A long red-brick driveway passes through manicured gardens toward the imposing turn-of-the-century style-respite for the well-to-do. One cannot help but wonder what it was like 125 years ago here when the industrialist Henry Flagler built his homage to opulence, the Breakers Hotel. Today this grand dame of hotels continues as a modern mecca of elegance on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach, Florida.The oil and railroad tycoon Henry Flagler built the Breakers Hotel in 1896 and it is still privately owned and overseen by his descendants. In homage to his legacy, the family annually invests a minimum of $30 million to ensure that the hotel is never in disrepair and continues as one of the most revered hotels in the United States.
The property has 538 rooms on 140 acres of ocean-front property with two golf courses, a luxurious spa, and a half-mile private beach. It is America’s original ocean-front luxury hotel with an interior modeled after the Villa Medici in Rome. The ceilings in the main lobby and other areas were created 100 years ago by Italian artisans and are as breathtaking today as they were back then.
As magnificent as the Breakers is inside, guests from all over the world come for the experiences offered out of doors. The Beach Club is the Breakers private outdoor oasis with several pools: an adults-only pool, a lap pool, and a gradual-edge pool perfect for families with toddlers. Guests hang out all day in the pool-front cabanas, in the restaurants, and by the bar.
Beyond the pool is their amazing private beach, where couples frolic in the waves while others chill out on chaise lounges. At any time of the day, couples embrace and stroll up and down the half-mile beach as the waves crash against the hotel.
Accommodations vary in size from comfortably-sized rooms for two to palatial suites for families and groups. The Atlantic Suite is lavish, with a tropical, colonial style of light colors and fresh-patterned drapes. There is a generous-sized living room and the bedroom features an uber-comfy king size bed. The bathrooms are complete with separate bath and shower and high end toiletries and amenities. What makes this suite so exceptional is that there are three Juliette balconies and the beach is a stone’s throw away.
The Flagler Club is their 'hotel within a hotel' concept, which consists of 25 rooms on a private floor. There is an outdoor terrace overlooking Palm Beach, which is perfect for happy hour at sunset with hors d’oeuvres and a glass of Veuve Cliquot or one of their specialty cocktails.
The HMF is where a bar, lounge, and restaurant seamlessly merge into a handsome cocktail party. The cocktail waitresses are neatly dressed in little black dresses with coiffed hair and white pearls. They look as if they are going out for a night on the town themselves! Each was well versed on the menu's ingredients and could pivot to recommend one of the bars long list of signature drinks in an instant. The menu consists of a wide mix of haute bar dishes from around the world. They put significant emphasis on their libations, from signature cocktails to their 40 page wine list. In fact The Breakers has one largest wine collections in the region, with over 28,000 bottles in addition to their own vintage crafted in the top vineyards in France.
A must-do dining experience can be had at the Flagler Steakhouse. The restaurant is away from the hotel, and is frequented by as many locals as guests of the hotel. There is dining indoors in the stylish era décor or outside on the spacious wrap-around veranda. The scrumptious meal begins with delicious crab ravioli, followed by bone-in filet mignon and key lime pie.
The Spa at Breakers has been recognized as among the best in the region. When visiting, one must try the lava massage on a bed of warmed crystals. The warm quartz pebbles are molded against the body under a sheet. From there the therapist begins the deep massage into sore muscles using hot stones and oils. Ultimate relaxation sets in as the quartz bed vibrates and guests drift between consciousness and deep sleep. For the little ones there is the Family Center, complete with outdoor play set and an indoor game room.
For adults there’s plenty to do, including a full offering of water sports and two challenging 18-hole championship golf courses. Guests should also try the complimentary Palm Beach historical bike tour, as a small group of hotel guests go on a two-hour trek learning the history of the region.
At the Breakers, you’ll only find “the finer things and nothing else”. Why shouldn’t you? The hotel has had 120 years to perfect the guest experience. Some guests literally never want to leave and end up staying for several months to wait out the winter. They wait not only because of the marvelous hotel, however. The connection with the staff and other guests are surely part of what keeps them coming back. This high level of experience has kept aristocrats and the well-to-do coming here for generations.
