Growing up in West Palm Beach things have changed so much in the 10 years, but even more so in the last year. I still have family that live there so we spend part of winter every year from NYC down south in West Palm.
The DL: West Palm is a great area whether you spend your whole weekend here or use it as an affordable middle spot for all the other places you want to visit nearby like Palm Beach, Boca, Jupiter etc. Here is how I would spend the weekend from a local’s perspective!
Friday:
- Fly into PBI, you will need a rental car since there is really no public transportation you would use unless you plan to just uber everywhere.
- Check into the hotel (some options include The Ben (nicest), or the Canopy for their rooftop pool!) but there is a lot of great air bnbs as well
- Stroll the pathway by the water and take in the views of the beautiful yachts
- Grab a pre dinner drink – Cityplace, ER Bradleys for more tiki bar scene or check out the Nora District – which is basically a mini New York
- If you want to walk to Dinner: Roccos Tacos on 1stAve for good tacos, Harrys for more upscale, ER Bradleys casual bar bites, Elisabettas for Italian with a view or outdoor seating, Felice for NYC based Italian (no view) also good for a pre dinner drink.
- Or a short drive – highly recommend La Marina or the Blue Door
- End the night at a rooftop or see if Mary Lous is having one of their pop ups like mahjong + martinis
Saturday:
Morning
Grab breakfast at Pura Vida (bowl and healthy items) or breakfast sandwich from maman, or sour seed open face bagels. Other option is to walk across the bridge and get a casual breakfast in Palm beach at Paris Bakery Cafe (grab and take to the beach) or Surfside Diner.
For coffee – Sunday Motor Co or Composition Coffee
Mid morning check out the West Palm Greenmarket – Every Saturday from October to April at Centennial Square. I love the big guac and salsa tent in the dead center of the food area. 101 S. Clematis St., West Palm Beach, FL
Spend the day at Beach
- Palm Beach (Check out my palm beach guide here for more info) is the best and closest. You will have to pay for street parking here. Grab and go lunch option that is affordable – Buccan Sandwhich shop its a local spot and has great fresh lemonades and teas! There is also a publix nearby if you want to pick up a sub and snacks for the beach.
- Visit Peanut Island (more of a full day experience)
- MacArthur Beach
- Ocean Reef Park – Singer Island – (3800 Ocean or Coconuts on the beach for lunch)
- Head up to Jupiter (45 minutes) paddle board, see the lighthouse and then Lunch at Guanabanas, one of my favorite places to eat!
Evening:
Depending on the vibe you can have a low key dinner and chill night or get dressed up and have a fancy night out on the town! Food options below.
Sunday:
Start off your morning at the Hive Bakery for a quick bite, matcha or coffee and then explore their home shops. Walk a few blocks to the Norton Museum of Art for the morning.
Grab Lunch with a View
Bennys on the Beach (about 15 minute drive down palm beach) (Pictured above – get the fish tacos!)
Spend the afternoon At the Polo Fields or Shopping:
- Gardens Mall/Downtown at the Gardens $$
- Worth Ave – Palm Beach $$$
- The Square at West Palm $$ – the closest option (right
- The Royal Ponciana Plaza $$$$ (left)
- City Girls for high end thrifting
- Discover more than 50 antique/specialty shops on one street Antique Row.
What I would do – gead into Wellington which is about 20 minutes to the National Polo field and catch a match if in season and do their brunch seating!
Or other things to do for the day:
- Manatee Lagoon
- Go to any of the Spa’s on Palm Beach Island
- Antique Rowe – art district
- Explore PGA Boulevard/ Palm Beach Gardens
- Spa at PGA Resort
- Golf – so many optionns nearby
- The Square at West Palm has lots of events and great seats to just sit outside and people watch
- Have a proper tea at the local tea house – Serenity Garden
- Hang at the hotel Pool
- Play poolside bingo at the Colony Hotel (Sunday nights, make a resy)
- See a show at the Kravits Center
- Explore the Henry Flagler Museum on a rainy day
Other Food Options Not Mentioned Above (WEST PALM ONLY):
- Aioli – little out of the way but bakery, gfree sandwhiches and good salumi board.
- Oceano Kitchen – out of the way but james beard finalistGrandview Public Market – food hall with live music (check event calendars)
- Tropical Bakery – guava cuban pastries
- Russos Sub – out of the way hole in the wall,
family owned sub shop I grew up eating and is amazing, get theorginal russo with oil on the side – bread is baked fresh every morning! Grato – good for larger groupsAvocado Grill – instagrammable more healthy restaurant- Galley – grab a drink or dinner on their patio with firepit
- Havanna – family run hole in the wall cuban spot
- Don Ramon – cuban
- Indian breakfast from The Pelican in Lake Worth
- Waterway Cafe – happy hour, pizza, seafood, sandwiches
- Sloanes ice cream – they have the famous disappearing door
- Fern Street Wine Bar & Kitchen – in the art district, has eclectic mural walls and wine/cheese, sit outside.
- Tropical Smokehouse – get the burger, james beard finalist
- Cholo Soy – tacos
- Steak Shop by Ranchers Reserve – steak wrap
- Skinny Louie – cheap burgers
- Los Altos Jalisco – authentic Mexican
- Pistache – french spot downtown
- Coolinary and The Parched Pig – featured on dives and drive ins
Option 2: Drive southern blvd over to Palm
Head to the airport – luckily its tiny and you dont need to be there super early!
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