Marrero's Guest House & Garden of Eden Key West

Has anyone stayed at Marreros recently? Can you give me a review of the c/o pool activity? Friendly? Active? Social?

And has anyone enjoyed Garden of Eden? How is it? IS it full of gawkers? What can my wife expect as we are nudists? What is the best time? Day or evening?

Thank you!

My friend stays at Marreros and has really enjoyed it. He said the guests are very friendly around the pool. He's stayed there multiple times and recommends it highly.

The Garden of Eden is a fun place and a roll of the dice with regards to the crowd you'll find on any given night. Both times we were there it was an overwhelmingly male crowd, but since one occasion was close to a Halloween it explained the gay birthday party we bumped into.

The other visit my wife and I were again in the nudist minority but we had a good time talking to another nudist couple visiting the Florida keys. If you and your wife don't mind the high proportion of dressed gawkers, a visit to Garden of Eden can be an experience to tell your friends back home.

Does Garden of Eden have a storage place for ones clothes?

The best way we found to secure your clothes and keep your valuables safe is for your wife to carry a large purse or quasi beach-bag. We had on typical light Key West clothing; myself a Tommy Bahama shirt and shorts while she had a white blouse and shorts so it was no problem stuffing them in the bag.

Note: The Garden of Eden management is paranoid about iphone cameras so don't even think about it.

Can't wait to stay at Marrero's, what is the c/o, non-c/o use ratio at the pool? Would we feel comfortable as nudists at the pool? Is it couples or singles?

mainly nude couples. yes you would feel comfortable

Please don't take offense but this is really a moot question. The pool area is clothing optional. This means that anyone can dress up or dress down without any askance looks from others. After all, when folks reserve they know what it is. On any given day or time of day there could be all nude, no nude, half and half, etc. Ages vary from as young as twenties up to my age of sixty three and beyond. I have been a single there and I have been a couple. There is never a set ratio for anything. You will feel very comfortable no matter what your clothing persuasion might be. Suffice it to say that you will enjoy Marrero's. You will have fun at the pool, the evening 'happy hour', the informal breakfast buffet, the proximity to Duval St. (90 seconds walk) The manager will make you feel right at home. I've only stayed there three times, twice as a single and once as a couple. I would not hesitate to do so again. Enjoy.

Wayne <><

Thank you all for the feedback!

We stayed at Marreros for a week earlier this year and enjoyed the room, breakfast, happy hour,, the front porch and staff were great. I agree with Wayne about the pool use, a group of textile guests were having a reunion and were at the pool playing cards and chatting most of the day and evening (their right) so there was no A/N use. When they checked out a very abrasive man checked into in to the poolside room, he spent the entire day and evening with his cellphone(camera) poolside staring at any female. We would come back at 1AM from an evening out and he would be there staring, despite suggestions he would not leave. His behavior precluded any A/N use.

Searched for this thread as we're contemplating a trip within the next week or so. Is there any of the rooms such as a poolside room that would allow for us to be outside at night enjoying the evening in the nude. Or would any specific room have an outdoor sitting area private enough to do so. Or is the c/o only during the day in the sun at the pool?

room 12 is poolside. 14 is next to the pool but about 10 steps from door to c/o area. regardless of your room people are at the pool most of the evening in what ever they choose to wear or not wear.

Thanks for the quick response Rockhill. Unfortunately they don't have those rooms for the entirety of our projected stay. We did find a private villa, a 5 minute walk to Duval St, with a pool and we're told by the owner that it is private enough to be nude. A little more per night but it's our own house and the kitchen will allow us to prepare some of our meals to offset the extra cost.

Freshair--Would really appreciate hearing how you like the house upon your return, as I would love to rent a private house in Key West!!!

