2 people are viewing this hotel
Lock in the lowest price from these sites
PricelineUS$555
Vio.comUS$555
EtripUS$555
Agoda.comUS$555
eDreamsUS$555
StayForLong
View all 12 deals
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Full view
View all photos (1,399)1,399
360
Panoramas (5) 
Videos (1)
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
#12 of 77 B&Bs / Inns in Key West
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Pool
Free breakfast
Board games / puzzles
Adults only
Baggage storage
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Sun umbrellas
Show more
Room features
Bathrobes
Air conditioning
Private balcony
Safe
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Hair dryer
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Charming
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English
Hotel links
Location
90Good for walkers
Grade: 90 out of 100
40Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
30Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Contact
729 Truman Ave, Key West, FL 33040-6423
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Key West car hire
1157Reviews21Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveller rating
- 1,069
- 60
- 18
- 7
- 3
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
If you are looking for very romantic, best location, quiet, excellent service, very very clean, beautiful garden, warm little pool to cool off, outdoor warm shower (which we went to before going to bed) Excellent breakfast, generous happy hour, staff that is very service minded without being too much, look no further, this is the place!
Read more
Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for the 5-bubble rating. We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay with us and appreciate your business very much. We hope that you will come back and see us again!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Property's Favourite Review
The friendliness of Diana the Innkeeper and her thoughtfulness to our needs is unparalleled in my lodging experience! We feel like we have known her for years and years! She made us feel SO welcome! She knows Key West very well and steers you to activities and dining to suit your preferences. We just loved all of her recommendations! The property is 118 years old and very well maintained! We rented two rooms: The Royal Poinciana Suite (loved the balcony!) and TreeTop Suite (large soaking tub and beamed ceiling) for my son and his girlfriend (mid-late 20's) joined us. It was a first visit to Key West for my son and his girlfriend and actually their first visit to a B&B type property and they too loved this property. Mermaid and Alligator is a very cozy, quiet property that is impeccably clean. It was so beautifully decorated for Christmas and the week prior to our visit, it was one of 3 Inns featured in a Holiday Tour of Inns. The kitchen was stocked with various items all day long for guest's comfort: Coffees, Teas, Snacks, variety of cold drinks, and a Wine / Snack Happy Hour every afternoon and cookies later in the day. You will enjoy a wide assortment of continental breakfast items and a cook is there each morning to prepare the featured hot breakfast item should that be your desire. So many thoughtful touches throughout the property some of which included: beach towels, coolers, and on site bicycle rental. (Bike rental is an extra fee and very competitively priced not to mention convenient!!) The dining room table displayed books, brochures, coupons, etc to assist in planning your activities and dining. It even had a touchscreen computer to help book activities. The plunge pool was kept comfortably warm and had spa jets on a timer for your use. The lush gardens are so serene for breakfast or just relaxing and the gardens offer such a special atmosphere at night. Housekeeping services were performed daily and very thorough. This Mermaid and Alligator experience has certainly set a very high bar for all four of us, and to which we will always compare. We hope to return soon and can't help but offer glowing word of mouth recommendations to our friends and family! Thank you Diana and all the Mermaid staff! You made our stay so very special!…
Read more
Date of stay: December 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: If budget allows, choose a room with a balcony.
Caribbean Queen Suite has L shaped balcony.
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Feb. 14, 2023
Thank you for the complimentary review and 5-bubble rating. We are so glad that you and your family had such a nice time staying with us. Thank you for the positive and kind feedback. Our team strives to provide an exceptional experience for all guests and it's always so nice when we hear what a great job they are doing! Please come back and see us again and thank you for choosing The Mermaid & The Alligator!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My wife and I spent four nights here. We chose it like many for the location, breakfast and happy hour. The property is beautiful and there are lots of shady spots including your own front porch in which to relax. Bottle water and other beverages available and made to order breakfast. Pod coffee maker and guest fridge in the main house. We had a room with a queen bed that was comfortable with good pillows. Plenty of closet, small but fine bathroom w shower. Our front porch was a great breakfast place or cocktail spot and shaded and private. Staff was friendly and helpful. Others staying at this B & B that we spoke with were charming. We would stay here again.
