Swoonworthy on Worth Avenue

Plan Your Trip around This Palm Beach Icon

Intro by Jordan Staggs | Photography courtesy of The Colony Hotel

What’s pink and green and chic all over? The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, of course! This South Florida destination has attracted affluent vacationers since it opened in 1947. Its rosy-hued British colonial facade ushers in hotel guests as well as visitors from the luxury shops on the adjacent Worth Avenue who fancy a glass of wine or want to admire the property’s whimsical interiors and lush landscaping.

Although its exterior was initially beige, The Colony’s history is anything but bland. Since the beginning, it has been a stop for an A-list who’s who, with a lengthy roster of impressive guests including Judy Garland, Lena Horne, John Lennon, Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra, and John F. Kennedy, along with royals from around the globe such as the Maharanee of Jodhpur, the Shah of Persia, the President of Nicaragua, three kings, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and numerous other dignitaries. It is the type of hotel you see in golden age films, where champagne is always flowing amid lavish dinner parties and, no doubt, a fair amount of spicy secrets.

Today, The Colony welcomes guests to stay and play in its ninety-three guest rooms and suites. A celebration of its seventieth anniversary and new ownership under husband-wife duo Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall saw the property undergo an extensive refresh starting in 2017 and running through 2022. However, they are continually making updates to their “Pink Paradise.” Rooms and common spaces designed by Mimi McMakin and Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors beckon interior design and architecture lovers, fashionistas, and discerning guests of all backgrounds to explore. Meanwhile, the estate across the property from the hotel proper has been reimagined with seven signature villas that offer a home-away-from-home experience in the most stylish way possible. Interior darlings Celerie Kemble, Aerin Lauder, and Mark D. Sikes partnered with the Wetenhalls to create the villas’ look and feel. Celebrity designers, influencers, and brands have also collaborated on unique villa experiences since 2022, including Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop and Chairish.

According to its website, “Palm Beach’s Pink Paradise is, at the fabulous age of seventy-six, more brilliant and happening than it has ever been; it’s the social hub of this sunny island. This is thanks to the Wetenhalls’ care (and flair) in restoring the icon to its Camelot-era glory for the Judy Garlands and Frank Sinatras of the 2020s.”

During a stay, guests should take advantage of the sun and fun while lounging on the gorgeously decorated pool deck or the nearby beach beneath fringed umbrellas with the help of their very own “Beach Butler” and Beach Buggy golf cart service—or the Beach Runner, a vintage Land Rover Defender 110 decked out, of course, in Colony pink. The pool awaits those who fancy a plunge or a float, and in-house fitness classes are available for those who want to keep up with their routine or try something new.

P.S.—Four-legged friends are welcome at the hotel, so you can bring the family members who truly rule the roost. Thanks to custom-branded beds and cute treats from The Colony’s kitchen, they’ll be doted on like the royalty they are.

Dining at The Colony is a chic affair at Swifty’s by the pool and its adjacent indoor lounge. Here, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the lively brunch scenes or tropical club atmosphere of The Birdcage or “Copacabana”—striped leisure suit not included, so pack accordingly! The Pink Paradise Café, with outdoor seating on The Colony’s historic South County Road steps, offers a European coffee experience, pastries, salads, sandwiches, and soups daily for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Or, pop by The Living Room for a casual pre-dinner drink or fun board game night with your crew amid the hotel’s iconic printed walls and cozy jungle-inspired furnishings.

With a lineup of incredible programming, events, music, menus, and more for 2024, there’s never been a better time to escape to Palm Beach for a stay at The Colony!

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Visit TheColonyPalmBeach.com to learn more or make reservations.

New Experiences in Palm Beach

Photography courtesy of The Palm Beaches

Golf

The Park: Visitors can experience golf excellence at The Park, West Palm Beach’s newest public golf course. It opened in April of 2023 with a philosophy of “open golf” for all ages and experience levels. The new, nearly two-hundred-acre facility features rolling sands, mature trees, and a world-class eighteen-hole golf course designed by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and The Park co-founder Dirk Ziff. There is a lighted nine-hole par three course, an eighteen-hole putting course, a two-acre kids-only golf area, and a lighted two-sided driving range with a state-of-the-art practice facility featuring Top Tracer technology and designed pro bono by PGA Tour coach Darren May.

Via Mizner Golf & City Club: Via Mizner offers its members two exceptional venues in one superlative club. With plentiful sports facilities, dining, and activities, this unique property provides Members with a luxurious and sophisticated club experience to match every lifestyle. The Golf Club idealizes a humble reverence for the legacy of the game. At its center is a spectacular Jack Nicklaus Signature course featuring eighteen championship holes, while The City Club is an exclusive destination for social gatherings, business meetings, and upscale relaxation.

PopStroke: Three Tiger Woods-backed, state-of-the-art miniature golf courses are coming to Palm Beach County, with new locations in Delray Beach and soon in West Palm Beach and Wellington. PopStroke features two eighteen-hole putting courses built entirely with synthetic turf, which incorporate fairways and bunkers and are just as rough as a traditional golf course.

