Havana Cabana Hotel Review: My Honest Experience at this Key West Hotel
My friend and I headed to Key West for a long weekend and stayed at Havana Cabana, which ended up being a great choice overall!
They offer shuttle service to downtown Key West, have a great pool area, and the beds were decently comfortable. The decor is Cuban inspired, but with that quirky Key West style.
I’ll review our 3-night experience at Havana Cabana Key West to help you decide if this hotel is the right choice for your trip!
Quick-Reference Box
- 📍 3420 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040
- ⏰ Check-in: 4pm | Check-out: 11am
- 🚐 Shuttle to Duval Street runs every 30 minutes, 9am–10:30pm (included in resort fee)
- ✈️ Airport shuttle available
- 🅿️ Free on-site parking
- 🐾 Pet friendly (call for restrictions/fees)
- Best for: Friend trips, couples, anyone who wants a vibe-forward pool day as their home base
- Skip if: Walkability to Duval Street is a must for you
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Location: What You Need to Know First
The first thing you need to know in this Havana Cabana Hotel review is it is NOT located in downtown. In fact, it’s about 3 miles to Duval Street, which is the main hub of downtown Key West.
There is nothing close to this hotel really worth walking to, but if you did want to walk, there is a wide paved path on the water side. It makes walking or riding a bike very easy, even though it’s on the main (US-1) road.
The Shuttle
The good news is they offer a free shuttle and it was very punctual and easy to use! The shuttle will drop you off and pick you up from The Waterfront Brewery every half hour!
It operates daily from 9AM to 10:30PM, which was perfect for most days. For our Dry Tortugas day trip on the ferry, we had to use Uber, but thankfully had no issues.
The shuttle from the airport when we arrived was an option, but we would have had to wait about 45 minutes (I called the hotel), so we used Uber then as well.
On Sunday when heading back to the airport, we were told to use the usual shuttle and just tell the driver we’re heading to the airport. It was 2:30PM, so we were the only ones in the shuttle, and we didn’t have to make a stop downtown first.
The shuttle was very convenient to use, but if you want to be in walking distance of Duval Street, this is not the hotel for you.
The Vibe: Cuban-Inspired & Actually Fun
The vibe of Havana Cabana Key West is fun, Cuban themed, but still with that Key West quirky style. I didn’t feel like I was in Cuba and I didn’t feel like I was in Florida, which I suppose is the point.
There are colorful elements, timeless pieces, and plenty of decorative details to keep it interesting. Even the Santa Claus was dressed in his best Key West attire and greeted you as you exited the lobby into the pool area.
It’s lively and weird, cohesive and not, but has a point of view you won’t soon forget.
The pool kept that upbeat feel, but felt more relaxed as well. Maybe it was the palm trees offering shade and tropical vibes, but the bright colored chairs and umbrellas did not overpower.
Of course, there were fun little corners for games or photo opportunities, that kept the vibes strong.
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The Room: Honest Breakdown
My friend and I stayed in a room with two queen beds. It had a dresser if you wanted to unpack as well as a small closet. The room also had a safe, coffeemaker, and small fridge.
The bathroom had a bathtub and toilet with a door, while the sink was separate. The shower and sink also had free shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion, however, the conditioner wasn’t very good.
I appreciated the free water bottles, as I was not doing a good job staying hydrated. However, I can’t speak to the coffee.
Housekeeping provided fresh towels daily during our weekend in Key West and we always returned to a made bed.
The bed was decently comfortable, but not amazing. I slept in the middle of the queen bed because it wasn’t comfortable on the side, so sharing would have been rough.
The music from the pool seemed loud one night and not too bad another. Bring earplugs if you need quiet, especially if you have a room facing the pool like we did.
The AC worked well, as you’d expect from a hotel in Florida and the blackout curtains were effective for sleeping in.
The free wifi worked well and there were plenty of places to charge phones and cameras in the room.
The setup was similar to a motel in that the doors to each room are outside. However, it felt very safe for our room since it was facing the pool and you had to walk through the lobby to get to this area.
Room Types
The rooms have either a King bed or two Queens and vary slightly from there. While there are several room types to choose from, the main thing to consider is location.
The rooms facing the pool may be louder if there’s a DJ on-site. The rooms with the ocean view will also be facing the main road of US-1. While traffic shouldn’t be a huge factor at night, it’s worth noting.
Check rates and room types at Havana Cabana Key West (Adults Only)
The Pool & Bar Scene
Havana Cabana Key West is listed as adults-only on booking sites, but I can’t find any confirmation on their website. However, I can confirm I really only saw adults at the pool.
There was a party vibe one night and a private event another night, but for the most part, it was chill on Sunday when we spent the morning and afternoon there. Actually, the iguanas trying to steal our lunch was the most disruptive part, but an amusing memory as well.
