Palm Beach – home to stretches of pristine coastline, stunning Spanish Revival architecture and over 50 billionaires – has long been a notorious hub for the rich and famous. Here, even the airport has its own putting green, and luxury sports cars seem to outnumber pedestrians. While the South Florida island has historically been known for attracting the old-money country-club set, these days it’s up-and-coming with a new generation: As people moved en masse out of big cities during the pandemic, Palm Beach found itself trending again with the ‘young and hip’ crowd. Swanky new hotels – like our host for the weekend, the White Elephant Palm Beach – have opened up in recent years, and reservations at the local upscale restaurants are so scarce that exclusive private supper clubs are cropping up around the island. If you’re particularly well-connected, you can try to snag an invite to one – otherwise, follow this formula for exploring and tasting your way through one of the Sunshine State’s poshest zip codes.
Friday, 4:00 PM: Check-in to the White Elephant
Home base for the weekend is the White Elephant hotel, located on Sunset Avenue in the heart of Palm Beach. Opened in 2020, this is the only sister hotel of the White Elephant Nantucket, a luxury harbour-side hotel classified by Forbes as a place “where billionaires play and stay.” Their new outpost, housed in a refurbished historical building (the old Bradley Park Hotel, a landmark of the Palm Beach resort scene), is undoubtedly a comparable haven. New England’s favoured quiet-luxury aesthetic meets sunny Florida panache at the airy boutique hotel, where a Mediterranean facade gives way to a spacious lobby studded with bright artwork and plush guest rooms stocked with L’Occitane toiletries and fine Italian linens (on the pillows, you’ll find a box of chocolate-covered cranberries from Nantucket fudgemaker Aunt Leah’s). Get settled into your appointments, then spend some downtime exploring the amenities on offer (think outdoor pool and lounging area, library stocked with limited-edition board games and a daily wine and cheese bar in the lobby).
Friday, 7:00 PM: Dinner at Lola 41
LoLa 41, the one of the best restaurants in Palm Beach, is located on the first floor of the White Elephant, also traces its roots to Nantucket. Restauranteur Marco Coehlo opened the first Massachusetts location in 2006, naming it LoLa (for “longitude and latitude”) 41 (the specific parallel it lies on). The food is inspired by countries that also lie on the 41st parallel, like Japan and Italy, resulting in a unique bistro-style menu with dishes like lobster mac and cheese, edamame and ‘nduja carbonara. In addition to the bistro menu and extensive cocktail list, LoLa 41’s sushi and raw bar offers classic sashimi and rolls, as well as unique ones like the Capt’n Jose spicy salmon sushi roll, with spicy salmon, cucumber, kiwi, black tobiko and a sesame aji mirin aioli. Sit outdoors, if you can – the patio is in a courtyard adjacent to the hotel’s pool and features the property’s signature black-and-white beach umbrellas and a long dining booth adorned with bright, mismatched throw pillows. (Guests at the White Elephant enjoy special LoLa 41 privileges, like room and poolside service.)
Saturday, 9:00 AM: Breakfast at Green’s Pharmacy Luncheonette
A Palm Beach institution, Green’s opened back in the 30’s – a full-service pharmacy with a built-in soda fountain. A beloved dining spot for locals, it has since been frequented by the likes of JFK and Frank Sinatra, sealing its spot in the Florida dining hall of fame. These days, the clientele is still a blend of well-dressed patrons exuding classic Palm Beach wealth and blue-collar labourers taking a break from the Florida sun. Order from an extensive menu of classic breakfast dishes, including Southern specialties like biscuits with gravy and pigs in a blanket. If you’re up to start your day with something sweet, go for the chocolate malt or banana split – both reportedly favourites of the former president Kennedy.
Saturday, 10:00 AM: Worth Avenue
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through Palm Beach’s luxury shopping district, Worth Avenue. Designer boutiques, from Chanel to Aerin to the newly-opened Carolina Herrera store, line the palm-tree lined avenue, but there are also fine art and antique dealers, rare books and a fine Italian paper store to be found. Like many of the pedestrian areas in Palm Beach, Worth Avenue is studded with side streets that lead into lush cobblestoned courtyards, where fountains, statues, hidden storefronts and outdoor cafes await. You could spend the whole day wandering here, but plan for at least a couple of hours to window shop, people-watch and – if you feel like splurging – pick up some souvenirs.
Saturday, 12:00 PM: Lunch at Grandview Public Market
West Palm Beach, adjacent to the island of Palm Beach and easily accessible by bridge, offers a slightly more bustling scene than its resort-and-mansion-filled neighbour. The Grandview Public Market, while only a 10-minute drive from the White Elephant, is a fast-paced food hall (South Florida’s first) that feels much more metropolitan. Notable vendors include the newly-opened Nativus, an Ecuadorian eatery specializing in yuca cheese bread, tropical yogurt smoothies and (of course) coffee. Fresh poke from Joi Poke & Sushi is available in standard bowl form, or as the “pokérrito;” a nori-wrapped roll with your choice of fresh seafood filling and other delicious toppings like seaweed salad and eel sauce. Food isn’t all that’s on offer – Grandview is also a community gathering place, with rotating activities like free yoga classes and game specials such as “Bingo with Bottomless Mimosas.”
