can get his tip. I flipped out and told this A..hole he'll get his tip when and if I want to give him one. Manager found out and was another A...hole as he looked over at us after being told by A...hole Patrick and he just walked away. PATRICK IS DK read more

No Longer The Best In Key West I recently spent a week at Island House. I have stayed at Island House in the past and noticed many changes but most of them are for the worst. I have noticed that Island House has raised room rates between 30%-80% depending on the room type. Which in my opinion is TOTALLY overpriced for what you get (or should I say don't get) and pricing people out of staying at Island House. The average age of men staying here is approximately 65 which is the group that can afford the stay. I feel the recent price hike is due to Island Houses purchase of the house and lot next door to Island House to expand the footprint of Island House and other upcoming renovations. I thought that Island House was a bit dirty. During my stay I only saw the floors and deck being moped once. The black mats put down for safety purposes are very hot and uncomfortable to walk on. If you are walking around the resort you should wear flip-flops or your feet will be black. I noticed several guys having sex in the pool, hot tubs, and on the sundeck. I asked the front desk about the cleanliness of this and was told the chemicals would kill anything in the pool and hot tubs. The lounge chairs around the pool and on the sundeck are very old and uncomfortable to sit on. I feel that the bar staff is over worked having to serve people drinks and also take care of the food orders. I waited sometimes 20-25 minutes for someone to take my food order then by the time my order came out it was cold because the server was also making cocktails at the bar which was very busy. They really could use a dedicated server during busy times. Late night at the bar after 11:00pm really could also use better late night munchies such as mozzarella sticks, just something more than just a large menu item or fries. The bar was also selling a 20 ounce drink tumbler for $25.00. (The tumblers are very nice) The regular drinks are served in a 16 ounce plastic cup. (Which around the pool area is a great thing) The bar staff would promote the tumblers as you are getting 4 more ounces of cocktails for the price of the regular 16 ounce cup. However some of the bar staff would not fill the tumblers so you are actually being short shot on your cocktails. A better offer would be to take $2.00 off the price of your cocktail for purchasing the tumbler. I love Key West and I hope that this will help anyone that is planning a trip to Key West. As far as me rebooking at Island House in the future I'm not sure if I would. I'm sure that I will shop around a bit more for a better place to stay. read more

If Key West is my favorite destination, then Island House has to be my favorite place to stay while i'm in paradise. Year after year I keep coming back to the Island House. The staff is super friendly. The vibe is relaxed and the guests are always friendly and welcoming. I've come on many visits where I barely leave the resort. Everything you want is here. They have a nice pool by the bar where all the action happens during the day. Their bar/restaurant has phenomenal food and drinks. And the indoor jacuzzi is stunning. It is not cheap to stay here but when you factor in everything that you get, it's actually a great value! I have made so many friends out of the guests that I've made here through the years. YOU WILL HAVE A BLAST! read more

Island House - Gay Bars Near Me - Key West, Florida

We just got home last week from our second trip back to the Island House. We stayed Friday-Friday. It really is our best vacation spot. There are so many wonderful things to say about the Island House, I do not know where to begin. Let's start with the staff. Booking the room was very easy with the guys at the front desk. You have to call to make the reservation. They really try to find you the best room for your needs. The 24 hours restaurant and bar is unbelievably great! We spent much of our time there hanging out with the friendly staff. Levi-Brian-Paul- and I do not remember the other names! I can't complement the bartenders and the servers enough for making us feel comfortable. The rooms were very clean and if you needed anything, the front desk was on top of it quickly. I feeling like I am using the word "great" too much. So let me just include the rest and call it all great! The pool, the hot tub, the location, the overall layout of the place. It is a half mile walk to Duval Street and a half mile walk in the other direction to our favorite Cuban place, Sandy's. Key West in itself is a wonderful place to visit. It is expensive to stay there, but if you can afford it, it really is worth every penny. I feel like it is a judgement free zone. We were welcomed in and we felt instantly at home there. I highly recommend the Island House. Have a GREAT time! read more

Nice location, but mgmt has work to do. We booked a room directly through the hotel while speaking with the general manager to ensure the correct rate. Once we got our receipt the hotel overcharged and they refused to return calls. I was told I would get a call and the credit but that has yet to occur. What a shame that they do not honor the quoted and agree price. read more

So I was unable to stay here as they were booked but met a friend for dinner and returned for their Sunday pool party. This was one of the best experiences I had in key west. Everyone was friendly and it honestly doesn't matter what you look like. It is one of the most inclusive, comfortable, fun and exciting places I've been. Having had two dinner here twice on my trip I can say that the food was amazing and I wasn't expecting that. I would make a trip here for dinner anytime the menu has something for everyone and everything looked amazing. As for the staff they are top notch. In a previous life I was a trainer for the ritz and let me tell you these guys exceeded all my expectations and answers any and all question like a good friend. Bravo. I definitely plan on making island house my home base on my next trip. read more

