My Favorite Flagler Beach Bed and Breakfast: The Island Cottage Inn

For those looking for a quiet beach getaway, I have found just the place! The Island Cottage Inn is a Flagler Beach Bed and Breakfast with an amazing location, gorgeous rooms, and top-notch amenities. Andrew and I took a weekend trip here and had such a dreamy experience!

This post contains everything you need to know for taking your own romantic getaway to the Island Cottage Inn. I will share all the unique things about this bed and breakfast, the perks of staying in Flagler Beach, and answers to any questions you might have. I’ve also included pictures to show you what a visit to Flagler Beach will be like! I know many have not visited this area before, so let me clue you in on this hidden gem beach town and where to stay here.

Full Disclosure: I received a free stay at the Island Cottage Inn in exchange for promotion. However, all opinions expressed here are my own.

1. Island Cottage Inn Amenities

First off, I want to discuss all the perks of staying at the Island Cottage Inn! This Flagler Beach Bed and Breakfast is literally right on the beach, so you can hear the ocean from your balcony. It also has plenty of other conveniences of staying at a bed and breakfast, as opposed to a chain hotel or an Airbnb. Here are some of my favorite parts.

The Pool and Beach

Obviously, the proximity to the beach is one of the biggest amenities, especially because of the fact that it has a private beach access. We were able to have this beach to ourselves during our stay, and bring Kiwi because it is a dog-friendly beach! The Island Cottage inn also provides luxury beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels for you to bring over and relax on the sand.

In addition to the beach, there is also a wading pool to cool off and relax by. The pool area has plenty of space to relax with four loungers, tables, and chairs.

Meals at the Café

Another big perk of staying at this Flagler Beach Bed and Breakfast is the free breakfast of course! Every morning, Mica the owner serves banana bread, muffins, parfaits, and coffee. There is also the option to order a mimosa as well!

Once per weekend, there is a happy hour with a complimentary glass of specialty wine. We had a blast getting to know the other guests and enjoying the West Coast cabernet sauvignon offered. There are other wines and cheese plates to order as well. If you want a unique lunch, you can even purchase a packed picnic in advance for the beach or nearby gardens!

Bicycle Rentals and More

For those eager to explore the town like we were, the complimentary beach cruisers are perfect. We enjoyed biking up the street to the cafes and pier during our stay. To top it all off, there are also some in-room amenities that add to the special nature of the stay, including plush robes, boxed water, in-room coffee, and fireplaces in many of the rooms. We felt pampered all the weekend between the hospitality and the amenities!

2. The Guest Rooms

There are eight unique guest rooms at the Island Cottage Inn. Each is gorgeously appointed, with a subtle, beachy theme. The beds are all Helix mattresses which are quite comfortable and the rooms come with Public Good toiletries.

Our Experience at Suite 4

We stayed in Suite 4, which is one of the three pet-friendly rooms. This is the largest of the pet-friendly rooms and has a balcony, fireplace, and wet bar. We loved the high ceiling and walk-in shower too!

This room is perfect for a couple looking for a romantic getaway, as it has a king-sized bed, a sitting area, and of course ocean views. It’s also very convenient having the wet bar for pet owners, as we could easily refill Kiwi’s water bowl. Two things I prefer in hotel rooms are having a TV you can cast to and having body wash instead of bar soap, and the Island Cottage Inn had both! This room has much more charm than the usual Hyatt Place hotels we stay at, and above and beyond the amenities.

Other Suites

The other suites at this Flagler Beach Bed and breakfast are similar in size and comfort. Suite One is the largest with a dining area and bathing tub, in addition to the perks we had. Suites One, Three, and Four have balconies, and all, except Suites Six and Eight, have wet bars.

Suite Four is definitely the most spacious option available to pet owners, but the other two options have everything you need. Keep in mind, all rooms only sleep two people, as this is an adults-only bed and breakfast. 

3. Location and Atmosphere

As I mentioned earlier, The Island Cottage Inn is situated right on Flagler Beach, just a couple miles from the main pier. The vibe matches that of this charming beach town where locals bike to the beach and go surfing after work. This bed and breakfast does a great job of having a beachy feel, without going into kitschy territory.

One example of this is the café, which features a colorful, tropical mural painted by Mica’s husband David! The bright pink of the café is cheerful and unique and really adds to the vacation atmosphere when getting breakfast in the morning. I also felt a tranquil vibe at the Island Cottage Inn with the stone garden waterfall sitting area and with the simple art touches in the room.

