The Gates Hotel Key West - Now Blue Flamingo Resort Key West

Hotel · Key West

The Gates Hotel Key West - Now Blue Flamingo Resort Key West

Hotel · Key West

3820 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040

Highlights

The Gates is a funky, upscale Key West stay with minimalist rooms, a rum bar, food truck, lively pool scene, and pet-friendly vibes.

3820 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040 Get directions

blueflamingokeywest.com

@gateskeywest

@afar

"With a large grass lawn set for farm-table dinners and celebrations, The Gates is a different kind of Key West resort that owes more to Brooklyn than Margaritaville. In keeping with the hipster vibe, the hotel’s only restaurant is the Blind Pig food truck, which is permanently parked outside near the pool and serves breakfast goodies, tacos, and sandwiches from morning until late, and(for reasons unknown) the last line of The Great Gatsby, done in a shticky nautical pastiche, hangs over the counter at the open-air Rum Row pool bar. Shiplap walls and headboards in the rooms are the definition of millennial chic—and Instagram gold—as are the wooden docks for tablets and smartphones."

The Best Hotels in Key West

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@cntraveler

The Gates Hotel Key West

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?A more modern option in Key West, the Gates resembles a typical motel at first glance, with its exposed corridors and seemingly bland pool area. But a closer look reveals a spirited, fresh hotel. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?Rooms are spacious and airy, with light wood, sliding barn doors, pops of blue, and hotel-branded throw blankets. Rooms with views of the pool area can be a bit loud. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?The Wi-Fi is free. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?Rum Row (the pool bar) has a partnership with Key West's First Legal Rum Distillery and serves prohibition-inspired drinks. The Blind Pig, an on-site food truck, has sandwiches, salads, and excellent tacos. What type of travelers will you find here?The hotel is a popular destination for bachelorette and bachelor parties, so it can get a bit rowdy. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?One of the only downsides is the location: a bit far from the bulk of the action in Key West. That said, the hotel runs a shuttle until the wee hours. Any other hotel features worth noting?The Gates is especially pet-friendly. At the pool, you can rent cabanas. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?This is a reasonably priced upscale option that's farther from the action than some of its competitors." - Laura Ratliff

https://www.cntraveler.com/hotels/key-west/gates-hotel-key-west

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@afar

7 Florida Keys Hotels That Are Full of Caribbean Charm - AFAR

"No trip to the Caribbean is complete without swigging some rum, but the Keys has plenty of the golden stuff on hand as well. The hip Gates Hotel in Key West is home to Rum Row, a hopping bar next to the L-shaped swimming pool. Through an exclusive partnership with Key West’s own First Legal Rum Distillery, the bar slings cocktails like the Up in Smoke, made with aged Key West Raw and Unfiltered Rum, mezcal, ginger, and lime juice. To partake in a scene with an even stronger pirate vibe, head to the hotel’s cigar lounge." - Devorah Lev-Tov

https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-to-take-a-caribbean-inspired-trip-without-leaving-the-us

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Marc Meier

Google

Overall I would say it was an okay experience. When we arrived we were a bit shocked by the chicken reviews but even though the hotel provided us with ear plugs we didn't need them. Our room was relatively sound proof and we couldn't hear the chickens. I don't know if it was just luck or if the hotel took some measures. There is also a free shuttle to the center of key west which departs every hour. The shuttle makes frequent stops but since parking is a nightmare in the center it was a nice amenity. The room was quite expensive and didn't offer as much as we had hoped for. You have to pay a hefty tax resort fee of about 50$ a day. For me this was high because all it included was access to the pool and the gym. Furthermore we had to pay for parking which cost 15$ a day. I personally feel that at least parking should have been included in the room price or the resort fee. All the staff except the receptionist weren't really friendly and treated me like an inconvenience. Overall I would say it definitely wasn't the worst experience I had in a hotel but for the price i expected much more.

Maria Antônia Ribeiro

Google

The room was great! Hotel structure is also very good, pool was clean and pool area is beautiful with the iconic rooster of key west. The only thing I didn’t like about this hotel was the breakfast. There is no buffet, you have to order from the pool bar.

Robin Bramwell

Google

I stayed here first week in February for 2 nights. I nearly cancelled due to the reviews, so glad I didn't. Rooms were clean and everything worked. The shuttle was very handy indeed. Pool was warm, food from the truck was nice and staff were friendly. Real novelty with the chickens roaming around. They supply ear plugs, I guess they worked for me as I slept through the crowing. Definitely stay there again.

Jon Elmquist

Google

We stayed here recently for four nights, and my impression was not the best. Overall the hotel deserves a good review. The rooms were recently renovated to a beachy theme, they were light and comfortable but not much thought went into some things. There is no desk but there is plenty of room for one. Only two outlets in the room and one is used up by the mini fridge under the TV. The other outlet has a multioutlet accessory plugged into it giving you a whopping two extra outlets and only two USB ports. We stayed in a boathouse the night before and it had EIGHT USB outlets. The stairs were rusting out and had holes where I can see a small child (or someone with small feet) getting their foot stuck. With that said, the staff was always friendly and willing to help. The beds were very comfortable as well. The roosters weren't a problem. I think they are more prevalent with a pool view, which we had. But they still didn't bother us much. The pool was nice, and bar was inviting. However, I feel that for the money, this hotel did not reflect the cost. Resort fees plus daily parking fees are excessive. The shuttle to downtown was nice though, but I didn't see anything about that when I was booking the hotel. They need better marketing. They were recently acquired by Blue Flamingo so maybe that will help.

