Casa Morada

I stayed in the garden area Twilight suite. My traveling companion stayed in the Manatee, one of the waterfront rooms. Both were sparkling clean, supplied with drinks, snacks, wonderful toiletries, great bedding. My views were of lush vegetation; his were waterfront and--again--lush vegetation Both lovely. Parking is convenient and safe at both areas. We keep the car at my suite. Casa Morada is not the typical 5 star hotel. It is a quiet, traditional retreat in a setting that is wonderful old tropical Florida. As an 82 yr old native Floridian lady, this was the main draw for me. The landscape is beautifully designed with plenty of walking areas for me and my tiny dog, native Florida trees and plants, seating areas for scenic pauses, leading to a well-designed waterfront. Rejuvenation! Guests can bring their boats and moor them at the plentiful docking spots directly on the property; and many did. The waterfront rooms open directly to a boardwalk over the water to a small island pagoda. Gorgeous for morning, daytime and evening relaxing. Staff are all lovely and helpful. Special shout out to receptionist and General Factotum, Sam. She was at my friend's room in 2 minutes when he had a glitch with his TV one night. Guests check in at the Sunset Inn, directly on the highway. Casa Morada is behind it, off the road. The Inn and Casa Morada are all the same property. Mangrove Mike's is a wonderful restaurant in the same strip as the Sunset Inn office. Frequented by locals and travelers alike, a variety of foods, great wait staff. Enjoyed the hogfish sandwich and the key lime pie. All breads and desserts baked onsite. Also dined at the Island Grill a tad north of Casa Morada on the ocean side. Crunchy yellow snapper, strip steak, chicken wings are all special! We loved our stay at Casa Morada and didn't want to leave. My friend said he wants to live there. We. plan to return in November.

My wife and I have stayed at Casa Morada in Islamorada more than 25 times since we were married there in 2004. For us, it has never been just another resort in the Florida Keys. It has been part of our family story. In 2021, when my youngest daughter was married in Islamorada, we booked the entire Casa Morada property for our wedding guests over the Fourth of July weekend. It felt like coming full circle — returning to a place that had meant so much to us and sharing it with the next generation. Casa Morada was always special. Started in the early 2000s by three women who had once worked for Ian Schrager, the resort had a minimalist mystique that made it stand apart. It was intimate, elegant, and quietly beautiful. White flowing curtains, orchids in each room, champagne at check-in, a complimentary bottle of wine waiting in the room, and small snacks made the experience feel gracious and personal. The 16-room property had a charm that larger resorts could never duplicate. The landscaping, designed by Raymond Jungles, was part of the magic — native foliage, manicured pathways, fountain features, and a gradual unfolding of the property toward the water. A small bridge led to the island, where there was a pool and a sunset bar serving snacks, food, beer, wine, and sake beverages. It felt private, romantic, and unmistakably Islamorada. But 25 stays later, the place has changed. I understand that resorts evolve and that renovations are sometimes necessary. But what saddened me most during our recent stay was not simply that things were changing. It was that the attention to detail — any detail — seemed to have disappeared. The orchids are gone. The welcoming champagne is gone. Check-in now takes place across U.S. 1 at a motel owned by the same company, rather than in the old on-site office with its wooden desk, friendly stray cats — “it’s a Keys thing” — and the warm feeling of being welcomed back. The rooms still carry their charming names — Hideaway, Sea Turtle, Wild Flower, and others — but the charm behind those names seems to have faded. Our room furnishings were old, chipped, and tired. I asked for two room keys and was told I could only have one. I asked for ice to set up a small bar in the room and had to go to a convenience store to buy it. The exterior spaces were equally disappointing. The once-pristine pathways were ungroomed. A water feature sat dry with exposed pipes. Potted plants were dying or full of weeds. On the island, there were only four lounge chairs and no umbrellas for a 16-room resort. There were no pool towels available, and we were given two old, threadbare towels to use during our stay. The sunset bar, once a highlight, was closed and unmanned the entire time. All of this was at $550 per night, plus taxes. I write this with sadness, not anger. Casa Morada meant something to us. I hope the current owners understand what they have inherited and find a way to restore the beauty, hospitality, and attention to detail that once made it so special. I guess nothing lasts forever — but I truly hope Casa Morada finds its way back.

I highly would recommend staying at the lovely, serene, and perfectly located, Casa Morada. Our room, 'The Sun Room' was spacious with large picture windows that added to the feel of this space which evoked a true island feel. The staff could not have been more accommodating and even though there was construction to the docks going on during the day, we were still able to enjoy the pool and relaxing on a chaise under a covered canopy. The lush tropical landscape added to the calming outdoor ambience, which includes various spaces to sit and take in the grounds. Casa Moroda is a unique and special place I would definitely recommend!

The room (Manitee Suite) was very nice. Pool was clean and the views are amazing. Bed was comfortable and staff kept us in fresh linens. Would not recommend for handicapped folks as the path to get into the room was uneven gravel and access to the pool and lounging area was via stairs. Decent continental breakfast and fisherman to go breakfast was HUGE. Biggest problem was that the kept moving the reception area. We didn't know it moved across the Street to Sunset Motel while we were there.

We loved everything about our stay at Casa Morada. It was the best place to relax and recharge. The resort is beautiful!