******SIX STAR REVIEW****** So everyone who gave this place less than three stars either stayed in some parallel dimension or is an insufferable queen who secretly hates themselves (and probably their mommy, too). This place was absolutely perfect from booking my room (the handsome Gordon assisting me here) to recommending the best florist (See my review for Gilda's and thanks Norman!) to - well everything. Even checkout. Seriously! I'm posting pictures because truly no description can fully justify how awesome this place is. Frankly, if you were only staying a few days you could never leave this property and still have an incredible time. Let me see if I remember all the free stuff you get. Free wifi, free water bottles for free distilled water, free gym facilities, free coffee, free sarongs, free booze each day from 5:30-7:30, free cable, free adult movies, free toiletries, and if you stay four nights you get three free. I'm heading back in October for my bday! (yay!) My room was spectacular, a full one bed room apartment with large flat panel TV, super soft and comfy bed (seriously, the best I've slept in anywhere but my own), and parking for my rental scooters right outside the door. Literally! See my pics! The room was also well soundproofed, cleaned by the staff to perfection every day (they even folded up the blanket I took to the sofa for afternoon naps and left it there so i didn't have to keep retrieving it! Thank you! (Oh, and they will coordinate your scooter rental if you wish, do it, these guys will get you the best price!) The food. I ate at least one meal a day here. The food was as good as any other place I had eaten at while in Key West including the recommended fu-fu places. Now I agree this is not 5 star Ritz Carlton cuisine, but everything I ate was damn tasty, and worth the price I paid for it. From the kettle chips to the filet Mignon. As far as Mary who was complaining about older men, if that's a problem, go to summer camp. Trust me - no one is staring at your 86 pound flaunt of manorexia. For those of us who are realists, yes, there is an interesting cross section of men from twenties to (during my stay) eighties. The eighty year old was more fun, had a better time, and told me some tales that I hope to be able to tell myself some day ;) The staff was incredibly warm and accommodating. the aforementioned Gordon and Norman were our cruise directors through the time we were here, and the bartenders were always smiling, available, and no order was a problem (and trust me - after a few hours of drinking, we were making some funky drinks up!) Thanks Billie, Frank, Ralph, Kaleb, and all the other guys who made the stay awesome. As far as 'seediness' yes, there was nudity. Yes, they have adult movie channels, and yes, there is a video room. I didn't go to the video room because, frankly, I found all the entertainment I needed on the main floors, but those that I chatted with who did visit it remarked it was clean and fun. Nough said. On on odd note there are no hairdryers in the rooms. Sporting a recent buzz cut (and subsequent sunburned pate) I hadn't noticed by my partner did. We realized that any real hair queen probably brings her own anyway as anything less than 12000 watts simply won't do ;) Do I have any concerns on staying again? I regret I could not personally shake the owner's hand for putting together such an incredible product, team of men working for him, and overall experience. I would stay for a month if I could. In short, if you are looking to go spend a little time in paradise, stay here. It may cost a little more than the Holiday Inn, but can you truly put a price on perfection? read more

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My partner and I spent several days here this week. It is our second visit here this past year and, frankly, one visit is enough. We enjoy Island House because everything - bar, gym, pool, restaurant, and sun deck - is under one roof. Therefore, if you don't WANT to leave, well, you don't have to. However, it's akin to a high-end bathhouse. So, if that's NOT your thing, well, Island House isn't for you. The staff is very friendly (although I'm surprised that the owners and manager allow them to fraternize with the guests) and accommodating. There is a free happy hour for guests from 530p-7p daily and the food is above average. The wireless can be a little spotty in your room. My biggest gripe is that they allow people to buy a day pass. I can understand this on, say, Wednesday when they have a pool party and it's the middle of the week. However, as someone paying $300 a night, I'd like a little more room to breathe (heck, I'd like my own lounge chair around the pool!). Speaking of breathing, they STILL allow smoking in the common areas (nothing like the smell of cigarettes and pot with a hint of Febreeze to make you gag!). I discovered mold in my fruit cup one morning, but the manager, Ralph, gave us breakfast for free. I'm only hoping that it converts to penicillin in my gut. Again, it's a fun one-time experience, but I think the "all gay, all the time" thing has run its course. read more