It's likely that others would love to have an intro to such a place. Please DO post what you find.
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I'll let you know when we get home later this month. I will tell you that we found several on VRBO with pool that appeared by the pictures and description to be private enough to be nude.

the house we rented was VRBO 307081. It's pricey, but everything in Key West is. It's usually rented by the month but we negotiated a price for the open days between the long term rentals. It's not really a detached house, it's more like the end unit of 2 1/2 story row houses. Facing south with the pool in the back (north) and with all of the landscaping to make it private, the pool got little sun. But it was private enough to be nude in and out of the home. If the people next to you were on their bedroom deck on the second floor, they could see into your pool. They never were but we really didn't care either way.
We did walk into Marrero's to check out the pool. Very small and limited sunny spots but would certainly work. They just didn't have a poolside room available for our entire stay.
Bottom line, I'd still look for a better VRBO rental with a private pool that gets some sun. If nothing else, we'd return to this one, but there has to be better.

Thanks for the report. Sorry the VBRO wasn't perfect, but sounds like you had a nice time overall.

Ok, we are new here. Discovered this website as we were doing research. We just reserved a room for Marrero's in March. Two rooms actually; we are going with friends.

Been to Olivia by Duval and went primarily for the C/O pool. But they have just changed to "family-style" so there are very few options now for being nude in Key West. We've also done some research on TA and with information we've gathered in the forums and msgs, here is some good information. Remember, we've never gone to Marrero's so much of the below is copied & pasted from friends.

It does rain almost every day but usually not more than an hour or keeps to the overnight hours. Pool; first if you are sun worshipers there's only 7-9 lounge chairs and a few hours of direct sun; early morning. I've never seen a problem with there not being enough lounges mainly because many guests like to avoid the sun. We've never had a bad time at the pool, everyone is friendly and talkitive. We've made friends there that we talk to on a regular basis and even have changed our plans to meet them there. The roosters are omnipresent, it is KW, also on the noise issue, it's right behind Margaritaville. The noise from MV comes from them dumping bottles in the trash. Earplugs from Walgreens takes care of both. Room 20 we have stayed in and it's great. On the second floor, huge-plenty of room to spread out, full bath, front and back doors, a small balcony with 2 chairs and a small table, and stairs right outside the back door to the pool. The real nice thing about the 2 doors, we found, if you're in the pool just lock the front door but the back unlocked, that way you don't lose your keys at the pool. 95% partake in the option at the pool, regardless of the day of the week. If they had a hot tub they don't anymore, we started going there 5-6 years ago and they've not had one since we started going.

Officially the pool area is the only c/o area in the house. once the doors are closed for the day, 6pm, it's a little looser but Steve will still say something to you if he catches you. Late night; most will just hold their towel in front of themselves if they have to go to the room. Pool days generally go; sun worshipers are out early and laying out, late night partiers join them eventually, pool empties around 4pm to get ready for Happy Hour, 5pm most all meet on porch for Happy Hour, 10(ish)pm guests start showing back up at pool, most all end up in the pool once they get back, the non-diehards go to bed then, what we like to call "Late Night Shenanigans" begin. There's an outdoor shower, which I find GREAT. The only time I shower in the room is when I have to shave. Happy Hour is a fantastic time/way to meet the other guests and get ideas for food/entertainment for the night. The booze is all bottom shelf rotgut, but it's free. There's also beer and at least 1 type of wine.
$1 for soda and water. $2 beer.

Marrero's is only a half block off Duvall and easy walking everywhere, unless you plan on going off-island I don't recommend a car. Within a block is a CVS (going in, construction hadn't begun when we were there in Sept), Walgreen's, liquor store and full grocery store Fausto's (though you only have a small fridge in room).

