While the French Riviera is known for its glitz and glamour, Palm Beach, Florida continues to represent American sophistication with its understated elegance, exclusivity, notable residents and old money. Along with Lilly Pulitzer and Mar-a-Lago, The Breakers Palm Beach is an iconic institution that has stood the test of time. Visitors to the majestic property will never forget the dramatic and impressive drive to the resort’s entrance as they pull up for the first time.
The Breakers has been a stately and elegant Palm Beach fixture since it debuted as the Palm Beach Inn in January of 1896. Founded by former Oil Tycoon turned resort developer and railroad king Henry Morrison Flagler, The Breakers we know today was designed by architectural firm Schultze and Weaver of Waldorf-Astoria fame and opened just after Christmas in 1926. Schultze and Weaver selected the Italian Renaissance for the resort’s architectural style and 72 artisans were brought from Italy to decoratively paint the grand ceilings of the lobby and first-floor public spaces. The facade of The Breakers was modeled after the Villa Medici of Rome while the Florentine Dining Room was inspired by the Palazzo Davanzati.
Today, tony guests are warmly greeted in the grand, 200-foot-long lobby that was recently refurbished by the designer Adam D. Tihany. The Breakers is constantly refreshing and maintaining its luxury standards thanks to its annual capital improvements budget of more than $30 million a year. The new lobby furniture consists of modern lounge chairs, tables of dark wood, brass, bronze and glass and a collection of sofas in bright shades of green and blue that compliment the stunning, floral carpet. The new, custom-designed, hand-tufted carpet is now the lobby centerpiece, displaying botanical motifs woven in one massive piece by 35 weavers on a loom. The masterpiece, produced by Sacco Carpet, measures 161-feet in length, is 25-feet wide and weighs a whopping 1,500 pounds. Mirroring a lush and colorful garden in full bloom, celebrated designer Adam Tihany states, “Through my years of working with The Breakers and observing guests coming and going around the property, one of the most memorable feelings is a distinct, almost contagious energy of celebration. I wanted to capture and complement that feeling within the first steps into the hotel.”
The amenities at The Breakers are endless. With 538 guest rooms and suites, including the 25-room, ultra-luxurious Flagler Club, four heated oceanfront pools, five whirlpool spas, 25 luxury poolside bungalows, a 6,000 square-foot indoor-outdoor fitness center, a Family Entertainment Center, ten lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, and 36 holes of championship golf, there is no shortage of activities for guests to experience while on property. Not surprisingly, The Breakers is always buzzing with exciting events thanks to 80,000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor event space in the form of elaborate ballrooms, elegant meeting rooms, manicured courtyards and a variety of beachfront and poolside areas. The property is massive yet one never feels crowded as it miraculously manages to have an exclusive feel with impeccable service at every turn.
If a quick drive to Worth Avenue doesn’t appeal to you, there are 11 upscale shopping boutiques at your disposal in addition to eight (soon to be nine) individual restaurants and bars. For casual fare, head to The Beach Club Restaurant or Ocean House to enjoy a peaceful poolside breakfast or al fresco lunch of tasty Cabo Fish Tacos or a Fresh Main Lobster Roll with perfectly seasoned Old Bay Fries. In between perfecting your tan or snorkeling, grab a cooling beverage of your choice from the always happening Surf Break: an open-air bar located between the two southernmost pools. The Paradise Rum Punch is a must with Parrot Bay Mango Rum, Malibu Rum, Pineapple Juice and Orange Juice.
The famous Sunday Brunch at The Breakers is an event unto itself. The elaborate affair takes place in the breathtaking The Circle restaurant and is enjoyed by guests and locals alike. You will find endless portions of lobster, stone crab claws, sushi and domestic caviar at the raw bar. Brunch staples such as Belgian Waffles and Eggs Benedict make an appearance as do made-to-order omelets, pastas, cheeses, carved beef tenderloin and more than 30 sinful desserts.
Before or after dinner, step back in time while you grab cocktails and small bites at HMF, The Breaker’s glamorous social club that is named after its founder and has an old world feel with contemporary touches. Dress to impress as you sit back and enjoy some of the finest people watching that Palm Beach has to offer in the exquisitely appointed Florentine Room. Try The Flagler Negroni of Campari, Vermouth, and Damrak Gin and you won’t be disappointed.
The Breakers dining options are second to none and provide something for everyone. For Sushi aficionados, there is the newly revamped Echo that also serves up Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean Dishes and seafood lovers will enjoy the aptly named Seafood Bar. Craving a juicy steak or succulent pasta? No worries. The Flagler Steakhouse and The Italian Restaurant has something that everyone will enjoy. The Breakers will be welcoming Henry’s Palm Beach, “a new standard in social dining” that will serve American fare in early 2020 at the soon-to-be-launched Via Flagler by The Breakers- “Palm Beach’s newest lifestyle destination for shopping, dining and relaxing. “
Speaking of relaxing, The Spa At the Breakers pampers guests in a peaceful setting that echoes the resort’s theme of seaside sophistication. Its elegant, contemporary design features minimalist lines and bespoke elements in tones of white in order to evoke peace and calm. After receiving your spa treatment, you are invited to relax in the private, co-ed outdoor courtyard that features soothing water in a reinterpreted classic Medici style environment. From December 1 to January 31 enjoy a holiday inspired Peppermint Pedicure for $80 and a Peppermint Hair Treatment add-on for $25. Usher in the New Year with a Champagne Wishes Massage for $195 that features an invigorating blend of Champagne infused oil that releases muscle tension and enhances circulation. Afterwards, enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly in the outdoor courtyard.
Feeling festive? The Breakers will have a Holiday Festival from December 22-January 4 that will feature plenty of family friendly activities for kids of all ages. The resort will be aglow with over 170,000 twinkling lights and decked with over-sized, trimmed trees and colorful decorations. In addition to Christmas Brunch, there will be festive activities such as Jingle Balls Bingo, a Holiday Block Party, Candy Cane Carnival, The Breakers Fantasy Ball, Winter Blast Carnival and Holly Jolly Karaoke. Reservations are currently being accepted to guaranteed that you have fun this holiday season.
