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Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!

Photo gallery for Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!

Large Living Room
Large Living Room
Exterior
Exterior
Large Living Room

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6151.0 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Cedar Key, FL
  • Place, City Beach
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Cedar Key Historical Society Museum
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Cedar Key Pier
    ‪3 min walk‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Living Room

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area

About this property

Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!

Historic gem has been carefully remodeled while maintaining its charm. The structure was built in 1880 for two sisters. The upstairs was always a residence and the downstairs was the home of Bodiford Pharmacy. Today, you can stay here and walk to everything downtown. No car needed, Restaurants, shopping, art, co-ops, museum, City park, beach, welcome center and more are all located within a couple blocks. Now named The Carmen House.

Great rental in downtown Cedar Key that has such charm and character. The space has modern amenities with antique flow from the historic stairs, to the windows, to the tabby walls from the 1800's. This amazing space is suited for a girls weekend or a romantic getaway for two!

The access to the building is on B street with entry by the picket fence, up the steps to the "Black" door. Inside there will be a bright green door that will take you up stairs to the space. The entire 2 - story apartment is available for guests with a great veranda for relaxing off the kitchen. Please note: stairs are required to access the apartment and second floor bedrooms.

We will always be available for any questions or any assistance during your stay.

The Carmen House, Circa 1880, is located in the heart of downtown Cedar Key. All stores, restaurants are located within a short walking distance, as well as the beach, marina, Library and the Cedar Key Garden. Rent a golf cart from nearby or a bike.

As mentioned, renting a golf cart or bike is an option on the island. We can provide additional information after booking.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 23
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Quiet in hall-Downstairs business massage & salon.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Non Smoking Only — This is a non-smoking building
A completed and signed rental agreement is required.
A security deposit hold is required prior to arrival and will be released 2 days after checkout, provided there are no deductions

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Cedar Key

Located in Cedar Key, this apartment is in the city centre and by the sea. Cedar Key Museum State Park and Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Southern Cross Sea Farms and Cat Island. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Cedar Key, FL

What's nearby

  • City Beach - 1 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Cedar Key Historical Society Museum - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Cedar Key Pier - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Southern Cross Sea Farms - 2 min drive - 1.8 km

Restaurants

  • ‪2nd Street Cafe - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪The Tipsy Cow - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Fishbonz on Third - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Tiki Bar @ Low Key Hideaway - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪1842 Daily Grind & Mercantile - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities! pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?

As of 6 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities! on 18 May 2026 start from NZ$355, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Carmen- Historic Building with Modern Amenities! located?

Located in the heart of Cedar Key, this apartment building is within a 5-minute walk of Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce and Cedar Key Historical Society Museum. Cedar Key Pier and City Beach are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 30 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 30 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 30 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 30 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 30 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Scott C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful spot.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Quaint historic home in great location
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Craig A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice Place

Pretty island and pretty house
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Pamela L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Place

We completely fell in love with this apartment. It is very spacious, well kept, updated, but has a an old charm to it. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

scott w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great downtown apartment .

Nice, roomy downtown location. Althing walking distance of all of downtown.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shelly V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good vibes, low key

This was a perfect vacation. The apartment was amazing. Loved the veranda to catch a cool gulf breeze, people watch and relax after a fun day exploring cedar key. Perfect location to walk to everything or jump in a golf cart and zip around.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gregg D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Weekend

Our first trip to Cedar Key. What a cool little town. Perfect spot to get away from the day to day hustle bustle of life. The apartment was incredibly nice and comfortable with a location you just can't beat!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nelson

First time in Cedar Key and really enjoyed my stay. The rental had all that was needed for the five day stay.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jackie R., Cleveland Ohio

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay

We had several days here and it was very relaxing. The unit is centrally located in this quiet town. The furniture in the living room was comfortable. The place was well stocked. Easy directions to enter. We were there in February so the weather was nice. Would recommend
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scott M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location

Stayed here the weekend before the seafood festival with the family and enjoyed every minute of it. The home was very well decorated and is located central to everything. The photos don't do it justice. There is a large porch on the second floor overlooking portions of the key. Location was perfect as walked everywhere we needed to go. Saw some comments about how steep the staircase is, but it's what you would expect in an older historic home. Highly recommend, and would stay there again no problem.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

8/10 Good

Brian B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Christmas in Cedar Key

The Carmen House was just what we were looking for. Although unseasonably cold we drove up to Manatee Springs State Park and saw about 20 Ts off the boardwalk. We had seafood dinners, rode our bikes, hiked in the preserve. All very quiet, just what we wanted. For the unprepared the stairs to the bedrooms can be a challenge. We had one hiccup with the heat on the main level that caused us to leave one day early but Mendy was responsive and was kind enough to refund us for that last day.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Paul E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Experience

Lovely property. Really only a one night stay, but property required two night. Property next door downright scary. Should be demolished unless historical. Front door had problems with self locking mechanism which bothers massage therapist below. Overall, ok but nothing to get too excited about.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Crystal B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place in a quiet community

