Before Palm Beach County became a permanent home to over 1.5 million residents, wealthy socialites established it as their exclusive winter playground.
Nothing encapsulates that era’s opulent vibe quite like the new Apple TV series Palm Royale. The stellar cast (led by Kristin Wig, Allison Janney, Ricky Martin, Carol Burnett and Laura Dern) brilliantly portray what life may have been like for many of the area’s 1960’s elite. Think hundreds of Slim Aarons photographs beautifully come to life, with a peppering of soap-like drama.
While most of the footage was shot in California, the true leading lady of the series is the fictional, Palm Beach Country Club, known as the Palm Royale. The members-only locale is based on an amalgamation of actual high-society private clubs, like the Everglades Club and Bath & Tennis Club.
Here’s how to experience the area like a 1960’s socialite.
STAY
The Breakers
Image credit: The Breakers
This historic property has set the standard for hospitality in Palm Beach since turn-of-the-century industrialist Henry M. Flagler founded it in 1896. Today, the Italian Renaissance-style resort and private club is situated on 140 gorgeous acres of oceanfront property, offering curious vacationers a taste of the good life that Palm Beach’s 58 Forbes billionaires are accustomed to. Soak in the sun on a charming private beach, lunch like a lady at Flagler Steakhouse, peruse the high-end boutiques on-property at Via Flagler by the Breakers, or sip a skinny pineapple margarita in a private poolside bungalow – the entertainment options seem endless within this grand and luxurious retreat. Private butlers assure carte blanche to anything your heart desires.
The Boca Raton
Just thirty minutes south of Palm Beach, architect Addison Mizner established another exclusive playground for America’s elite, The Cloister Inn, now called The Boca Raton, a lavish resort and private club. Rumour has it, Mizner departed Palm Beach nettled for not being ask to design the Breakers; his tantrum led to the genius creation of one of America’s most iconic resorts. Here, one can feel the exclusivity of private membership, while lodging at one of five distinct hotels set across more than 200 waterfront acres. The dining options are abound, including the ultra modern Japanese Bocce Club, whose wagyu beef sticky rice and shaved Little Gem salad with carrot-ginger dressing are local legends. Other highlights include: sipping craft cocktails in the opulent, Art Deco style Palm Court; an adults-only Yacht Club where guests can borrow exclusive Aston Martins and drive up the coastline; private Pickleball lessons with a pro athlete; a relaxing 50,000-square-foot spa inspired by the elegant grandeur of Spain’s Alhambra Palace; an afternoon on Relentless, a 42-foot classic Wesmac cruising yacht; and much more.
EAT + DRINK
Swifty’s
Located inside the “Pink Paradise” that is the Colony Hotel, this indoor-outdoor, poolside Palm Beach locale is the dreamy reincarnation of a beloved and now defunct NYC staple. Feast on old school American dishes like Maryland crab cakes and bacon wrapped meatloaf, or opt for lighter, European fare, like chilled gazpacho or chicken Paillard. Whatever you order, the main attraction will actually be gawking at the well-heeled local socialites.
Sant Ambroeus
This local hotspot serving traditional Italian fare is where post-shopping power dining occurs. Located in the chic outdoor shopping centre, Royal Poinciana Plaza, the Palm Beach location for this international chain (New York, Milan, South Hampton) serves classic Milanese cuisine and to-die-for cakes and pastries, within a vintage-chic atmosphere.
Cafe Boulud
Inside the storied Brazilian Court Hotel is chef Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud, a chic dining destination for lunch or dinner. While you can dine inside or out, the charming fountain-side courtyard terrace is perfect for rosé all day and chatting with friends. With pre-fixed lunches and special wine dinners hosted frequently, book a table to indulge in French-American dishes featuring fresh, local seafood.
TO DO
Explore West Palm Beach
While the characters of Palm Royale would hardly be caught crossing the bridge to explore West Palm Beach, nowadays this small metropolitan city has become a fabulous destination in its own right. Vintage shop-hop on the area’s famous Antique Row; enjoy happy hour with a view atop The Ben Hotel; or peruse over 8,200 works of art at the Norton Museum.
Shop Till You Drop
Take a historic stroll down Worth Avenue and shop till you drop. This illustrious and historic street is where brands like Gucci, Oscar de la Renta and Lilly Pulitzer basically established the resortwear trend for socialites and movie stars looking for lightweight luxury apparel. Worth Avenue now plays host to about 250 high-end shops (Bottega Veneta, Tiffany & Co., Valentino, Ferragamo), restaurants, and art galleries. Along the street are charming alleyways and hidden piazzas inspired by streets in Europe. These majestic tiled, fountain-filled “Vias” offer more boutiques and restaurants to explore including Aerin, Via Coquina, Le Bilboquet, Bice, Il Papiro, and more. Keep an eye out for a “service pig” named Mona Lisa, who lives with her owners in Addison Mizner’s former home on Via Mizner.
A Spa Day at Eau Palm Beach
This oceanfront escape has loads of appeal, including guest rooms designed by Jonathan Adler and fine dining at Italian-American restaurant legend Polpo, but the star of the show is its 42,000-square-foot Eau Spa with relaxing water gardens, private villas and luxurious treatment rooms. Open to anyone, the serene indoor-outdoor space features couples treatment rooms with private terraces, a customised DIY scrub-and-polish bar, and a candlelit Wishing Well – and these are only a handful of the elements that make this serene escape alluring. Palm Royale’s leading lady, Maxine, would never, ever be seen in public without a perfect manicure: channel her with one of Eau’s luxe manicure options – extravagant but worth the splurge ($85-$135).
You can stream Palm Royale on Apple TV
Lead image credit: The Boca Room, Palm Beach
Find out more via The Palm Beaches
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