I don’t really drink, so I only used the bar to order lunch on Sunday. It’s conveniently by the pool, so if you do want to keep an open tab, it’s very easy and accessible.
Next to the bar is the Floridita Food Truck and a dining area. It’s all outside, but shaded. My friend and I enjoyed our breakfast here on Sunday morning before finding an umbrella and chairs by the pool.
On the other side of the pool, is a game area. Ping pong, foosball, Jenga, and more make up this area. As someone who loves games, I would have enjoyed this area if I had spent more time at the hotel.
Next to the game area, but tucked away is the hot tub. It’s surrounded by trees so it has a more private feel from the game and pool areas. As hot as South Florida is, I really can’t think this would be enjoyable, but to each his own.
Another area I would have enjoyed if we spent more time at the hotel is the hammock area. One morning I saw a lady relaxing on the hammock reading a book and I have to admit, she won the morning. The hammocks are by the pool, but under a covering, so you can really enjoy being outside, while not baking in the sun.
Overall, Havana Cabana Key West delivers in the pool scene! Since it is not close to any of the few beaches on Key West, you will have to Uber to put your feet in the sand. Of course, Key West isn’t really known for beaches and doesn’t have many to offer in the first place, making the pool experience more important if you want to relax.
The Perks That Actually Matter
Here are some perks worth highlighting in this Havana Cabana hotel review. However, it’s worth noting most of these “perks” are included with the daily resort fee you have to pay.
The shuttle to downtown was great and very punctual! It was reliable and we never had issues with it being too full. However, certain busy times of the year this may be a factor during the most popular times for heading downtown or back to the hotel.
There is a shuttle to and from the airport. We didn’t want to wait for the 45 minutes when we arrived, so we ordered an Uber. However, we did use it to get to the airport after our Key West weekend came to an end.
On-site parking is available if you drive down. With this hotel being a few miles from Duval Street, parking is easier in general on this end of Key West.
There is a room option that is pet friendly. So if you love traveling with your dog, this is a worthwhile hotel to consider.
My friend and I tried a couple of the restaurants on-site. The breakfast at the Floridita Food Truck was solid, and we both enjoyed our lunch by the pool. Additionally, we ate at Flama Cabana and while the food was good, the service was excellent and the vibe was great! It’s also a perfect place to enjoy the sunset.
The service at Havana Cabana Key West was excellent. Every shuttle driver, the front desk staff, the waitresses, and the concierge were all friendly and helpful.
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The Honest Cons
While the Havana Cabana is a great option to consider, there are some things you should know before you book.
The location is a few miles from the heart of Key West. You will need to utilize the hotel shuttle or an Uber to get to Duval Street. If you want to be within walking distance of the main area of Key West, this is not the hotel for you.
I’m not a big partier, so the loud music, pool party vibe is not my thing. While it wasn’t bad every night of our weekend stay, it was a factor on one night for sure. It’s definitely worth checking with the hotel before you stay, whether you are for or against these pool party vibes.
While they say there are ocean view rooms, this needs a reality check. Yes, there is an ocean view, but it would also include a parking lot and a busy main road. I did enjoy a nice sunset from the Flama Cabana restaurant so I’m not saying the view isn’t nice, but it’s important to go with a healthy expectation.
Check rates and book Havana Cabana Key West (Adults Only)
Is Havana Cabana Worth It? (My Honest Take)
My friend and I enjoyed our stay at Havana Cabana Key West. Hotel prices in Key West are not affordable in general, so take the higher prices across the island into consideration.
The pool area was great! The room was okay, but the service was excellent. The food on-site was decent, which is great if you don’t want to have to head to downtown Key West.
This hotel is great for any adult who wants a fun vibe, with a great pool area and who doesn’t mind taking a shuttle or Uber to Duval Street. However, if you want to be in the middle of the action, this is not the hotel for you.
The price was more affordable than a lot of other hotels on the island, but certainly not budget-friendly. However, the pool area and shuttle add quite a bit of value to the price.
I would definitely consider staying here again. It worked well as the base for my trip and I loved my Dry Tortugas day trip, which was the reason for my visit.
Final Thoughts on this Havana Cabana Hotel Review
Havana Cabana Key West is a great hotel option to consider! Even though you are giving up proximity to Duval Street, the shuttle is consistent and easy to use.
The pool at Havana Cabana is spacious and my friend and I enjoyed spending our last day on the lounge chairs before flying out. Since the resort seemed to cater mostly to adults, the pool area was quiet without kids running around and splashing.
The service ranged from good to excellent, making the experience that much better. And while we weren’t in the thick of Key West, that suited me just fine.
If you’re okay with being shuttled to the main area and want a large pool, Havana Cabana is an excellent place to consider!
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