Read more
Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Feb. 14, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on your stay. We are so glad that you had a nice visit and appreciate you choosing our property for your trip to Key West. Please come back and see us again!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Mermaid & the Alligator was a fantastic place to stay. The location was perfect - easy to walk to all the different points of interest in Key West as well as some great restaurants. At the end of the day, returning to the Key Lime room was a welcome treat as it was cozy, comfortable and clean. The rest of the property from the lovely gardens to the plunge pool to the shared spaces in the main house were an oasis. Breakfast was delicious - a hot meal with an assortment of baked goods and various beverages. The staff were all friendly and Diana especially was really helpful when I had to rebook my flight and find a place to stay last minute. One thing to note: the Key Lime room is small and WIFI didn’t come in that well so it may not work for those looking for a larger room with access to the internet.…
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Feb. 14, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on your recent stay. We are so glad that you had a nice visit. Our apologies for the spotty wifi, it's definitely a challenge at times on the island. Thank you for choosing our property and please come back and see us again!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I are seasoned travelers. We were looking for a warm weather trip in the winter. We had just concluded a very stressful year and wanted to find a small hotel or guesthouse that had a relaxed setting in a beautiful environment and was centrally located to places to visit. The Mermaid and Alligator hit all those marks and more so. The staff, Diana, Kate, and Galia were extremely helpful. Diana and Kate gave us great recommendations for restaurants. They were always willing to answer our questions and give us suggestions regarding places to visit. Galia made wonderful breakfasts each morning. She was happy to ensure we had a vegetarian version. If you are looking for the huge breakfast buffet or a menu with many breakfast options you will not find that at the Mermaid and Alligator. Instead, you will have the opportunity to sit in a beautiful garden and have a leisurely breakfast among the sounds of birds and water trickling from a fountain. It was the perfect way to start each day. For anyone that needed a less leisurely option there were cereals, yogurt, fruit and bagels. The Mermaid and the Alligator was a little oasis that gave guests the opportunity to relax in a beautiful setting. It was very apparent that the staff loved their jobs and truly wanted each guest to have a positive experience at their guesthouse and in Key West. My husband and I were able to walk from the Mermaid and Alligator to all the sights.…
Read more
Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Feb. 14, 2023
Thank you for the complimentary review and rating. We are so glad that you had a nice stay and that everything met, or exceeded your expectations. We appreciate you choosing our property for your travels to Key West and hope that you will return someday for another stay!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
As previous guests of many years this was a disappointing return after Covid. The overall experience is not as 'upscale' as they say it is and certainly not of the calibre of other Select Registry establishments or other luxury B&Bs. This is a place of two parts - Bed & Breakfast.... The Bed is good & high quality as it always has been and this is the easy part for Riley Hotels as it was all inherited from the former innkeepers who had very high standards & a lot of style which is reflected in the beautiful rooms and lovely tropical gardens, The Breakfast is now a very downmarket affair - from the fact that the tables are not set & you're encouraged to take everything back to the kitchen afterwards, to the selection of cheap packet cereals & individually (fairly restricted) clingfilm wrapped bakery items, fruit that is put out sparingly & only allocated one per guest ... I could go on but there is no look of an abundant healthy upscale breakfast here - it's all Smuckers sachets and grape jelly! The hot entrees are variable to say the very least and certainly not high end, some days inedible ... breakfast quality was the topic of conversation with other guests. On the plus side you get to eat in the lovely tropical garden but this can get warm in the sun and there is the added pleasure of the gardener using a very the noisy leaf blower all around you while you eat - why can't he just sweep the path or do it after breakfast?! Happy Hour is now just, that barely an hour, and very cunningly timed when most guests are out anyway - but hey they're only missing the very cheap supermarket wine and small packets of chips & nuts, so maybe not such a loss after all. The heart has gone from M&A. There is very little daily interaction with the manager, some days none at all. As for the concierge mentioned on the website, we were referred to Open Table. There are bikes at the M&A for hire but they are considerably more expensive than those available outside. The most interaction we had during our entire visit was on arrival when we were required to sit down there & then and pay for the whole stay before we had even been to the room. The one thing that is upscale at M&A is the high room rate! I guess this is the result when a corporate takes over such a delightful high end guest house - we will not be back, there are plenty of other quality choices in Key West these days.…
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: Bamboo Room in garden with verandah away from busy road at front ... but we had flying termites...
