by | May 15, 2026
A Weekend at Bungalows Key Largo
Skip Duval Street—here's what it's like to stay at the only adults-only all-inclusive resort in the Florida Keys.
Perched atop an aqua beach cruiser, I zipped past rows of pastel cottages along a sandy lane. Palms stretched overhead, offering brief shade from the relentless South Florida heat, while staff walking by carrying folded linens waved hello. After a short three-minute bike ride, the path, surrounded by sea grape trees, opened onto a private beach overlooking a sparkling blue cove. A catamaran carrying guests sailed smoothly by as steel drums layered over a soft guitar melody drifted from speakers hidden in the trees. A fresh towel waited on an open lounger, and soon a server appeared to take my order for a rum and Diet Coke. I stretched out, grabbed a magazine from my bike’s basket and settled in for the next couple of hours, ready to take my first step into the world of solo travel—and Bungalows Key Largo was the first destination to check off my list.
A boutique resort in the upper Keys, Bungalows sits a world away from the party scene at the far end of the island chain. Forget Duval Street—this coastal oasis is designed for disconnecting and recharging without losing the upbeat energy that defines a classic Keys escape. Spread across 12 acres, the resort includes a full-service spa, two pools, watersports and five dining options. It’s also the only adults-only all-inclusive resort in the Florida Keys, making it an ideal introduction to traveling alone: there’s no reason to leave the property, and it feels like a trip to a far-off tropical destination instead of a staycation in my home state. Here’s what I found during my visit.
Welcome to Bungalows
After an hour-long drive from Miami International Airport through Homestead, past Everglades National Park and down A1A into the Keys, wooden gates the color of sea glass welcomed me into a subtropical forest filled with palms, mangroves and bamboo—a stark contrast to the sunbaked highway lined with roadside attractions. Reception takes place in a welcoming beach shack on the edge of this forested escape, outfitted with glass fishing float light fixtures, driftwood coffee tables and the resort’s signature blue details on doors, bar stools and awnings. A front desk agent serves tangy rum punch in small, branded cups, and before long, a concierge pulls up in a blue golf cart to give me a tour of the property. Bungalows Key Largo sits along the lower stretch of the island chain’s first speck of land, just a couple of miles north of Tavernier. Across the Overseas Highway is Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen, famous for its key lime pie, while the resort itself rests along Buttonwood Sound facing the Everglades. Instead of a traditional hotel building stacked with rooms, Bungalows offers 135 cottages—similar to luxury tiny homes—spread across the beach and tucked between palms. Sandy paths wind between hidden pools, cottages and open-air dining spots, creating a quiet atmosphere that silences the outside world.
Getting Settled
Two blue Adirondack chairs sit on the deck of each bungalow, with matching beach cruisers parked neatly outside—the easiest way to move about the resort. Inside the Bungalow, the mood is relaxed and romantic, with dark woods complemented by light cream walls and linens and coastal touches. A pillow-top king bed anchors the suite alongside a queen sofa sleeper, desk, coffee station, smart TV and spacious bathroom. A side door leads to a private porch deck with ample seating, plus a white soaking tub and outdoor rain shower. Palms provide shade while bougainvillea climbs the back wall, blooming bright red.
Taking to the Seas
There are plenty of ways to experience the Keys, but most revolve around the same essentials: sun, spirits and time on the water. Ride a cruiser to Coconut Beach, one of the property’s sandy shores, and grab a paddleboard, kayak or water trike for a loop around the cove. I tried taking a lap on the water trike, and it is much harder than it looks—my not-so-graceful tumble into the ocean was proof. You can also stop by the Watersports Tiki near the Sunset Pool to borrow snorkel gear and explore the seagrass and sandbars, where fish like blue tang and angelfish dart through the water. For an additional cost, guests can book sunset sails, sandbar-hopping pontoon trips or excursions to the reef. More adventurous options include scuba diving, offshore fishing and island hopping by seaplane.
Relax and Recharge
After a morning paddling around the bay (on a paddleboard, decidedly not the water trike), I spent the afternoon at the Zen Garden Spa, which includes five cabanas, a waterfront massage tiki hut, steam room and Himalayan salt room. Massages range from 50 to 80 minutes, with treatments using CBD cream, orange blossom oil or warm bamboo sticks rolled over tired muscles. Rejuvenate with a seaweed-based facial or try the boutique Hemingway men’s treatment, which includes a deep cleanse, exfoliation and facial massage.
