Pier House Resort & Spa: Peaceful Luxury in Key West

A tranquil oasis tucked away at the end of the famous Duval Street in Key West, Pier House Resort & Spa is a dreamy oceanfront resort perfect for both romantic and family trips. In addition to gorgeous water views, a private white sand beach, and luxe amenities, guests also love the fabulous friendly service from everyone on staff.

Pier House has won many accolades, and deservedly so, including Experts’ Choice Award in the 2021 Trip Expert Awards and one of the 13 best Key West hotels in 2021 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. We were lucky enough to spend a long weekend there and found it amazingly peaceful to be so close to all the action. Read on for our full Pier House Key West review.

About Pier House Resort & Spa

Established in 1967 as a small waterfront motel, Pier House quickly became a celebrity favorite, hosting luminaries like Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. The casual onsite dive bar Chart Room was the scene of Jimmy Buffett’s first gig.

Over the years the resort expanded in its prime oceanfront location. Today it’s spread out over several buildings connected by charming walkways that wind through lush foliage and water features, giving Pier House a magical paradise vibe. (Be sure to find the turtle pond!)

The resort is proudly pet friendly as well as accessible throughout the public areas and certain guest rooms. It also offers complimentary Wifi, concierge services, and Tesla car charging stations. There’s plenty of parking if you’re driving.

You can’t beat the central location. You are right in Old Town, just steps from iconic sites like Sloppy Joe’s and Mallory Square, but once you enter the resort grounds you’re in another world. Lounging by the pool or on the beautiful beach, all you can hear is the lapping of the waves and a gentle breeze rustling the palms. Rooms are extremely quiet as well.

Pier House Key West Amenities and Activities

Perhaps the most coveted amenity at Pier House Resort & Spa is the private white-sand beach. Set in the center of the resort, it’s easily accessible from all rooms and features plenty of shaded lounge chairs and a fabulous view. Stepping onto the beach puts you right into tropical vacation mode.

A staffer will set up your chair with towels, and another will come by regularly to take food and drink orders. All you have to do is relax and watch the waves. The water is calm and sheltered, so it’s safe for swimming and floating. There’s a barrier to keep you from going out too far, as well as an anchored platform.

In addition to the main seating in front of the water, there are some lounge chairs set up to the side that offer a little more privacy and the same fantastic water views.

The pool is just behind the beach area and has a spacious deck around it with plenty of shaded seating. It’s gated, so parents won’t have to worry about their children wandering off—or in—without them.

Next to the pool and beach area is the Beach Bar, so you can easily walk up in your swimsuit and get something to eat or drink whenever you want.

A large whirlpool with a waterfall is set in a secluded patio off of the spa. It can also be accessed through the fitness center, which is open 24 hours and features a range of exercise equipment.

When you want to explore offsite, you are just steps from all the classic Old Town Key West attractions like the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, the Ernest Hemingway House, the Harry S. Truman Little White House, and Sloppy Joe’s. You can easily walk or take an Uber/taxi everywhere, so you don’t need to have a car. Another plus is that there’s a CVS located about a block away, so you can grab any essentials you may have forgotten.

You can also arrange tours and excursions through the onsite concierge, including fishing charters, sunset sails, parasailing, reef snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, seaplane trips, visits to Fort Jefferson and the Dry Tortugas National Park, and more.

And if you’d like to bring your small dog on your Key West vacation, Pier House Resort & Spa is the perfect place for it. It’s so pet friendly that food and water bowls, a luxury pet bed, treats, a flashlight, and a waste bag holder are all included for the $75 one-time fee. Only one dog per room is allowed; they must be 20 pounds or less and on a leash at all times in public areas. They aren’t allowed on the beach or by the pool.

Pier House Key West Spa

The only full-service spa in Key West, The Spa at Pier House offers a wide range of services including massages, body treatments, facials, manicures, and pedicures. It has a tranquil relaxation room to sit in before or after your service, with complimentary herbal tea and water. There’s also an outdoor whirlpool tub with waterfall for soaking away stress, and a full fitness center.

The spa is set in its own building that also has accommodations, which makes it super easy to pop in for a treatment and then go back to your room to rest. You can even wear the robe that comes in your room if you want!

We had an incredible couples’ massage (ask for Bonnie and Cheryl!) that left us feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. As with every interaction we had at Pier House, the service was extraordinarily friendly and good.

