Last Updated on May 27, 2024 by Marybeth
If you’ve visited Key West you may not have known that you were driving over an island with its own vacation bragging rights before you got there. We didn’t. You (we) were so excited to be arriving at the actual Key West, plus Stock Island doesn’t exactly look like vacation paradise. You pass strip shopping centers, repair shops, gas stations. You may not have noticed the sign for Key West Botanical Gardens or glimpsed the gorgeous shaded bike path on your right, or bright blue Hurricane Hole Restaurant, Bar & Marina, or We Cycle bike rentals housed in a very cool building, also a funky tropical green. Signs that you are actually IN a vacation paradise, not just about to arrive at a famous one.
For ages Stock Island was a kind of nowheresville, a quiet low-key place where workers in Key West could afford to live. If you had been the least bit curious and turned down one of the side streets on Stock Island you would have passed trailer parks, apartment complexes and industrial type businesses. These places are still there (thankfully: Key West needs workers and they need affordable housing.) But with the arrival of two waterfront hotels, a growing artist’s community, and funky locally owned restaurants that have been there for decades, Stock Island has become a must-visit, and a must-stay-here.
The larger of the two, Oceans Edge Resort and Marina boasts six swimming pools, an open-air waterside restaurant and bar, and all rooms have a water view. We stayed at the more intimate, family-owned Perry Hotel Key West; one pool, two restaurants, lovely views. All we needed.
THE PERRY HOTEL KEY WEST
View of the Perry Hotel pool from our balcony. The Salty Oyster Bar is just beyond the pool.
The industrial-chic, modern yet rustic design of this hotel was a collaboration between the owner/manager family, the Weisners (of Cafe Tu Tu Tango fame) and Key West architect Tom Pope. Interior designer Blair Weisner, granddaughter of patriarch ‘Woody’ Weisner – who brought Miami its first 5-star hotel in the 1970s – headed up the design team to bring the maritime-inspired feel to the project. The hotel’s name comes from Commodore Matthew C. Perry who in the 1820s commanded the USS Shark to Key West and declared the Keys as U.S. soil.
As soon as you walk into the lobby with its soaring ceiling, reclaimed teak flooring and local artwork and sculptures (a column of old boat props climbs up the concrete wall behind the reception desk) you know you’re not in old-timey Florida anymore. Here at Triple-B we laud and applaud the moms and pops who’ve given us a plethora of cute, simple places to stay that remind us of the bygone years of motor courts and stand-alone bungalow motels. But sometimes even we have to step away from the oldies but goodies and treat ourselves to a more modern boutique experience. And wow. Did we.
Key West is approximately 4 miles, and we’d planned to ride our bikes there but the complimentary hotel shuttle ran so often we availed ourselves of that instead for our days in Key West. With the restaurant, Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen and Bar, and bar/restaurant The Salty Oyster Dockside Bar & Grill, both onsite we didn’t need to walk anywhere. The neighborhood is still evolving, and outside of the hotel complex the streetscape is a mix of apartment buildings, some road construction (when were there) and Bernstein Park, a beautiful completely renovated public park with baseball, soccer and basketball areas, a playground, and BBQ grills.
Fresh citrus-infused water offered in the lobby every day
The Salty Oyster Bar had a great vibe and menu; we would have spent every day here if it weren’t for Key West being so close by!
Succulent display in the lobby
This wine welcomed us as we arrived in our room – we opted for the Anniversary Special which included this bottle. Check their website and follow them on social media for more special offers!
Marina view from Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen and Bar. A must-visit for their boat-to-table American coastal comfort food, view their menu here
Put these Stock Island restaurants, shops and galleries on your itinerary!
Restaurants:
DeLuna’s Bar and Grill
El Mocho Restaurant
Hurricane Hole Restaurant and Marina
Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen & Bar
Salty Oyster Dockside Bar & Grill
Yahman’s Authentic Jamaican Jerk Shack
Shops/galleries/venues:
And some of our favorite photos from wandering around Key West:
Mary Ellen’s Bar – go for the grilled cheese!
Have you been to Stock Island? What’s your favorite place to stay in Key West? Your favorite bar?
Stock Island is approximately 4 miles north of downtown Key West, and 160 miles south of Miami.
2 Comments
Sandy K Park
OOOOOOO MaryBeth, I soooo needed this blog today. It’s COLD here with snow on the ground. Burr. Thanks for sharing these beautiful WARM photos. You’ve put Stock Island on my bucket list. Thanks
Marybeth
Gosh it’s hard to imagine COLD! We kind of wish it was at least chilly here. But yay we’ve inspired you to visit Stock Island!