My Guide to Palm Beach
My personal favorite places to shop, stay, & dine!
Brandon and I were able to sneak away to spend three nights in Palm Beach, a place we love to visit every spring when Charleston is defrosting and we are in search of someplace sunny, lush, and warm. We had all three children with us last year when Patrick was only about 5 months old, so this was quite a different trip to say the least! I’ve shared a couple of reels and posts on my Instagram showing bits of this most recent visit (here, here, here, and here), but I’ve had lots of requests for the granular details–where to eat, shop, and stay.
While I’m certainly no Palm Beach guru, I do have some recommendations for you based on our trips over the years!
Where to stay?
We have stayed at Eau Palm Beach, the former Ritz Palm Beach, in the past and I really love it because the rooms are spacious and the pool setup, which overlooks the ocean, is big and impressive. Eau Palm Beach also has the nicest spa I’ve ever visited. The only downside, in my opinion, is that this property is a liiiittle far away from everything else. However, when we have our car with us, it’s honestly a non-issue because we truly enjoy the drive from the hotel to town. You’re driving alongside the ocean the entire time, passing by all these incredible homes and landscapes. It’s a fun experience all on its own! With that said, I still think it’s a great place to stay without your own car because Uber/Lyft rides are super accessible on Palm Beach.
This time, we stayed at The Colony, which was so fun! It’s a happening spot and right in town, which is perfect since we flew to Palm Beach this time and wanted to be in walkable distance to most things on our list. This is more of a boutique hotel experience, so I would not say the amenities are as luxe as Eau Palm Beach (or what you’ll find at The Breakers or Four Seasons Palm Beach), but there are other aspects to The Colony that outweighed those things for this trip in particular. If we had our children with us, I would definitely prefer one of these other bigger properties, but since it was just us two, The Colony was perfect and exactly what we were looking for. This property gives you such a “Palm Beach” experience. Not only is everywhere you look beautiful (read: insta-worthy), but the pool and dining areas are buzzing with energy (places to see and be seen)! Every time we were out and about, then stepped foot back in The Colony lobby area, I found myself feeling so lucky to stay there.
Other places to stay, that I haven’t personally experienced:
The Breakers: We ate lunch here at the Seafood Bar to have a chance to preview the hotel for a possible next trip. The Breakers is such an iconic Palm Beach spot, however I have to say that my hopes were a little let down. The overall feeling in the hotel felt massive and well-suited for a corporate function. Lots of business people… less of that Palm Beach feel. But it totally could have been an off weekend! I’m imagining that it’s a totally different story in the summertime!
Where to shop?
Worth Avenue: Worth is the quintessential street on Palm Beach that is full of luxe shopping, from locally owned stores to the big names like Chanel, Van Cleef, and Tiffany & Co. Don’t miss: Aerin, Leta Austen Foster, Kassatly’s, Stubbs and Wooten, Casabranca
The Royal Ponciana Plaza: An outdoor shopping center that is buzzing with people and exciting activations. More contemporary brands, like Veronica Beard, Stoney Clover, LoveShackFancy, and Jenni Kayne are located here. In addition, you’ll find a few luxe brands like Cartier and Hermes. Don’t miss: The stores mentioned above, La Vie Style House, Assouline, + grabbing a treat at Sant Ambroeus
S. County Road: Perpendicular to Worth Avenue, this street is has a concentrated variety of shops from interiors stores to clothings stores that belong to some of my favorite small brands! Don’t miss: Julia Amory, ASHA, Well Made Home, PB Boys Club + PB Girls Club
S. Dixie Highway: Antique Row! This is where local designers and interiors-lovers go to shop for antiques, vintage rattan, and special one-of-a-kind treasures. I’m sad to say I haven’t visited this area, but have always wanted to with every trip we’ve taken. We wanted to on our last day on Palm Beach, but it was pouring down rain, so we didn’t.
Where to eat?
Buccan - A local favorite!
Imoto - We love to sit at the bar and have sushi + rock shrimp! Their japanese gimlet is delish!
Le Bilboquet - A vibe to say the least! We always have lunch here during our Worth Avenue shopping day, but next time I want to have dinner there as well! Highly recommend their chicken entree.
Swifty’s - This restaurant within The Colony and is wonderful! The outdoor area is next to the pool. Their lunch is wonderful, but I really recommend their breakfast! The avocado toast + add two eggs, as well as their french toast are to die for.
Polpo Palm Beach - Located within Eau Palm Beach, this is truly one of the most memorable meals I’ve had while vacationing in the area. When we went, we got to experience their delicious fine dining with one of Celine Dion’s former pianists playing for the restaurant.
Renato’s - We go every time! You must request the outdoor terrace. It’s the most romantic, garden-like italian restuarant. Our favorite!
Palm Beach Grill - A more relaxed setting at The Royal Ponciana Plaza, this restaurant is part of the Hillstone restaurant group. I had the Florida Red Snapper with Rock Shrimp and absolutely devoured it. Brandon loved the ribs! We heard the hot dog (read: fancy hot dog!) is a must-try… maybe next time.
Sant Ambroues - Another notable spot at The Royal Ponciana.
What to do?
Eating well, shopping, and visiting the beach or your hotel’s pool are the best things to do in Palm Beach, in my opinion! Brandon and I always enjoy driving around to see some of the magnificent homes on the island. Better yet, ride bikes to do this! The Colony has bikes available, so we took them out for a spin one afternoon on the Palm Beach Lake Trail and throughout some residential streets. It was my favorite part of the trip. On a next trip, we’d love to see Whitehall, Henry Flagler’s mansion-turned-museum.
And if you visit in the spring, there’s a nice chance that the Kips Bay Decorator Show House might be open, which is a must-visit! We loved touring this year’s house…. inspiration at every corner!
What camera were you shooting with for the picture you took of your husband and the one of you? Stunning!