Pier House Key West Rooms and Suites

All of the 119 rooms and 23 suites at Pier House Resort & Spa feature a coastal chic design with custom furnishings and local art; private balconies or lanais; spa-like bathrooms with rain showers; minifridges; and flat-screen TVs. King or queen beds have pillow-top mattresses and custom-designed pillows. Accessible rooms are available (and most of the public areas are accessible as well, including the walkways, pool, and restaurants).

Junior Suites also have sitting areas and walk-in showers, while One-Bedroom Suites have separate living rooms. Oceanview Suites have separate living rooms with sofabeds plus excellent water views from private furnished balconies. Luxury Oceanview Suites add a wet bar, a soaking tub, and an expanded private balcony.

The unique Dockside Suite is located on the edge of the building for incredible sunset views from the private infinity balcony. It has a separate living room with a minifridge and a spacious bathroom with walk-in rain shower.

There are also 2-Bedroom Oceanview Suites. For the ultimate luxury, the Presidential Suite covers the entire top floor of the HarbourView Building. It has two bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms featuring rain showers and soaking tubs; separate living and dining areas; a wet bar; and a huge private furnished second-floor balcony with amazing ocean views.

We stayed in a Spa Junior King Suite that was a “Certified Pure Room:” it had an air filter, hypoallergenic bedding, and shower water filtration. The cleaning process between guests includes sanitizing the air handler and using plant-based cleaners and a pure shield antimicrobial protection.

The suite was very spacious with a comfy couch, chair, and table plus a very large furnished balcony that was accessible through two sets of French doors. We loved relaxing on the balcony and watching the clouds scud across the sky. There was even a partial water view.

The bathroom featured a sizeable walk-in shower and plenty of space to set out toiletries, as well as a roomy closet with ironing board and two robes. It also came stocked with Molton Brown bath products and a hairdryer.

The mini-fridge was larger than most hotel refrigerators so we were able to easily keep leftovers in it. There wasn’t a microwave in the room, but they brought us one when we asked about it. There was also a coffeemaker and ice bucket, with ice machine down the hall.

Pier House Key West Restaurants and Bars

Every restaurant has a water view and the food is fantastic, making Pier House one of the best Key West hotels for dining in our opinion. You can choose between a romantic gourmet dinner at One Duval or a casual bite at the Beach Bar and Grill, depending on your mood. Breakfast and lunch are equally delicious and you get a choice of indoor or outdoor seating.

One Duval Restaurant

Dine indoors or alfresco on the terrace and enjoy amazing ocean and sunset views either way. The talented Chef Maria changes the menu constantly at this sophisticated and romantic restaurant to reflect what’s fresh. She uses organic and locally sourced ingredients to create divine dishes, including seafood, steak, and vegetarian options.

The restaurant has a very chic look and lovely water views through floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as a long bar with seating. You can also sit outside on the deck. We sat inside, as rain was threatening, and loved the mellow vibe and soft bossa nova music. Service was superb.

Our meal was mouthwatering and presentation was beautiful. We had the Cuban short rib empanadas, caprese salad, shrimp cocktail, New York strip steak (with giant onion rings), and pan-seared grouper, which came in a super light cream sauce with blue crab meat and grilled asparagus. It was a giant piece of fish and perfectly cooked.

Dessert was a revelation. The Mile High Key Lime Pie was some of the best I’ve ever had, perfectly tart and topped with the most incredibly yummy meringue. There was a creamy flavor to it that really added an extra layer of deliciousness. We also had the Cuban coffee ice cream, which came drizzled with chocolate sauce and whipped cream and was equally amazing.

One Duval is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. A unique offering here is the Catch and Relax package—you can go fishing and bring back your fish for the chef to clean and prepare for you.

Breakfast is served in a neighboring, cheery indoor space or under an awning on the deck from 8 to 11:30 a.m., and also features an excellent menu filled with delicious choices, from tropical fruit with yogurt to a range of eggs and omelets to French toast, pancakes, and waffles. Complimentary coffee is available from large urns on the deck.

Lunch is served there from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. the rest of the week. The large menu includes salads, seafood, tacos, sandwiches, and a burger.

Beach Bar and Grill

This casual spot next to the pool and beach (swimsuits welcome) is perfect for “a bite and a beer by the sea.” The full menu includes tropical drinks, craft cocktails, wine, and ice cold beer, as well as a selection of appetizers, snacks, and similar dishes to what is available at One Duval for lunch.

