Picolo recommends · Hotel in Key West, Florida
Opal Key Resort and Marina
A resort on the harbour with its own marina, close to Mallory Square but a step back from the busiest streets.
Opal Key looks straight over its own marina, with boats tied up below the rooms and the pool. Mallory Square and the sunset celebration are a couple of minutes away on foot.
Snorkel trips to the reef and ferries to the Dry Tortugas leave from the harbour nearby, which makes this a practical base if you want to spend days on the water.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Opal Key Resort and Marina
Opal Key gives you the harbour view and the modern resort comforts without putting you on Duval Street itself. It is the calmer central option.
It feels more like a resort than old Key West. If you want wooden houses and verandas, Old Town guesthouses suit you better.
What you get
- Own marina
- Outdoor pool
- Rooms with harbour views
- Restaurant and bar
- Good for families
A day at Opal Key Resort and Marina
- Morning
- An early ferry from the harbour to the Dry Tortugas.
- Midday
- Lunch out at Fort Jefferson.
- Afternoon
- Back to the pool by the marina.
- Evening
- A short walk to Mallory Square for sunset.
Location
Key West, Florida, USA
Open in MapsQuestions about Opal Key Resort and Marina
Is Opal Key Resort close to Mallory Square?
Yes, it is about two minutes on foot from Mallory Square.
Can I book boat trips from Opal Key?
Reef trips and ferries to the Dry Tortugas leave from the harbour nearby. Book them ahead in high season.
Does Opal Key Resort have a pool?
Yes, there is an outdoor pool by the marina.
Would you rather stay somewhere else?
Three other Key West hotels, each picked for a different reason.
Updated 5 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
