Remember this is a all male clothing optional private resort.. There are fit , out of shape, smooth , hairy, older, mid-aged, horny (?), mid size to fat gay men in the environment...one needs to accept and look pass any uninvited scenes....expect it here or go somewhere else.... It just feel good to be in a all gay resort and be our yourselves. Just have an open mind and respect others space and acts and you'll have a great time... Rooms was very clean and nice. Bar and restaurant was excellent, pricey and romantic. Compared to the restaurants along Duval St. the price is reasonable tho. Staff constantly clean the resort clearing all ashtrays, taking used towels left behind, providing fresh washed towels, and cleaning grounds. They are not intrusive and respect a gay mans space and activities ....Our room was ground floor have constant creeps walking outside all nite long (we have a hard time sleeping).. walking and creeping floors (request second floor). Resort have faux deck flooring that makes pounding sound when walking hard. The resort is a maze of hallways leading to all rooms,gym pool and hot tubs. Video room is a hit or miss thing. If you "HIT" is really hot !!! All and all we have a great time in our weekend stay in Island House...and stayed in another resort to be more relax on weekday to complete our vacation. read more

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Very expensive! Staff no friendly ,Rooms smells mold ! Trouble makers , drunk boys all night , next to your door !!!!! If you are h.....y and you want to c.....m go there and buy day pass ticket . Pls don't stay there ! 400 something $ a night ?!?! No ! ( my 4 days experience there ) read more

BEWARE!!! I am Active Duty military member. I stayed here for one day as I needed a place after my military orders at the NAS base. I needed a place to relax after my deployment. Firstly, it was a SHOCK to see men laying out in various states of undress. Too each their own. I'm not bothered as long as they respect that I'm NOT into that. I get that the place is clothing optional but every where I went in that place, there were men staring at me. I was shirtless and it felt really uncomfortable. A few older men complimented my looks and Marine tattoos but i told them I wasn't swinging that way. A few middle ages dudes at the bar bought me drinks and I thought they wanted to hear about my deployment. when I was a bit inebriated, they wanted something more of adult nature with me...it freaked me the *** out. I am WARNING you! I am not returning to this seedy place. Do not come here unless you want to be harassed by old men at the pool, the bar and in the bathroom. Too much nudity and perverted men that cannot take a polite and firm "No" as an indication that you are not into their adult activities. PS The only good thing was the drinks were strong like when I was in Mexico though read more

After staying at this property and looking at all the unfavorable reviews, the biggest complaint is the price for value. Way overpriced for old seedy rooms. Oh and if you like listening to the wall A/C's run all night this is your place. Take a day pass here for the experience and stay at another hotel. You'll save 40% off their rate. There are many great B&B's and AB&B's close by. Really a disappointing place that I would never recommend. read more

I read reviews before deciding to come. I invited my friends so they could share my 50th bday celebration. I can say for sure I was blown away at how wonderful the entire staff and patrons were. Everyone was enjoying themselves and made sure I was happy. As anyone who coordinates things with friend you know its a pain to try to relax when u think of others. I was sooooo relaxed I cant say enough how much fun the place is. The only minor thing was we reserved the apt and the stove didnt work so I didnt get my bday dinner my friends wanted to make for me. Other than that, I have zero complaints and will come back again. read more

Friendly staff and great guests. A special place for community and free spirit living.

This place is the best! My husband and I purchased a day pass (we were staying at different hotel) and now we know we will be staying at the Island House from now on. It was EXTREMELY clean and the staff was incredibly welcoming. All the amenities make this place a one stop shop. We got to experience it all with our day passes and no need to travel out and about when everything we were looking for was right there. The other hotel guests were great too. The place has an amazing vibe about it. We can't wait to return. read more

Our first time in Key West , we stayed at island house, best place in earth, super clean, excellent food, great environment to relax , costumer services is excellent, David was great, can't wait to come back read more

The aging resort is showing serious signs of disrepair. My room had sewage backing up (moved rooms below, only to be waken at 7 in the morning by the plumber above). It is obvious that the owners Martin (passed away) and Jon do not frequent the resort. Stayed at the resort numerous times, this will be the last time.. read more

