By Beth Landman
West Palm Beach has long been known for the recently renovated Norton Museum, the restaurant and bar scene on Clematis Street, and finds on Antique Row, but there have been few hotels in the area. The good news is that this January, two new properties will be unveiled, along with a luxurious new boutique hotel on the island itself.
The Ben West Palm
A rooftop with a lounge bar and views of Palm Beach Harbor, the Intracoastal Waterway and Palm Beach Island will be a focal point of West Palm Beach’s only waterfront property. Inspired by the Ben Trovato, an original South Florida estate, the lobby is elegantly adorned with wood and stone, while the 208 rooms will have a residential vibe and such amenities as 55-inch smart HD TVs. Accompany the chef on a trip to a green market—the hotel provides wicker baskets for shopping and then cooks up the bounty. The chef will also be busy at the signature restaurant Proper Grit, a casual chophouse (if you are looking for variety, the many restaurants of Clematis Street are steps away). Attend yoga classes on the roof at sunrise; for the less dedicated practitioners, playful Beer Yoga is on tap once a week. Speaking of downward dog, your furry companions are welcome at the Ben, and they get amenities too. 251 N. Narcissus Ave., West Palm Beach; 561.655.4001
Canopy West Palm Beach Downtown
A 6-story tall fiber-optic-and-LED art installation of banyan tree roots, a 165-year-old wall of reclaimed Canadian barn wood, and an atrium dominate the lobby of this new offering from Hilton’s hipper boutique brand. The first-floor restaurant, Banter, offers a Florida-Caribbean hybrid menu, and on the roof, Treehouse, situated by the lushly landscaped pool, features lighter bites along with wraparound views. A fitness center is complete with a large outdoor space for yoga and other exercise. Canopy is just two blocks from the bridge, so you can stroll to Palm Beach island or grab one of the hotel’s complimentary bikes and spin across. 704 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach; 561.655.0404
White Elephant
The well-loved Nantucket, Massachusetts, retreat is taking over the former Bradley Park Hotel (which dates back to the 1920s), and converting it into a 13-room,19-suite southern outpost. Muted beach décor throughout includes woven rugs on hardwood floors, rooms outfitted with Pratesi linens, L’Occitane goodies and organic bath products for children. Two penthouse suites will have fully equipped kitchens and large terraces with water views. Lola 41, Nantucket’s global bistro and sushi, is coming along for the ride, opening a 150-seat restaurant with an outdoor bar. Bradley Park itself has morphed into the hotel’s great lawn. Complimentary car service (within a 10-minute driving radius of the hotel) and bikes are available to transport guests around the island, but shopping mecca Royal Poinciana Plaza, which houses everything from a new Oscar de la Renta boutique to Sant Ambroeus, to Paul Labrecque salon and spa, is just a short stroll away. 280 Sunset Ave., Palm Beach