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!
- Palm Beach Grill (“Hillstone”) – Buzzy, casual eatery is a local draw for New American fare & specialties such as kosher hot dogs.
- * 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
- *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.
- La Goulue
- Ta-Boo – Elegant, 1941-vintage bistro matches a Continental-American menu with buzzy vibes & an active bar.
Drinks:
- 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
- Restoration Hardware
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 the beach or 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.
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