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

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We stayed at Island House for three nights at the end of March and it was by far one of the best vacations I have ever had. The place was immaculately clean, the drinks were a heavy pour, happy hours were super fun, the staff was the friendliest ever, and the food- my god the food- was amazing. I am a bigger guy and at no time did I ever feel judged or out of place here. My partner and I loved the people we met and by the end of our three days, we did not want to leave. Fellas, this is a destination. Run, don't walk. I cannot wait to go back! read more

Good place for stay but I must say I was shocked when the bar attendant made me try their Stoli premium vodka. He offered it himself and then charged it to me for $2.33. And to think I came to see if I should stay here for my next weekend read more

They property was great ... clean, well maintained and GREAT STAFF! We stayed at the property for one night and had a great time. We will be going back soon for round two!! We actually left something in the room and the guys called us and made sure they mailed it back to us ... now that is great customer service. The pool and bar area are great too and the food was amazing ... along with some really sexy men! Thanks to all of team that made us feel like family! read more

Our experience with Island House last year was less-than-positive . We normally stayed at Big Rubys, but decided we'd give Island House a try. lt started with our initial call to make reservations, and it was downhill from there. The front desk staff was rude and short. After asking about prices, I asked if they had any specials. The desk-clerk barked "...no, we don't have any specials and our rooms are filling fast.. would you like a room or not?..." I assumed he was just having a bad day, so I booked the room (Queen sized with private bath, fridge,microwave...) Upon arriving, the front desk staff again seemed less-than-friendly. No smile, no welcome, just a "name please". After checking in, a clerk led us to our room on the back-side of the complex, overlooking the hot-tub. He gave us some info about the grounds, and left. During our stay, the guests weren't very friendly either. Not their fault...just saying. Every day of our stay, we had to call the front desk for towels, even after they had just cleaned our room. We also noticed that they didn't change the sheets, but simply made up the bed. Strange. That made me wonder if they ever changed the sheets before we arrived ... ewwhhhh!!!!! ...maybe that's a normal practice for existing guests? But I didn't complain. About 6 months after our stay, we received an email containing some special rate but we needed some other details. Thinking that our previous experience was just negative because we were there on an unusual week (whatever it was), we called to make reservations and give them another try. Again the clerk seemed rude and acted as if answering the phone was interrupting his day. And just as on the previous call, when we asked about more details regarding the special rate, he responded "..do you want the room or not, we're filling up fast..." We were only on the phone about 3 minutes.. it's not like we were asking this guy a lot of questions.... so we said "hell no" and hung up. The bottom line for me is this: I know that Island House can't control the friendliness of it's guests but they DO have control over the friendliness of their staff (especially the staff that makes a first and lasting impression) and the availability of towels, etc... If you want a nice place to stay, with comparable prices and (in our experience) consistently friendlier staff and guests, I recommend you stay at Big Ruby's. http://www.bigrubys.com/ Island House Pros: __Good location __Nice sized rooms __Comfortable beds __Very large Sundeck __Nice pool area and grounds __Gym (very small) __Covered outdoor patio, bar and restaurant with good food and bar __"Video" and play room (yep, it can be fun, I admit it...) __Hot tub __In-room safe Cons: __Rude phone staff on more than one occasion (deal breaker #1) __Questionable cleanliness (see sheets comment above, although the rest of the room was very clean.) __Repeated requests for clean towels __Less than friendly front-desk staff on more than one occasion (deal breaker #2) read more

