If age is just a number, then 70 years old has never looked so young at the historic hotel, The Colony.
The iconic pink-hued hotel situated off swanky Worth Avenue in Palm Beach continues to celebrate its 70th birthday—and with new owners, Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall, a new executive chef, and ongoing renovations, locals can expect a fresh new attitude on property. With hopes of enticing the younger generation of Palm Beachers while holding on to the hotel’s authentic past, The Colony is revamping its hotel programming and dining, including a new Sunday brunch at Polo led by Executive Chef Andreas Edlbauer.
First, the scene: While you can eat indoors at Polo, retreat to the patio where you’ll feel as if you’re in someone’s welcoming and well-manicured backyard, and dine al fresco by the hotel’s pool. (Cool fact: the pool is shaped like the state of Florida). On Sundays, the inviting blue water is sprinkled with millennial-pink flamingo floats and drink holders, while lively tunes from a saxophonist or a DJ float through the air.
When it comes to the new brunch menu, the new chef is taking a more modern approach to dishes, while keeping staple items that locals have come to love. For something that’s almost too pretty to eat (and will leave your Instagram followers drooling), share The Colony cinnamon bun, an indulgent treat which has the consistency of a cinnamon bun and a baklava, and is stuffed with raisins and pecans then crowned with icing, dried raspberries and glittery flakes of gold. Other favorites are the grilled cheese avocado toast, a creative spin on the popular avocado toast with gruyere, cheddar and Boursin; cornmeal and jalapeño waffles grandly topped with crispy buttermilk fried chicken; a hearty Wagyu burger with a sunny-side-up egg that serves as a weekend hangover cure; an egg Benedict of the week with fillings such as lobster; and for the healthy-set, an açaí-and-pomegranate bowl with granola.
The hotel’s brunch also wins “best in glass” with bottomless rosé, mimosas and Bloody Marys for just $25; and if you go the “rosé-all-day” route, waiters roam around refilling glasses from double magnums of rosé from Provence with a peachy-pink color that seems to match the hotel’s color scheme. The brunch flows from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and when you’re done brunching, escape to the lawn for games like corn hole, bowling and Jenga—or simply grab a spot on one of the green and white loungers by the pool with a glass in hand.
Art lovers will want to peruse the new art space called “The Gallery” in partnership with Voltz Clarke Gallery, where you’ll get a view inside Palm Beach’s social life with Landon Nordeman’s snaps aptly named “High Season.” Nordeman stayed at the hotel as the resident photographer in January, and later took more photos of the well-heeled crowd during the polo matches in Wellington. With its close proximity to blissful Midtown Beach and the luxury shopping of Worth Avenue, The Colony is the perfect base for a never-ending Sunday Funday.
Anyone feeling “forever young,” yet?
The Colony, 155 Hammon Ave., Palm Beach; 561/655-5430.; thecolonypalmbeach.com
