The Breakers Palm Beach
Photo Courtesy of The Breakers Palm Beach
The Breakers Palm Beach is a legendary resort known for its timeless glamour, luxurious amenities and impeccable service. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star stunner is situated on 140 acres in Palm Beach, Florida, where the balmy tropical temps and refreshing ocean breeze make it an ideal year-round travel destination and family getaway.
Inspired by Renaissance-style Italian villas of the 1400s, The Palm Beach Inn, originally constructed in 1896 by Henry Morrison Flagler, was destroyed by a fire in 1903 and rebuilt in 1904 as The Breakers. It was taken by fire again in 1925, but it reopened December 29, 1926. Today, The Breakers boasts 538 guest rooms, including 68 suites (insider tip for fashionistas: ask for the Imperial Designer Suite by Badgley Mischka), all of which offer expansive ocean or resort views.
Flagler Club
As if The Breakers wasn’t already the crème de la crème, the resort recently opened Flagler Club, an ultra-luxurious, 25-room boutique-hotel-within-a-hotel. Come for an unparalleled VIP experience. The Club’s dedicated team of 19 attends to your every whim around the clock, from pre-arrival and itinerary planning, to recreational activities or any other special request.
Flagler Club Terrace, Photo Courtesy of The Breakers Palm Beach
Accommodations are stylishly designed in Palm Beach glamour and with top-of-line amenities (think PranaSleep adjustable bed, soft Frette linens, spa-like marble bathroom and stocked complimentary mini-fridge).
Chauffeured transportation and house car service in the Club’s Tesla is another fabulous perk. Catch the majestic sunset out on the panoramic terrace and, in the evening, gather for social hour at the indoor/outdoor Club Lounge, a space designed by Adam D. Tihany that exudes a warm, residential feel.
HMF
Named for The Breakers founder, HMF debuted in the fall of 2012 as a modern interpretation of a Palm Beach cocktail party. Tihany again was tapped to give the area its decorative life. HMF’s own music sets the scene of a lively soiree from yesteryear.
Also humming along is an extensive menu from executive chef Anthony Sicignano and HMF chef Joey Tuazon that features an innovative take on sharing plates inspired by global cuisines and a full spectrum of flavors. Try the orecchiette with Tuscan duck sausage and wild mushrooms, or the Hong Kong dumplings and Spanish mole with wood-roasted pepper.
The 40-page wine list is just as impressive with more than 1,800 varietals from around the globe, carefully curated by master sommelier Virginia Philip. (Oenophiles will love the striking stainless-steel and glass Wine Wall, a 3,000-bottle showcase of The Breakers’ 32,000-strong selection.) Reinvented old-school signature cocktails are worthy of your attention, too. Try the Railcar #91 (Courvoisier VSOP, lemon juice, local honey and orange foam) or the Chanel #6 (champagne, vodka, Chambord liqueur and pineapple juice).
The Spa at The Breakers Palm Beach
After a dramatic $8 million renovation, The Spa at The Breakers reopened at the end of 2015. Designed by internationally renowned spa designer Sylvia Sepielli, the new indoor/outdoor sanctuary pays homage to The Breakers’ Italian Renaissance-design roots while contrasting that with modern clean lines and a soothing canvas of elegant shades of white and artisan elements. The concept echoes a philosophy based on four elements: ocean, touch, botanicals and tradition.
The 17-treatment-room facility includes a private courtyard with white marble and lush tropical greenery; male, female and coed lounges; and a salon area for hair and nail services. All of that is in addition to quartz massage tables; a Libra Vichy shower for wet treatments; and a Spa Suite with steam shower, a chromatherapy tub and private garden terrace.
The spa menu is easy to navigate, categorized by the line of skin- and body-care products used: Tammy Fender (the signature facial is a must from the holistic brand), Erbe (the handcrafted Italian line’s aromatherapy massage is pure bliss) and OSEA (try the marine-based formulation’s body scrub and mask).
Ocean Fitness, Photo Courtesy of The Breakers Palm Beach
Shop for a cause at the spa’s premium boutique, where purchases are packaged in a custom-made Feed bag with proceeds going to hunger-relief organizations worldwide.
Ocean Fitness
Located above the resort’s Beach Club complex, the spectacular 6,000-square-foot, indoor/outdoor oceanfront center was designed to be The Breaker’s flagship workout facility for a total mind-body workout experience for everyone. Inside you’ll find state-of-the-art cardio and strength-training equipment, including functional workout systems, weekly rotating fitness classes and personal trainers and wellness coaches for one-on-one attention.
Ten-foot-tall windows give way to magnificent ocean vistas, and a 1,700-square-foot oceanfront terrace is the perfect spot for a calorie-burning treadmill session as you gaze out to the sea. The Ocean Fitness center is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. exclusively for hotel guests and club members.
Custom-blended wines
Come June, The Breakers’ wine director and master sommelier, Virginia Philip, and her team will head to France for their annual wine-blending journey, where they’ll custom-blend house wines exclusive to the resort. The property’s four house varietals include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon, and they are poured at all onsite restaurants and bars.
While the yearly program isn’t new per se (it began in 2003), each variation is re-blended annually, so there’s always something different to sip. (Fun fact: 40,000 wine bottles are opened each year here.)
