The beautiful courtyard of The Brazilian Court Hotel at twilight. (Courtesy Photo: The Brazilian Court Hotel)

Palm Beach - One would not be off the mark if one were to say that if the Hamptons were to have a sister community it would be Palm Beach, Florida. In fact, many of our summer residents return to their winter homes in Palm Beach at the season's end and it is not uncommon to see many luxury cars with Palm Beach license plates parked on Main Street in Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, Water Mill and East Hampton.

Of the many luxurious hotels and residences that define the affluence and bespoke style that is pure Palm Beach, The Brazilian Court Hotel & Beach Club is among the toniest. Designed by Sicilian architect Rosario Candella, the hotel opened in 1926 during the height of the Palm Beach classic era of the 1920s. Candella was familiar to the rich and famous on the New York Social Register as well, responsible for many of the pre-war residences on Park Avenue. Yes, if F. Scott Fitzgerald had set the "The Great Gatsby" in Palm Beach, one might imagine that Gatsby and Daisy would have arranged a rendezvous at The Brazilian Court Hotel.

A recent renovation at the already stunning hotel upgraded the guest rooms, featuring upscale amenities such as fine linens and toiletries, pillow-top mattresses and jetted tubs. The Brazilian Court offers 80 beautifully renovated studios, one, two and three bedroom suites. Each suite at Brazilian Court offers its own unique and irresistible charm, designed with luxurious fabrics, Provincial colorations, and mahogany millwork. Many of the suites have terraces and patios. Understandably, The Brazilian Court Hotel is one of the most sought after wedding venues in Florida.


Of course, one wants to maintain their swimsuit shape throughout the winter and The Brazilian Court Hotel offers a state-of-the-art fitness center. Guests seeking an exquisite pampering will find it in the Frédéric Fekkai Salon and Spa. The world renowned celebrity stylist added The Brazilian Court Hotel to his stable of New York, Beverly Hills, Greenwich, Dallas and St. Barth's salons in 2004. The 1,600 square foot salon offers guests a full-service beauty retreat including 10 stations and two treatment rooms. Salon and spa services include haircut and styling, coloring, manicure, pedicure, make-up application, massage, waxing, select spa treatments and select poolside and in-room beauty services.

Fresh flowers are among the first class amenities and decor at The Brazilian Court Hotel and Beach Club. (Courtesy Photo: The Brazilian Court Hotel)

Although there are many first class restaurants in Palm Beach, one need not leave the oasis that is The Brazilian Court Hotel to satiate even the most discriminating palette. World renowned, award winning chef Daniel Boulud chose the hotel as his first location outside of Manhattan, creating a warm, beautifully decorated ambience that is casually elegant. Café Boulud, opened in 2003, offers a French inspired menu that is as eclectic as it is breathtakingly delicious. Chef Boulud's menu reflects his four culinary muses. "La Tradition" highlights classic French dishes, while "La Saison" features courses in harmony with the season. "Le Potager" offers the bounty of the vegetable garden and "Le Voyage" is Daniel Boulud's interpretation of various world cuisines. On premise Executive Chef Jim Leiken is a seasoned veteran of Boulud's New York restaurants, having spend years training with the master. The wine list is superb, receiving the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.

Close to fashionable Worth Avenue, the hotel is located on a quiet and serene, tree lined residential street. This should not concern Hamptonites seeking oceanfront accommodations, as the hotel has recently added The Brazilian Court Beach Club. Located less than five minutes from the main hotel, the beach club is a golden sand paradise on the Atlantic Ocean that offers the hotel's world class cuisine and cocktails, spa services, locker rooms and saunas, and chauffeured car service to and from the hotel.


The Brazilian Court Hotel is pet friendly (accepting dogs 20 pounds and under) and offers complimentary wireless internet that can be connected to literally anywhere on the grounds of the hotel, from the beautiful poolscape to the guest rooms and lobbies. The hotel also offers private meeting, dining and banquet facilities. For those Hamptonites looking for courts and links, there are dozens of tennis facilities and golf courses within minutes from the hotel.

Palm Beach, like the Hamptons, is rich in culture and art with The Brazilian Court Art Gallery reflecting the city's passion featuring rotating exhibits by noted local and national artists and guests have access to the hotel's Library Loggia. Part-time Palm Beach resident Parker Ladd, former host of A & E's "Open Book," serves as the moderator/interviewer at his Eight Annual Authors Breakfast at The Brazilian Court, with two events a month from January through April. Authors in attendance this year will include Martha Stewart, Nelson DeMille and Erica Jong, to name but a few.


Any short vacation stay at The Brazilian Court Hotel and Beach Club will have guests wishing for a longer visit. To that end the hotel offers a variety of condominium ownership options. Condo ownership at The Brazilian Court Palm Beach allows owners the option of living in their unit or placing it into the hotel rental program. Also of note, The Brazilian Court Hotel Condominium Suites donates a portion of the proceeds made from each condominium sale to benefit the Evelyn Lauder Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Among the numerous awards the hotel has received, the four star Brazilian Court Hotel and Beach Club was included in Conde Nast Traveler: Gold List 2010, Travel + Leisure Magazine's World's Best Hotels 2010 (ranked #1 in South Florida and #3 in the state) and this year was ranked #1 in South Florida with the 2011 America's Best Beach Hotel Award by the magazine.

So this year as the Hamptons' summer season comes to close, those of you considering a visit to Palm Beach should have The Brazilian Court Hotel and Beach Club logged in on your GPS. Undoubtedly, you will not be the only Hamptonites in town.