Today’s savvy traveler knows about TSA PreCheck—but they also know to brush up on the history of their destination before heading off. If you’re planning a trip to Palm Beach, there are two names you should get familiar with: Henry Flagler and Addison Mizner. Together, they put Palm Beach on the map. Without their vision, this storied town wouldn’t be the beachside paradise it is today, where manicured green lawns meet sandy shores and the party starts well before cocktail hour.
The good news? You don’t have to go out of your way to learn about Flagler and Mizner—Palm Beach is a city built for leisure, after all, so history tends to find you. Two of the island’s most impressive estates, Whitehall and The Breakers, were developed by Flagler, the railroad tycoon who connected Florida with train tracks in the late 1800s. Mizner arrived decades later, but his impact was all about style. As an architect, he designed the Everglades Club, Via Mizner, the Sanctuary of Riverside Baptist Church, and private vacation homes for families like the Vanderbilts and the Singers. His blend of Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival still defines Palm Beach’s look, setting it apart from Miami’s Art Deco scene just an hour away on the Brightline train.
Aside from the arrival of upscale beachfront condos in the 1960s and the transformation of Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach hasn’t changed much since Slim Aarons captured it in photos and Lily Pulitzer dressed it in colorful prints. For decades, the classic itinerary has included cocktails at The Breakers, dinner at Renato’s in Via Mizner, shopping along Worth Avenue, and a swim at the pink Colony Hotel. That said, Vogue’s picks below will keep you in the know for years to come.
Where to Stay
The Colony Hotel
You could say The Colony is having a renaissance—or that its best days are still ahead. Since opening in 1947, this pink hotel on Hammon Avenue has attracted Palm Beach’s most famous visitors: Judy Garland, Lena Horne, John Lennon, Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra, and Estée Lauder. It’s a photogenic spot—back in 1961, it hosted fashion shows photographed by Slim Aarons, and today it’s all over Instagram. With 89 rooms and a lobby decorated in pink de Gournay wallpaper, The Colony deserves a top spot on your hotel list. If you don’t stay, at least stop by for a cocktail under the hanging garden on the terrace. In 2014, Carlton Varney (a protégé of the bold decorator Dorothy Draper) designed the rooms, and in 2022, the whole hotel got a fresh update from designer Mimi McMakin, co-founder of Kemble Interiors with her daughter Celerie. There are also residences styled by some of our favorite tastemakers: The Chairish Villa (filled with antiques you might find on the site), The Goop Villa (designed by Ronen Lev with Gwyneth Paltrow’s approval), plus spaces from Aerin Lauder, Mark Sikes, and Serena & Lily. The newest addition is the Cabana Bungalow, which comes with three bedrooms, a large private terrace, and a semi-private pool. True to its name, the walls are covered in vivid Schumacher fabrics, the ceilings feature bold patterns, and curated antiques—like a vintage birdcage—give it a cozy, lived-in feel.
The Brazilian Court Hotel
If pink belongs to The Colony, then yellow is the color of The Brazilian Court Hotel—you’ll know you’ve arrived when you see a butter-toned building with a terracotta roof. If you’re after a quiet, discreet escape, look no further. The hotel opened on New Year’s Day in 1926 and was later expanded by renowned society architect Maurice Fatio, whoThe hotel managed to keep a sense of closeness even though it takes up more space. Its 80 rooms are arranged around a courtyard, and the pool is less about showing off and more about giving guests a quiet place to swim. Famous visitors have included Gary Cooper, Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, and the Kennedy family. On site, you’ll find the well-known Cafe Boulud, which is definitely worth a visit, along with a spa that offers beach-ready hair styling and other treatments. Plus, starting this year, the hotel provides free sunset cruises—the only place in Palm Beach to do so—and trips along the Lake Worth Lagoon on a 44-foot Solaris Power yacht decorated in the Brazilian Court’s signature yellow and white stripes. After all, if you don’t see Palm Beach from the water, can you really say you’ve been there?