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
+1
Wonderful 4 night stay for my husband and I. Check in was easy, the staff was so friendly, the free breakfast was delicious and the grounds were very clean and beautiful! The location is walkable to Duvall. We stayed in the Papaya room which is smallest of all the rooms, however, no complaints as we were only in there to sleep and shower- bed was wonderful!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Jan. 27, 2023
Thank you for your kind review and rating. We are so glad that you had a nice stay and appreciate you choosing us for your travels to Key West. Please come back and see us again!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Convenient old town location across street from St Mary Star of the Sea. 7:30 Mass daily and then a tasty and healthy breakfast provided that includes a daily warm entree. Cozy cottage room with porch. Papaya room porch received the morning sun. Staff was friendly and very helpful. Definitely hope to return!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Jan. 23, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on your recent stay and for the 5-bubble rating. We are so glad that you enjoyed your visit with us and were able to take part in mass across the street. Please come back and see us again and thank you for choosing The Mermaid & The Alligator!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We loved this place! The garden is tranquil and beautiful. We had a delicious breakfast every morning which we ate at one of the tables in the part of the garden that is next to a fountain. We also enjoyed happy hour on the deck. The furniture is comfortable. The hotel is a renovated Victorian house which is very nicely decorated. It is within walking distance of many restaurants, shops, and tourist attractions, e.g. the Hemingway Home. I was able to easily walk to Mallory Square in about 20 minutes. The M & A will arrange for a bike rental if you want. Our room was cheerfully decorated and led onto a porch. The bathroom was spacious. Our bed was extremely comfortable and we slept very well. The M & A is very quiet and we did not hear any loud noises. The staff was friendly and efficient. We were warmly greeted by the desk clerk. We are definitely going to stay here on our next trip to Key West! We had a great experience here.…
Read more
Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Jan. 23, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on your recent stay and for the 5-bubble rating. We are delighted that you enjoyed the property and that everything met your expectations while you were staying with us. Please come back and see us again and thank you for choosing The Mermaid & The Alligator!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
A beautiful Bed and Breakfast with gorgeous grounds. Stayed for three nights in the Bamboo room. Very quiet property with the exception of an occasional first responder siren going by. Friendly staff who are always accommodating. Nice daily breakfast included. Definitely recommend a couples massage in the outdoor gazebo located in the courtyard.
Read more
Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Lisa Zifer, Owner at The Mermaid & The Alligator
Responded Dec. 6, 2022
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on your stay and for the high rating. We are delighted that you both had a nice time and were able to take advantage of our massage services. We appreciate your business very much and hope to see you again. Wishing you both a joyful holiday season!
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
US$373 - US$533 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the mermaid & the alligator hotel key west, the mermaid and the alligator
LOCATION
United StatesFloridaFlorida KeysKey West
NUMBER OF ROOMS
9
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingThe Mermaid & The Alligator - UPDATED 2023 Prices, Reviews & Photos (Key West, Florida) - B&B - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about The Mermaid & The Alligator
Which popular attractions are close to The Mermaid & The Alligator?
Nearby attractions include Saint Mary Star of the Sea (0.10 km), Key West Firehouse Museum (0.3 km), and Key West Cemetery (0.4 km).
What are some of the property amenities at The Mermaid & The Alligator?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and a pool.
What food & drink options are available at The Mermaid & The Alligator?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at The Mermaid & The Alligator?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to The Mermaid & The Alligator?
Conveniently located restaurants include Key West Cuban Coffee shop, Better Than Sex - A Dessert Restaurant Key West, and El Siboney Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at The Mermaid & The Alligator?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is The Mermaid & The Alligator located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.5 km away from the centre of Key West.
Are there any historical sites close to The Mermaid & The Alligator?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Harry S. Truman Little White House (1.2 km), Key West Garden Club (1.3 km), and West Martello Tower (1.1 km).