The Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton

The Reach Resort in Key West. I stayed 12/27/2025. We arrived at 6:30 PM. We were given room 542, which had the best view. We were able to sit on our balcony, listen to the music from the bar and hear the ocean waves. It was truly magical. Then, the next morning, we drank coffee on the balcony enjoying the amazing view. The staff was friendly and eager to help, even when I called for room service 10 minutes before they closed for an emergency Creme Brulé. It was the most enchanting experience my husband and I have enjoyed, possibly ever. Thank you to everyone there. Oh, and they're pet friendly too! My Bella also had a wonderful time people watching and visiting the dog beach.

Earlier this year, my wife and I planned a trip to Key West and stayed at The Reach from Thursday, December 18 through Sunday, December 21. From the very beginning, this experience stood out—not just because of the location, but because of the people and the way the property is run. Prior to our stay, I reached out to the hotel with several questions regarding the location, room options, views, and overall layout of the property. I was extremely pleased with how responsive and helpful the team was over the phone and email. Communication was prompt, clear, and thoughtful, which immediately gave us confidence in our reservation and set the tone for the stay. Early on, I connected with Ronald, the Front Desk Manager, Abby, the Media Consultant, and Cassie, the Concierge and Excursion Coordinator. Ronald’s leadership, expertise, and follow-up were consistently strong. He always responded within 24 hours and made sure questions didn’t linger unanswered. Abby was generous with her communication and reached out once we were on site, which made us feel genuinely welcomed. Cassie was incredibly efficient during check-in—helpful, friendly, and mindful of our time so we weren’t held up at concierge when all we wanted to do was get settled. Our arrival experience was smooth and relaxed. We arrived around 1:00 PM, which felt like the perfect time—not too early and not too late. The lobby was calm, there were no lines, and the environment immediately felt welcoming. During check-in, the front desk team did an excellent job explaining our benefits, including how our American Express points and credits worked. They even printed out a breakdown of the $36 total credit ($18 per day), explaining exactly how it would be applied. That level of clarity and organization was genuinely appreciated. After check-in, the bell staff assisted us with our luggage and took the extra step of showing us the quickest route to our room using the back elevators near the pool. This turned out to be extremely helpful throughout our stay. The property is older, and the layout reflects that, so knowing the most direct routes—especially for rooms closer to the beach—saved us a lot of time and unnecessary walking. On our first night, we decided to have dinner at the hotel, and we were honestly shocked by how good it was. My wife and I travel often and stay at many hotels, and this restaurant is not “just another hotel restaurant.” From the food quality to the service, it was outstanding. We especially enjoyed meeting Jeremy, who was one of the most outgoing and cheerful hospitality professionals we’ve ever encountered. He made us feel immediately comfortable, brought genuine energy to the table, and kept us laughing while still being extremely attentive. I have food allergies, and Jeremy took my concerns seriously—listening carefully, communicating with the chef, and making sure I felt comfortable and safe with my meal. That level of care goes a long way as a guest. We were also frequently taken care of by Lisa, especially during breakfast. She was patient, attentive, and incredibly accommodating with allergy-related requests. She kept our waters full, made sure we were comfortable, and always checked in at the right moments. I also appreciated her knowledge of the resort and its history, which added a nice personal touch to our mornings. Jeremy was especially helpful during busier afternoon and evening periods, but honestly, the entire restaurant team was friendly, conversational, and welcoming. I want to specifically call out Eve, who greeted guests at the front of the restaurant. She was the kindest and most welcoming restaurant employee we met during our stay. Her calm, respectful, and gentle demeanor immediately put people at ease. You could truly hear the warmth and passion in her voice when she welcomed guests. My wife and I both commented on how sweet and sincere she was, and we genuinely enjoyed talking with her because of her calming presence. She is the first face guests see when entering the restaurant, and she represents the property beautifully. I truly hope management recognizes her value and continues to invest in her. After a couple of days, we tried Key lime pie from several well-known spots around the island. In the end, we both agreed the best Key lime pie we had was at our hotel. We later learned it’s award-winning, which made complete sense. Honestly, I think the hotel should advertise this more—it’s a hidden gem that many people don’t realize is right there on property. The tequila pie was also excellent and worth ordering. It was also really interesting to hear about the history of the Four Marlins restaurant. I do wish the hotel offered a bit more education or storytelling around that history, as it adds depth and character to the dining experience. The interior design of the restaurant was another highlight—modern, bright, and well lit. To me, good lighting is incredibly important in a restaurant, and this space felt clean, polished, and inviting without being stuffy. Because of the food and the people, we ended up eating at the hotel restaurant for lunch and dinner multiple times throughout our stay. Our room was oceanfront with a larger balcony, and it was fantastic. The view of the pool and beach was beautiful, especially at sunset. That said, this side of the property truly shines at sunrise. The pier makes it incredibly easy to walk out and experience sunrise in a special way. I highly recommend getting up early at least once—the sunrises here are some of the most visually stunning in Key West. We even noticed locals driving down the public road next to the hotel and parking nearby just to watch the sunrise from this exact spot. The room itself was very comfortable. Outdoor temperatures averaged between 75–78°F, and our room stayed around 68°F, which we loved. The air conditioning worked extremely well. The shower was clean, drained properly, and had consistent water pressure. It was a bit small, but that’s understandable given the age of the property. The bed was very comfortable, and the pillows were full and supportive—something many hotels overlook, but we really appreciated. The bathroom was modern and well lit, though somewhat limited in size. Overall, this hotel was an excellent choice. Interestingly, I later realized I had visited this property over 35 years ago as a baby when it was still owned by Marriott. Seeing it now under Hilton’s Curio Collection, it’s clear how much care has gone into maintaining its charm. If I had one recommendation for ownership, it would be to consider renovating and modernizing some of the floor plans, rooms, and furniture over time. That said, the location alone makes this an absolutely beautiful and special property. A big thank you to the entire team at The Reach—especially Ronald, Abby, Cassie, Jeremy, Lisa, and Eve—for making our stay memorable and genuinely enjoyable.