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Photo: Courtesy of The Vineta Hotel
The Vineta Hotel
Some hotels make their lobby the main attraction, designed as much for visitors stopping by for a drink as for the guests staying there. The Vineta Hotel is almost the opposite. As Oetker Hotels’ first U.S. property, it occupies a pale-pink Mediterranean Revival landmark from 1926—most recently known as The Chesterfield—but after a nearly three-year renovation, it has been reduced to just 41 rooms and suites. Paris-based designer Tino Zervudachi handled the interiors, and the care put into every detail is remarkable: terrazzo floors, Venetian plaster, rattan latticework, scalloped headboards, marble, intricate tilework, and beautifully bordered carpeting that even extends into the closets. It has the refined polish typical of an Oetker hotel; if you’ve stayed at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc or Le Bristol Paris, you’d likely recognize the family style without ever seeing a logo.
That same attention carries over to Coco, the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant, where the menu was created with Sebastien Broda, executive chef of Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Several dishes—including the Eden Roc sea bass and Steak Diane—have made the trip from Antibes to Palm Beach. Those who remember The Chesterfield’s wonderfully extravagant Leopard Lounge should look up: a subtle leopard worked into Coco’s sculpted ceiling pays tribute to what came before.
The most delightful surprise, though, might be the mosaic-tiled pool. Instead of serving as another Palm Beach stage for socializing, it’s tucked quietly behind the hotel, surrounded by greenery and striped loungers—a truly private spot to escape for an afternoon. There’s no traditional gym or spa, but fitness equipment can be brought to your room, private yoga and Pilates sessions can be arranged, and massages and facials can come to you. Bicycles and fully set-up beach days are also on offer. During sea-turtle nesting season, the hotel can even connect guests with local conservation activities. This is what makes The Vineta work: the luxury lies in the details, but also in knowing those details are designed mainly for the people actually staying there.
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Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach is one of the few hotels on the island where there’s little reason to leave. The 207 rooms and suites, all with furnished balconies, were redesigned by Martin Brudnizki, which means Palm Beach’s unofficial pink-and-green style shows up everywhere—alongside wicker, florals, palms, and just enough pattern. The ground-floor cabana rooms are especially smart: their terraces put you just steps from the pool and beach.
And the beach is a great one. The hotel sits on a pristine stretch of sand with the kind of attentive Four Seasons service that reaches all the way to your beach chair—food and drinks included—plus paddleboards, boogie boards, and two oceanfront pools. It’s especially well suited for families: the complimentary Kids For All Seasons program is the only fully hosted kids’ club on Palm Beach, with shellHunting, sandcastle building, and crafts are available, while a separate Tot Room is set up for younger children to enjoy with their parents. There’s plenty more on the property to keep you busy for the rest of the day. Florie’s, the only U.S. restaurant from Mirazur chef Mauro Colagreco, offers a Mediterranean menu focused on live-fire cooking. Seaway, located under sea grape trees by the ocean, specializes in seafood. The spa is fully equipped with 10 treatment rooms, a eucalyptus steam room, and a saltwater whirlpool. Add in tennis, fitness classes, and bicycles, and it’s easy to see why some guests rarely leave the property.
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Photo: Courtesy of The Breakers
The Breakers
Undoubtedly Palm Beach’s most historic hotel is The Breakers. Built by Henry Flagler in 1896 (then known as The Palm Beach Inn), it was the second hotel Flagler constructed in Palm Beach. His first, the Royal Poinciana Hotel, opened in 1894 and was once the world’s largest wooden structure, located on the western side of Palm Beach along the Lake Worth Lagoon. After Flagler’s guests asked for accommodations right on the Atlantic beachfront, The Breakers came to life. Although the hotel burned down twice, it was rebuilt after the most recent fire in 1925, and its current design draws inspiration from Rome’s Villa Medici. With 538 rooms, calling the hotel sprawling doesn’t quite capture it. Several restaurants, shops, a golf course, and banquet rooms are all on-site, filled with the charm of old Palm Beach.
