Palm Beach Vacation – What to Do & What to Wear

Since this was my first trip to West Palm Beach, I did a little research to plan my wardrobe. I knew Palm Beach had a reputation as a place for the wealthy, so I had a feeling the style might be more conservative than the places Paul and I usually vacation…Mexico, Jamaica, Las Vegas, Miami…and after doing some searching I realized I was right. But I also didn’t realize that Palm Beach has its own sort of style. Lily Pulitzer sums it up—bright florals and tropical prints, colorful pastels, and a 60s vibe. The dress code totally matches the décor down there, and I couldn’t wait to see it. Although the style seemed like it would be more conservative than the way I normally dress, I decided to take Palm Beach style and make it my own 😉

Palm Beach Style My Way

60’s fashion is not my typical look, but after seeing all the 60s style photos of Palm beach, I became obsessed! For my vacation wardrobe, I went with bright florals, a flowy maxi dress, a silky midi dress, a structured sheath dress, a maxi skirt set, and fun flirty coverups…paired with bold statement belts, big glam earrings, chunky necklaces and bracelets, lots of rattan, cat eye sunglasses, and headbands—mostly in gold, white, blue, pink and lilac. These are my favorite colors for spring, and florals have always been my favorite pattern…so I was READY for Palm Beach.

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

We stayed at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. “Eau” is pronounced “Oh” (the French word for water). Paul picked out the hotel and it was positively divine. The resort buildings are done in an old world Mediterranean style with an abundance of palm trees, two gorgeous pools, and a lovely ocean view. The décor is mostly bright yellow, royal blue and white – a super pretty combination that is sunny, glamorous, and ultra chic.

We booked an Oceanfront room and this was the view we received, overlooking the adult pool. It was a gorgeous view, but we felt that it was a pool view rather than an ocean view. So just be aware of what you might get and ask for the room you want accordingly.

We asked for a new room that actually overlooked the ocean and this is the view from our new room. We loved it!

View from our new room, overlooking the Breeze Ocean Kitchen restaurant.

View from our new room. Now this is Oceanfront!

The Spa at the Eau

We only had a long weekend in Palm Beach so we didn’t get a chance to actually use the Eau Spa, but we looked around and it was beautiful. It’s well-known as one of the best spas in Palm Beach.

The women’s side of the Eau Spa. The spa is separated into a men’s side and a women’s side, like most spas. Each side is clothing optional.

The Eau Lobby Bar

We arrived at the Eau in the afternoon. After getting our room, I threw on a little white dress and we went out to explore the resort. We ended up having pre-dinner sushi and cocktails in the Eau’s lobby bar Stir Bar and Terrace, which also has an outdoor space and live jazz music on weekend evenings. Sushi is served Thursday through Sunday after 5pm. It was a lovely way to spend our afternoon.

Exploring the resort on our first afternoon.

Found this cozy little corner on the way to our hotel room. You can shop this look here.

Dinner at Temple Orange

Our first night we had dinner at the Eau at Temple Orange. They have gorgeous outdoor seating overlooking the main pool and the ocean, but we sat inside since it was super windy. I was thrilled that they offered vegan options for dinner, and the vegan lasagna was delicious. After dinner we ventured onto the terrace and relaxed around the cozy fire pit. What a lovely way to end our evening.

Dinner indoors at Temple Orange. Beautiful decor and the terrace is even prettier.

Brunch at the Colony Hotel

Our first morning in Palm Beach, we took an uber over to the Colony Hotel for brunch at Swifty’s. The Colony was recently renovated into a stunning concoction of pink, white and green—like a dollhouse come to life. From the pink exterior to the tropical leaf print walls inside; from the pink shell wicker chairs to the green and white striped chaises and whimsical umbrellas around the pool, the Colony is a total girly dream come true. And a true blogger’s paradise.

If you don’t stay at the Colony, definitely go there for a meal and to check out their décor. Although we were not guests of the hotel, the Colony staff welcomed us graciously. When we arrived, the iconic pink and green golf cart was sitting right out front, and we had plenty of time to take pictures with it. We didn’t need a reservation for Swifty’s on a Saturday at 11am and were able to get seated immediately, right around the pool. The entire experience was absolutely charming…the pool view was lovely, the breakfast was delicious, and we really got to experience this adorable little slice of paradise without staying there. After breakfast we were able to stroll the grounds as we pleased.

The famous pink golf cart at the Colony.

I couldn’t get enough of this adorable pink golf cart! All my Barbie dreams came true at the sight of it. The Colony staff drove it around a lot, so if we had asked we probably could have gotten a ride. Shop my outfit here.

The Clock Tower at Worth Avenue

After breakfast, we strolled from the Colony toward the beach, which is just about two blocks away. We ended up at the Clock Tower which was a gorgeous spot to take photos. The old stone is actually white coral, and blocks and blocks of the Worth Avenue shops are made of this beautiful material.

The Clock Tower is made of this gorgeous coral. Such a pretty spot for a photo and looks just like you’re in the Mediterranean.

