The Mermaid & The Alligator

Our week-​long stay at The Mermaid and The Alligator could not have been more pleasant. The beautiful old house is immaculate and the inner gardens provide a calming, peaceful sanctuary from the traffic and the «uniqueness» that is Duval Street. Paul, Dean, Geri and Rebecca all in turn, make sure that you have everything you need to provide a most comfortable stay. Even Caya, the resident beautiful flat-​coated retreiver made sure that everyone received equal attention and play time.
Breakfast was delicious (homemade muffins, quiche, frittata, pancakes, waffles) — every morning something different. Coffee was always ready and waiting for the early morning risers. Mid-​afternoon lemonade and wine at 5:00 rounded out the days.
When asked in town where we were staying, the response was always «that’s a great place», or «we stayed there, it’s wonderful».
Would definitely stay again.

amazing place to stay! we loved every moment of our time there. the rooms were beautiful and super clean. the food was delicious. and if you need anything, there is always someone to help!
we cannot wait for our next trip to stay there!

I’ve stayed in a few places in Key West and this is by far the best!!! This place is breathtaking.
Upon arrival I was met by Rebecca who showed me around this beautiful B&B and then to my room. I have the pleasure of staying in the house in the Audubon room which had patio doors leading to a private patio and pool area. My room was beyond beautiful, bed was extremely comfortable. I will have to say my favorite part was the bathroom, huge mirror, jacuzzi tub (stopper didn’t work, so no tub for me) and open shower (my favorite part).
Breakfast was served first thing in the morning (7:30−10:30 I believe) by Dean (a great guy and chef). They have several items available arranging from fresh fruit, cereal, yogurts, bagels, hot breakfast, juice and coffee all on the deck. Sunday morning breakfast was prepared by Dean himself, I was served breakfast quiche topped with sour cream and salsa, bagel and fresh strawberries. Yummy yummy!!!
Afternoon lemonade on deck around 3 and wine at 5pm all on deck as well.
Beautiful landscape, private pool with hot tub jets… Such a tranquility experience.
I couldn’t ask for a better night stay. I recommend this place to everyone and will definitely stay again.
Thanks so much Dean and Rebecca for everything for my weekend stay.

Really enjoyed our one night stay! The level of detail behind every aspect — from decorations, welcome binders, menus for nearby restaurants and a ton of other little things is unmatched by any establishment I’ve ever stayed in.
Paul was nice enough to let us know about a great restaurant nearby which we stopped by for some takeout — a great recommendation! For breakfast we enjoyed muffins, fruit, waffles and coffee before heading out. My wife was so impressed she started talking about running her own B&B. I told her that level of service is not an easy feat to replicate.

We had a wonderful 5 night stay here and it was perfect! We stayed in the Lime room which is one of the smaller rooms but we loved it. It was very private with a great little porch.
The service was excellent and it was one of the cleanest places I’ve ever stayed. The courtyard is beautiful and so relaxing. The breakfast every morning was great with beverages and snacks available thru out the day.
We had a very relaxing stay in Key West but we did take a sunset cruise recommended by Gerri on the Hindu sailboat and it was perfect.
I can’t recommend this little beautiful inn enough. We are talking about a return trip just so we can stay here again!
And the sweet dog helps when you are missing your own dogs!

Fantastic, Wonderful, Beautiful… Perfect. This is an amazing sanctuary, the gardens are spectacular, the home is just lovely and the customer service is stellar. We stayed in the Caribbean Queen suite, the porch overlooking Truman Ave. was wonderful. We stayed there February 2015 for 4 nights and every breakfast was wonderful. We were traveling with a Seeing Eye Dog and this was the perfect place… even the dog of the house «Caya», was friendly and charming. We highly recommend this B&B and can’t want to visit there again. All of the staff were wonderful, a special shout out to Dean and Jerry. Stop looking for B&B’s and book this one before they fill up :)

My wife and I went to The Mermaid & The Alligator for our honeymoon and had an incredible experience! They responded quickly and got us setup with the perfect room and the staff is incredible. The house is an oasis of relaxation inside and out with birds, flowers, hammocks and more throughout. They offer a full concierge and Geri was incredible helping us setup all the activities for our entire stay making planning a breeze. They have homemade breakfast each morning and everything is exceptionally clean. Plus, they have a wonderful dog to welcome you. Thanks again for such a wonderful time!

I cannot recommend this place enough. I have told everyone I know about it — and even people I don’t know. THIS is what all B&B establishments should strive for as a level of excellence, customer service, and comfort.
You are welcomed into a friend’s home, is how I would describe it. Each room is unique (some bigger than others), but all rooms are quite comfortable. The grounds are luscious, luxurious, and made me WANT to stay in and not go out to enjoy the rest of the island! So, several days we just got lunch to go from somewhere local and popped back to the M&A to have lunch in the garden. Utterly pleasant.
They provide everything. Heated pool, with towels. Wine and cookies in the evening. Breakfast in the morning. A fridge with soda and bottled water at all times. Towels for you to take to the beach. Sunscreen. Directions, suggestions, reservations… they have it all. Rebecca is an amazing resource — USE HER. She knows the island well, and can arrange things quickly because everyone knows her!
Dean and Paul really made me feel like I was a guest in their home and were always happy to chat, see how our day went, offer suggestions… and take suggestions from us if we discovered something they didn’t know!
OK, I’ll end my review, because I could talk for days about this place. Just stop looking and book here. For the price, location, hospitality, amenities… you WILL NOT FIND BETTER on this island.

