One of the greatest inventions for relaxation is the staycation—getting away from it all without actually having to, you know, get away.
Such was the case with a recent weekend at Hilton West Palm Beach, just 30 minutes north of Boca and a straight shot up I-95.
After dropping off our bags in our suite, my husband and I headed straight to the pool to enjoy an afternoon in a cabana. A server took our drink orders and presented us with a fruit platter, and we rotated between swimming and sunbathing. It’s at this pool you forget you’re right in the middle of downtown West Palm Beach, with its lush greenery and the hotel itself creating an oasis. The pool was buzzing but not packed, reminding us that this is the season for locals.
The Hilton West Palm Beach has been around for almost a decade, but it recently got people talking with the opening of Moody Tongue Sushi, a sushi concept from Chicago. The restaurant teamed up with Michelin-star brewmaster Jared Rouben to create a 15-course omakase meal, pairing each one with a specially selected beer. Our digital editor had raved about his experience while dining there in February, and in April the restaurant received a Michelin recommendation.
The restaurant is unexpected, located behind the doors of a conference room in the lobby. It’s been transformed into a full-blown restaurant, fit with moody (pun intended) lighting, soothing R&B music, and cozy seating at a bar surrounding the sushi chefs at work. Following Japanese dining tradition, we ate our sushi and sashimi from right to left and followed the instructions for when to sip on the beer that aligned with the pieces. It was a unique experience I’d recommend for a special occasion.
We took advantage of other dining options, too, such a cocktail at Palma in the lobby prior to dinner at Galley, an indoor-outdoor restaurant that spilled out onto the pool deck’s lush scenery. Some of our favorite dishes included the carbonara pizza, octopus and the impressive tomahawk steak. The server smoked the rosemary and garlic bulbs at the table, creating a delicious aroma before we bit into the dish.
In the mornings, the hotel hosts yoga and sculpt classes on a lawn adjacent to the swimming pool. I was invited to join, but being in vacation mode, I opted to sleep in a little longer in our plush king bed before having breakfast at Mezze. Plus, we put in some steps by walking across the street to CityPlace for a little shopping and people watching—the 32-foot-tall LED Wishing Tree is a photo-worthy moment, and it was fun to watch families run through the splash pad.
Another off-property excursion was exploring Worth Avenue. No need to call valet, because the hotel’s dedicated Circuit shuttle arrived on demand and dropped us off along the iconic shopping area. Jack and I explored the vias, peeked inside Churchill Cigar Company, admired the architecture, and walked to the Clock Tower on the beach. We texted the shuttle again to eat lunch at the historic Green’s Pharmacy counter, then returned to our home away from home.
After two nights at the Hilton West Palm Beach, it was time to head to our real home—and the weekend was a good reminder that you don’t have to go far to get away from your everyday grind.
The Hilton West Palm Beach, 600 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561/231-6000; hilton.com