I love this place! I checked into the Island house on Friday afternoon and fell immediately in love with my room. There are actually 3 separate bungalows across the alley from the main compound, and I stayed in one of these rooms. It was a very well-appointed room with a full kitchen, living room, and a separate bedroom. Everything about the room and resort was of the highest caliber. The showers came equipped with a mounted dispenser that contained mint scented shampoo, body wash and conditioner. My room had two flat screen televisions, and all the rooms come equip ed with full cable as well as 5 channels of gay porn (yay!). The main compound contains all the fun, though. There's a pool area with a full bar -- this is where everybody hangs out. I spend a lot of my time hanging at this bar (happy hour everyday from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. -- which means free well drinks for guests of the resort). Locals and out-of-town visitors staying at other resorts/hotels actually come into the bar area (I believe day passes are sold at the front desk); Sunday afternoon's "pre-tea dance" party (noonish to 4-ish) is the big draw of the week. Oh -- did I mention? The entire compound is clothing optional. Lot's of dick to be seen. Which is why women ain't allowed (sorry ladies). Also, there's a "library" (they call it) with, um, well -- check it out for yourself :) Also, there are two hot tubs, a sauna, a steam room and a gym (the only place where you have to wear clothes is, thankfully, in the gym). I actually got in a decent workout at the gym, and the strippers from the gay bars down on Duvall street are given free access to the gym, so plenty of eye candy to behold. The staff were friendly and accommodating. These guys are professionally trained and definitely strive to give good customer service. You won't see ANY bitchiness coming from these guys at all. I endorse this place and recommend it. Seriously, if you're gay and want the "gay experience" when you come to Key West, you really need to try to stay here. read more

What a fun place! Super friendly staff and great food!!! Everything is very clean and spotless here! By far my favorite spot!

I thought I had already written a review for Island House, but apparently not. My husband and I went here for our 13th anniversary in 2013, and it was, hands down, the best gay themed resort we have ever been to. We stayed in their smaller apartment, which is actually just across the alley from the entrance, a decent sized one bedroom with a full kitchen. It was extremely clean, the bed was insanely comfortable, as were the couches. The food at the resort was pretty damn good. So much so, that we ended up eating there half of the trip. The whole place was extremely clean. They have free sarongs for people to wear, and to use for sitting so there aren't any bare booties tainting the furniture. I love that the bar and pool is staffed 24 hours (they don't serve alcohol from 4-7 I think). I'm a night owl, and really enjoyed swimming late night while it wasn't crowded, and enjoyed just hanging out at the bar while it was quiet. What really stands out here is the staff, and they were a huge part of what made our stay so great. Gordon and Norman at the front desk were insanely accommodating to anything we needed. The wait and bar staff were also amazing. Thank you Billy, Frank, Kaleb, Ralph, and anyone else I may have forgotten. Yes it was good enough that I still remember their names, and it's not because I found them attractive (all but one were not my type at all). Now, to address some of these other "issues" brought up in other reviews: It's a clothing optional gay resort, there will be naked dudes, and, since the world doesn't cater specifically to you, there will be men of all ages, types, and builds. Get over it. As someone who is hairy as hell, and quite portly, I appreciate the safe space to be able to be naked amongst other men in a non sexual manner. Would I love it even more if all the men there were big sexy bears? Of course! But you don't see me leaving a crappy review because the universe does not cater to my immediate desires. There is a playroom/mini bath house. It is tucked away and not in any of the main common areas. If it's not your thing, don't go in there (I didn't). Not once during our week long stay did I see anyone fooling around in the common areas during the day. And even at night, I only ever saw two guys messing around on the upper sun deck, and that was at 2am. That's it. Stay here, it's worth it. read more

My partner and I spent about a week in Key West at the beginning of the year, and Island House was one of two guesthouses we stayed at while there. We had to split the stay due to availability constraints. While the vacation started out great for the first couple of days, things changed over the course of the week. The front desk and cafe staff spanned the gamut from awesome to mediocre. The masseur staff was consistently top notch. Our room (we had the two bedroom apartment since that was all that was available) was great in every aspect. The infrastructure (TV, Internet) was about par for an Island -- spotty at times, but that is to be expected, especially in older neighborhoods. The front desk manager was willing to comp a day pass to us for the days that we could not book, which we thought was quite accommodating. It is very interesting, however, that once you are no longer staying there, the staff basically ignores you, especially the pool cafe staff, I guess they know to watch for the black wrist bands (which have the room keys on them as opposed to green ones which have the locker keys). You would think that they would treat all guests, day or overnight with the same level of courtesy, but sadly, that just does not seem to be the case. There is another guesthouse across the street, and I would recommend staying there instead of Island House, It is considerably less expensive and the staff and service are much more hospitable and accommodating. As another review mentioned, one visit is probably enough. read more