We've been on 9 gay cruises, and have stayed at many gay resorts from P-Town to Palm Springs, and the FUN quotient at Island House has got to be one of the best values we've had. What a blast! The property is beautifully tropical. The rooms are spotlessly clean, nicely decorated, equipped with comfy beds/linens, are well air-conditioned and have modern video. The shower pressure was good and the bath, (while small), had great amenities that were frequently replaced. Even the rooms around the pool were quiet, despite what you might expect, because all rooms have new, sound-dampening double-pane doors and windows. Perfect. The staff, while not particularly engaging, is friendly and attends to every detail. Upon check-in, you receive a personal tour of the property which, given how travel-weary we were, seemed a bit irritating at first, but really made us feel welcome and set up our visit perfectly. (Our bags magically appeared in our room by the time the tour was over). There are towels and sarongs available everywhere. Pool chairs were easily to get, (no 6am "reservations."). Even the ash trays, in the smoking area, were emptied so frequently that I rarely saw a dirty one. We loved having a 24-hour café/bar! The food was surprisingly good, though the menu did seem overly large and service was occasionally chaotic. Room charges were easy, so you didn't have to worry about carrying cash and, after a while, the staff remembered our room number. The daily happy hour, with free drinks, was a really nice touch and drew a good crowd. Clientele was pretty diverse . . . twinks, muscle boys, bears, daddies . . . from all over the world, and folks were friendly and playful. Some went nude. Some did not. And, since Island House offers day passes, there were always a nice collection of locals and other visitors to keep things lively. The Wednesday "naked cocktail party" was a blast. The playroom always seemed busy too. There is no real reason to actually LEAVE Island House, but they did recommend a snorkeling/sailing trip on the Blue Q catamaran. It was well worth the money, and a perfect day or sun, sea and frolic. One caution: The staff will tell you that Duvall Street is an "easy walk." Yeah. Right. Maybe in the winter. In the humid months, it's a death march. Take a cab. (The scene in town, by the way, was a blast and it's the only place in the U.S. where we've actually seen "clothing optional" bars. You get the idea). In short, Island House is a fantastic men's destination resort. We'll be back. read more

This was at least my 5th visit to Island House and once again they didn't disappoint. You could tell some minor changes since COVID but nothing that was an inconvenience. The staff was still their friendly accommodating selves. The bar and meal service was a little slower than past years but the staff seemed to be trying hard. If you get Levi as your server/bartender you are in for an incredible time! He was very friendly and you could tell he had a lot of experience. He welcomed us, by name, every time he saw us. He was a stand out!!!!! We definitely be back again next year!!!! Hope we see you again Levi!!!! read more

Awesome stay at the Island House! We only left twice in 5 days! Ended up eating every meal there. All were excellent quality and quantity. Not to mention amazing friendly staff. We look forward to returning.!! read more

This was my first time staying at Island House and oh what a pleasure. The rooms are clean and standard as your 4-star hotel size and the bed is extremely comfortable. The food can be a little over priced in my opinion, but has great taste/flavor. I thoroughly enjoyed the happy hour on Pool Party Wednesday because as a hotel guest you get up to four free drinks which were all worth it. From the amenities, lovely Island House staff, cleanliness of the entire resort, and overall vibe it's a wonderful place to visit. I will definitely be back next year! read more

We had SOOOO much fun doing day visits here last month. So much so that we are booking a couple of weeks next October to stay within the resort (instead of using "points" elsewhere and visiting during the day). Met a lot of new friends and connections - including a couple near us in So Cal. I'll use the 3 Million Marriott points we have on other trips - it's worth paying the $$$ to be at this resort as "home base"! read more

My partner and I both had a great time on a day pass ($30USD) to Island House (in and out privileges until 4am). They have two hot tubs (one indoor and one outdoor) with a gym, sauna, steam room, playroom (which was closed the day we went due to A/C repairs being done). The bar, restaurant, and all amenities are open 24 hours a day. The staff is nice. There was a variety of men there when we went. I would definitely recommend checking it out! read more

As difficult as it would seem, this venerable gay men's resort has found a way to remain open for business, providing its loyal customers with the enjoyment they expect balanced by the safety they need. Island House knows that when you throw a gay man into a clothing-optional tropical paradise with a likeminded international crowd of men escaping the pain of 2020, he is apt to think with the smaller of his two heads. Not to worry, Island House has made careful decisions and adjustments throughout the property, honoring and surpassing all requirements. In addition, staff is vigilant and not shy about enforcing rules put into place for the health of all. Unless your behavior is stupid, the risks you assume upon check-in are no greater than those you accept at a supermarket, gym, convenience store, or restaurant. Social distancing and masks prevail. Room services and food service have been carefully adjusted. Again, anyone breaking the rules is swiftly brought into compliance by the staff. To be clear, you will miss some aspects of the Island House experience, including their fabulous Sunday and Wednesday pool parties and crowded happy hours, but thoughtful socializing will still have you laughing with new and old friends. I am told weekends are sold out, so expect a crowd. (Contact Island House for the specifics about what facilities are either open, closed or restricted.) Maybe Island House knows the difference between prudent and prudish, between sensible and senseless, between respectful and reactionary. Maybe it's just that they want their customers to stay healthy, and to return again when Key West is back to (never) normal. I have enjoyed my twelfth annual Island House visit. As always, I never left the property! read more

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Been coming here since 2003 ..several visits per year and always a wonderful experience . With the new management of Jeffrey and James things have only gotten better ! These guys are on the property constantly and it shows ...the place is gleaming ! One weekday morning they were pressure washing the pool deck ...a little noisy but not that bad ....still all the guests that were on deck got a free Mimosa ( thanks !) The happy hour continues to be the hottest ticket in town ( 4 free drinks per person each day ! ) The 3 free days In off season I take advantage of every year ...so many of the staff have been there year after year and have become cherished friends ...what can I say ..it's home away from home( and I'm not an easy customer to please lol) read more