So, I’m finally posting my
Palm Beach recap! A few months ago, my mom surprised me with a girls’ getaway to one of my bucket-list hotels in Palm Beach. She suggested we go during our usual
family holiday in Naples, as it’s just a short two-hour drive from where we
were staying. Of course, I was 100% on board with the idea. This was a trip
I’ve always wanted to make and it without a doubt exceeded my expectations!
There are no words to sum up
such an amazing two-day stay! If you love small, exquisite hotels with lots of
character and historic charm, you will LOVE The Brazilian Court. I knew this
was my kind of hotel the moment the concierge handed us our (real) brass room
keys. I truly felt like I was staying at a private Palm Beach estate!
I felt so glamorous walking through these courtyards, which are dotted with the prettiest Chippendale-style chaises and canopied daybeds. Ahhh. Excuse me while I pop another bonbon in my mouth!
In case you’re wondering about location…yep, that’s on-point too! It’s just a short walk or bike ride from all the shopping and dining of Worth Ave. Oh, and they welcome you with a box of colorful macarons. What more could you possibly want?
Where we ate:
Aioli—I
typically scope out dining options online before I head to a new place, but I’m
always happy to stumble into a hidden gem, which is exactly what this place is!
My mom and I arrived in Palm Beach at 10am, so we had some time to kill before
checking in. We stopped at a dozen or so antique shops along Dixie Highway,
explored an exotic plant nursery, then grabbed lunch at this fabulous bistro we
randomly found while driving from shop to shop. My golden beat and goat cheese salad
was earthy, savory, and totally guilt-free! Although I do wish I’d picked up a
few of their delicious looking pastries on our way out the door…
Café Boulud—
I was so excited when I found out that Café Boulud (an outpost of the original
in NYC) is located within The Brazilian Court! It’s been on my restaurant
bucket list since forever and even if I were staying elsewhere, I’d still insist
on coming here for dinner and drinks. The food, service, and ambiance were incredible!
We treated ourselves to cocktails
and a three-course prix fixe dinner on the terrace—a worthwhile indulgence that
will definitely be repeated! My favorite part of the evening was watching the
sun dip into the palm groves across the courtyard while sipping my orchid cosmo
and nibbling on flavorful charcuteries. By the time our entrées arrived, the
sun had set and the courtyard was sparkling with candles and twinkle lights. It
was truly magical!
**I recommend making
reservations 2-3 weeks in advance for the best time and table.
Pizza Al Fresco— We had originally planned to go to The Breakers for lunch on our
last day, but we didn’t want to cut our time on Worth short, so we decided to
save it for another trip. I was really sad I didn’t make it to The
Breakers, but our lunch here totally made up for it. The pizza and salad were
out of this world, and being surrounded by palm trees, hydrangeas, and blue
umbrellas was just pure tropical heaven!
Where we shopped:
Worth Ave is
truly a place like no other. Loaded with hidden courtyards, wooden balconies, and
hanging gardens, it’s one of the most picturesque strips of shopping you’ll
ever see. My mom and I spent the majority of our second day here, poking around
the vias, shopping, admiring the architecture, and lingering over our lunch in Pizza
Al Fresco’s dreamy courtyard.
What I love most about this
area is simply that it’s more than just a collection of sparkly shops and great
restaurants—it’s one of the prettiest botanical and architectural displays I’ve
ever seen! Side note: How cute and flirty is this flamingo blouse? You can find the clutch here and the earrings here.
Favorite Shops:
CJ Laing— Seriously
the cutest shop EVER! If you’re looking for quality resort wear, this place has
you covered. My mom loved their collection of hand-embroidered tunics. So
breezy and fun! I’ve always been mad about their embroidered Palm Beach totes,
so I picked up one of those along with a few wood bead bracelets.
Stubbs and Wootton—I knew exactly what I wanted before I walked in the store: custom
monogrammed Stubbs (Duh!). There are so many incredible styles here that you
can’t find online. Case in point: These fruit crest slippers designed by watercolor
artist Happy Menocal for Stubbs. I spotted them on Julia Engel’s Instagram a
few weeks before the trip and immediately fell in love. By the way, if you’re
not familiar with her Charleston-based blog, Gal Meets Glam, get yourself acquainted already!
{image}
So...I had a few other monogram styles in mind, but when I saw the fruit crest in person, I couldn’t resist! The gold initials! The tropical fruit! Gah. They’re so cute. If you love loafers as much as I do, you won’t think twice about splurging on a pair of Stubbs.
So...I had a few other monogram styles in mind, but when I saw the fruit crest in person, I couldn’t resist! The gold initials! The tropical fruit! Gah. They’re so cute. If you love loafers as much as I do, you won’t think twice about splurging on a pair of Stubbs.
Hermes—So,
I bought my very first Birkin bag…just kidding! Those bags start at $12,000.
Some day though, right? I actually just popped in to see the scarves and
bracelets…and admire the bags that are just out of my reach. Sigh.
Dixie Highway: My mom and I both love decorating, so we relished the opportunity to
spend an afternoon browsing the antique and vintage stores that stretch along this
highway. When I say antique stores for days…I mean antique stores for DAYS! No
wonder so many collectors, dealers, and interior decorators from around the
world flock here.
Favorite Shops:
The Nest—I
think I read somewhere that this is the only non-antique store on Antique Row.
Nevertheless, it was our first—and one of our most memorable!—stops along
Dixie. This place is a must-see for those who love Palm Beach Chic décor!
Palm Beach Vintage—Calling all vintage clothing lovers! I sifted through rack after rack
of vintage Pucci, Chanel, and Dior items, drooling the entire time. I've always wanted something vintage Pucci, even if it's just a pair of sunglasses…
Brass Scale Antiques—Fabulous selection of quirky/unique antiques! Of
course, I ran straight to their Staffordshire pup collection and picked out the
cutest little pup “piggy” bank, which is now sitting on my coffee table.
Mecox Gardens—This whole place is just so visually stunning, I felt as though I were
walking through a magazine spread! I only wish I’d snapped a photo while I was
inside.
Planning your first trip to Palm Beach can be intimidating. There’s just so much to see and do! We could’ve spent an entire week there, but honestly, we didn’t feel right leaving the rest of the fam in Naples for more than a couple of days. Still, we were disciplined enough not to over-plan and turn our two days of paradise into a hectic rat race. I’ll admit, I was tempted to squeeze more in… but in retrospect, I’m glad we maintained a reasonable pace. Now that the trip is over, all I can say is…I am DYING to go back!
