Opinions THE MERMAID & THE ALLIGATOR Key West

We loved staying here. The staff was so friendly and helpful. It’s beautiful, very green and tropical with some local friends like chicken and iguana sharing the outdoor spaces with you. Having coffee and breakfast in the courtyard in the morning was one of my favorite things about the trip. There are snacks, coffee, tea, sodas, sunscreen, bug spray, towels, beach bags all available to you complimentary which is so nice. We stayed in the key lime room and it’s on the smaller side but comfy and clean. Super easy walking to Duval. Will come back again one day.

What a gem! The Mermaid & The Alligator provides an incredible location, only a handful of blocks from famous Duval Street with all its bars, restaurants, and shops. The staff are all incredibly friendly and warm, and even their temporary hostess, Olga, that was filling in for a few days seemed like a veteran at the front desk. Very clean, comfortable room with a lovely and large shower with two shower heads that made it feel like a waterfall was washing us. We will definitely be back.

Hmmm...We've stayed a few B&Bs in Key West. We haven't paid a fortune to stay in one that might be the Taj Mahal of B&Bs, but I'd say we are at least middle of road to higher end. We've come to expect, and hope for certain things, but try to enjoy it no matter how it turns out.
We had the tree top suite. We booked late for a popular time and it was the only room left. It's a fun room, but if stairs are an issue, then DO NOT take this room. We laughed at ourselves for "feeling it" when making the last track of steps to the room. Still, the room is fun, large (sure, hit my heat a least half a dozen times on sloped ceiling), and private.
The grounds are inviting with various places to relax. We really enjoyed sitting on the front porch watching people and a wedding across the street.
For food, there is regular access to a frig stocked with waters, sodas, la croix. Tea and coffee are also always available. Some traditional snacks such as chips, oreos, popcorn are always out, too. We love the access to water. There is a small ice machine to use there, a common frig (a bit small when everyone tries to stuff their leftovers in it), microwave, etc...
The main floor is common area and has a living room with TV (we did watch a few episodes of Suits the night it rained), and a dining room where you can play games, eat, etc.. There is also a bathroom located on the first floor if needed.
The breakfast is what we expected as it is pretty much what we've encountered at every B&B. A combination of easy foods - instant oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, toast, fruit. They add to this with one hot option each day, but the cook (very nice!) is very slow. On the day of waffles I'm wondering if they do this with only one waffle maker. I kept thinking how quickly I can whip out hot breakfasts for a group and wondering how this could possibly be taking as long as it did. Happy hour was just some wine and a smattering of crackers with cheese and bit of fruit. That was a bit lackluster, but it's not meant to be dinner, just a moment to change gears from day to evening.
Parking was not an issue, but it is possible to get blocked in as they park two deep if needed. Keys are left in the kitchen if a car needs to be moved to let another out. We never ran into this issue and always had a spot to park. (FYI, M&A, don't let workers park in the handicap spot even temporarily. It doesn't look good at minimum and doesn't give off a very respectful vibe).
The location is great - just a handful of blocks down from Duval or quick access north on Hwy 1. We are walkers so for us we just put on the miles traversing around the town.
The room, as I mentioned was charming, but there are details that would be nice to see updated to bring the quality of this place to the next level. Our bathroom vanity was very obviously water damaged and the veneer was peeling off the edges. The vanity is also outside the room with the toilet and shower which is just kind of gross. It also could use a bit of more lighting in general. The blinds in the room are a bit sloppy, too, with the one over the large soaker tub having a tear in it. The carpeted stairs are terribly stained, and as the first impression upon entering the room, it doesn't give a a good impression at all.
It never rains in Key West, correct? At least we hadn't experienced it until this time. A good hard soaking rain that sounded pretty fun raining down on the roof while in the the tree top suite. Unfortunately, it did more than that and we found 7 spots where the rain was actually coming in. We reported this and the property did refund us some money for the inconvenience. Hopefully, with this information they will address and fix the issue for future guests. Those guests may include us, because we quite enjoyed our stay, meeting people and the employees.

This place is awesome! Super beautiful, everyone is super friendly and helpful and a great location 3 blocks from Duval St. We rode the Key West Express into Key West and they allowed us to store our bags for a few hours while we walked around and waited for our room to be ready. When we were getting ready to leave they also allowed us to store our bags after check out and to hang out in the grotto area until we needed to head back to the boat. Rooms are super cute and everything was amazing. 10/10.

Absolutely BEAUTFUL! We only stayed one night but wished we could have stay longer. Hands down one of the best experiences! The staff, amenities, cottage, and property was amazing. I'll be back soon:)

What an experience! Great spot to get away and relax! Very close to the Duval Street! They offer complementary drinks and snacks plus breakfast! WiFi included. And the outside garden is like an isolated oasis!