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Image courtesy of: White Elephant
Photo: Courtesy of White Elephant
White Elephant
Although the White Elephant is a newer addition to Palm Beach (it opened in 2019), it already has a loyal following. Located on Main Street, this hotel is the second location of the beloved Nantucket-based property of the same name. Housed in a building originally constructed in 1924 as the Bradley Park Hotel, the White Elephant offers all the quaint charm of Palm Beach along with every modern convenience a traveler could want. Rooms are spacious and thoughtfully designed with relaxed yet elegant decor. Couches are upholstered in nubby linen and accented with colorful elephant-patterned pillows, and the bathroom fixtures shine. If you book a suite, you’ll find a dream-worthy kitchen that makes you feel right at home. Ask the concierge to arrange a parasol on the beach, or relax under a black-and-white striped umbrella by the pool. When you’re ready to eat, the hotel’s restaurant, Lola 41, serves some of the best sushi in town.
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Where to Eat
Bice
Even in Palm Beach, where pleasure and leisure are everywhere, few experiences capture “La Dolce Vita” quite like lunch at Bice on Worth Avenue. An outpost of the Milanese hotspot, this Italian restaurant offers fine dining in beautiful surroundings. The courtyard transports guests to Europe—or perhaps more accurately, to a cinematic fantasy of Europe. Surrounded by antique shops and art galleries, dogs doze in the sun while their owners enjoy wine and pasta.
Le Bilboquet
With locations in all the trendy destinations, Le Bilboquet’s Palm Beach outpost is no exception. Alongside its upscale lunch menu and glamorous dinner scene, this location also serves a decadent breakfast. What a perfect way to start the day!
The Polo Room
Not to be confused with Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar, the Polo Room takes its name from the actual sport. International polo star Nacho Figueras is a co-owner, and his Argentine heritage runs throughout the restaurant. Opened on Sunrise Avenue in late 2025, the dark, clubby space is lined with polo photography, espresso-toned paneling, and equestrian touches (look for the silver horse-bit napkin rings), giving it the feel of an especially glamorous après-polo clubhouse. It’s quickly become one of those quintessential Palm Beach spots where the crowd is as much a part of the experience as the food. The menu is continental with an Argentine twist: handmade steak and cheese-and-Onion empanadas, raw-bar staples, crudos, housemade pastas, lobster frites with béarnaise, and a serious lineup of asado-style steaks. The Malbec-braised short rib and grilled artichokes with salsa criolla push the theme further, while caviar spaghetti adds that required Palm Beach touch. The restaurant’s motto says it best: “After the last chukker, we play here.”
Photo: Courtesy of The Brazilian Court/Valentina Quijada
Cafe Boulud
Just steps from Worth Avenue, The Brazilian Court offers elegant lodging in a prime spot. This Spanish Colonial complex is a maze of courtyards with fountains and blooming plants. Downstairs, Cafe Boulud delivers one of the finest dining experiences on the island.
Cucina
Palm Beach, for all its charms, isn’t known for nightlife. Cucina is a standout exception—a lunch spot by day and a hangout for the island’s younger crowd by night. The music is lively, and drinks flow late. The decor is nothing special, but in a town full of flash, the people matter more than the setting.
Swifty’s at The Colony
What better way to spend the day than a poolside lunch? An Arnold Palmer and a poke bowl from Swifty’s at The Colony will definitely hit the spot.
La Goulue
For New Yorkers who winter down south, Palm Beach’s dining scene has plenty of familiar favorites—especially if you’re from the Upper East Side—like Le Bilboquet, Cafe Boulud, and Sant Ambroeus. And don’t forget La Goulue! This iconic French brasserie from East 61st Street (est. 1972) made a big splash when it opened in Palm Beach in 2020. Come for the cheese soufflé (a must), and stay for the vibe.
Le Bilboquet Market
Just off Worth Avenue on Peruvian Avenue, Le Bilboquet Market is the new daytime spin-off of the always-packed Le Bilboquet restaurant nearby. Part French grocery, part tiny jewel-box café, this beautifully styled space features marble counters and shelves stocked with things you’ll suddenly realize you need: Petrossian caviar, smoked salmon, cheeses, quality olive oils, jams, pastas, and chocolates. The pastries come from legendary French pastry chef François Payard, so the glass cases are especially tempting—filled with macarons, éclairs, Napoleons, fruit tarts, canelés, and excellent croissants.