This was quite simply an amazing place. I really don’t see how a bed and breakfast could have offered a better experience. We came in late, but they made sure to have a welcome letter with all the instructions we needed for getting settled. We ended up in two rooms, first the Bamboo which is in an old carriage house and then the Sun room upstairs. Both were lovely. No television, but I consider that a plus! Each room was lovingly decorated. The garden was gorgeous with lots of little nooks and crannies. You felt you were in a botanical garden. Breakfast was tasty each morning with lots of yogurt and muffins and a hot dish that varied each day. Becca the concierge was extremely helpful with ideas for what to do and offered to arrange a lot of stuff for us and Paul and Dean were very nice as well. I look forward to coming here on our next trip to Key West.

We stayed at the Mermaid and the Alligator (or as the cab drivers call it, The MermaGator) for a week at the end of July. Dean, Paul and Rebecca were fantastic and very welcoming. They had great pointers for things to do/​see/​eat while in Key West. The dogs were also very friendly as to be expected, just be sure to heed the warning at breakfast not to feed the «Muffin Monsters» although they don’t seem to beg nearly as much as you would think. We stayed in the Bamboo room was was absolutely wonderful. We had plenty of room for our entire stay although we heard some of the other rooms weren’t quite as large. The decorations and landscaping throughout the property is absolutely fantastic and makes you feel like you’re walking through a lush tropical rainforest. The property isn’t huge, but that is very welcome as it’s not busy like a hotel usually is. The property is also pretty centrally located so everything is definitely within walking distance, although it was very hot and humid while we were there so we occasionally took a cab especially before nice dinners.
If you happen to forget something, chances are they’ll have it. They had extra sun screen, after sun aloe, bug spray, even other little toiletries.
Delicious breakfast served in the morning (their fritatta had to have been my favorite), lemonade and the occasional bread/​cake in the afternoon, and wine at night.
The pool is heated but wasn’t during our stay for obvious reasons. It stays rather cool without the heater as it’s in the shade pretty much all day. It’s also a decent size for relaxing.
It’s not cheap, but it was WELL worth every cent just for how relaxing, comfortable, and well maintained the property is.
We stayed in the Bamboo room which is in a separate cottage off of the main house. There are two smaller attached rooms in the cottage but we never once heard our neighbors. The Bamboo room was very roomy for two people.

What a terrific place. I love the gardens, the amazing breakfast, the quaint cottage (Bamboo Room), and of course the attention to detail which was evident all around. They’ve truly thought of everything here. I felt like royalty and really wanted for nothing. The true Gem of Key West.

Loved our stay!!! Couldn’t have had a better honeymoon! So happy with every single part of this beautiful bed and breakfast. Amazing hosts, adorable dogs, delicious breakfast, lush tropical gardens. Pure relaxation environment. It was perfect!!! Had everything you need for the beach and makes all reservations for you. Goodies and snacks all throughout the day and wine served at 5pm everyday. They have fresh Costa Rican coffee served everyday which fills the house with the most amazing smells all day. Did I forget to mention that if you don’t like your pillow you can choose from 3 other types?
It was perfect. We stayed in the sun room and had our own sunning deck which was even better for star gazing. Total privacy when you want it or a community of interesting people to relax in the pool with and have a glass of wine. We made amazing friends on our stay who we will keep in touch with and I just adored Dean and Paul. Such interesting people and conversations. We had an amazing honeymoon and we will absolutely recommend this bed and breakfast to everyone going down.

What an incredible place. I’ve been to key west dozens of times and just recently stayed here for the first time. The owners are amazingly accommodating, as is the staff. There are two black labs that live on the property who are adorable. The breakfast was delicious every morning. Throughout the day, the staff keeps a stocked fridge for guests. The pool is a perfect size. I can’t wait to go back to stay here.

Loved it! We had a little bungalow room and it was perfect. The courtyard is very private and relaxing.

My wife and I just returned from our 10^th Anniversary in Key West. This place was highly recommended by a co-​worker, and I have to say they delivered. Initially the website said they were booked solid, so I sent an e-​mail on a whim asking to be wait listed. Two hours later I had reservations in the Tree Top Suite following a brief e-​mail exchange. This is by far the nicest place I have stayed, eclipsing the Four Seasons at TRIPLE the cost. The grounds are beautiful, the rooms are beautiful, the entire place is just beautiful. We enjoyed the casual atmosphere, and it is within walking distance of everything in Key West. The breakfast was always fantastic as well. Without question, The Mermaid and the Alligator has ruined us on any other B&B. I can’t see how anything could be better.