Probably the best gay resort/hotel I have stayed at ever. CONS -- location is far from Duval Street and in a residental neighborhood ... although this is Key West, you still have to walk about a mile or two from Duval to the hotel at night, and there are some unsavory areas of Key West you need to pass through PROS -- great staff, great accomodations, great restaurant, great amenities ... the pool was great, sundeck awesome, there is a great hottub area as well that gets really busy after 2am ... there is free porn channels in the rooms, and even a large sauna area and workout room. I was very afraid as this was my first gay guest-house ... there was a wide range of ages from 20 to 60, with the largest concentration within 5 years of 30 (25-35) and a lot of rather attractive people to look at. The place is huge, almost a compound at times, and has some interesting rooms tucked away here and there ... it is clothing option however I wore a bathing suit and did not feel out of place nor was I feeling like others were being hyper-critical. Overall I want to go back ... and I never thought I would find places like this fun ... it is a great get-away -- again, only drawback is if you are planning on going out a lot downtown on Duval or sightseeing ... if you are, then I suggest getting a day pass here to just use the pool and facilities to try it out, then you can decide if you'd commit to spending an entire trip there. read more

The staff of the Island House definitely went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure my stay with them was pleasant and unbelievable fun. Bartenders Kaleb, Michael, Darian, Billie, Bryan and Ray were amazing with their costumer service skills. And Jeff and James were quite possibly the most welcoming resort staff I have ever encountered traveling all over the world. The resort amenities were great, and the rooms were very comfortable and gave you a sense of home. Great job!! read more

Terrible experience.... TV did not work (reported x 2) and no resolution, no water pressure and toilet backed-up. Rude staff member at bar. Left Island house day early due to these problems. Reported to management during my stay and as I check out - was never contacted. Not worth the price. read more

Second time here Great pool party and on the house happy hour Their appetizers r the bomb The chicken tenders and tuna r to die for Relish Great staff The dark cruise room was Like an oven omg hot But overall it was great read more

Super friendly and relaxed environment. The food was beyond spectacular! Love the judgement free Zone. Felt extremely comfortable. I want to stay here next time I'm in key West! read more

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

Come for the amenities, stay for the casual racism My husband and I recently visited the Island House for the second time a couple of weeks ago. It's a nice space, with lots of amenities. However as an interracial couple we felt pretty out of place, there were very few people of color staying at the resort. And the staff definitely treated us differently from the others. My husband was even ID'd at the bar after being there for several days, no one else was. It was micro-aggressions like this that made us not feel welcomed. The resort is very expensive, so we would expect to be treated the same as everyone there. This wasn't the case. We won't be going back. We even wrote to them after this happened and got no response. Hoping for a more inclusive and supportive space for all queer men, not just some. read more

Such a fun "gaycation" spot -- really friendly, clean, comfortable, and relaxing -- and I can't wait to come back. The Island House "compound," as they call it, is a self-contained resort with a pool, gym, locker room, bar, restaurant, two Jacuzzis, "play" space, sun deck, and modern guest rooms. It's a few blocks off Duval so the tourist crowds don't wander by, but it's an easy walk to the local scene. This is definitely a sex-positive space. read more

Friend of mine and I stayed here for two days. Our biggest regret? That we even bothered with the rest of south Florida and didn't come straight here. Seriously, the amenities are amazing, the staff is unquestionably the nicest we have ever encountered, and the people there are polite and laid back and friendly. We arrived for a Sunday-Tuesday stay in the middle of the summer. It was hot, but the boys were out, the party was on, and people were excited that we decided to join in. If you're gay and going to stay in Key West (and don't mind a clothing optional resort), why would you stay anywhere else? Very pricey, but you get what you pay for. Thanks to the entire staff of the Island House for an amazing stay. (One caveat: parking is the only set back, but we did end up with one of the hard to come by four on-site parking spots, so we didn't have the problems other people reported they did.) read more

