Old Town / Harborfront

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort and Spa

★★★★★

Hyatt Centric Key West puts you on the Gulf-side harbor a block from Duval Street and a few minutes' walk from the Mallory Square sunset — a rare combination of waterfront resort and central location. The low-rise property wraps around a heated pool and two small private beaches facing the harbor, with sunset views over the water from many rooms and the pool deck. Rooms are island-styled with tile floors, rainfall showers and, in the better categories, balconies with ocean views; premium and deluxe rooms add seating and workspace. Jala Spa offers massages, skin treatments and manicures, and the resort's own marina runs jet-ski rentals, sunset cruises and deep-sea fishing charters, which makes on-the-water plans unusually easy. Dining is at Four Flamingos, a waterfront restaurant from celebrity chef Richard Blais with a Florida-Keys-meets-modern-American menu; reservations are recommended. The hotel is pet-friendly and works for both romantic getaways and families. The location is the selling point: the Key West Aquarium, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum, the Custom House and the Truman Little White House are all a short walk away, and you can be at the sunset celebration in five minutes and back at the pool bar in ten. The trade-offs: the beaches are small and more for lounging than swimming, the harbor end of Old Town is busy on cruise-ship days, rates are high in season, and you will pay extra for parking and incidentals. Overall, for travelers who want resort comforts in the most walkable corner of the island, it is a strong, reliable choice.

The resort occupies a prime piece of waterfront at the foot of Front Street, near where the cruise piers and the Mallory Square docks meet Old Town. It was refreshed and rebranded as a Hyatt Centric — Hyatt's brand for hotels in the heart of a city's action — and the design leans bright and coastal. Evenings are its best moments: guests drift from the pool to the waterfront as the sun goes down, then walk a block to Duval for dinner or a drink.

Choosing a room: ocean-view rooms with balconies are worth booking for the sunsets over the harbor; standard rooms face the gardens or pool. Ask for a room away from the street side if you are sensitive to noise. If you plan to fish or take a sunset cruise, book through the resort marina for convenience; the boats leave from the property, so there is no shuttle or parking to arrange, and you can be back at the pool within minutes of docking. The heated pool runs from sunrise to sundown and stays comfortable in the cooler winter months, and cabanas can be rented for a day by the water.

Who it suits: couples who want a romantic, central waterfront base; families who value a pool and easy access to the Aquarium and Mallory Square; and anyone who wants to walk to everything in Old Town. Travelers seeking a broad swimming beach should look at The Reach or Casa Marina instead. Pair a stay with a morning at the Mel Fisher Museum, sunset on the pier steps away, and a day trip to the Dry Tortugas from the seaport.