Angelina Guest House

The Angelina Guest House embodies the spirit of Key West with its gentle Southern style, including a wraparound second-floor gallery, wooden front porch with bench swing, and pastel-colored facade reflecting the peaceful atmosphere inside. The hotel embraces its checkered history by naming the guest rooms after fabled former working girls, including Kitty, Flo, and Brandi. Although the Angelina is located two blocks from the Duval Street nightlife, management requests that guests leave the noise and spring break behavior at the bar. The hotel rents to adults only, so noisy kids won’t disturb guests’ poolside lounging; hammocks hang from palm trees, begging vacationers to indulge in naps. There is nothing pretentious or uptight about the Angelina, with its handmade signage, sunny yellow walls, and kindly owner rolling out dough for morning cinnamon rolls in the kitchen. The setting evokes something out of Southern literature, while the resident cats are reminiscent of Key West denizen Ernest Hemingway’s feline brood. All in all, the Angelina is a friendly Key West oasis, chock full of local character and history.

The Angelina Guest House is located in the heart of Key West’s Bahama Village. This is one of the most beautiful areas of town, surrounded by shops and restaurants, and within two blocks of Duval Street’s famous nightlife scene. The Hemingway Museum is five minutes’ walk. South Beach is a 15-minute walk south, while the waterfront Mallory Square and historic boardwalk are both about 15 minutes' walk in the opposite direction. Tourists who want to see the Key West sights and dip into the nightlife, but then retire to peace and quiet, will find this an ideal location.

Rooms at the Angelina Guest House come in a variety of configurations, with something for every guest. Smaller rooms share hallway bathrooms; there are also one- and two-bedroom units, some with microwaves and refrigerators. Clean and tidy, guest rooms have a beach-y vibe, with white wicker furniture, picket-fence headboards, striped and quilted textiles, and lazy ceiling fans (plus air-conditioning for hot days). Bathrooms are bright, with windows for natural light; fresh towels are delivered daily, and there are stall showers. There is no elevator, so guests with mobility issues may want to request ground-level rooms. Amenities include free toiletries and Wi-Fi, but there are no in-rooms safes. TV is only available in the Queen Suite. 

The Angelina Guest House has a heated, lagoon-style pool with a brick patio shaded by palm trees, where guests can lay out in lounge chairs or hammocks while a little waterfall creates a peaceful soundscape. Rental bikes are available at the front desk for tooling around the island (for a fee). There is a picturesque porch swing for idling away the afternoon, maybe with a book borrowed from the hotel’s lending library. A delicious breakfast is served each morning, including homemade cinnamon rolls, which have a loyal following.