Key West’s latest property opening, The Perry Hotel Key West, brings a chic vibe to Stock Island, an area known for its fishing and artist community. Located approximately a 15-minute drive from Key West’s famed Duval Street, the hotel offers your clients a quiet, laid-back ambiance with easy access to all the action in Key West, with its fine restaurants (check out the Little Pearl Fish House & Wine Bar), bar hopping, and attractions, including the renowned Sunset Festival at Mallory Square.
Located in the Stock Island Marina Village, the 100-room and 3-month-old The Perry Hotel Key West offers quick access to water-bound activities. During our time at the resort, we opted for a Namaste Eco-Excursions boat tour of the Great White Heron Rescue area, which included some time for kayaking through the mangroves. Excursions are intimate with only a handful of passengers and last about four hours (starting at $119 pp). The company’s owner, Jeff Bowman, shares his passion (and extensive knowledge) on the mangroves habitat, as well as the area’s plethora of sea life and wildlife.
Another water adventure that’s highly recommended is paddleboard yoga with Lazy Dog Adventures. Though the pickup for this tour is via a van and not a boat, in just a few minutes guests will be strapped to their paddleboard heading out to the open water for a yoga class. Though I’ve tackled both yoga and paddleboarding separately, I’ll admit this was a challenge, but the modifications allow even the most novice of yogis to participate and enjoy the experience.
Back on property, guests can take part in boat-to-table dining at the onsite restaurant, Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen and Bar, where chef Ryan told us he would be happy to whip up the guest’s catch of the day for the night’s meal. An outdoor pool area, outdoor fire pits, Salty Oyster Dockside Bar and Grill for poolside dining, and a pet-friendly vibe all add to the relaxed atmosphere at The Perry. In addition to being pet-friendly, a few of the rooms feature outdoor showers to help keep Fido clean when he returns to the room. And guests of The Perry can also use the two dog parks located on Stock Island Marina Village, just steps from the hotel.
All You Can Eat
Now back to those dining options. Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen and Bar offers a relaxed dining experience with exquisite options that would leave even the biggest foodie satisfied. Many of the dishes look like a work of art, such as The Admiral Tower, served in a tackle box and filled with oysters, clams, shrimp, lobster cocktail, tuna tartare, and yellowtail snapper ceviche. But there are also plenty of artisanal and comfort food options with a twist diners shouldn’t miss out on such as Matt’s smoked fish dip, the black bean fritters with an avocado poblano sauce, a basket of fried chicken, cornbread mash, and roasted brussels sprouts with citrus and bacon. Guests should leave room for dessert, as chocolate lovers will devour the chocolate “candy bar” made with nutella, hazelnut, and bacon; for something a little more tart, suggest the Key Lime tart with coconut macaroon crust.
Dinner isn’t the only time guests can opt for unique offerings: for those with a sweet tooth, the fresh blueberry cream parfait with frosted flake cream topped with frosted flakes was one of my favorites, as was the guava & cream cheese french toast. There’s also a spin on the Cuban sandwich—the “croque” Cubana made with mustard, ham, pulled pork, pickles,
swiss cheese and a fried egg. After all these enticing food options, your guests will want to book an active excursion or two, or simply enjoy the vibe while laying on a hammock poolside under a palm tree. Starting rate is $249 per night.
Check out our feature on The Perry Hotel’s private yacht charters to Cuba, in Set sail to Cuba from The Perry Hotel Key West.
Contact Information
Lazy Dog Adventures: lazydog.com
Namaste Eco-Excursions: namastesailing.com
The Perry Hotel Key West: perrykeywest.com
