For 17 years, Palm House was a pink, abandoned structure ignored by the denizens of Palm Beach. The island hotel is just a block from the beach but was overlooked by developers and tourists alike.
Until now.
Enter L+R Hotel Group, the London-based investment firm that cultivates the world’s finest resorts and five-star hotels. In 2019, the group acquired the property and welcomed it into its portfolio of Iconic Luxury Hotels. This hotel list of popular destinations includes London’s Mayfair Townhouse, Taplow’s 5-star estate Cliveden House, and Venice Lido’s Hotel Excelsior on the Adriatic Sea. Alongside architects Cooper Carry, L+R transformed Palm House with the island’s signature Mediterranean Revival architecture. This means coral facades synonymous with Palm Beach architecture, arched walkways and accents, and tropical greenery, coconut palms, and lively florals native to the property.
A vibrant wonderland of tropic elegance, Palm House is the first U.S. location of L+R Hotels, Europe’s largest collection of luxury resorts and hotels.
“The addition of Palm House to the iconic luxury hotels portfolio is a pivotal moment for the brand, not only as it will be our second international property, but also because it is the brand’s debut in the U.S.,” said Andrew Stembridge, executive director of Iconic Luxury Hotels.
Upon arrival, guests enter a lobby brimming with Palm Beach’s signature pink and green aesthetic. Walls studded with seashell “tapestries” plunge visitors under the sea, illuminated by coral Murano glass chandeliers and a pink-and-ruby living room that promises tropical unwinding for the rest of the stay.
After check-in, guests are transported through a tropical time machine as they ascend Palm House’s three floors, decorated with sleek photography of Palm Beach in the 60s, as seen through the iconic lens of celebrity photographer, Slim Aarons. Retro coral velvet headboards, lattice antique mirrors, and custom-woven wall sconces adorn each room.
Guests who wake up in the Terrace Rooms welcome sunrise above the pool, a turquoise arena of private patios and dining spaces all shaded in Palm House’s signature coral pink.
The Expansive Suites, with private balconies and an average square footage of 729 square feet, are framed with palm tree vistas. They are pampered with designer toiletries and feature a soaking tub and shower.
The Presidential Suite, the exclusive Holy Grail of rooms, sprawls to a whopping 2,000 square feet with two stories. The massive Alaskan King bed dominates the second-floor master bedroom and takes the title as the largest hotel bed in all of Palm Beach. Personal butler service and twin balconies above the pool are additional features, alongside its own first-floor kitchen and living room area.
The Palm House Dining Room is one of “the most coveted dining rooms in Palm Beach,” according to its website. It soon becomes clear why when guests enter the restaurant with its patterned walls, teal-green leather seating, and metallic pink accents. Chef Jerry Ayala serves a unique blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, luxuriously assembled in highlight dishes like the toro tartare with caviar, spring chicken shiro miso lemon, and the 28 oz dry-aged prime ribeye with fresh wasabi. With 88 seats and the al-fresco 36-seat terrace that spreads out onto the Sunset Pool Deck, guests can enjoy the Dining Room for a chic breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Speaking of the Sunset Pool Deck, this outdoor dining lounge delivers light bites and refreshing cocktails to sunbathers at the sunken, heated pool. Poolside service and devoted butlers turn a sunny swim day into a personalized oasis, with dining and hourly-updated drinks and activities among private cabana beds and plush cushioned loungers.
Nightlife at Palm House centers at the Palm Bar. Pink chandeliers of dazzling Murano glass dangle from a breathtaking vaulted ceiling. Beneath lights of faceted pink and plush coral accents, guests can enjoy specialty cocktails served by white-tuxedoed bartenders. Polished with pink marble, the bar is a stand-out piece of interior design and compliments a mosaic floor of matte and polished marble. Topped by an antique-mirrored ceiling, the Palm Bar is a glittering cove of reflective lights, opulent spirits, and a hub of quality relaxation.
Palm House’s versatile offerings extend beyond vacationers. Business events, conventions, and weddings find a home in the hotel’s 4,000 square feet of diverse space. A vast ballroom, atrium area, and pool-view outdoor garden terrace provide solutions for the various needs of any large function. Designed with Palm House’s signature pink Murano glass lighting and seaside-inspired coral hues, events also receive the tropic luxury treatment.
“Palm House represents an evolution in Palm Beach, raising the bar on luxury while maintaining a playful edge,” said Chris Jaycock, Palm House general manager.
Inviting and elegant, Palm House truly has something for everyone. It is also dog-friendly and features Palm Beach’s only underground parking garage. The hotel also features an expansive art collection by Minda Dowling, a London local who brings Stallman Studio canvas-on-edge wall sculptures for engaging, 3-D decor. The retro, limit-pushing art from the 60s also harkens back to Palm Beach’s glory days with Dean West’s famous “The Wrangler,” geometric art by DDE Art Editions, and Brad Walls’ synchronized swimmers photography.
Room rates start at $1,289 during the high season, and $499 in the off season.
For more information, visit palmhouse.com.