You can’t find a better location as it is close enough to get to a variety of restaurants and bars in minutes, but just far enough away to not deal with the beach crowds. The two miles into town is very easy by bike or car and makes for a leisurely walk on cool days. This Flagler Beach bed and breakfast is also about an hour south of St. Augustine and half an hour north of Daytona and Ormond Beach.

4. Things to Do in Flagler Beach

Flagler Beach is smaller than some of the nearby beach towns, but that makes it perfect for relaxing! Even still, we were never bored during our three-night stay at the Island Cottage Inn. Between so much nature and state parks around, as well as a plethora of local businesses, here are my recommendations for enjoying your stay in Flagler Beach. 

Nature Activities

This is first and foremost a beach town, so you will definitely want to take advantage of that. Whether you like surfing, kayaking, swimming, or just laying out, the beaches here are the perfect place to do it all. However, this quiet area is also home to multiple state parks to explore.

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is a must-visit. This state park has a lovely flower and tree garden to walk around in, as well as hiking trails and beach access. It only costs $5 to enter and is open daily! Other state parks nearby include Gamble Rogers Memorial, Bulow Plantation Historic Ruins, Tomoka, and Faver-Dykes. Each of these has trails to take a hike and look for animals, plants, and historic ruins.

For those who want to get up close and personal with some sea life, Marineland Dolphin Adventure is a fun place. Here you can swim with dolphins, as well as see sharks, sea turtles and other aquatic life. It’s much more affordable than swimming with dolphins in the Caribbean, so take a visit if you are celebrating a special occasion!

Active Things to Do

There are plenty of ways to get outside and be active in Flagler Beach. Ripple Effects Eco Tours is a favorite with options for kayaking tours and naturalist walks. Hurricane Water sports offers paddleboard and kayak rentals if you prefer to chart your own paddle.

For those who enjoy mountain biking, this is one of the best areas in Florida to visit. The Graham Swamp East Trailhead and the Mala Compra trail offer a variety of terrain and some tracks. The Palm Coast Bicycle Trail Shop even has bikes for rent! Of course, if you prefer road or beach cycling, this is a great place for it.

Though not that active for us, our favorite thing we did this weekend was to take Kiwi to Good Times Dog Bar. He loved running around the doggie pool and grass while we sipped pumpkin beers. We also visited Fort Matanzas National Monument where you can take a free boat ride to the historic fort and tour the grounds.

Bars and Restaurants

As far as dining goes, there are so many excellent places to eat in Flagler Beach! We found a variety of options within a couple of miles of the Island Cottage Inn for all sorts of budgets and tastes.

There are multiple cafes to choose from including Vessel Sandwich Shop, Raw Juice Café, Swillerbees and Sunbros. If you want to take a scenic drive up the coast. Ragga Surf Café offers an oceanside breakfast and lunch just twenty minutes away.

For dinner. There are seafood options galore at places like Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill, The Anchor, and Turtle Shack Café. However, for something different, we were surprised by the exceptional pizza and Italian food at Faro. Whaam Burger was another favorite of ours with its retro vibe and creative burgers. But hands down, the best was Rose Villa. This is down in Ormond Beach but worth the drive for the romantic atmosphere and top-notch southern food!

If you are looking for libations, there are all sorts of beach bars and breweries too. We enjoyed Coquina Coast Brewing Co. and Beach Side Brew Pub, as well as the dog bar. You can also find some wine bars, like Uncork’d and Flagler Beachfront Winery. For a small surf town, the restaurant and bar options in Flagler beach are quite impressive!

5. Know Before You Go: Flagler Beach Bed and Breakfast Stay Tips

For an unforgettable Flagler beach bed and breakfast experience, the Island Cottage Inn is my top recommendation. We loved everything about it, from the easy beach access to the accommodating hosts. With the holidays coming up, be sure to book a stay soon as the suites fill up fast! With that, here are some things to keep in mind before your visit.

• Want to book your own stay at the Island Cottage Inn? Use promo code TRAVELGIRL and book your stay by December 31st for 20% off!
• There are eight guest rooms available at the Island Cottage Inn ranging from $200 to $400 per night. There is a two-night minimum for each stay.
• Breakfast is included with your stay, as well as beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, robes, parking, Wi-Fi, and beach cruisers.
• Dogs are allowed and there is a one-time $50 pet fee when bringing yours.
• This is an adults-only inn and children under sixteen are discouraged from visiting.
• The bed and breakfast are conveniently located less than 10 minutes away from the main area of Flagler Beach.
• For help packing, make sure to check out my packing guide and bring the recommended essentials for a beach vacation!

Have you been to Flagler Beach before? Let me know where you stayed if you have. For more romantic Florida getaway ideas, be sure to check out my complete guide to couple vacation ideas here!