The White Elephant hotel has long been a favorite of Nantucket visitors, so when a sister location opened in Palm Beach in 2020, we just had to check it out. Last March, we escaped the Connecticut cold and visited the resort during the height of the social and design season to take advantage of all Palm Beach and the White Elephant resort had to offer.
The Spanish-Mediterranean architecture of the hotel signals you have arrived in Florida’s Gold Coast! Built in 1924, the white stucco façade, terracotta roof tiles and classic black-and white striped awnings are in keeping with the barrier island’s vernacular. The interior, reimagined by Boston-based firm Elkus Manfredi, tells a different story with a cool, contemporary vibe. Forgoing conventional green and pink, the hotel’s decor is soothing, in a subdued and sophisticated palette of soft neutrals with splashes of colorful artwork.
Whimsical nods to the brand’s name are seen in the guest rooms’ brass elephant door knockers and the luxurious bed linens adorned with embroidered pachyderms. You’d be hard-pressed not to notice the seven-foot rocking white elephant statue by Santa Fe–based artist Fredrick Prescott greeting guests at the entrance to the hotel. The statue is one of 120 original pieces of modern art personally curated by the owners and the Elkus Manfredi team. On display in the lobby, common areas and guest rooms, the museum-worthy collection includes Robert Rauschenberg, Jennifer Bartlett, Kenzo Okada and Donald Baechler. Tel Aviv artist Orit Fuchs was commissioned to create a pop-art piece—The Lady of the House—that serves as a focal point in the lobby. Doodle Boy—a 14-year-old British artist—created 30 exclusive pieces for the guest rooms, and, if you look closely, you’ll notice each drawing includes a hidden elephant.
The boutique size of the hotel, with just 32 keys, makes it feel less like a hotel and more like a posh residence. The 13 deluxe rooms and 19 suites are tastefully decorated with luxurious bathrooms stocked with L’Occitane beauty products. Two rooftop suites, the Palm and Park, are outfitted with kitchens and outdoor lounge and dining spaces.
At the White Elephant, you will be greeted by name and the staff is quick to help you with any requests. We took advantage of the many hotel amenities, taking a spin on the Priority bikes along the Intracoastal Waterway path and soaking in the sun and surf of the nearby Atlantic Ocean. There’s no need to lug gear down to the beach; the hotel will handle the beach set-up of chairs, umbrellas, towels and a packed cooler. If you are not a beach lover, the courtyard pool awaits—the perfect spot for a refreshing dip and poolside cocktail.
With so much to see and do in the area, it was hard to decide what to explore first. We checked out the local restaurants within steps of the hotel and did our share of shopping along Worth Avenue. While we were in town, we visited the Kips Bay Decorator Show House (this year’s show house runs from February 22 through March 16) and the Design Social Pop-up at the Norton Museum. We returned to the museum another day to take in the extensive collection of 20th Century American art and the sculpture gardens. Fortunately, the hotel provides courtesy BMW car service to help you get to all the hot spots (and there are many) around town.
Topping off our busy days, we enjoyed dinner at the hotel’s Lola 41 restaurant, another carryover from Nantucket. The bar area was buzzing and it was lovely to dine al fresco sampling Lola 41’s globally-influenced dishes and signature cocktails.
Like the elephant, we will never forget our stay in Palm Beach. Although we hated to leave the sunshine state and the comforts of the White Elephant hotel, we will definitely be back again!