City Guide: Palm Beach

Palm Beach, Florida is a perfectly quaint & simultaneously high-end beach town one hour north of Miami. The average age in Palm Beach is 70, and that fact is quite reflected in town. Maybe that’s why Palm Beach is the perfect place for a weekend getaway: there’s nothing to do but eat, drink & shop your way through! Oh, and don’t forget to relax by the beach or pool!
Exclusive is usually the word that comes to mind when people imagine the beach town of Palm Beach. Forbes reported in 2017 that Palm Beach had at least 30 billionaires, with the town ranking as the 27th-wealthiest place in the United States. That’s quite a lot of concentrated wealth in one town! Palm Beach is filled with luxurious resorts, amazing restaurants, and elevated shopping.

I was actually floored by the food in Palm Beach. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting too much in the culinary department, but almost every meal we had was insane. Nearly everyone I talked to before the trip said, “oh, you’ve got to go to Buccan!” to the point where I was almost annoyed I had a reservation there *eye roll* — but it ended up being top 5 meals I’ve had. And now I’m one of those voices to says, “omg, you gotta go to Buccan for dinner!” whenever I hear anyone headed to Palm Beach! Their “Rodeo Dr.,” Worth St., is an upscale shopping district that stretches for 4 blocks and boasts exclusive retailers as well!

My mom and I went to Palm Beach for a weekend trip last year and it was an amazing time – and such a perfect weekend getaway! Vineyard Vines happened to be launching their Vineyard Vines x Palm Beach Lately Collection and they were throwing a party at The Colony Hotel to celebrate! We got to swing by the party and say hi to my good friend Nicole – who was so sweet to outfit my mother head-to-toe in Vineyard Vines! It was such a great time, and a special trip looking back because I believe it was the last trip I took before COVID-19 had entered the United States.

Packing for Palm Beach:

To Eat:

• *San Ambrose – Beautiful interior, but great patio seating! If there’s a wait, shop around the cute stores in the Royal Poinciana Plaza! Their watermelon & feta salad is a seasonal treat and tastes like summer on a plate! Also, their chicken sandwich is not to be missed!
• Palm Beach Grill (“Houston’s”) – Buzzy, casual eatery is a local draw for New American fare
• The Honor Bar – Right next to Palm Beach Grill is this intimate, 12-booth restaurant with phenominal sandwichs and saladas. Be sure to get the ribs also!
• * Buccan – HAVE to go here. Hip, and upscale-casual cafe with imaginative global fare & a lively bar in a tile-roofed storefront. Get the taco, Brussels Caeser, empanada, and the corn pasta.
• Florie’s (at The Four Seasons) –
• *The Seafood Bar (at The Breakers)  – Overlooking the ocean, this polished nautical eatery offers freshly caught seafood & a lengthy wine list. Be sure to sit at the bar because you’ll be dining and drinking over an aquarium bar!
• *Cafe L’Europe – A fine-dining restaurant serving Continental cuisine & an extensive wine list in an elegant setting. Their chicken Milanese was delicious!
• La Goulue – Revival of a longtime restaurant for traditional French fare in a setting with dark woods & mirrors. They have a location in NYC as well – this spot is fun for brunch or dinner!
• Ta-Boo – Elegant, 1941-vintage bistro matches a Continental-American menu with buzzy vibes & an active bar.
• Blue Provence – An upscale French gourmet grab-and-go and retail store. They have great imported proeucts from France!
• *SurfSide Diner – Relaxed nook with a neighborhood vibe featuring homestyle American provisions for breakfast & lunch.
• *Renato’s – Tucked in a courtyard overgrown with bougainvillea, this upscale Italian restaurant is romantic and elegant with an old-world feel.

Drinks:

• Celia Juice Bar – Healthy juice bar with smoothies and delicious bowls
• HMF – (at The Breakers) Upscale eclectic dishes & cocktails in the lavish, airy dining room & lounge at the Breakers Hotel.
• Cuccina – fun bar, gets dance-y! Hip, stylish outpost with a huge bar offering American & Italian cuisine & weekend disco till late.
• Eau Palm Beach
• Le Bar á Vin 
• *Café Boulud (at The Brazlian Court) – Daniel Boulud’s upscale French cuisine served in an elegant hotel setting with an outdoor terrace. Great spot for a martini or pre-dinner cocktail!
• *Leopard Lounge (at the Chesterfield Hotel) – This kitschy bar/eatery serves upmarket American eats amid leopard-inspired decor. This is one of the latest spots open (until 11:30!) and always draws a funny crowd!
• *Restoration Hardware

To Shop:

• Well Made Home – Specializing in pillows, custom upholstery, window treatments, and fabric, wallpaper.
• Keller Palm Beach – Well-curated coastal-inspired home goods
• St. Frank – So many great textiles & textures here! They partner with artisans around the world working in traditional crafts. Unique luxury wares for every room of your home.
• La Serene – This store is a dream. Offers hand-selected interior products, lifestyle accessories, furniture and art from European labels.
• Lori Jayne – Luxury linens, bath, table, gifts, home decor, embroidery & engraving!
• Orlebar Brown
• Vineyard Vines 
• Maus & Hoffman – Men’s resort wear
• Ralph Lauren 
• Amanda Lindroth – Island inspired classic designs using wicker and rattan
• Lifestyle So Chic – Apparel and home goods boutique!

To do:

• Visit the Flagler Museum
• Norton Museum of Art – The Norton Museum of Art is an art museum located in West Palm Beach, Florida. Its collection includes over 7,000 works, with a concentration in European, American, and Chinese art as well as in contemporary art and photography.
• Shop along Worth Ave. (their Rodeo Drive)
• Rent bikes and ride along Ocean Blvd. or go north to The Breakers
• Shop the stores in The Royal Poinciana Plaza!
• Browse antiques at Casa Gusto
• Play croquet at the Boca Beach Club
• Peanut Island – Peanut Island is a 79-acre island at the mouth of the Lake Worth Inlet in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The island was created by dredging-related projects in 1918 which also created the inlet and the Port of Palm Beach.
• Downtown West Palm Beach
• Check out the Downtown Murals

Stay:

• *The Colony – Where I stayed! The Colony Hotel is a unique and luxurious boutique hotel located in the heart of Palm Beach, just around the corner from Worth Avenue and steps away from the beach. The Colony is welcoming, bright, and young at heart.  The Colony is part of the fabric of Palm Beach, an important participant in Palm Beach’s storied and colorful history.
• The Breakers – Originally built in 1896, The Breakers remains one of America’s legendary resort destinations. Renowned for its seaside glamour and world-class service, the 538-room, Italian Renaissance-style hotel resides on 140 acres of oceanfront property in the heart of Palm Beach.
• Four Seasons – Two oceanfront pools, the Island’s most expansive and pristine beach, Five Star Spa, oceanfront dining, and first in the United States restaurant and bar collaboration with three Michelin-starred,  chef Mauro Colagreco.
• The Chesterfield Hotel – Located at the heart of Palm Beach, this iconic and characterful 1920s hotel is an architectural gem combining British design with southern coastal charm.
• The Brazilian Court Hotel – Elegant Spanish Colonial architecture, lush tropical courtyards, and fountains, and warm ocean breezes frame the exclusive Brazilian Court Hotel. A historic landmark infused throughout with Roaring 1920s glamour and boutique intimacy, our private, 80-room enclave is the classic Palm Beach luxury getaway

Have you been to Palm Beach? Let me know if you end up going and staying at The Colony. And don’t forget… “you’ve got to go to Buccan for dinner!” Hah!

Stay Risky,

– John