Brass Key Guesthouse

About The Hotel

The Brass Key Guesthouse is an upscale Provincetown guesthouse near Bradford Street with a heated pool in a beautifully manicured compound of restored buildings, prized for its prime location, comfort, and service. It holds a 4.7 across 873 reviews, with guests praising the cleanliness, unique decor, comfort, and the Shipwreck lounge with its relaxing vibe. The heated pool is the signature amenity — rare among Provincetown properties — and the compound offers a peaceful, polished base a block from Commercial Street’s galleries and nightlife. At $373–$465 per night, it is a mid-to-premium Provincetown choice with more amenities and quieter, more restful setting than the Commercial Street properties. The heated pool and the courtyard make it ideal for couples seeking comfort and relaxation alongside walkable access to town energy.

What Guests Are Saying

“I checked in on Oct. 31st and was shown to my room, which was upstairs in the same building as the front desk and the Shipwreck Lounge. I was not concerned about the lounge downstairs from the room, having visited the Shipwreck before and knowing it was a fairly chill location for drinks with background music. At about 3:30 pm, I received a text from the hotel, which included mention of a special event that night at the Shipwreck Lounge, the “Get Wrecked” party, featuring a DJ from 9 pm to midnight. After dinner, I returned to the hotel briefly to check out the situation, arriving shortly after 9 pm. The Lounge was packed with people and it took me a couple of minutes to wade through the crowd and get up to the room. Despite the crowd, the noise in the room was not bad, very tolerable. But then the DJ started playing music, which could be heard loud and clear in the room, and I thought, “uh oh”. I left to meet up with friends and returned after midnight, the stated ending time of the nightclub-style party. It was still going on, but only 30 or so people were in the lounge. I asked the DJ when he would be finished, and he said after a few more songs. I returned to the room and the music seemed louder, probably because the smaller crowd in the lounge wasn’t absorbing the sound as well as the larger crowd from earlier. Objects in the room were vibrating to the bass line of the music. I went out to the patio and asked the bartender when the party would end. She told me 12:45 - 1 am and asked if something was wrong. I told her that I was staying upstairs and waiting for the party to end. She apologized for the noise. I told her not to worry about it and went out for a walk. When I returned at 1:15 am, the party was over and I was able to use the room and eventually go to bed. I stopped by the front desk to complain about the situation the next day and was given a tepid “I’m sorry about that” and a dubious promise to mention it to the manager, who was not working that weekend. No form of redress or compensation was offered. Was this the end of the world? It was not. I had a nice walk around town that late night, but was a little tired the next day. The bigger issue is that I was sold a room at the full rate that was only usable for part of the stay due to an event the hotel itself planned and should have realized (or should have cared) would impact the guests staying immediately above. There was no notice on the website of the compromised nature of the rooms at the time of booking, nor was there any mention of the upcoming event or the consequences of it from the staff member who checked me in. The question for the reader of this review who is considering staying at the Brass Key is: do you want to stay at an establishment that bills itself as a luxury destination and charges the commensurate eye-wateringly high room rates (plus a $200 / night “Resort Fee”) but whose management seems to care so little for the quality of the customer experience? What would happen if you had a real problem and needed help? If you forgot something of value in the room when you checked out? If you do decide to stay at the Brass Key, I would recommend one of the rooms at the opposite end of the property, such as room #103 near the hot tub which I’ve stayed in before. It’s a very nice room and would be far enough away from the lounge that the noise and music from any nightclub-style parties taking place in the lounge would not bother you. As for the management of the Brass Key, I understand the desire to raise revenue by hosting special events in the Lounge, and judging by the size of the crowd when I first returned, I’m guessing you made quite a lot that night. But you should realize the impact these events have on guests staying in your rooms (or, less charitably, you should start caring about the impact) if you want to avoid poor reviews in the future. If there had been a forewarning about the party, a sincere apology, and/or a partial refund, this review would probably not exist.” — cwinSDCA, 2 stars

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A 4.7 across 873 reviews — a polished, upscale guesthouse
• A heated pool in a beautifully maintained compound
• A prime location a block from Commercial Street
• Restored buildings with comfortable, well-appointed rooms
• Attentive service and a relaxing, peaceful courtyard setting

Cons:

• Among the higher Provincetown rates ($373–$465/night)
• A guesthouse rather than a full-service resort
• The heated pool is the shared amenity — confirm any in-room whirlpool by room type at booking
• Books up far ahead for summer and Carnival

The Location

On Bradford Street in Provincetown, a block from Commercial Street and the galleries. You can find more details or book your stay on TripAdvisor.