Almond Tree Inn - Adults Only

Behind the Wall on Truman Avenue

Truman Avenue carries traffic through Old Town, which is precisely the problem this inn set out to solve. The property sits behind a privacy wall, and what happens on the far side of it is the whole proposition: tropical planting, a waterfall, sun decks and a pool arranged so that twenty-two rooms open onto a garden rather than a corridor. The service runs closer to a bed and breakfast than to a resort, with continental breakfast included and staff who know which table is still shaded at ten in the morning. It holds a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award, earned across a large body of guest reviews rather than a handful.

Why It Works

We chose this address because it does one thing properly rather than several things adequately. Old Town is full of small inns, and most trade either on location or on quiet. This one manages both, which is harder than it sounds on a street with through traffic. The adults-only policy is doing real work, because the garden is small and shared: twenty-two rooms means the pool is never a scrum and the staff recognize you by the second morning. For a couple who want to walk everywhere and still nap in the afternoon, the arithmetic is unusually good.

Why This Location

Truman Avenue is one of the crossroads of Old Town, and Duval Street crosses it, so the bars, galleries and restaurants begin a few minutes away on foot. Turn the other way and Whitehead Street brings the Hemingway Home and the Key West Lighthouse. The waterfront and the sunset crowd at Mallory Square make a longer but entirely reasonable walk, as does the Southernmost Point. The practical consequence is that the car stays where you left it, and the inn keeps off-street spaces at a reduced rate, which on this island is a genuine amenity rather than a line item.

Fast Facts

• Price: Premium

• Vibe: tropical, screened off, grown-up

• Rooms: 22, arranged around the garden and pool

• Best For: couples, adults-only travelers, anyone who wants Old Town on foot

• Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: the waterfall behind the privacy wall, which does more for the atmosphere than any amount of decor

• Dining: complimentary continental breakfast in the garden; Old Town restaurants and pubs within walking distance

• Amenities: pool and spa, sun decks, tropical garden, adults only, off-street parking at a reduced rate

• Attractions: Duval Street, the Hemingway Home, the Key West Lighthouse, Mallory Square and the waterfront, the Southernmost Point

The Garden, the Pool and the Afternoon

The garden is the reason to book, and it is worth planning around. Planting and a privacy wall close the property off from the street, the waterfall covers what little sound gets through, and the sun decks are laid out so that some are in shade by late morning and others hold the light until evening. The pool and spa sit at the center of it. Breakfast is served out here, which sets the rhythm of the day: coffee under the palms, out into Old Town, back through the gate when the heat peaks.

Adults Only, and What That Buys You

Children are not accommodated, and the policy is the point rather than a restriction. A shared garden of this size only stays calm if everyone in it wants the same thing, and here they do. It makes the inn a poor fit for a family trip and a very good one for a honeymoon, an anniversary or a week of doing very little. Themes listed for the property include golf and a hot tub, and the rooms are set up for two rather than for a group.

What to Know Before You Book

Check-in runs from four in the afternoon until ten at night, so a late flight is fine but an early arrival needs a plan for the bags. Check-out is at eleven. Ask about a room toward the garden if the street matters to you. Parking is off-street and discounted but not free, and in Old Town that is close to the best offer available. The property is walkable rather than beachfront, so a beach day means a short ride or a longer stroll.