The savvy traveler of right this moment not solely is aware of about TSA PreCheck—additionally they know to learn up on the historical past of the place they’re about to vacation. And people headed to Palm Seaside ought to familiarize themselves with two folks: Henry Flagler and Addison Mizner, who collectively put Palm Seaside on the map. With out their contributions, the storied city will surely not be the beachside Xanadu it’s right this moment, the place shiny inexperienced lawns sit adjoining to sandy seashores and nobody waits until cocktail hour to get issues shaking.

The handy factor about Palm Seaside is that with out even attempting—it’s a metropolis of leisure, in any case—you’re sure to study a bit about Flagler and Mizner when visiting. Two of probably the most spectacular and imposing estates on the island, Whitehall and The Breakers, had been developed by Flagler—the railroad tycoon who stitched Florida along with prepare tracks within the late nineteenth century. Mizner, then again, got here to Palm Seaside a long time after. His interventions had been of an aesthetic nature; he was the architect of the Everglades Membership, Through Mizner, Sanctuary of Riverside Baptist Church, and the non-public trip properties for such households just like the Vanderbilts and the Singers. Mizner’s mish-mash of Mediterranean Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival defines the visible tradition of Palm Seaside, setting it other than the neighboring Deco dreamland of Miami. (Talking of Miami, it’s a mere hour-ish journey away on the celebrated Brightline prepare.) 

Save for the introduction of swanky beachside condos within the Nineteen Sixties and the Trumpification of Marjorie Merriweather Put up’s Mar-a-Lago, little has modified in Palm Seaside because it was made well-known by Slim Aaron’s snaps and Lily Pulitzer’s printed shifts. For many years, an itinerary has included cocktails at The Breakers, dinner at Renato’s in Through Mizner, a buying journey down Price Avenue, and a dip within the pool of the pink The Colony Resort. That stated, Vogue’s under suggestions, compiled by our editors, are certain to information you for years to come back.

The place to Keep

If pink belongs to the Colony, then yellow is the colour of The Brazilian Court docket Resort—you’ll know you’ve arrived if you spot a butter-hued construction with a terracotta roof. These in search of a discrete haven ought to look no additional. Opened on New 12 months’s Day in 1926, the resort was expanded by famed society architect Maurice Fatio, who managed to take care of intimacy regardless of imposing a bigger footprint. The resort’s 80 rooms are located round a courtyard, and a pool is much less a spot to see and be seen and extra an opportunity for resort visitors to take pleasure in a dip in privateness. Well-known visitors who’ve checked in embrace Gary Cooper, Greta Garbo, Audrey Hepburn, and the Kennedy household. Onsite is the noteworthy and not-to-be-missed Cafe Boulud and a spa providing post-beach blowouts and extra. Plus, as of this 12 months, the resort presents complimentary sundown cruises (the one property in Palm Seaside to take action) and excursions down the Lake Price Lagoon by way of a 44-foot Solaris Energy yacht decked out in Brazilian Court docket’s signature yellow and white stripes. As a result of for those who don’t do Palm Seaside by boat, did you actually do Palm Seaside? –Lilah Ramzi

You might say The Colony is experiencing a little bit of a renaissance, however you possibly can additionally say one of the best is but to come back. Since its opening in 1947, the pink-hued resort on Hammon Avenue has lured historical past’s typical Palm Seaside suspects—Judy Garland, Lena Horne, John Lennon, Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra, and Estée Lauder. It’s a photogenic place; again in 1961, it served because the vacation spot for trend exhibits photographed by Slim Aarons, and right this moment, it’s throughout your Instagram. With 89 rooms and a foyer splashed with pink de Gournay wallpaper, The Colony must be on the high of your resort listing. If to not keep, then for a cocktail beneath the hanging backyard on the terrace. In 2014, Carlton Varney (protegee of the zany more-is-more decorator Dorothy Draper) designed the rooms, and a few years in the past, the complete resort acquired a full refresh from designer Celerie Kemble. Plus, there are residences designed by a few of our favourite tastemaking manufacturers: The Chairsh Villas (full of antiques just like these you would possibly discover on the location), The Goop Villa (designed by Ronen Lev with Gwyneth Paltrow’s seal of approval), and extra residences from Aerin Lauder, Mark Sikes, and Serena & Lily. –LR

Undoubtedly Palm Seaside’s most historic resort is The Breakers. Constructed by Henry Flagler in 1896 (then it was referred to as The Palm Seaside Inn), it was the second Palm Seaside resort constructed by Flagler. His first, which opened in 1894, was the Royal Poinciana Resort, and at one time, it held the title of the world’s largest picket construction, located on the western coast of Palm Seaside beside the Lake Price Lagoon. After Flagler’s visitors requested a spot to remain on the beachfront by the Atlantic, The Breakers got here to be. Although the resort burned down twice, it was rebuilt following the newer hearth of 1925, its present-day construction impressed by Rome’s Villa Medici. With 538 rooms, to name the resort sprawling could be an understatement. A number of eating places, outlets, a golf course, and banquet rooms are on-site, and all of it’s full of the charms of outdated Palm Seaside. –LR

Although the White Elephant is a brand new addition to Palm Seaside (it opened in 2019), it’s not and not using a loyal following. Positioned on Foremost Road, the resort is the second outpost of the beloved Nantucket-based resort of the identical identify. Located in a property initially in-built 1924 because the Bradley Park Resort, the White Elephant presents the entire quaintness of Palm Seaside with the entire bells and whistles the fashionable traveler might hope for—rooms are spacious and well-designed with relaxed but elegant decor. The couches are upholstered in nubby linen and tossed with colourful, elephant patterned pillows, and the fixtures in your toilet gleam. Must you ebook a collection, a dream-worthy kitchen will make sure you really feel proper at residence. Ask the concierge to set you up with a parasol on the seaside or sit beneath a black-and-white striped parasol on the pool. Whenever you’re prepared for a chew, the White Elephant’s restaurant, Lola 41, has a few of the greatest sushi on the town. –LR

The place to Eat

Even in Palm Seaside, the place pleasure and leisure abound, few experiences encapsulate “La Dolce Vita” like lunching at Bice on Price Avenue. An outpost of the Milanese hotspot, the Italian eatery presents fantastic eating in beautiful environment. The courtyard transports patrons to Europe or, maybe extra precisely, a cinematic fantasy of Europe. Surrounded by vintage shops and artwork galleries, canines doze within the solar whereas their house owners feast on wine and pasta. –Ian Malone

With eateries in all of the buzzy locations, Le Bilboquet’s Palm Seaside outpost is not any exception. Along with its upscale lunch menu and glitzy dinner scene, this location serves a decadent breakfast. What an ideal approach to begin the day! –Elisée Browchuk