The Breakers is a Palm Beach institution, first opened in 1896 by railway tycoon Henry Morrison Flagler. Over the years it’s been a home away from home for the who’s who and well-to-do. But now, it’s also the home of an exclusive boutique hotel within a resort: the Flagler Club. Guests at the 25-room club have private hotel access, complimentary airport pick up and 19 dedicated staff.
The service, unsurprisingly, is impeccable, making the Flagler Club perfect for the traveller who wants personalized attention in this busy, storied property.
LOCATION, LOCATION
Palm Beach is all about the low-key, but très chic vacation – note the area’s pristine manicured golf courses, elegant estates and availability of lengthy lunch reservations at see-and-be-seen restaurants along the Worth Avenue strip. Here, shopping is as much of a sport as polo, in nearby Wellington. But with private beach access, four pools and an 18-hole golf course on-site, the hotel is a destination unto itself. That the resort is only a 10-minute drive from the buzz of Worth Avenue is a bonus. Ensure you use the Club’s car service, which isn’t just a car, it’s a Tesla. It’s bookable for any destination within a 10-kilometre radius of the hotel.
DESIGN
While the Breakers resort is a spectacle, with much of its interior taking inspiration from Rome’s Villa Medici (think soaring lobby ceiling complete with arches and murals) the Flagler Club is the opposite. Emerging from the private elevator on to the quiet Club floor – awash in neutral, calming colours, sleek lines and offering a hushed, intimate atmosphere – is a welcome respite from splashy Palm Beach.
BEST AMENITY
The spa, which reopened in January after an $8-million (U.S.) renovation, is a must visit. With a private courtyard and three private lounges, it’s an escape in the heart of the hotel. Try a massage on the heated quartz-sand bed for total blissed-out relaxation.
WHOM YOU’LL MEET
The vast majority of guests are Americans, mostly from the northeast. The Flagler Club’s price point attracts an older clientele (50-plus) who are quiet and keep to themselves, but explore the property grounds and you’ll run into families with kids of all ages in tow.
EAT IN OR EAT OUT?
The Breakers has 10 restaurants, but if you can only eat at one, make it HMF. Named for the hotel’s founder, it is a scene here, especially on weekends, when the swank cocktail bar is a destination for locals, tourists and hotel guests. The restaurant doesn’t take advance reservations, but tables seem to turn over with regularity, so a wait won’t be too long. The menu is filled with small-plate options inspired by Asia, the Mediterranean and local ingredients (think: duck bao buns, Greek-spiced lamb sliders and chopped salad).
The wine list is extensive – it’s 40 pages long and the restaurant’s Wine Wall shows off 3,000 of the hotel’s 28,000 bottles – but the cocktail list is nothing to sneeze at. Opt for the cheeky but delicious Floozy, comprised of tequila, fresh ginger, cucumber, jalapeno and lime.
IF I COULD CHANGE ONE THING
Designed for an older, kid-free crowd, guest rooms have comfy (and adjustable!) king-size beds, but that piece of furniture eats up much of the floor space. With rooms at 300 to 400 square feet (suites are 550 square feet) it’s surprising – considering the rest of Flagler’s pomp – that the room size is so, well, average.
The Flagler Club at The Breakers, 1 South County Rd., Palm Beach, Fla., thebreakers.com/flaglerclub, 25 rooms from $1,400 (U.S.) a night in low season.
The writer was a guest of the hotel.