The Carmen House was located a short walk from almost everywhere in town. The place had all the amenities we needed (kitchen is LOADED with whatever you need to cook), and it made our stay super comfortable. Yes - the stairs to the 2nd floor are STEEP, but they were totally fine to navigate. The murphy bed is in the living room, so someone who can’t do the steeper stairs could easily stay on the main floor. There is a set of stairs to get to the 1st floor of the house, as well, but they were not steep at all. My family of 3 really enjoyed our stay. The living room was super cozy, and the deck was great to relax on (and people watch), as well. Both bedrooms were a decent size. The master bed was really soft which is my only complaint. The bathroom upstairs is smaller than the one downstairs, but both were nice. The shower upstairs is smaller, but the shower pressure upstairs was better than downstairs. It was probably way too much room for my family of 3, but it was nice to be away from home but still have the comforts of home. So much better than a hotel or condo!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Arturo R.

The house was great. Very spacious, clean & a perfect location. This house may have issue for some. The second set of stairs is a bit steeper than typical stairs, but they have hand railing. I found no issue but my mother -in-law
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Linda S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Character and Location A+++

Everything you will need for your stay. Immaculate property with plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the historic downtown of Cedar Key. Yes, there are stairs. No, they are not a problem. Definitely will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Petra B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Visit at Hi e

The property is a home, warm and inviting and fully equipped, just like being home. Open and inviting In a great location within walking distance to restaurant and the pier. The stairs were a bit of a challenge but add to the uniqueness of the property. Historic properties hold unique charms and this location is absolutely charming. We will be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

4/10 Poor

Linda M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Mother’s Day annual getaway

My college roommates and I have a long standing tradition (35 years) of getting together and going someplace special for Mother’s Day. We enjoy our friendship, our destination, the activities, and usually have a great time. This is something we look forward to all year. Needless to say we have been many places but the Carmen House will go down in the major disappointment category. We are all in our 60’s and in fairly good shape but when my girlfriends took one look at the staircases, they wanted to leave immediately, of course they all looked at me because I booked it- I had no clue how treacherous “stairs “ could be. We didn’t leave because they knew we couldn’t get our money back. No one slept upstairs but me. The only salvation was that the living area and kitchen were spacious.. we managed to enjoy the trip in other ways even though all water activities were canceled due to the weather. ( no rain, just wind). So that’s my Mother’s Day 2022 story. Needless to say, we won’t be returning. I think Pelican Realty needs to be much more forthcoming about the stairs- I wish we would have known.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kandi C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place will definitely return

Everything you need and everything you might think of is there
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highly recommend

Great location, clean and had all the amenities we needed, and then some!
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Scott M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very clean and walking distance to dock st

Very clean and roomy place. Walking distance to Dock St and restaurants. We enjoyed our stay and would rent here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Darryl M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation 2021

The house is beautiful. As stated in previous reviews, the stairs to the bedrooms are very steep and the skylight in the master bedroom is killer in the mornings but other than that, it was perfect! Would stay again:)
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Brook W., Germany

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Property

What a wonderful location and property! Clean and spacious! Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Carol E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

Wonderful experience.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Katherine T.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming place in the heart of town

This townhouse is adorable and has character to spare. The downstairs is spacious and comfortable. The bedrooms upstairs are charming but the steps to get there are steep so if mobility is a concern then it's not your place. Really cool little place though and we will be back!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Loft

We didn’t know what to expect since we have never stayed in a loft above a business on the Main Street in town. What a fantastic find! This loft is absolutely adorable! You walk through two doors, up the stairs into a spacious, well updated decorated space with everything you need for a comfortable stay. We loved the outside porch that overlooked B Street. You do have to go up a steep set of stairs to get to the two upstairs bedrooms but the owner has thoughtfully included two Murphy beds that could be used if you have small children. There is also a baby gate to prevent them from getting up the stairs. There is a bathroom on the main floor and another one upstairs (both showers only). There is also a quaint balcony off of the left upstairs bedrooms, perfect for reading a book. The bedroom with the King sized bed has a skylight, so no sleeping late unless you wear a sleep mask. We didn’t mind it though, as we were ready to get up and enjoy the outdoors. We didn’t move our vehicle all week—you can easily walk everywhere! I would definitely stay here again. Thanks to the owner for sharing this lovely space! P.S. Go see Milt if you want to rent a golf cart (he’s in the pink house across from Cedar Cove).
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2021

About the host

Hosted by Mendy Allen

Host profile image
This property has been known as the Carmen House since 2020, named after the former owners, Caryn and Mendy. Today it's managed by a Johnny and Stephanie Polasik. We are Marine Biologists who made a career change and love helping people fall in love with Cedar Key (and in love in Cedar Key - we met and got married here). We hope you enjoy it as much as we have over the last decade.

Why they chose this property

Step back in time with this historic gem. Relive the olde time days but in style with all the modern amenities. We hope you enjoy staying in this piece of Cedar Key history!

What makes this property unique

There is an amazing balcony located off the main floor of The Carmen House. It has comfortable seating and a table for eating outside in the downtown atmosphere. You can see the marina from the balcony. There is also a small terrace off the upstairs bedroom with seating for two. Ask us about boat and trailer parking!

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