So you’re watching “Palm Royale,” the Apple TV+ original series set in the northern part of our own backyard, and you’re getting ideas about living the good life.
But let’s face it, climbing the social ladder in Palm Beach can feel out of reach. Most of us don’t have a closet chock-full of straight-off-the runway dresses or Tom Ford tuxedos for gala season, or cars that cost more than the average home to hand off to the valet. We can’t write a six-figure check to the charity of the moment, or afford a membership to any exclusive club.
But we can pretend, right? We’ve got Palm Beach right here, so there are ways to live the “Palm Royale” life for a day.
Luxury lifestyle influencer Kristen Alyce is creator of @ThePalmBeachLife, a social media account and website that develops original content highlighting the town from every fabulous angle. Based on her years of experience attending events and charity galas, networking and exploring all that Palm Beach has to offer, she said it’s possible to fit in by following a few tips.
“Being a newcomer on Palm Beach Island may be difficult at first, as with any new community. However, with its welcoming atmosphere and vibrant social scene, getting into the island’s culture can be a great experience,” she said. “Engaging in local events, joining clubs or organizations, and participating in community activities are great ways to meet people and establish quick relationships.”
She suggests dressing “comfortably yet well put-together, embracing the island’s laid-back atmosphere while exuding refinement and style,” and spending the day driving around, especially down Southeast Ocean Boulevard to see multimillion-dollar homes.
“You can get an even better experience by riding a bicycle around the island if you have the time,” she said. “It’s slower and you can soak in more of the island.”
Mix and mingle the ‘Palm Royale’ way
Here are five spots where anyone can soak up the Palm Beach vibe. (And don’t forget to be on the lookout for celebrities who call the island home or are having a posh getaway.)
Worth Avenue
Internationally known for its upscale shopping and dining options, Worth Avenue is the heart of Palm Beach. It stretches three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway, with high-end shops from the biggest names in fashion, including Gucci, Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Carolina Herrera, Ferragamo, David Yurman, Versace and Tiffany & Co., among others.
Stop into Lilly Pulitzer for the quintessential Palm Beach fashion experience that honors the brand’s beginnings as a juice stand and store on the island in the 1960s. Venture into the vias — the avenue’s signature hidden passageways — to find small shops, cafes and restaurants.
Join the ranks of the many models who have posed for magazine shoots by taking photos under the Clock Tower at the eastern end of the avenue.
“Walking around solo on Worth Avenue or through the neighborhood always offers something new,” said Palm Beach resident Ashley Lauren Smith, who chronicles her fashion and style adventures on her @PalmBeachFancy Instagram account. (She’s so devoted to the lifestyle, and to the show, that she’s hosting a “Palm Royale” finale watch party from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at Studio 1608, 1608 S. Dixie Highway, in West Palm Beach. More details at eventbrite.com.)
From November through April, book a spot on one of the popular tours of Worth Avenue with Rick Rose, a Palm Beach historian, lecturer and author of “Palm Beach: The Essential Guide to America’s Legendary Resort Town.”
Visit worth-avenue.com.
Mid-Town Municipal Beach
What’s a day in Palm Beach without going to the beach? Where the Clock Tower meets Worth Avenue, you’ll find one of the town’s two municipal beaches. Plant your beach chair for the day, lay out a towel, throw on a big, floppy hat and take a dip in the ocean’s blue waters. It’ll only cost you the price of parking — and lots of sunscreen!
“It’s very special to have a public municipal beach in such a luxurious resort area,” said Camilla Webster, an artist and author who moved to Palm Beach in 2017. “Everyone should experience that. The surf, swim and beach crowd are a wonderful mix.”
Visit townofpalmbeach.com.
Hotels
Whether you stay for the night or just stop by to visit, two historic Palm Beach hotels should be on your must-see list:
- The Breakers Palm Beach, 1 S. County Road: This luxury resort’s motto is “Once you stay, you’ll understand.” Boasting a long history on the island, the hotel has welcomed the rich and famous for more than a century with its world-class service. Its amenities include a variety of top-notch dining (including the famous Sunday Brunch), shopping, spa, fitness, golf and tennis options. The Breakers also is a popular choice for weddings and charity galas. Visit thebreakers.com.
- The Colony Hotel, 155 Hammon Ave.: Venture into the hotel known as the Pink Paradise of Palm Beach, which has had “one foot in the sand and one foot on Worth Avenue” since 1947. In addition to its chic accommodations, The Colony has eateries, cafes and bars situated around its indoor and outdoor spaces. Take in-house exercise classes, make a salon appointment, play a game of tennis, or take a ride in the Beach Buggy around town. “If there’s one place everyone knows to find me, it’s undoubtedly the iconic Colony Hotel,” Smith said. “It is my home away from home. It’s like stepping into a vintage postcard, with its nostalgia and cheeky pink decor. It just speaks to my soul. I feel at ease immediately when I walk in, even if I am having a bad day.” Visit thecolonypalmbeach.com.
Restaurants
All of that shopping and sightseeing can work up an appetite. Hungry (and thirsty) visitors can check out the island’s culinary staples such as Buccan, 350 S. County Road, with its inventive American cuisine, or Café L’Europe, 331 S. County Road, featuring elevated continental dishes.
Webster said she often opts for a romantic Italian dinner for two at Renato’s, 87 Via Mizner, or heads to The Breakers’ Echo, 230A Sunrise Ave., for sushi at the bar on a Friday night.
Alyce also picked a spot at The Breakers.
“If you want to have a glamorous dinner while watching the turquoise waters of the Atlantic, I always choose the Seafood Bar inside The Breakers hotel,” Alyce said. “The bar is an actual fish tank (which also makes it a hot spot for solo cocktails) and the restaurant has amazing food.”
Smith said she likes to grab a pizza from Amici Market, 155 N. County Road, and head to the beach. She often starts her day with breakfast at Green’s Pharmacy Luncheonette, 151 N. County Road.
“And I love to unwind at Honor Bar (340 Royal Poinciana Way). The dark atmosphere and deep wood tones remind me of home in New York City,” she said. “You can never go wrong there.”
Other landmarks
- Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way: Considered to be the inventor of modern Florida, Henry Morrison Flagler built his 75-room, 100,000-square-foot Whitehall, a Gilded Age estate on Palm Beach, as a gift for his wife, Mary Lily Kenan Flagler. The estate was eventually left to Mary Flagler’s niece, who sold it to investors. It was turned into a hotel, but the property was in danger of being razed in 1959, so Henry’s granddaughter, Jean Flagler Matthews, purchased Whitehall and it opened to the public in 1960. Since then, the museum has offered self-guided and docent-led tours, the Railcar 91 Tea Room, exhibitions, music and lecture series, and holiday events. Visit flaglermuseum.us.
- The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, 141 S. County Road: Get an up-close look at the gothic revival style and courtyard of this Episcopal church, where Donald and Melania Trump were married in 2005 and Michael Jordan tied the knot with Yvette Prieto in 2013. Tours are offered and classes are available at the Bethesda Center for Spirituality. Visit bbts.org.
- The Society of the Four Arts, 100 Four Arts Plaza: This nonprofit cultural destination, which was founded in 1936, has a 10-acre campus along the Intracoastal Waterway that includes a performance hall, art gallery, education center for lifelong learning, libraries and sculpture gardens. Visitors and members can enjoy art exhibitions, speakers, concerts, films and educational programs. Visit fourarts.org.