There are sandwiches and salads if you want lunch, but I like it best as a post-shopping stop: grab one of the few seats, order a coffee and something sweet, and take stock of your spending after a stroll down Worth Avenue. Or take a box of pastries to go—the kind of hostess gift that seems far more thoughtful than the little effort it takes to get.
Photo: Courtesy of The Vineta Hotel
Coco at The Vineta
For anyone who spends summers at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc—or just wishes they did—Coco at The Vineta brings a taste of Antibes to Palm Beach. The Mediterranean menu was crafted with Sébastien Broda, executive chef at the Vineta’s Oetker sister property, and several Hotel du Cap classics have made the trip across the Atlantic. Most notably, there’s the Eden Roc Sea Bass and the wonderfully retro Steak Diane, which also shows up on the menu at Eden-Roc Restaurant in France.
There are plenty of dishes unique to Palm Beach, too—crudos, handmade pastas, lobster salad, and a particularly tempting dessert list—but the Riviera influence is clear. The terracotta-toned dining room opens onto a jasmine-filled courtyard, making lunch especially pleasant, while dinner has a more glamorous vibe. And for those who remember the building from its Chesterfield days, look up: a discreet leopard hidden in the sculpted ceiling is a nod to the wonderfully over-the-top Leopard Lounge that once occupied the hotel.
Tutto Mare
For an island surrounded by water, Palm Beach has surprisingly few spots where you can actually eat beside it, which makes Tutto Mare a particularly welcome addition.Opened in early 2026 at the restored Royal Poinciana Playhouse, this is the first Palm Beach location from Gabby Karan de Felice and Gianpaolo de Felice, the husband-and-wife team behind the popular Tutto il Giorno restaurants in the Hamptons. Ask for a table on the terrace overlooking the Intracoastal and Palm Harbor Marina—the sunset over the water is reason enough to visit—though the Southern Italian menu, heavy on seafood, crudos, pastas, and dishes like branzino and fish cooked al cartoccio, gives the view some stiff competition.
But the best detail is a nod to old Palm Beach: the restaurant incorporates the former Playhouse’s legendary Celebrity Room, where the restored late-1950s Venetian Festival mural by Robert Bushnell still looks down from above. More than 100 famous faces are hidden within it, including Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, and Fred Astaire—a little piece of Palm Beach history preserved inside one of the island’s most exciting new restaurants.
What to See
The approach of Whitehall, the former home of Henry Flagler.
Photo: Getty
Whitehall
Whitehall, also known as the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, offers a window into Palm Beach’s past. The Standard Oil tycoon hired Carrère and Hastings, the firm famous for designing The New York Public Library, to build this 75-room, neoclassical Beaux-Arts mansion. Every part of the house, perfectly preserved and open to the public, was meant to impress. Over a century later, the splendor remains just as striking.
The Society of the Four Arts
Founded in 1936, The Society of the Four Arts is a non-profit organization made up of a concert hall auditorium, two libraries, an administration building, and gardens. It’s a picturesque complex featuring a building by architect Addison Mizner (now the O’Keefe Gallery building) and a library by Maurice Fatio (architect of The Brazilian Court Hotel). Don’t miss the botanical and sculpture gardens, which are filled with the scent of jasmine and orchids blooming throughout.
Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens
Tucked away in a quiet corner of West Palm Beach, the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens offer a peaceful retreat into art and nature. The former home of artist Ann Weaver Norton, this hidden gem features a series of monumental sculptures set among lush tropical gardens. Wander along pathways lined with rare palms, orchids, and native plants as you admire Norton’s abstract works, crafted from brick and stone. The historic home, a charming 1925 property, is open to visitors and hosts rotating exhibitions. A visit here pairs perfectly with Palm Beach’s grand estates, giving you an intimate look at the world of an acclaimed sculptor and the lush beauty of her creative sanctuary.
Palm Beach Lake Trail
If you’re staying at a hotel, chances are it has beach cruisers ready to go. Grab a bike and ride down Worth Avenue onto the scenic Palm Beach Lake Trail, which runs along the western edge of Palm Beach. Heading north, you’ll spot yachts bobbing in the water (and the ever-growing West Palm Beach skyline) to your left; to your right, you’ll get serious real estate envy as you peek through the hedges of many historic homes.
