10 Oct Overnight in Key West: Artist House on Fleming
Key West is home to many bed and breakfasts ranging from small and basic to grand and fancy, but most are cheaper than staying in a larger hotel. I like the quaintness and personal attention of a bed and breakfast, but we had yet to stay at one in Key West, and I am so glad we finally did. We booked a room at The Artist House on Fleming because it was walking distance to the famous Duval Street and it looked like a pretty great place to lay our heads for the weekend. Since we were visiting for the weekend and couldn’t arrive until late Friday evening after the office was closed, they emailed us a code and left our key in the lock-box with a welcome note and coupons.
We were pleasantly surprised with the size of our room–after reading reviews that the rooms were on the small side, we thought we would be a little cramped. We booked the Simonton room, one of the smaller rooms, but we still felt like there was more than enough space to spread out and relax. Decorated with modern decor, the room and rest of the house was very clean and up to date. The only aspect of the hotel that I felt could be improved was the bathroom. It’s not that it was in bad condition, but it didn’t quite match the updated look of the rest of the hotel.
On the front patio, you can relax in the swing and watch the day go by. A continental breakfast consisting of items such as breads, pastries, cereal, oatmeal, meats, cheese, yogurt, juice, milk, coffee and mimosas is served daily. The only place to eat is outside on the patio or you could bring it back to your room as well.
The patio has a grill if you want to have a cookout, ice if you need it for your cooler and a pool. Even though the pool is small, it has a pretty waterfall pouring in and it still looked like a great spot to unwind after a full day in the Key West sun. Inside the house, the common areas consist of a kitchen and living room with a fireplace as well as a wall full of coupons for local attractions. If you feel like socializing, join the nightly happy hour at their sister property, The Artist House Key West Guest House, which is closer to the famous Duval Street.
The hotel is located in a more residential area of Key West, and there is street parking available. The Artist House on Fleming is about a 10-15 minute walk from Duval Street, and I would recommend walking if you are able, as parking is expensive when you get close to Duval.
Overall, we really enjoyed the Artist House on Fleming and would recommend it if you are looking for a quieter hotel that is still somewhat close to the action.
Have you been to Key West? What’s your favorite hotel?