Palm Beach’s Luxury Hotel Scene Is Getting a Dose of Fresh Energy
New luxury hotels grow slowly in Palm Beach County. The Amrit Ocean Resort, a 165-room wellness escape on Singer Island, was on the verge of premiering for seven years before finally arriving in May. The Mandarin Oriental in Boca Raton, which was supposed to be completed in 2020, has no sign of imminent life. Before Amrit, the only new high-end hotel to open on Palm Beach Island was the small, boutique White Elephant, back in early 2020.
Under the canopy of legendary resorts like the Breakers, the Colony, the Brazilian Court, and the Boca Raton, it’s difficult for newcomers to find light.
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This year, that changed. In addition to the unveiling of four lavish new properties, other major resorts—including two now owned by tech giants—have received major upgrades. Add to this some exciting restaurants debuts and a new semi-private air shuttle from New York to West Palm, and it’s a whole new scene.
Thanks to the Amrit, Palm Beach is now home to a four-story spa that is the largest in Florida, as well as many previously unavailable treatments. The resort has the county’s only indoor-outdoor hydrothermal water therapy circuit, plus hammer, and medical facilities—including a staff of trichologists for hair treatments. Its signature, soon-to-open vegan restaurant Ayre is the final piece of the puzzle.
And late last month, Palm House debuted 79 rooms on Royal Palm Way, in the center of Palm Beach island. The first U.S. property from London-based L+R’s Iconic Luxury Hotels collection (the brand owns the Excelsior in Venice and Cliveden House, where Meghan Markle stayed the night before her wedding), the new hotel will be home to the largest hotel bed in Palm Beach. Its Presidential Suite—one of 21 suites at the inn—will spread out over 2,000 square feet for a single bed: an Alaskan king. Butlers will be on hand to press your clothes and steep your tea before you head down to its Japanese restaurant or the Palm Bar for cocktails, sure to become one of the island’s best new bar scenes.
Fans of the famed Hotel du Cap will be cheering the arrival of the Vineta. Early next year, Oetker’s first U.S. property (a joint project with the British Reuben Brothers, who are also behind the Surrey in New York) will make its splash on Cocoanut Row, two blocks from Worth Ave. Located near the Lake Trail, where you can run or bike along the water for nearly five miles, the site was formerly the Chesterfield. That historic pink building will now have larger rooms, reducing the number from 53 to 41, and host a Mediterranean poolside restaurant. Its legendary Leopard Lounge is also being reimagined.
Golfers will be happy to learn that across the bridge in West Palm Beach, Autograph Collection has unveiled the 150-room Belgrove, where guests will have access to the members-only Dutchman’s Pipe course. Don’t worry if links aren’t your thing—the resort has yoga classes, separate pools for families and adults, and a spa with its own lap pool, along with facials, body treatments, and couples massages.
In addition to the stellar new properties, many traditional favorites have gotten major updates. The Breakers will reveal a new $12 million racquet enclave with 12 tennis, two pickleball and two padel courts, each with its own cabana and bathroom. Four courts even have overhang covers, so you won’t have to fight for the shady side.
Eau Palm Beach has been acquired by tech honcho Larry Ellison, who brought an outpost of Nobu to the oceanfront resort; while the Boca Raton, which was purchased by fellow tech mogul Michael Dell, will reopen its Beach Club in late December after a massive renovation, including the rooms, lobby, and all the restaurants. In addition to Mediterranean spot Marisol, Caribbean restaurant Onda, in partnership with chef Adriano Venturini of Eden Roc Cap Cana, will be premiering on the sand, with a direct view of the waves.
One of Palm Beach island’s most celebrated restaurants, Cafe Boulud at the Brazilian Court, which is beautified by landscaped gardens and a central fountain, has brought in Christopher Zabita as its new executive chef. A DJ now spins on Friday nights, which is bringing the elegant crowd to its feet.
The Seagate in Delray Beach has undergone a major update of its lobby, rooms, and beach club, as well as opening a branch of chef Michael Mina’s popular Bourbon Steak, while the Marriott Singer Island Resort and Spa has also been transformed, from the event rooms to the oceanfront restaurant, which will debut as a seafood spot, ONA Coastal Cuisine.
You don’t have to check into a hotel to be pampered. Paul Labrecque, the tonsorial guru who also has salons in New York and Philadelphia, has moved to a stellar new location in the Royal Poinciana’s Slat House, so you can get a massage, scalp treatment and blowout before grabbing a scarf at Hermes and lunch at St Ambroeus.
And the Royal Poinciana is not the only alternative to Worth Avenue this season. A pop up of Miami’s Bal Harbour Shops opened at City Place this month, and will remain there until January 15, featuring such brands as Balmain, Golden Goose, Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co., and Lanvin.
There is plenty new on the dining scene as well. Raffaele Ruggeri, the dashing CEO of Bice, a restaurant group started by his family, oversees its popular location on Palm Beach island, where Rod Stewart has been known to spontaneously break into song. This spring he opened the casual, authentic, Cafe Med, on the West Palm side, and in January, he will be premiere Salute in Palm Beach Towers, which he said will be seafood focused and “Milano chic.’’
Famed Israeli toque Eyal Shani, who caused a sensation with New York’s rousing HaSalon, is opening a branch of his upscale Malka in West Palm in December. And if you crave sushi, James Beard Award winner Takashi Yagihashi has teamed with restaurateur Jonathan Fox to fly fish in from Japan at Kasumi, within Boca Raton’s Waterstone Resort and Marina.
People from the southern end of Palm Beach County will no longer have to drive up to Palm Beach Gardens to get their flavor fix at Stage, a New American with Indian accents from Pushkar Marathe; the chef will unveil a second location on Boca Raton’s Restaurant Row in early next year. And fans of Hellenic treats who are still waiting for the much-anticipated arrival of Milos in West Palm Beach next year, will be able to sink their teeth into charcoal grilled octopus and lamb shank braised in red wine at the new Lefkes in Delray Beach.
If you are desperate for a workout after all this dining, LifeTime is opening a massive two-story fitness club in Uptown Boca. In addition to cardio classes, yoga, and racquet sports, there will be a co-ed wet suite, complete with a trendy cold plunge.
On the transportation front, a business class shuttle called Slate, will begin flying between Westchester and West Palm in January, allowing individuals to travel with the privileges of private aviation. Since there are so many sumptuous new offerings in the area, it’s nice to have the option of starting out the trip in style.
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