Worth Avenue

From the Clock Tower, we realized we were at the end of the famed Worth Avenue. So we took a long walk and explored the shops. I’ve been to some pretty luxurious shopping centers in places like Paris, Vegas and Rome…and the Worth Avenue shops were right up there with the most elegant I’ve ever seen. The architecture is absolutely gorgeous, the shops are very high end, and there is plenty to explore even if you don’t want to shop. There were courtyards that seemed to go on forever, with lovely little outdoor cafes, pink flowers spilling over old stone walls, beautiful fountains and tropical foliage everywhere.

I recommend exploring the courtyard that runs from Café Via Flora to the back of the Ralph Lauren store, located here. It was virtually empty back there and we were able to enjoy it to our heart’s content. If we hadn’t just eaten, I would have loved to have lunch at Café Via Flora as it looked beautiful.

Entrance to the courtyard behind Cafe Via Flora. Locate it here.

Courtyard outside Cafe Via Flora. Shop my look here.

*Courtyard outside Cafe Via Flora.* Find it here.

The stunning courtyard behind the Ralph Lauren store on Worth Avenue. It was empty on a Saturday afternoon and no one from the store seemed to notice that we had strolled back there from another courtyard. Locate it here.

Day 1 at the Eau Pool

We spent both pool days at the adults only pool. Paul and I have four teenage and 20-something kids, so we’ve done our share of family vacations. When we get away on our own, we like it to be relaxing. I wore this 60’s inspired lilac paisley bikini with a flowy chiffon kimono cover-up.

Wearing the Lilac Paisley Paul Top and Lilac Paisley Euro Bottom from Montce Swim.

The Rooftop at Restoration Hardware

Our lovely butler at the Eau gave us many recommendations for where to eat at Palm Beach. We actually tried to make reservations at The Ben Hotel rooftop restaurant, but we never made it there. It looks stunning from photos and has a gorgeous view of Palm Beach, so I would definitely recommend going there.

However, we did not make it to the Ben. By mistake we ended up at the Restoration Hardware Rooftop for dinner. We were not disappointed! First of all, the building itself is amazing…from the architecture of the building which is painted all in large block letters, to the interior filled with several levels of high end furniture and covered in gold mirrors and spectacular chandeliers. At the top level, the central dining room is a fresh mix of green plants, comfy lounge seating, tables and more grand chandeliers. All surrounded by a wraparound outdoor deck with more gorgeous seating, lots of tropical plants and fountains, and lovely views of the city. Also, the food was incredible. I would definitely recommend stopping here for a meal and to browse the incredible store.

All dressed up for Friday night dinner. I’m wearing the Lexi dress from Lucy in the Sky.

At the Restoration Hardware rooftop restaurant. Shop my whole outfit here.

Breakfast at Temple Orange

On our second morning, we had breakfast at Temple Orange on the Eau terrace, overlooking the pool and ocean. The food and the view were both lovely, plus the fruit smoothies were delicious.

Dress from Princess Polly. Shop this dress here.

Day 2 at the Eau Pool

For our second pool day I wore a colorful, 60’s inspired cover-up dress over a coral bikini with crystal embellishments.

Dinner at the Breakers

Our plan for our last night in Palm Beach was dinner at the Seafood Bar at the Breakers Hotel. The Breakers is the iconic Palm Beach hotel that looks almost like a palace—pure old world elegance and class. I was super excited to have dinner there and explore the grounds. We had looked into reservations but saw that most of their restaurants took no reservations. So our plan was to walk in to the Seafood Bar, put our name on the list and have a drink at the bar and explore the grounds while we waited for our table.

When we arrived at the Breakers, there was a huge line of cars to get in and the guard out front would not let us onto the hotel grounds unless we were hotel guests or had a reservation at one of the restaurants. So we were all dressed up with no place to go. We ended up finding a little romantic Italian restaurant with homemade pasta and had a lovely evening. We were disappointed but decided it only gave us a reason to come back to Palm Beach!

I’m telling this story because I want to give some tips about visiting the Breakers. If you don’t plan on staying there, you have to see it. You can probably spend at least an hour strolling the grounds. The hotel staff at the Breakers told us that normally we would be allowed to come in without a reservation, but there were several special events going on that weekend and the hotel was at full capacity. So if you’re planning a visit to the Breakers, plan your visit in advance.

Make a reservation at one of the restaurants on the property at least 3-4 weeks before your trip. Or show up early in the day before it gets crowded. Also be aware that the Breakers website lists several dining options that are associated with the hotel but not actually on the grounds. The only restaurants that are actually on the Breakers property are:

The Circle (a fabulous place to get breakfast) – no reservations
The Seafood bar – no reservations
HMF – no reservations
The Italian Restaurant – takes reservations
The Beach Club Restaurant – for guests and club members only

All dressed up for Saturday night at the Breakers.

Breakfast on the Balcony

On our last morning, we almost never have time to go out to breakfast before the airport. So I love doing in-room dining and having our last breakfast out on the balcony overlooking the ocean.

Palm Beach was a true vision and I can’t wait to go back. From the bright turquoise water to the sprawling Mediterranean estates, from the palm lined streets to the courtyards dripping with flowers, Palm beach is not to be missed. For video of all our adventures and all my outfits, check out my instagram @lovinglifeinstyle and look at my story highlights “Palm beach” and “Palm Beach Style.” I hope this blog gives you some ideas of where to go while you’re there – and of course, what to wear! Let me know your favorite spots in Palm Beach in the comments below.