We had the grilled yellowtail snapper sandwich, which was served on tasty Cuban bread, as well as the chicken and avocado BLT. As at the entire resort, service is fast and friendly, and it’s a fun spot to socialize and enjoy the water views and breezes.

Current hours are 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, with food service ending an hour before close. There’s also great live music on Sundays.

Chart Room Bar

A famous local dive bar, Chart Room Bar is perhaps best known as the site of Jimmy Buffett’s first show, but it has been the scene of many Key West moments. Tourists and locals mingle here, sharing stories and a relaxed good time.

Chart Room is set in the heart of the resort, just off the pool area. It’s open 5 p.m. to midnight every day and serves a variety of liquors in a casual atmosphere (which is actually enforced, as you can see by all the confiscated ties hanging from the ceiling).

Pier House Resort & Spa Location

It’s hard to get more conveniently located than this. Set at One Duval Street, Pier House is just 2 blocks to the famous Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square and walking distance to practically everything you could want to see in Key West.

It’s close to top attractions like the Key West Aquarium, Harry Truman Little White House, and Mel Fisher Maritime Museum plus well-known watering holes Sloppy Joe’s and Hog’s Breath Saloon. Less than a mile away you’ll find the Key West Lighthouse, Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Fort Jefferson, and the ferry dock for the Dry Tortugas National Park. All of these are easy walking distance, so you can wander to your heart’s content.

Multiple restaurants and bars are also within walking distance or just a short ride away. There’s also a free Duval Street shuttle from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so you don’t need to rent a car if you don’t want to.

Pier House is just 15-20 minutes from the Key West International Airport, or about 3 hours from Miami International Airport if you’d like to take the scenic route and drive from Miami to Key West. You can also get to Key West via a ferry from Fort Myers.

Pier House Key West Honeymoons

Not only Pier House Resort & Spa a fabulous resort for honeymoons in Key West, but they make it super easy for you by offering a honeymoon registry page, which includes the ability to create a wedding website for free.

You can add specific items like the room you want, credits for spa services, a tab at the Beach Bar or Chart Room Bar, or extras like a cheese and fruit platter, bottles of wine, or champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. There is even a toll-free number that your family and friends can call for help.

Whether or not you create a honeymoon registry, you can honeymoon here in style with their Keys to Romance package, which includes a couples’ massage, champagne, and daily breakfast with an ocean view at One Duval.

Pier House Key West Destination Weddings

Pier House Resort & Spa is perfect for Key West destination weddings, with more than 2600 square feet of event space ranging from intimate rooms to elegant ballrooms that can accommodate up to 120 guests.

If you want stunning outdoor space, the Sunset Terrace overlooks the water and holds up to 70 guests. There’s also a covered Beachfront Terrace, as well as the private white-sand beach (which holds up to 80 guests).

The expert wedding planning team at Pier House works closely with couples to create the perfect personalized event utilizing a trusted list of local vendors, and the onsite wedding coordinator ensures that every detail is taken care of.

You’ll have access to complimentary Wifi, a full range of audiovisual equipment and support, and catering services (the food will be amazing!). They also offer the ability to create a free wedding website with all the tools you need, as well as help with in-room amenities and gifts for wedding guests.

In addition to weddings and receptions, you can host all types of related events at Pier House, including rehearsal dinners, bridesmaids’ luncheons, and engagement parties. No matter the event type, you can be sure that it will be spectacular. For information about booking your event, you can submit a form on their website or call the resort at 305-296-4600.

Pier House Key West Cost

Pier House Resort & Spa costs vary depending on the time of year you visit and the room level you choose. Prices tend to be lowest in the late summer. In general, rates range between $350 and more than $2000 per night plus a daily resort fee that covers parking; WiFi; in-room coffee and bottled waters; beach and pool lounge chairs and umbrellas and towels; access to the fitness center; and concierge services.

There are plenty of special offers and discounts available, including a Stay Longer and Save deal plus discounts for Florida and Georgia residents as well as seniors and AAA members.

The resort also offers Key West vacation packages such as the Keys to Romance package, which includes daily breakfast for two, a couples’ massage, and a bottle of champagne, and the Seaside Family Savings Package, which gives you a fun Scavenger Hunt Map as well as free meals for kids under 10 and half-price meals for ages 10-17 at One Duval.

Google Rating: 4.4

TripAdvisor Rating: 8.2

This review was written by HoneymoonAlways writer and editor Ashley Ellington Brown.