Of all the questions one would expect to be asked upon checking into a resort, “Would you like to use one of our BMWs?” is certainly one of the more rare. But at the White Elephant Palm Beach, the offer to cruise around the island in a sporty BMW 7 Series is just a small piece of its grand first impression.
The facade of this boutique hotel looks much different from the days of the Bradley Park Hotel that occupied the space prior to White Elephant opening in 2020. Whereas the former hotel had a very rigid Old Palm Beach quality to it, the White Elephant appears more as a secret garden, with lush vegetation crawling up the sides, black-and-white striped awnings, and bushes lining the gate along the resort’s pool and patio. It’s equal parts understated and elegant, revealing just enough that makes you anxious to walk inside to see more.
The first thing to notice when entering the lobby of White Elephant is how meticulous and intentional every element of the space feels—a quality that extends to its suites, too, but more on that later. Every detail, down to the placement of pillows on the chic furnishings and the arrangement of beach reads perfectly lining the lobby’s bookshelves, is deliberate and precise. The entire scene oozes opulence, but more importantly, comfort, like stepping inside your very own coastal mansion. No doubt, it’s this type of luxury and attention to detail that has landed the White Elephant Palm Beach at the top of many “best of” lists, including being ranked as the No. 1 resort in Florida by Travel + Leisure.
After handing over the keys to the valet, we were greeted warmly by the friendly staff who were quick to relieve us of our bags and take them to our room. For our visit we stayed in the top floor Palm Suite, which is easily the size of a small house with two bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a cozy living room perfect for a lazy afternoon indoors, and a large patio area that boasts a beautiful south-facing view of Palm Beach. Was this suite too big for two people? Sure. But that’s why the White Elephant is a home away from home, not a room away from home—and a visit to Palm Beach all but demands excess.
Like the rest of the hotel, the Palm Suite’s walls are lined with an eclectic mix of artworks. Our bag caretaker delighted in informing us that the ice cream and dessert paintings in the hallway of the fourth floor are “sweets” as in “suites.” Get it? The room itself looks plucked from a coastal daydream. The neutral color palette is soft on the eyes, and the sectional couch and plush bed with fine linens were soft on everything else—the latter of which earned a few extra pushes of the snooze button.
Though I’m not one to spend much time outside during Florida’s summer months, the highlight of every morning was brewing a double espresso with the room’s Nespresso machine and enjoying it on the patio. We particularly enjoyed the patio at night, when, downstairs, the onsite restaurant, LoLa 41, would start to buzz with activity and make for prime people-watching.
As mentioned, the Palm Suite could comfortably house more than just two. The seating on the patio alone— divided between chaise lounges, a table that seats eight, and a sectional couch—could easily accommodate a family gathering or inviting a few friends for watching Sunday football on the outdoor TV. Inside, there is a full kitchen complete with gas range, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher.
After we settled into the room, we went back down to the lobby with a mind to stop in a local bar before our reservations at LoLa 41. We told one of the front desk attendants what kind of vibe we were looking for and she couldn’t have made a better suggestion in recommending Honor Bar, a swanky local-favorite with dim lighting, dark wooden accents and a killer cocktail and appetizer menu. The staff at White Elephant clearly knows the island well, as this was the first of many recommendations we asked of them and I can honestly say they nailed every one of them.
As for amenities, the White Elephant has no shortage of ways to make the most of a visit to Palm Beach. Bicycles are available for rent at no cost, and the staff has excellent suggestions of routes to take. During our visit, we biked a trail along the waterfront, peering through the tall hedges at the Mediterranean-style villas tucked along the way. We also took advantage of the hotel’s beach service, which will give you a ride to the beach where umbrellas and chairs are already set up. Back indoors, pastries and coffee in the morning and wine and cheese in the afternoon are served daily in the lobby. Guests can also order meals, cocktails and wine and champagne bottles from LoLa 41 to their room.
I should note here that I didn’t actually take up the offer for one of the White Elephant’s most luxurious amenities—driving one of the hotel’s fleet of BMWs—but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have access to them. For those that want to enjoy the comforts of a luxury sedan without the responsibility, opt for having a member of the valet staff drop you off to your location. Our driver chauffeured us to a nearby bar, and just barely finished sharing all of the vehicle’s features by the time we reached our destination. In short, the car can do everything short of drive itself. Whether you want the seat to give you a lumbar massage or you want to watch a movie, the car can accommodate through a nifty control center on the door.
One of the stops I most looked forward to during our stay was a visit to the onsite restaurant, LoLa 41. Like the hotel itself, the restaurant is an extension of the flagship White Elephant location in Nantucket, and has garnered high praise for its cuisine inspired by locations along the 41st Parallel including Spain, Italy and Japan. And after sampling its dishes, I can say that praise is well-earned.
During our visit, we tried the spicy scallop roll packed with fresh scallops from Japan’s island of Hokkaido, a crisp and tender grilled octopus with a decadent mint gremolata, and the hangar steak, cooked to perfection and slathered with an herby and spicy piquillo chimichurri sauce and served with shrimp ceviche. For dessert, we took the recommendation of our server and tried the Basque cheesecake and were definitely not disappointed. While crustless, the cheesecake’s top was caramelized crème brûlée-style to give a nice bit of crispness to the rich Idiazabal cheese from Spain’s Basque region. All of the dishes we tried delivered, and a visit to LoLa 41 is definitely worth the trip even if you’re not staying at the hotel.
Palm Beach has no shortage of swanky resorts and hotels to stay for a visit, but few can boast the hospitality and incredible attention to detail of White Elephant. It may not be the largest, but the White Elephant definitely punches above its weight when it comes to delivering an unparalleled guest experience.
To learn more about White Elephant Palm Beach or to book a room, click here.