Matt Deleon

Google

We arrived at the hotel and thanks to the open communication, i knew that we had to go to North 24° to check in. From the minute we walked in, we were happily greeted by the hotel staff. We arrived early and our room wasn't ready so we sat at the bar and had lunch while we waited. I received a text from the front desk to let us know that our room was ready and we were upgraded to a pool view room and a welcome bottle of champagne. Everyone we encountered was so friendly and helpful starting with Jose (front desk), the gentleman putting out the towels, housekeeping, bartenders and the concierge (can't forget the hilarious roosters). We would 1000% return to the Gates!

Sam

Google

Positive: "" Negative: Booked a garden view and got a view of the hotel next door. Was not the view in the photos. Most photos of the hotel were edited to look better than it actually was. Pool was much smaller than pictured. Was not worth paying a 50$ ?resort? fee daily.

ishaan thakker

Google

Lived here for 2 nights, had a really good experience and the staff was amazing!! Had a chance to interact with Irina, Gary and Jamie! They were super friendly and took really good care of the customers. Next time I’m in key west, I’ll definitely pick this spot for stay!

Stephnie Sutton

Google

We stayed the The Gates for 8 nights and had a great experience! After a little initial confusion about where to check in, everything smoothed out. We had a couple questions(where to catch the shuttle, tv volume, etc) the next morning and ran into Lady. What a pleasant, helpful and truly kind individual! She went above and beyond in showcasing the hotel’s hospitality, and we are truly grateful! The hotel is secure, relatively quiet/calm, and close enough to walk to a few very good restaurants. The shuttle to Old Town is only $5/per person round trip and was always on time and efficient. Rum Row(the hotel bar) and The Blind Pig food truck are both wonderful. There was live music by the bar and pool which was a great way to end a long day walking around Key West. The beds were comfortable, air conditioner worked great, and room was clean. Can not recommend this hotel enough for a boutique style hotel, we are already planning another trip and will be staying at The Gates!

Barbara M.

Yelp

We loved this hotel so much we cancelled our other one. We were going to stay at another hotel closer to Duval St but after staying here for one night we cancelled those plans and came back. This hotel is absolutely amazing. From the moment you step out of the car and see the flamingo wallpaper, you know you're in for a fun ride. The front desk staff greets you with a rum punch upon check in to make you feel as though vacation has definitely begun. For starters, this hotel is beautiful. It really has a boutique hotel kind of vibe. Aesthetic, a little funky, and so much character and charm. It's the kind of hotel that has so many photo opportunities and also makes you feel like you're in another world. This hotel offers some of the best amenities on the island. Scattered around the property are TONS of fun games for everyone to enjoy including pool, table tennis, foosball, cornhole, a putting green, and even giant chess. There's also two pools and a gym to enjoy. There's always something going on at the hotel whether it's yoga in the morning on the lawn or live music every night by the pool. There's also a lot of roosters roaming the property which adds a lot of enjoyment just from watching them! You could never be bored here and in fact sometimes it feels hard to leave the hotel or explore elsewhere. The outdoor bar by the pool serves up some VERY delicious food and drinks from early in the morning until later in the evening and the Starbucks on property has come in clutch for me this trip. The rooms are cozy and very cute but honestly we are barely in them as we find ourselves out playing the games outside most of the time. The sunsets from this hotel are incredible. Take a ride up to the fifth floor to see some absolutely stunning views across the ocean as the sun goes down. As much fun as all the amenities are, it's truly the staff that make this hotel as wonderful as it is. Soma and Daniella at the front desk were some of the nicest, most welcoming, and most accommodating staff we've ever encountered. All of the staff seem genuinely happy to be there and are always asking how everything is and if we need anything. They truly want you to enjoy their beautiful resort and have a great vacation and it shows. Without their phenomenal hospitality this would be just another cute hotel. We can't thank them enough for how hard they work to make sure every guest is having a relaxing and wonderful time. This hotel is definitely our new little gem and we only book here from now on when we visit the keys.

Richard D.

Yelp

This newly renovated facility is so nice! It has food and bars, two pools, bocci ball, corn hole, roosters, concierge golf cart service. They had a six seater delivered to the hotel for us. The grounds are beautiful! Only 15 minute golf car ride down hwy 1 to old key west and all the food and shopping. Very family friendly! Starbucks on site!!!

Monaija J.

Yelp

Avoid this place at all costs! Upon arrival, we requested an early check-in after our long drive and were offered an oceanfront room for an extra $30 per night. I decided to upgrade, but the view was a letdown. Our hotel door was temperamental and only worked intermittently. When I called the front desk, they said it would take 40 minutes to fix, which was inconvenient since we had beach plans. We managed to get into our room after struggling for 10 minutes, but I was worried we'd get locked out if we left together, so we had to alternate going in and out all day. By morning, the maintenance guy replaced the door handle, which took up my whole morning. Just a few hours later, that same handle fell off when I tried to get back in. The staff showed no empathy; the manager, Adrian, even blamed me instead of his team. To make matters worse, we found underwear from the previous guest in the pull-out couch. The elevators were slow and sketchy, and the pool water was murky and too hot, leaving us disappointed after a long day in the sun. And on top of everything, they charge a $15 parking fee, which feels unnecessary. This place is truly disappointing.