Romantic beautiful and serene

The most romantic bed and breakfast tucked away from the activity of Duval Street. Gorgeous lush garden and plunge pool. Sophisticated rooms.

Absolutely wonderful! Diana and her staff were so great in taking care of us. My boyfriend and I loved breakfast and it was made fresh every morning. Our room was so beautiful and romantic and we were able to get an early check in when we arrived! The pool was great and the added bonuses the hotel offers i.e beach chairs, coolers, towels were a nice welcome touch as well. Happy hour was also a nice touch and we loved the wine and snacks offered! Everything on the premise felt/looked clean and it was such a nice quiet location that was proximate to all the local tourist spots. Highly recommend and can't wait to stay here again when we revisit!

This is a real gem. This was our first visit and it couldn't have been better. Love that it was off of the busy Duval St. But only a short walk away. It has a quiet but elegant feel. Rooms are beautiful. Breakfast and amenities were excellent. The staff go above and beyond to make your stay amazing. We met some amazing people during the cocktail hour in the pool. We highly recommend and look forward to our next stay. Thank you.

We love staying here.

My husband and I celebrated my 60th birthday at the Mermaid and the Alligator and everything about our stay was perfect. From the moment we arrived, Diana let us store our luggage as it was not time to check in. She then suggested a fabulous place for brunch, Azur, which was walking distance and a local favorite. We we returned several hours later, our room was ready and it so lovely. The Royal Poinciana, which was very roomy, on the corner end of the home, and had its own balcony. There is no room directly beside this suite so it is very quiet. Diana had champagne and chocolates that my daughters had requested as a surprise in the room waiting for me! How sweet! The entire property is gorgeous and so peaceful. A haven from a busy day in the Keys and far enough from Duval that is very quiet. We walked by the old cemetery many times to various points of interest. You should definitely go inside and see the interesting tombstones, and there is even a guided brochure and tours. We rented bikes which were on the property as well, and Diana helped us with instructions on locking them up. We took the bikes to Fort Zachary State Park that had a gorgeous beach and chair and umbrella rentals. Biked to Blue Heaven for their famous Key Lime Pie on the way back. The M&A is so close to many museums, restaurants, and attractions, including Duval, that you really don't need a car if you are used to walking. We walked about 3-4 miles each day, but the heat index was comfortable so remember that if you choose to walk everywhere. It was so nice to come back to the M&A and cool off in the plunge pool or sit on our balcony with a glass of wine and cool breezes. The have a wine and cheese hour in the afternoon which was nice. Yes, I have read reviews about the wine being less expensive in quality, but it is nice they offer this, and it is a nice spot to meet the other guests. The snacks and beverages they have 24/7 is also were very much appreciated. I filled up my water bottle with their infused water and it was so refreshing on our walks. I did hear people complain about the roosters in some reviews. I live on a farm, so this was very normal to me, and I never found it annoying. On the contrary, the chickens and their little pullets were so sweet. The Inn is immaculate and the very nice woman that prepared our breakfast each morning was very sweet. I have read reviews complaining of the breakfast, but we were very impressed with the quality and quantity of items offered besides the hot entree each morning. We especially enjoyed the fresh fruit and granola. There is also a small grocery right around the corner where you can purchase wine and snacks as well.
We met Kate, another Inn Keeper after Diana was off for a few days, and she was very nice as well and gave us great suggestions for restaurants that locals enjoy. I did much research before choosing lodging for our vacation, and The Mermaid and Alligator did not disappoint! I especially appreciate that the entire property is non-smoking and that it is for adults only. We met a very nice couple that reserves the Bamboo Suite several times a year, and they have it booked for next year as well. This tells you how much people love this home. It was just an gorgeous oasis in a beautiful part of old town Key West.
We can not wait to return!

The B and B is absolutely beautiful. Wonderfully landscaped and absolutely immaculate. It's conveniently located within walking distance of just about everything you want to see on your trip. We did have a slight hiccup on our visit, but it was resolved by the staff and I have revised my original review from 4 to 5 stars because I truly believe they want to be the best at what they do. I highly recommend this hidden paradise.

The Mermaid and the Alligator is cute, but for the money the amenities and comfort are lacking. The Sun room is tiny and is located right next to the stairs, giving hardly any privacy through the walls and drafty door. The window unit a/c stays illuminated through the night making it difficult to sleep. There isn’t an exhaust fan in the bathroom, so it stinks which is probably why there are air fresheners literally everywhere in this place. The breakfast is served pretty late and is just so-so. The location is the best feature.

Best vacation of our lives. Went in August for my 50th birthday. Beautiful BnB, excellent staff and food, anything you need/want they can get or recommend. Close to everything and so peaceful and relaxing. 5/5 recommend to all! Hope to return soon.