Saturday, 1:00 P.M.: Ocean drive
Cruising down the coastline is a must in Palm Beach (which is partly why the White Elephant provides complementary use of their BMW fleet and bicycles). Head back across the bridge to the island and check out The Church of Bethesda-By-The Sea, a century-old Episcopal church with breathtaking gothic revival architecture and lush public gardens. When you’re finished gawking, turn onto the northern end of South Ocean Boulevard, which stretches down along the coastline to the southern tip of the island. You’ll see gorgeous beaches and estates, including the beautiful Spanish-style bell clock tower at the base of Worth Avenue (feel free to hop out for a quick selfie) and the famed Mar-A-Lago club (you’ll know it by the yellow-and-white striped beach umbrellas and Secret Service watch tower).
Saturday, 2:00 P.M.: Spa stop
Once you hit the southern end of the island, Eau Spa (attached to the resort of the same name) provides a luxurious place to recharge. 42,000 square feet of one of the best spas in Palm Beach, including gardens and waters – not to mention bottomless Champagne and platters of signature cupcakes – make the spa worthy of a day-long trip, but a couple hours are still enough to indulge in the serenity on offer. Start by releasing a lit candle into their indoor wishing well, then step into the “Self-Centered Garden,” a luxe playground with dipping pools, hanging chairs, cabanas and a life-size chess set. Steam rooms, heated benches and a rainshower whirlpool await inside, as do plush treatment rooms outfitted with private garden villas where you can soak or shower before being pampered with a customized facial (they have one tailored for post-sun exposure, in case you forgot your SPF) and the spa’s signature massages, which come with customizable soundtracks, scent options and coloured lighting.
Saturday, 4:30 P.M.: Norton Museum of Art
Admiring the private gallery storefronts on Worth Avenue is a nearly museum-worthy experience on its own, but the collections at the Norton Museum of Art are truly spectacular. In true Palm Beach style, the museum was born when a wealthy local decided to share his vast art collection with the surrounding community in the 1940s. Now, the museum spans over 8,200 works in five curatorial departments (European, American, Chinese, Contemporary), including a 37,200 square foot sculpture garden filled with locally indigenous sub-tropical greenery and a diverse collection of outdoor sculptures. If you feel like a pre-dinner drink, head to The Restaurant at the Norton overlooking the gardens and peruse the menu, which features cocktails like the Seasonal Bellini (made with rotating in-season plant nectars), or try one of the local Florida craft beers.
Saturday, 7:00 P.M. Dinner in town
If you can get a Saturday dinner reservation at Buccan, count yourself among the few and fortunate – chef Clay Conley’s exclusive eatery debuted in 2011, immediately putting itself on the map with unique American-inspired dishes like the Hot Dog Panini (a classic which is still on the menu today). Buccan has been the place to eat in Palm Beach for over a decade now – in fact, OpenTable recently recognized it as one of their Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2023. For gorgeous outdoor eating (and slightly more availability reservations-wise), the local Café Boulud, steps off of Worth Avenue at the Brazilian Court Hotel, offers a spacious palm-shaded dining terrace dotted with flowers and a beautiful courtyard fountain. Menu offerings include fresh local seafood like Florida Stone Crab claws, as well as classic French dishes like Boulud’s signature pâté en croûte.
Saturday, 10:00 P.M.: Late night at Cucina
Palm Beach has never been known for its nightlife (Miami’s not too far, if that’s your scene) but Cucina fills the gap on weekends. Located around the corner from the White Elephant, Cucina is primarily an upscale Italian restaurant in Palm Beach that periodically transforms into a mini-nightclub. Starting on Thursdays, the dining tables on the floor are cleared away to make room for a dance floor from 10-2, and live DJs spin as the Dom Pérignon flows. Once a month, Cucina hosts “Kiss Me Thursdays;” a girls-night-out-geared bash with food specials and live performers like fire and belly dancers.
Sunday, 10:00 A.M.: Coffee at Pumphouse
Sleep in after your late night at Cucina, then head to the newly-opened Pumphouse “Pouratorium” for a pick-me-up. The 8,000 square foot warehouse isn’t hard to find – it has an eye-catching facade painted with baby blue paint and the slogan: “If you hate bad coffee, we should be friends.” Brothers Christian and Alex LeClainche opened the company in West Palm Beach a few years ago, but until recently were a mostly wholesale operation. Their new space, the Pouratroium, was opened at the end of last year and combines the roasting factory with a spacious coffee bar-cafe area. Try their single-origin pour-overs (the Ethiopian Chire Washing Blend is particularly invigorating) or signature cold brew (this is Florida, after all). You can also grab snacks, like the gorgeous salmon toast on aioli sourdough – but make sure to save room for brunch.
Sunday, 11:00 A.M.: Brunch at the Breakers
Before leaving Palm Beach, enjoy a final surfside meal. Sunday brunch at the Breakers – a historic luxury hotel built at the turn of the 20th century by the industrialist Henry M. Flagler – has been a staple of the Palm Beach social scene for decades. The extravagant dining room, known as The Circle, is adorned with eight oval murals depicting Renaissance landscapes and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. Offerings include classic breakfast fare as well as imported cheeses and pâtés, fresh fish and a raw bar with domestic caviar and Maine lobster. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more unfussy, head to Benny’s on the Beach Pier for classic, casual Floridian dishes like shrimp & grits with pickled jalapenos and house-made cornbread. Dine directly on the Lake Worth Pier stretching out over the Atlantic ocean and watch the day’s fishers try their luck.
