East by Southeast: New Yorkers Bring a Taste of Home to Palm Beach

By Drew Limsky

A longtime favorite seasonal escape for the Park Avenue set, Palm Beach has recently become so popular with a young, hip crowd of Northeastern snowbirds and year-round exiles from the New York metro area that pundits have dubbed the town “the Hamptons of the South.” While locals are quick to dismiss the moniker, there’s no denying that the pandemic-spurred influx of East Coasters in the past few years has infused this once-quiet haven with vibrant new energy and sparked a multitude of exciting openings.

Among the most noteworthy are beloved Manhattan and Hamptons gastronomic fixtures like Almond, La Goulue, and Sant Ambroeus.

“When I’m working the dining room, it’s surprising to see how many people are from New York,” says Francis Lake, vice president of operations for El Camino restaurants, which includes an acclaimed eatery in West Palm Beach. New Yorkers seem to enjoy El Camino’s “energy, buzz, elevated food scene, and vibe” because it’s reminiscent of home—perhaps no surprise, considering the business was founded by former New Yorkers. Lake says he’s lost count of the number of Manhattanites he’s seen sitting at the bar and doing their work remotely in the quieter hours.

Palm Beach was always a shoppers’ paradise, but to meet the demands of well-heeled newcomers, increasing numbers of luxury retailers are opening at iconic shopping spots like Worth Avenue and The Royal Poinciana Plaza.

“Chic interior design stores such as the Hive Palm Beach and Mac Fabrics & Design Center have expanded and raised the bar on home decor, which has gone from affluent to couture,” says Enid Atwater, a communications agency owner and a fifth-generation Floridian whose family has been in Palm Beach since 1965. (Atwater’s great-grandfather Napoleon Bonaparte Broward was Florida’s governor from 1905 to 1909.)

The famous Colony Hotel is getting into the act with its own face-lift. In honor of its 75th birthday, the landmark affectionately known as the “Pink Paradise” recently unveiled a colorful redesign spearheaded by Kemble Interiors.

Not surprisingly, Palm Beach’s real estate market is heating up as a result of all the buzz, with new development springing up and brisk home sales. “New luxury-lifestyle condominiums reported sellout stats before the concrete was poured,” says Atwater.