After a Swedish deep-tissue massage, I spent an hour alternating between the steam room and the salt room, which consists of floor-to-ceiling blocks of Himalayan salt backlit with an orange glow and is said to improve skin health, support lung function and refresh the immune system. For maximum relaxation with minimal effort, I recommend ordering a mineral soak delivered straight to your bungalow to use in the private outdoor tub.
Not interested in fishing or snorkeling but still looking for something active? Reserve a mat for the guided yoga class held every morning at 8 a.m. on Tranquility Beach, the resort’s second stretch of sand. I learned twisted eagle is much easier with a view of the sun sparkling on the water and dolphins arcing into the air.
Nosh and Nightcaps
Even though the resort is all-inclusive, the dining options feel varied enough that meals never get repetitive. Sea Señor, a Mexican eatery directly on the beach next to the Sunset Pool, is surrounded by rattan two-seater tables that sit in the sand. The menu leans into Mexican classics like birria and camote relleno alongside fresh local seafood like mahi and grouper. Fresh seafood appears across Bungalows’s dining menus, often sourced from local boats. And don’t forget to ask for a bowl of elote, a satisfying combination of roasted corn, cotija, Tajín and chipotle aioli.
Steps away sits the Sunset Tiki Bar, a circular, thatched-roof structure synonymous with island getaways and known for pouring pina coladas and other fruity vacation cocktails. Beyond the drinks, there’s a small menu of handhelds and bar snacks available for pickup at the hut or delivered directly to your poolside cabana, including smoked fish dip, shrimp lettuce wraps and parmesan fries. Fish Tales, which overlooks the Sunset Pool, serves a Mediterranean-inspired three-course menu with dishes like caprese towers, ratatouille and shrimp scampi, and the Sunset Tiki Bar offers pizzas, burgers and wraps.
For a more elevated evening, Bogie & Bacall’s—available for an additional cost—serves as the resort’s steakhouse. Named for actors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, who starred together in the films “Key Largo” and “To Have and Have Not”, the restaurant focuses on fresh seafood, steaks and a sommelier-curated wine list. Standout dishes include white truffle mac and cheese topped with parmesan herb panko crumbs and an eight-ounce filet mignon with a creamy béarnaise sauce. I believe it to be a crime to visit the Keys without enjoying some fresh lobster, so I recommend ordering a grilled tail with a side of brussels sprouts topped with a sweet and spicy chili sauce and bacon.
Tucked in the corner is the Hemingway Bar, a libation station paying homage to the famous novelist and former Keys resident. Cocktails include a Hemingway daiquiri made with Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum distilled in Key West and Ernest’s Nightcap, a mix of vanilla vodka, espresso, Frangelico and chocolate mole bitters.
With a full belly and what was left of my post-dinner daiquiri, I peddled past blazing tiki torches to the private stretch of shoreline, where I sunbathed earlier that day. The water lapped softly on the sand and the palms rustled slightly in the balmy breeze, and I mentally planned one last morning paddleboard ride before checkout the next day. Somewhere between the salt room sessions, morning yoga and quiet bike rides on sandy paths, solo travel stopped feeling intimidating and started feeling like the only way to experience the Keys.
Know Before You Go: Bungalows Key Largo
Location: The southern tip of Key Largo, the first island in the Florida Keys
Price range: $800–$2,000 per night, though Florida resident discounts are often available for advance bookings
Must-try amenities: For an additional cost, take a tiki boat out for a spin—essentially a floating tropical bar that fits a handful of people. And don’t miss the Zen Pool, the property’s quiet second pool that’s perfect for a midday nap.
Best room: Waterfront Beach Bungalow
What’s nearby: Although there’s little reason to leave the property, guests can request a complimentary ride anywhere within a five-mile radius. Nearby options include John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Mrs. Mac’s Kitchen, known for its key lime pie.
For a curated travel guide to the Florida Keys, click here.
About the Author
As a born-and-raised Floridian, Emilee loves to write, read and talk about the Sunshine State. She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in editing, writing and media. Now, Emilee uses her skills to edit our print issues and online content, as well as write our weekly e-newsletter, Fresh Squeezed.