Arts & Entertainment

Artists in Motion: Impressionist and Modern Masterpieces from the Pearlman Collection: The Norton Museum has a new exhibit through February 18, featuring approximately forty paintings, sculptures, and works on paper that explore the intersecting lives of the most celebrated late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century European artists collected by Henry Pearlman.

Origami in the Garden at Mounts Botanical Garden: Created by Santa Fe artists Jennifer and Kevin Box, twenty larger-than-life sculptures inspired by the ancient Japanese art of origami will emerge skyward throughout Mounts through May 2024. Each is a stunning merger of art and nature, enhancing and celebrating the verdant environment. Origami in the Garden features their compositions and moving collaborations with world-renowned origami artists Robert J. Lang, Te Jui Fu, Beth Johnson, and Michael G. LaFosse.

Endless Summer: Palm Beach Resort Wear: The Historical Society of Palm Beach County will present its first-ever Grand Exhibition at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum. Endless Summer will explore the impact Palm Beach made on resort fashion over the last 129 years, as it solidified itself as one of America’s premier luxury destinations, where winter comes to summer. In this top fashion hub, brands such as Gucci, Chanel, and St. John and iconic fashion influencers such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Lilly Pulitzer, and others adopted fresh new looks, ingenuity, and a philanthropic spirit.

Dining

James Beard Nominated Chefs: Palm Beach County has surged to the forefront, dominating the Florida culinary scene with an unprecedented achievement. Five exceptional Palm Beach County chefs earned well-deserved semifinal nominations for the prestigious James Beard Best Chef in the South. Among the 2023 list are Jeremy and Cindy Bearman of Oceano Kitchen, Rick Mace of Tropical Smokehouse, Pushkar Marathe of Stage Kitchen, and Lojo Washington of Queen of Sheeba. This remarkable recognition heralds a new era of culinary excellence in Palm Beach County, adding to an already impressive list of award-winning chefs, including Daniel Boulud, Akira Back, Mauro Colagreco, Lindsay Autry, Jeremy Ford, and Clay Conley.

Adrienne’s Pizzabar and Felice at The Square: The highly acclaimed Adrienne’s Pizzabar and Felice recently opened at The Square. As an extension of these iconic New York City restaurants, the openings of each establishment are set to propel West Palm’s thriving culinary scene into a leading dining destination. Sharing a combined 11,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, patrons can intermingle between Harry’s and Adrienne’s Pizzabar, where both experiences will burst with a lively atmosphere, aromatic smells, and high-design interiors playing to each of the senses. Additionally, diners can indulge at Felice West Palm Beach, a restaurant and wine bar offering Tuscan-inspired cuisine and an extensive wine offering. The menu features Italian classics inspired by the seaside, prepared with the highest quality ingredients.

The House: West Palm Beach’s burgeoning culinary scene recently added another tantalizing restaurant to its repertoire: The House. Led by top chef Jason Van Bomel, previously at the helm of 1000 North, the indoor-outdoor restaurant features a locally inspired, coastal menu with dishes such as woodfire pizza topped with clams and creative twists like lobster corn dogs. Introducing a new take on golf course restaurants welcoming players, locals, and travelers alike, The House is set within The Park, West Palm Beach’s newest golf course, overlooking rolling green fairways and lush tropical vegetation.

Café Boulud: Enjoy afternoon tea daily, transporting guests to a magical and playful wonderland with gorgeous teapots and dainty and delicious finger foods. While the British might have started high tea, Café Boulud added a French twist, creating its unique afternoon tea experience. Set in the charming dining room or courtyard of the iconic Brazilian Court Hotel, Café Boulud offers a picturesque setting with a menu of Instagram-worthy specialty teas, mini madeleines, and scones, as well as mouthwatering and perfectly proportioned savory and sweet bites, thoughtfully fashioned by executive pastry chef Julie Franceschini.

Galley: Located in the newly renovated Hilton West Palm Beach, Galley celebrates the hotel’s recent renovation with a refreshed menu, Sunday brunch experience, wine dinners with world-class vintners, and cocktail classes for guests and locals alike. Under lead mixologist Hauk Cornell, Galley will launch seasonal menus and themed interactive monthly cocktail experiences. Galley’s esteemed bottomless brunch will return with new offerings featuring shareable tapas and tableside beverages. Fan-favorite wine dinners will kick off in October with a series of wineries featured during al fresco dinners led by executive chef Rodrigo Mezadri.

Pink Steak: Julien Gremaud, chef and restaurateur behind the popular Avocado Grill in downtown West Palm Beach, loves a good steak. Still, he can do without the classic, rich-upon-rich sides and the “manly” expectations of a traditional American steakhouse. Gremaud created a modern steakhouse with a retro-chic Florida vibe—the idea behind Pink Steak, a meat-focused restaurant at The Shops at The Press.

Maman at The Square: Coming in spring 2024, Maman is a French café and leading lifestyle brand with locations across North America and Canada. Inspired by family traditions and the highest-quality ingredients, Maman offers a selection of delicious baked goods, including its famous nutty chocolate chip cookie, coffee, fresh breakfast, and lunch options spanning hearty salads and sandwiches to savory quiches.