My wife and I stayed here as a one night getaway back in September 2013. My parents had recommended it as a nice place to stay, and I must say that we were not disappointed. The folks who received us when we arrived were wonderful, and even got us last-​minute reservations at Latitudes, which is a very nice restaurant on Sunset Key with great views and great food. Our room was huge, with its own balcony, and very comfortable. Our breakfast on the following day was cooked by the owners, who are a hospitable couple — it was delicious. We were so sad to leave, but alas, will definitely be back for a longer escape in the (hopefully) not-​too-​distant future!

Beware, this Bed and breakfast will ruin all other B&Bs for you. My husband and I stayed her in November 2012 and I can’t believe I haven’t written a review yet. Every time we stay at a different establishment we compare it to The Mermaid and the Alligator and they always pale in comparison. The owners are incredibly helpful and friendly, the food is amazing the grounds are beautiful, the pool is heated and the coffee is to die for. What really puts this place over the top is all the small touches, cookies when you get home from drinking, a lovely happy hour, and a continental breakfast while you wait for your hot breakfast. I can’t say enough about this place, it’s definitely a must!

As a Pilot and long time flight attendant, my boyfriend and I have spent MANY nights in hotels. This was hands down the nicest lodging experience we have ever had. From the downstairs fridge stocked with refreshments, to the fabulous banana pancakes, this is a «must «if you are heading to Key West.

This place is very special to me, and holds a small spot in my heart somewhere.
Not only was this my first Bed & Breakfast, it was also part of my stay for our honeymoon. It far exceeded all my expectations of a bed and breakfast and I loved every bit of this place. I can’t wait to go back for an improptu, no reason at all, vacation to Key West during the Off-​Season (NOT spring break) when prices here will be more affordable.
The best of this B&B:
1. Their beautiful two black retreivers roaming around (not for the allergic) and are so well-​behaved. They can’t enter rooms and can’t leave the premises, don’t bark, etc. Made me want to go home and sign my pup up for training courses.
2. The breakfast was delicious. Who in there right minds would say it was mediocre? Homemade fresh quiche in two flavors: broccoli and mushroom on one day — perfect creamy blend that I definitely can’t make at my home. Another day was french toast that smelled soo good it literally pulled me out of bed. Extremely vegetarian friendly. These items are a sit-​down meal — so maybe the past reviewers didn’t realize this? The other items like cereal, yogurts, and fruit are at the bar and self-​serve.
3. The room! We stayed in the Audobon Suite which was so beautifully decorated I couldn’t help and wonder about taking an Interior Design course. Who knew that zebra print went so well with florals, and a blue lamp could make the bedspread pop! LOL
4. Huge bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. The cleanliness was immaculate — a huge pet peeve of mine, worrying about nastiness on vacations, nothing to worry about here!
5. Mini heated pool — somewhere between a jacuzzi and a pool, with the infamous Mermaid & Alligator love story kissing statue behind. It was a very nice environment to get away from the Spring Break craziness and relax at the pool area.
6. The owners Dean & Paul were very nice and they even include a guestbook in the room of suggestions and locals favorites — we made a point to visit MANY of these places, and through conversations with them even found more places to go.
7. The common rooms are also greatly decorated and warm & cozy. They have a kitchen area stocked with beverages for guests. A cozy study room with a computer available, a living room to lounge. And the pool area has lemonade time at 3pm and a wine & snack happy hour at 5pm.
As you can see, the positives far outweigh any negatives here (such as the prices, but you definitely get what you pay for), and the small room sizes and thin walls (the pictures make them seem bigger but you have to keep in mind it is a HISTORICAL building of Key West, they do the best they can with this renovated home).
I 1000 times recommend this place, I even showed our room to some visiting family members and I could tell they were a bit jealous at our cutesy B&B compared to theirs!

I’ve stayed at lots of B&Bs over the years and this is one of the best. The grounds and the main house will blow you away. Lush trees, flowery plants, singing birds and tiny lizards come in to view everywhere you look.
We stayed in the Key Lime room which was located off of the main house and had a private porch with a table and chairs. It was the perfect spot to feel a million miles away from Duval Street but still be in walking distance of it. The room was cleaned everyday to perfection and had enough room for two people, lots of luggage and a very comfortable king size bed.
The one «not as good as it could have been» thing would be the breakfast. The fresh fruit, cereal, juice and hot coffee were no better than a Days Inn. Where I really wanted them to excel, they feel flat — the hot breakfast part. It switched every other day from an egg dish to pancakes. While I subscribe to the thought «you can’t really screw up breakfast,» the egg dishes (quiche one day, frittata another) wasn’t anything to write home about.
Dean and his partner, the two concierge women and the helpful cleaning folks were beyond friendly. I would stay here again and probably will. Enjoy!