The 6 Best Palm Beach Hotels to Visit

 

by Forbes Travel Guide

Although Palm Beach boasts the title of “America’s first luxury resort destination,” the 11-mile island along Florida’s east coast isn’t resting on its luxurious laurels. Many Gold Coast institutions, such as Yacht Club at The Boca Raton and The Colony Hotel, have undergone big makeovers, ensuring that Palm Beach’s allure will never go out of style.

Whether you seek a beachfront hotel inspired by Rome’s Villa Medici or the enduring charm of the city’s salmon-hued structures, you can trust Forbes Travel Guide’s exclusive list for it. To find the best hotels in Palm Beach, our incognito inspectors posed as ordinary guests and stayed multiple nights at each property. The inspectors tested hundreds of exacting standards, with an emphasis on exceptional service, which accounts for 70% of a property’s rating. The remaining 30% comes from the quality and condition of the facilities. FTG does not require a business relationship from the properties it rates, and it does not earn a commission if you book one of the following hotels.

Beach Club at The Boca Raton

Sprawled along a half mile of private sand, Beach Club is one of the area’s top secluded beach vacation locations. It is part of the larger Boca Raton resort, which was designed as a gorgeous year-round seaside escape by architect Addison Mizner, whose Mediterranean Revival/Spanish Colonial Revival style came to define South Florida’s aesthetic.

The recently reimagined Beach Club welcomes you with striking vistas of the Atlantic Ocean from the lobby and Beach Club lounge. Beyond, you’ll find 210 cabana-style guest rooms and suites, three sparkling outdoor pools, Marisol restaurant, the new sand-side eatery Onda and an ocean-view fitness center. See more.

Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach

The freshly renovated Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach unites the best of Palm Beach in one spot. Just minutes from famed Worth Avenue, the challenges of three championship golf courses and the thrill of the National Polo Center, Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach sits on one of the island’s most expansive stretches of golden sand.

The authentic local ambiance combined with the resort’s genuinely warm, attentive staff and an extensive list of amenities (signature dining, an 11-treatment room spa, pool-front cabanas) make for lasting memories that honor the island’s long heritage of hospitality. See more.

The Breakers Palm Beach

A celebrity favorite since 1896 (and in its current building since 1926), The Breakers Palm Beach boasts a rich history rivaled only by its own penchant for constant reinvention. The result is a thoroughly modern and dynamic beachfront destination that welcomes you with a 200-foot, loggia-flanked, Murano-glass-dripping, vaulted main lobby based on a Renaissance castle in Genoa.

But there’s much more to experience at the 140-acre property filled with 534 rooms and suites, 10 restaurants, two 18-hole golf courses and host of other posh perks. Our picks: Play a round on the Ocean Course — Florida’s oldest golf course — and indulge in a treatment at the 20,000-square-foot, oceanfront spa. See more.

Tower at The Boca Raton

A high-end-hotel-within-a-hotel at The Boca Raton, Tower at The Boca Raton stands as the tallest building on the sprawling property. The 27-story structure recently reopened after a $65 million transformation in 2022, boasting sweeping views, spacious suites and elevated luxury. The Tower manages to retain its historical charm (and even its original pink hue) while delivering modern amenities and a hip vibe.

Dive into the water with a private beach, two pool clubs and a marina. Or pursue land-based activities, including a Five-Star spa, an 18-hole golf course, tennis, pickleball, an art gallery and more than a dozen restaurants and lounges. See more.

Yacht Club at The Boca Raton

Yacht Club at The Boca Raton is the all-suite, adults-only hideaway within the 200-acre resort. The property boasts a prime position overlooking Lake Boca, a 50,000-square-foot wellness oasis and a sparkling new four-acre Harborside Pool Club.

The hotel delivers water views from every suite — enjoy the tranquil scene from your balcony. And if you need anything, a butler stands ready to assist.

A reservation at the Yacht Club also grants you access to The Boca Raton’s many amenities, but the Flybridge is exclusively for Yacht Club hotel guests and members. Perched on the hotel’s top floor, the fine-dining restaurant with a view is a coveted reservation. See more.

The Colony Hotel

A pastel-pink high-rise flanked by swaying palms and perfectly manicured hedges, The Colony Hotel is the very picture of Palm Beach luxury. A mixture of elegance and whimsy, the historic property underwent a full makeover in 2022 to debut a refreshed lobby and a set of suites that embodies the unique spirit of this colorful retro-chic paradise.

Long a wintertime playground of the rich and famous, The Colony continues to attract modern-day glitterati with its jovial bar featuring live music, oasis-like pool replete with lawn games and ever-popular restaurant Swifty’s. It’s also well-known for its creative, exclusive collaborations, like enlisting Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop to design a stunning villa. See more.