Whether you’re eyeing Palm Beach for a vacation or as a homebuyer, you’ve undoubtedly heard of The Breakers. Standing along pristine sands since 1896, the prestigious and elite resort is cemented as one of the area’s, and the country’s, finest hotels.
Even the most pristine jewels need maintaining and polishing, however, and the 140-acre property has embarked on a number of renovations and expansions in recent years. Substantial endeavors, such as creating workforce housing for employees and restoring the Mediterranean Courtyard, are still underway but one major project is now officially off their to-do list. The resort’s beloved Beach Club has been beautifully redone in a $15 million renovation by Tihany Design.
For 14 years, Tihany Design has been a pivotal partner for The Breakers as it seeks to revitalize its spaces. In fact, the New York-based design atelier, lead by Alessia Genova, has been trusted to conceptualize all interior renovations except for the spa. Anyone who walks into the lobby, stays in the divine rooms and suites, dines at The Flagler Steakhouse, or gathers in the Golf and Tennis club (still in-progress) is treated to Tihany Design’s vision.
When Genova started work on the Beach Club, it was the only remaining venue that had not been updated for this new era. With a deep understanding of the resort and its patrons, the designer set out to create an atmosphere that would serve an all-day crowd, appeal for glamorous oceanfront evenings, and have its own clear identity on the property.
As the restaurant’s menu was being built around Italian dishes and seafood, a tribute to the Italian Riviera came effortlessly. Genova wanted the Beach Club to be a dialogue between these two legendary coastal locales, channeling the slow ease of the Mediterranean with the elegance of Palm Beach.
Genova reflects, “We kept returning to the feeling of the Riviera itself: The way afternoon light sits on whitewashed stone, the unhurried rhythm of a meal at a piazza table, the sense that nothing needs to be rushed. But, we never wanted to import that feeling wholesale. Palm Beach has its own architectural confidence, its own relationship to the Atlantic, and the design had to honor that as much as it honored Italy.”
Elements that showcase this coastal conversation include the handcrafted tile fountain, romantic art mural, custom modular chandeliers, and graphic marble flooring. Genova also leaned into materials like travertine, terracotta, warm wood, and brass to build warmth and character while keeping the color palette refreshing with creamy whites and oceanic blues.
A wine room nods to Italy’s vibrant vineyard heritage while two back-to-back bars serving the loggia and the main dining space encourage an easy indoor-outdoor flow. Those who truly want to embrace the poolside setting may be drawn most to the enchanting, European-inspired terrace where you can enjoy spritzes under scalloped umbrellas and take Instagram-worthy photos with checkered flooring underfoot. Cypress, olive, and citrus trees also surround you out here, bringing to mind blissful moments in Capri.
Genova made renewing the space look easy, but bestowing this important resort venue with the refinement and comfortability it required was no small feat. The designer shared, “[The Breakers] wanted the day to have a real arc: An elegant breakfast, a long lunch, and then a true destination for dinner, all in the same room. The real design challenge was making that room feel casual enough for a guest walking up from the sand at 9am, and chic enough for dinner at 7pm, without it ever feeling like two different restaurants pretending to be one.”
Now, with this paramount goal achieved, The Breakers’ Beach Club has been reborn.