The entrance of the Norton Museum.
Photo: Courtesy of © Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Norton Museum of Art
For a culture fix, cross the bridge to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, which underwent an expansion in 2019 led by architect Lord Norman Foster. Outside, there’s a world-class sculpture garden with works by Keith Haring, Fernand Léger, Paul Manship, Ugo Rondinone, and more. Even before you step inside, you’re greeted by Claes Oldenburg’s Typewriter Eraser, Scale X, 1999. Inside, you’ll find more masterpieces, as well as a sleek eatery, The Restaurant at The Norton.
Image: Courtesy of the Kravis Center
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
For a bit of culture on your Palm Beach trip, check the schedule at the Kravis Center, home of the Palm Beach Ballet, Palm Beach Opera, and more.Palm Beach Symphony—and the visiting Miami City Ballet. Located in West Palm Beach, the theater will round out almost any Palm Beach itinerary.
Where to Shop
The Church Mouse
If you’re looking for places to shop, Palm Beach has plenty of big-name retailers and brands. But the real treasures are at The Church Mouse, a volunteer-run resale boutique where all proceeds go to charity.
A Tiffany store on a picturesque corner of Worth Avenue.
Photo: Orietta Gaspari
Worth Avenue
Few shopping streets are as scenic as Worth Avenue. It starts at the beachside Worth Avenue Clock Tower and ends with a row of condos lined with balconies. Along the Avenue, you’ll find all the expected shops—Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, The RealReal—but beyond the storefronts are vias (or courtyards) filled with even more boutiques and outdoor restaurants. The most famous is Via Mizner, once home to Addison Mizner, and today it hides spots like Renato’s and Pizza Al Fresco.
The Royal Poinciana Plaza
A true piazza for Palm Beach, The Royal Poinciana Plaza is home to most of the shops and restaurants you’ll want to add to your travel list—Sant Ambroeus, The Honor Bar, and The Palm Beach Grill. Visitors can also browse art (at Aquavella, Sotheby’s) or clothing (at Kirna Zabete, Hermès, La Ligne, Veronica Beard). Better yet, stop by the Assouline shop and pick up their Palm Beach book, which will tell you everything you need to know about where you are.
Kassatly’s Inc
For a very Palm Beach shopping experience, don’t miss Kassatly’s. Billed as Palm Beach’s oldest shop (since 1928), Kassatly’s is an emporium for fine linens, luxurious sleepwear, and classic cashmere. House guests looking for something to avoid showing up empty-handed might want to stop in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on Vogues Guide to Palm Beach covering everything from hotel bookings to dress codes
General Planning
1 Is this guide only for ultrarich people or can a regular tourist use it
You can absolutely use it While Palm Beach is known for luxury the guide highlights places with a range of price points Its great for finding a beautiful cocktail or a special meal but you dont have to stay at a 1000anight hotel to enjoy the recommendations
2 What is the best time of year to visit Palm Beach according to the guide
The guide generally points to the high season for perfect weather and the full social scene However if you want fewer crowds and lower hotel rates the shoulder season is a sweet spotyou still get great weather but the town is less hectic
3 Is Palm Beach walkable or do I need a car
The main shopping and dining areas are very walkable However the island is spread out The guide suggests that while you can walk the main strips having a car or using rideshares is essential for getting from your hotel to the beach or out to restaurants on the outskirts
Staying
4 What is the difference between staying at The Breakers versus a boutique hotel like The Colony
The Breakers is the grand sprawling Italian Renaissancestyle resort Its massive has multiple pools a huge beach club and is a destination in itself The Colony is a smaller pink boutique hotel that feels like a glamorous house party Its more intimate centrally located on Worth Avenue and is famous for its retrochic Coconut Crop aesthetic Choose The Breakers for amenities and The Colony for charm and location
5 The guide mentions The White Elephant Is that a new hotel
Yes it is relatively new to Palm Beach Its the sister property to the famous Nantucket hotel It offers a refined nauticalyetmodern vibe with a fantastic restaurant Its a great option if you want the luxury feel without the oldschool formality of the classic Palm Beach hotels