The staff are very friendly, helpful and knowledgable about the area. The property owners truely care that your stay is to their standards and excells your expectations. I have stayed at several guest houses and hotels in Key West, only to keep returning to the ISLAND HOUSE where I felt completely comfortable and at home. I have been there at various times of the year and have been treated like any of the 5 STAR / 4 DIAMOND business rating establishments. Always look forward to the next trip. read more

Great place to escape the world and enjoy a drink by the pool. I've heard to the Island House for years, and never had a chance to make it down until now. The hotel/bar is a beautiful venue with a wide range of things to do. I went in to just hangout and enjoy a drink by the pool since I was just passing through Key West. The place was quiet with an older crowd, much older. However, the drinks are strong and the bar staff is extremely nice. read more

I have been coming here for a couple of years now. This is such a fun hot spot! The guys are really friendly and we can't wait to come back. The Island House is a really amazing place to be at for breakfast, lunch, dinner and the late night eating which they have started doing for those of you who like a late night out on Duval Street. This is an amazing place to eat if you come home from the we hours on the town. Amazing food and the prices are so right! I usually get the Cobb Salad and it was the best. There is a variety of food here and you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend it to your group of friends. It great to come here for food because we all stayed at Alexander's then come here to eat anytime. The staff is very knowledgeable. Ask for Paul. He will take care of you and make your order right with the drinks/food. He's the best! I highly recommend this place for cheap food and drinks. We always have an amazing time here and the guys are oh so friendly. Lots of cruising and nudity around which is always a great thing anytime. Especially, in the pool area and around the rooms etc... Always an enjoyable and fun experience here with the decor, food and friendly staff! read more

Over priced dark outdated rooms and dark dirty lobby. My room smelled moldy. The jacuzzi smelled so bad I wouldn't even think about getting in. The employees at the bar by the pool were not friendly at all. It was like they were doing you a favor taking your order. They have been there way to long. No manager presence at any time in 4 days. It's running on an old reputation and not great service. read more

Hmm - What can I say bad about the place... I'll let you know if I remember something. (Don't hold your breath) Staff = Excellent Accommodations = Excellent Fun Factor = Excellent Bar = Excellent There is a reason this is the #1 gay hotel in the world. You feel welcome and they do everything to make your stay an experience. The prices are fair and if you stay it's an top self open bar!!! (5pm - 6:30) Clothing optional has never been our cup of tea. We never felt uncomfortable because everyone is respectful. Great place to hang out or use as a base for your Key West experience. read more

Not cheap, but total quality...rooms, staff, food, guests, sexuality. Mild to wild...and total nudity from the moment you arrive until you leave. Only bring shorts for when you're walking somewhere (maybe also a tee shirt, but not necessary). And the more daring going out after dark only put on a jock strap; when you get to one of the bars, that comes off too. read more

I have never been to a resort or hotel where everyone knows who you are within the first 30 minutes of being there. The people that work there emote love and acceptance. This is a gay resort (clothing optional). Food is available 24-7. This is the kind of place where the staff come back to after work to hang with the people staying there. These are the kind of people that, if you see them in the clubs, they cheer and dance with you. I wouldn't call this establishment a business or a resort or hotel. I would call this place a community. Hats off to the cooks in the back because the food there is amazing! Except for breakfast, my meals was all from there. Happy Hour from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM everyday. Four complimentary drinks, which is all you really need, because those fabulous bartenders treat you great. CHEERS! read more

Attending a party event by Bare Bones, I was greeted by a young man who had so much attitude it made the experience of going to Island House unpleasant. Island House is a bit of a maze. So ask for directions. Low ceilings make it feel a little confined. There are better gay resorts in Key West. read more

From the minute I made our reservations until the moment we left, we could not have asked for a better experience. The front desk staff was extremely personable, the bar and wait staff were so helpful and accommodating. Frank, Ki-J and Ralph were over the top friendly and their service and smiles left you wanting more. We stayed in 419, the condo adjacent to the Island House and the accommodations were above and beyond our expectations. We were a group of 4 guys, in our 30's from NY, who were in Key West to enjoy ourselves, and we did just that. It's hard not to at the Island house. Thank you to everyone at the front desk, please excuse me for not remembering names of the frenchman and the auburn haired gentleman, both amazing. I blame it on the free two-hour happy hour each day. They even gay my partner, who is a Police Office a 20% discount on the reservation. Even the house keeping staff who cleaned our room were extremely friendly, thank you. We've already looked into flights back this summer. Can't wait and thank you again to everyone at the Island House for making four boys from NY feel so welcomed and providing the most impeccable service. -The NY Boys (Brad, Gary, Shawn and Danny) read more