Ricky, Jared and Phiwe were all very professional and helpful with all of my requests. They are very good at their jobs! We will be back!

In the past 30 years I have visit Key West several times, at least once a year for the past several years. During these visits I have stayed in everything from a "compact" guest house room to off a discreet alley to the Casa Marina (presumed to be Old Towns most elegant). I will say my favorite spot where where I spend most of my stays is not a resort a resort (honestly I keep that one close to my vest!). That said, I spent two days and nights at the Reach Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton the first week of December, 2025. I have read other reviews in which a few had complaints. All I can say is based upon my experience, this Resort has a lot to offer and we can begin with the clean room accommodations. As a frequent traveler, I know what to look for in cleanness. My favorite trick is the damp towel on the bathroom floor mopping which will reveal I the floor is dirty. My comfortable room, 3334, passed the test. The shower was great, the amenities ample. In room safe and fridge functioned. Key West is a small island and space is a premium. I'll say this was the most spacious room I have ever had in Key West. While the exterior design of the hotel is almost maze-like in finding your way around, signage is adequate and every employee I interacted with, and I mean every employee, were cheerful and eager to serve. Beaches in Key West are limited, this resort has. nice one. Also a nice pool attended to by an attentive staff. The Blue Marlin is a nice outdoor dining venue with beach and pool views and access. Food is reasonably priced, considering this is a resort in Key West. My room has "sort of" an ocean view and I cannot speak for some other rooms in the facility. Many obviously have an ocean view, some do not. Again, keep in mind this is Old Key West: Expect lots of masonry walls and every inch of space utilized. That's just the way old Key West is. Every individual or couple has their own vacation goals and tastes. For a longer say in Key West, I personally prefer a certain smaller privately owned place which has a traditional Key West feel. However, out of curiosity I do mix it up and will stay in a hotel for resort for a few days as well on most visits. If you prefer a resort, this one is worth considering. I'm picky and have certain expectations, especially when paying for premium lodging. I enjoyed my stay at the Reach Key West and intend to visit again.

The room was very dated. Linens and towels threadbare. No safe in the room. Meager amenities. The only thing we enjoyed was the beachfront restaurant and the beach. But I didn’t feel it was worth the higher cost. We would not return.