Welcome to Palm Beach & West Palm Beach
As locals, we’re often asked what are the best things to do in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, and what are the dual destinations’ best hotels, restaurants, shops and places for culture and nature. Palm Beach, an 18-mile-long barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth Lagoon, has been a luxury resort since the late 19th century when titans of industry and famous faces began flocking there for sunshine and warmth. Both the island town and the city of West Palm Beach on the mainland grew up alongside each other, developing into year-round, vibrant communities that cater to a broad range of demographics, businesses and creative and outdoor interests. Residents and visitors alike appreciate the convenient access of Palm Beach International Airport as well as Brightline high-speed passenger train, with six stops including West Palm Beach, Orlando and Miami. Traveling by car generally takes less than 45 minutes to Fort Lauderdale and a little over an hour to Miami. Families appreciate the significant number of excellent public and private schools such as Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Oxbridge Academy, The Greene School and The Benjamin School. More than a boating and beach paradise, Palm Beach County is Florida’s golf capital with over 160 public and private courses. When one isn’t on the water or links, there’s a wealth of museums, galleries, restaurants and stores to enjoy. The area is most certainly also known as a shopping mecca for designer fashion to art and antiques. Synonymous with society, it offers an active social calendar through various clubs and charity galas. With all of these lifestyle advantages, the demand for owning a primary or secondary home continues to increase. ONE Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to be the exclusive sales representative for two new coveted properties: ALBA Palm Beach, a limited collection of waterfront residences on the Intracoastal Waterway in West Palm Beach; and Panther National, a 400-acre, luxury residential golf community with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens.
Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Hotels
Intertwined with the founding of Palm Beach, The Breakers lured 19th-century developer Henry Flagler’s fellow moguls to the fledgling winter oasis. The all-inclusive luxury resort crowned by its Flagler Club boutique hotel continues to impress, ranking among Condé Nast Traveler’s Top 50 Resorts in the World for 2024. A young local couple’s reinvention of the historic, pink-painted Colony Hotel through Florida flair including design collaborations with Aerin Lauder and Goop as well as transplanted Manhattan restaurant Swifty’s and numerous chic events also wins rave reviews. Other popular boutique hotels are the expansion of Nantucket’s The White Elephant, and The Brazilian Court with French chef Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud and cruises aboard its Solaris 44 yacht. International groups are making their U.S. debuts for season: The Vineta Hotel by Oetker Collection (Capri’s Hotel La Palma, French Riviera’s Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc), and Palm House Hotel from Iconic Luxury Hotels (London’s Mayfair Townhouse, Venice Lido’s Hotel Excelsior). South of town stand magnificent oceanfront resorts such as Four Seasons Palm Beach and Eau Palm Beach, recently acquired by tech billionaire Larry Ellison who plans to open an onsite Nobu restaurant. West Palm Beach’s hospitality scene is also on the rise. Bringing luxury to the mainland, The Ben West Palm, an Autograph Collection Hotel features a rooftop saltwater pool and lounge. The Belgrove, another Autograph Collection property, premieres alongside Lake Mangonia in Winter 2024. Due in 2025, Nora Hotel offers a slice of the Big Apple through its team behind New York’s Maritime, Marlton and iconic Chelsea Hotel and outpost of French bistro Pastis. The Cipriani family’s Mr. C Hotels debuts its downtown address with Meyer Davis interiors and Bellini Café in 2026.
Images courtesy of The Breakers Palm Beach
Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Restaurants
From the ladies who lunch to dinner with debonair dates, Palm Beach’s culinary offering has exquisite taste. On the island, tradition meets the new guard at hotels’ large dining assortment (The Breakers’ Seafood Bar, HMF; a Michelin-starred chef’s Florie’s at Four Seasons) and standalone restaurants that are often chef-driven (Clay Conley’s hot spot Buccan) or branches of beloved eateries outside the area (French-inspired Le Bilboquet with a charming courtyard, Sant Ambroeus’s impeccable pastas and pastries, Hillstone Restaurant Group’s one-off Palm Beach Grill). Italian fare is well-represented; Worth Avenue shoppers pop into Via Mizner for sister restaurants Renato’s and Pizza al Fresco, and Via Bice for the always lively BiCE Ristorante, whose owners also operate the more casual Café Med in West Palm Beach, and Salute coming to Cocoanut Row after the holidays. Everyone is excited for the arrival of fashion designer Donna Karan’s daughter’s Tutto Mare opening on the water at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse’s former site, and chef Thomas Keller’s takeover of Ta-boo’s longtime home. Along South Dixie Highway on the mainland, seasoned locals run solid games at Table 26° for American fare and cocktails, and Hive Bakery & Café, whose breads and cakes are worth the calories. West Palm Beach’s Tropical Smokehouse and Austin Republic satisfy barbecue cravings. The city has also seen an influx of outside names like New York’s Maman, Felice and Harry’s Bar & Restaurant; Miami’s Pura Vida and The Blue Door, and Montréal’s pending Estiatorio Milos. Special experiences can be found at the dazzlingly decorated RH Rooftop Restaurant and Konro’s intimate counter seating for a two Michelin-starred chef’s Japanese tasting menus with wine pairings by his sommelier partner. Foodies also make it habit to attend the annual Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival in December and weekly West Palm Beach GreenMarket from October-April.