This is the first time my husband and I have stayed at the Island House. The resort is clean and the private bathroom room we had was nice as well. The food at the restaurant was excellent and the drinks at the bar were good. This is not a place to go if you are a couple or you are not interested in public sex. The clothing optional is nice when you want to get sun but it was a bit much having unsolicited men trying to touch you. It would be a great place if you are single and looking to cruse all day and night. This resort is 10 blocks(30 min walk) from Duval Street, so if you like to be down on the strip most of the time, I would stay somewhere closer. read more

Exceptionally relaxing. The phrase to describe how I feel about Island House. This resort is amazing at what it does. When you first enter you are welcomed by amazing staff who quickly check you in, take your items if your room isn't ready, and give you a tour of the property. You're also told about the free coffee and four drinks during happy hour. The bar and restaurant has perfectly tasting food and drinks. You're bound to have a good time on Sunday or Wednesday when they have their weekly pool party. Everyone was so beautiful and nice. It's a comfortable place that I would suggest to any gay man! read more

This was our first time staying at the Island House, and I can say for sure that it will not be the last. We had an absolutely spectacular time. Every single member of the staff was amazing. We also got to have some great chats with some really cool people who were staying there, as well as some of the locals. The whole atmosphere was friendly. If you are at all nervous about staying here, know that almost every body type was represented and the mood was free of the kind of judginess that all too often finds its way into gay bars and clubs. We felt completely comfortable the whole time. The food at the cafe is great. You could very easily never leave the resort. The place is clean and well maintained (we were amazed by how quickly they cleaned up after the hurricane). I cannot recommend Island House enough. I think we may have a new regular spot for when we need a getaway. read more

I just enjoyed my first trip to Island House and wish I hadn't waited so long to visit. It's pricey, but if staying here is in your budget you'll find that it's worth the money. The staff were all amazing, the resort was clean, and the 24-hour cafe surpassed my already high expectations. The resort includes a nice pool surrounded by dozens of lounge chairs where it's quite easy to socialize with other guests, two hot tubs, and a well enough equipped gym that includes a sauna & steam room. Stacks of clean towels are found throughout the public areas. My favorite aspect of my stay was that the room rental included multiple premium free drinks at happy hour each day. Duval St is an easy half mile walk down charming Fleming St, but once you're at Island House there's hardly any reason to leave. And you definitely won't want to go home. Kudos to the management for assembling such a great team of friendly employees! read more

Very disappointed with Island House. On the plus side, most of the service was top notch. The staff was nice and attentive. The hotel was clean and well maintained and it was nice to stay in a gay establishment. (This is why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 star) On the minus side, the front desk was completely disorganized and incompetent. On a $1500 bill, I was overcharged an additional $331, as they charged us for another room's tab. When first noticed it, on a Sunday they denied it. Had to wait clear until FRIDAY when someone else could handle it and find the charge. They finally issued a refund, but because of a bank error, it took another week to get my refund. All the while, all I received was a "sorry" and nothing else. And I mean nothing. I feel I should have been offered something for the amazingly bad customer service I received, from the ignored e-mails to flat out denials that they over billed me. Because it took so long to get everything straighten and it being close to the 1st of the month, Island House turned a dream vacation into a nightmare of epic portions. If you cannot trust a hotel to keep your credit card safe and linked to the proper room, then you can't stay there period. If you stay there, look over your bill with a fine tooth comb. Shame on you Island House read more

Wonderful happy hour! Lovely room. Loved the sarongs. Great people! The sun deck...yes! Staff very kind! Lots of FUN in more ways than one! Walkable to Duval. Was able to find parking fairly easily. The food very tasty and great selections. read more

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