food/entertainment:
Caroline's Cafe: GREAT FOOD, good drinks, no entertainment
Smokin Tuna: Good food, good drinks, great entertainment
Sloppy Joe's: bad food good drinks, good entertainment
Margaritaville: bad food, bad drinks, unknown entertainment
Jack Flat's: good food, good drinks, no entertainment, great place to watch sports some 50 TV's
Rumors: good drinks, idk food, no entertainment
Kelly's: bad food bad drinks, idk entertainment
Firefly: bad food, ok drinks no entertainment (only ate there once and will give it another shot)
Captain Tony's: bad food, bad drinks, good entertainment
6 Toed Cat (breakfast): good food, idk drinks, none
Blue Heaven (breakfast): great food good drinks, none
Croissants De France (breakfast) great food, good drinks, none
Pepe's: good, good, none
Off the Hook: great good, none
Harpoon Harry's: good, good, none
Schooner's Wharf: great, unknown, great
A&B Lobsterhouse: good, good, none
Conch Republic: great, good, none
Hog's Breath: bad, bad, great
Half Shell Raw Bar: good, great, idk
Willie T's: good, good, good
Green Parrot: great, idk, great
Mangia Mangia: never been but Uncle Bob says it's the best food on the Rock
Latitudes: GREAT, GREAT, none (need reservations, pricy, good for special dinner, on Sunset Key)
Mr Zee's: great, beer only, none (open til 4am, 1 1/2 block away)
Santiago's Bodega: GREAT, beer/wine only, none-quite possibly the best food on the island

Attractions:, Hemingway House, Truman's Little White House (a must if you're a history buff), Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, USCG Cutter Ingham Museum, Mel Fisher Museum, KW Cemetary

Good bands: Jeff Clark, Yankee Jack (plays days at the Bull), Doerfels (SP). Check Bartab Magazine and toejam6.com for venues.
Drag shows at Aqua Club and 801 Bourbon Bar. If you go to Aqua try and sit at Laurie's bar.

Hope that helps.
~Bob and Julie~

All good info. The last few years we have fallen in love with Key West. We stay at the Pilot House, which has a nice CO pool.
Recently we have really enjoyed Smokin Tuna for the great music, and Schooner Wharf for the AM (9:30-12:00) happy hour. At noon Schooner has good music as well, Michael McCloud, and a lady named Raven are both really good, and sing on alternate days.
Have a great time!

While, according to most TA reviews and forums, many people love the Pilot House and continue to go back. We are certainly not exhibitionists, but their "stand-up/cover-up" policy for pool and hot tub is just silly. Who really wants to grab a towel to walk ten feet from their lounge chair to the pool? Really!?

Question though, are their rules for that more relaxed during Fantasy Fest?

~Bob and Julie~

I have not been there for Fantasy Fest so I can't answer that. Walking from lounge chair to the pool is fine. They ask you to cover up to go to room, or walk around because adjoining properties are close by.
I have never seen the rule broken, or enforced so I don't have strong opinions about it.

We have stayed at the Pilot House three times and the rules are only nude at the pool and hot tub. If you leave the pool area you must cover up. They are very strict about these rules.

I think we'll stick to Marrero's. From the pics we've seen, it looks like there is large privacy fence with lots of trees and bushes. We've also heard there is a good amount of pool activity late into the evening there so the "freedom factor" seems a lot higher.

~Bob and Julie~

I have found the Garden of Eden to be more laid back on Sunday nights. It seems that Fridays and Saturdays draw a lot of weekend warriors that are more "lookee loo". The crowd cycles about every 30 to 60 minutes just like the music so stick around and watch the people come and go.

Beside that you have to break the ice. There will always be people who come up to "see the nudes" and then turn around and leave after 5 or 10 minutes, but if you're dancing and enjoying yourself it encourages others to join the fun. I've seen it happen and made it happen both.

Just go up, order drinks, free yourself of your clothes and enjoy!

We stayed at Marreros last Feb. I can't add a lot to what's been said, but I have to say we enjoyed it. We had a smaller room, and will opt for a bigger one. The pool was great. There were almost always several nude couples enjoying the pool. Once inside the gate, it's all good. Met many terrific people at the pool. Will definitely do that again. The location... Amazing!!!!!