Image (left) courtesy of Sant Ambroeus Palm Beach
Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Culture
Culture thrives in the two companions with crossover audiences. West Palm Beach boasts the Norton Museum of Art , whose collection of more than 8,200 works begun in a 1941 Art Deco building required a 21st-century addition by Foster + Partners for rotating exhibitions and a restaurant. Visitors further enjoy strolling its sculpture garden and attending year-round programming from luminaries’ lectures to Art After Dark events on Fridays. A few blocks north, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts entertains multi-generations through its Broadway series, Palm Beach Symphony concerts and performances by Miami City Ballet and Palm Beach Opera . For big touring music acts, fans head to iThink Financial Amphitheatre and the annual SunFest in spring. Peak season brings the Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary fair to Palm Beach Convention Center and New Wave Art Wknd , a follow-up to Art Basel Miami Beach with private collection tours, studio visits and guest speaker panels. The latter’s founder owns Gavlak Gallery , which jumpstarted the local contemporary art market that now extends to other galleries such as Acquavella and Sotheby’s Palm Beach . As its name implies, The Society of Four Arts covers many bases with shows, films, talks and an extensive library and gardens. Housed in Henry Flagler’s Gilded Age estate Whitehall, Flagler Museum is a fun trip down memory lane. Beyond temporary exhibits from fashion to art, it hosts high tea next to his private railcar, bluegrass concerts and holiday extravaganzas. Décor lovers meet their idols during Palm Beach Design Days and drool over designers’ vignettes at the annual children’s charity fundraiser Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse .
Images courtesy of Norton Museum of Art
Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Outdoors & Wellness
Anything related to water or golf rules this region. Boaters can explore Palm Beach County’s 125 miles of waterways with nearly 30 beaches and popular destinations like Peanut Island. The public can dock superyachts at Town of Palm Beach Marina, while ALBA Palm Beach owners already receive one-year memberships to Palm Beach Yacht Club. Browse new models during March’s annual Palm Beach International Boat Show. Golf courses range from private clubs (Everglades, Seminole) to public (Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course, Park West Palm). Demand dictated the new, invitation-only Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, modern dining and spa services. PopStroke Palm Beach, Tiger Woods’s mini-golf makeover, features serious putting greens, a rooftop pool and sushi. Professional golfers to spectators all come out for the annual Cognizant Golf Classic at PGA National Resort & Spa. The PGA tournament is a short distance from the year-old Panther National, Palm Beach County’s first modern golf and lifestyle community to bow in nearly two decades. The 400-acre development boasts an 18-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus and PGA champion Justin Thomas with tees spanning up to 8,000 yards. Whether participating or watching, more fitness and fun can be had at the National Croquet Center, Wellington International’s Winter Equestrian Festival and National Polo Center’s tournaments. Other favorite activities include biking the 5.5-mile Palm Beach Lake Trail and playing tennis at Seaview Park’s and Phipps Ocean Park’s dedicated centers. For a serene moment, wander Mounts Botanical Garden and book treatments at local, skin-care expert Tammy Fender’s original, namesake spa and Amrit Ocean Resort’s 103,000-square-foot retreat with 25 treatment rooms, a spacious hammam and Aayush Hydrotherapy Circuit.
Image (left) courtesy of Panther National
Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Shopping
Shopping is considered a sport here, and the abundance of luxury brands proves the area’s purchasing power. Just as generations before who were in pursuit of Gucci bags, Kassatly’s linens and local style queen Lilly Pulitzer sundresses, start your shopping spree on Worth Avenue. The iconic street offers a variety of designer and quiet luxury labels and independent boutiques. It even has its own mall located on the east end, Esplanade Palm Beach; visit for Saks Fifth Avenue, Hublot, Carolina Herrera and more. The Royal Poinciana Plaza, an open-air shopping center with a garden courtyard and historic architecture by local architect John Volk, is making waves for its continual refreshment of must-have stores. Jenni Kayne recently opened alongside tenants Hermès, Marissa Collections, Kirna Zabête, Oscar de la Renta, Saint Laurent, Assouline and Virginia Philip wine shop; the reimagination of the property’s former playhouse will introduce Cartier. Head east on Royal Poinciana Way for the shops at Via Flager by the Breakers and women’s designer clothing emporium Fivestory; and then around the corner for Michelle Farmer’s tropical glam collection made in West Palm Beach. Naturally, the Breakers has its own mini mall with Polo Ralph Lauren and Guerlain. West Palm Beach is also growing its retail mix, and CityPlace exemplifies the shift to all-purpose lifestyle where one can buy an electric vehicle at Lucid Motors, cookware at Sur La Table, mattress at Casper and athleisure at Lululemon. The city has always been a haven for home and design stores as well as antique and vintage dealers, including Northwood Village, South Dixie Highway’s Antique Row, and Pioneer Linens on downtown’s Clematis Street. CityPlace follows their lead with RH, Design Within Reach and digital native Perigold’s first-ever brick-and-mortar location launching in 2025. Despite all the choices, locals and visitors frequent the upscale Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens. They’ll have even more options when the multi-block, mixed-use Nora District with redeveloped historic warehouses and new construction along North Railroad Avenue rolls out in phases starting in 2025.
Image (left) courtesy of GUCCI, Worth Avenue
