GETAWAYS • Palm Beach
The Backstory: When New Yorkers Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall bought The Colony in Palm Beach in 2016, they ushered in a new era for the historic “pink paradise.” Standing at the foot of Worth Avenue a block from the beach since 1947, the pink stucco dollhouse-like colonial facade remains much the same. Inside, though, previously bold, wild, color-saturated interiors were swapped out in favor of a more refined take on Palm Beach maximalism. Now, walls are covered in a riot of pastel, floral, and jungle prints with monkeys hiding in foliage, an ode to Johnnie Brown, the beloved spider monkey of Palm Beach pioneer Addison Mizner.
The Stay: 93 rooms — including multi-bedroom residential-like villas, bungalows, and penthouses available for long-term stays — are decorated in a variety of design schemes. Some are pale blue with white tassel detailing, others have geometric flower-like prints in pale lime green with floral headboards, while still others are baby pink with scalloped rattan headboards. Turndown service includes Ladurée macaron-like chocolates, a nice, perfectly on-brand touch.
I particularly enjoy the element of fantasy at the Colony with its implicit invitation to embrace the whimsy and don your wildest Lilly Pulitzer-inspired frock. For the luxury brand-loving set, the hotel is home to a Dolce & Gabbana boutique edited especially for The Colony, as well as a sundries shop selling Colony merchandise and other essentials. Meanwhile, the hotel staff is outfitted in flowy, floral Zimmermann dresses, classic Stan Smith Adidas, and custom Colony x Smathers & Branson belts.
The Key: Once a fixture of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, indoor-outdoor all-day restaurant Swifty’s wraps around the property’s kitschy Florida-shaped swimming pool. Hosting everything from a speaker series to poolside DJs and live music on weekends, it’s become a favorite of the Palm Beach social set once again. It’s an especially fun scene during Sunday bingo when a juicy burger and Champagne pairs perfectly with colorful daubers and the crowd doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Why It’s FOUND: The Colony’s contemporary updates invigorated the historic property with a more youthful, fashionable appeal, drawing a fresh crowd of locals and visitors as eclectic as the hotel itself. Bring on the Season. –Shayne Benowitz
→ The Colony (Palm Beach) • 155 Hammon Ave • Rates from $1299, mid-Nov.