The Gates Hotel Key West, a new independent hotel with 100 rooms, will open on the island of Key West, Florida, in Fall 2014. The boutique address under new ownership of Highgate Hotels will combine refined luxury, modern design, organic touches, and Floridian flare to recreate the verve of Hemingway’s “old school Key West.” With its authentic island ambiance, residential-style interiors, Cuban-themed dining and drinking, and splashy pool deck scene, The Gates will bring the Key West lifestyle to life for guests and locals alike.
A departure from traditional hospitality in the Keys, The Gates can be considered the first of a “new wave” of hotels focused on chic, yet comfortable hospitality in Key West. Amenities, design, and participation from local partners are among the keys to The Gates’ unique personality and appeal, and arrivals can expect to be greeted by staff that embody the philosophy of the hotel and promote fun and relaxation throughout each stay.
Inspired by the Prohibition era, Rum Row will be The Gates’ contemporary rum bar and small plates café serving creative craft cocktails and tapas-style entrees. Located adjacent to the hotel pool deck, Rum Row will celebrate the rum-running romance of the Prohibition era through partnerships with local Key West First Legal Rum Distillery and family-owned Rodriguez Cigar Factory, offering guests special on-property events and exclusive experiences off-site.
A spacious deck with the adjacent long-boarded bar of Rum Row will surround the hotel’s large swimming pool, setting the scene for relaxed afternoons and festive evenings of live entertainment. Poolside cabanas and daybeds will be available to rent by the day and evening with varying levels of VIP service. Whether stretched out on chaise lounges or tucked in the privacy of a cabana, poolside will be the place to experience all Key West has to offer at The Gates.
Important to the vision behind The Gates is interior designer Andrea Henzlik of AHD in Atlanta, Georgia. With her extensive experience designing interiors for private residences, Henzlik’s eye for personalized spaces resulted in a minimalist-yet-convivial property that is culturally connected to the island and sets the stage for boutique hotels in Key West.
“I was challenged to create a functional space inspired by the vibrant yet relaxed lifestyle of Key West,” shares Henzlik. “I started with monochromatic minimalism and infused it with splashes of color and texture to create interiors that feel like an ocean home rather than a traditional hotel.”
The Gates’ common areas and guest rooms will showcase original photography by award-winning local photographer Jorge de la Torriente of De La Gallery. A wall of pecky cypress and a 10-foot community table will dress the lobby, along with a variety of textural elements. The guest rooms will display a modern yet rustic vibe with exposed whitewashed beams, custom platform beds of hand-washed cypress, petrified wood tables imported from Bali, and hand-selected rugs.
The hotel will offer two guest room categories: The Standard and The View. The View guest rooms include views of the pool or bay with some even providing direct access to the pool area. Each stay comes complete with complimentary WiFi access, a welcome cocktail and locally-inspired gifts and programs. In addition to the lunch and dinner fare served at Rum Row, traditional Key West breakfast items and Cuban coffee will also be offered daily.
