Since the 1940s, this pastel Palm Beach mansion has been the destination du jour for the upper echelons of American society. Attracting everything from senators to Silicon Valley CEOs, Belle Rice discovers the allure of The Colony Hotel ahead of the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show, which will take place from 19-23 March.
Palm Beach has long been a magnet for the wealthy and powerful through the colder months, but as the 47th president re-enters office, this southern Florida enclave is reclaiming its epigraph of the White House of the South (not unlike Truman’s Little White House in Key West). All eyes were on this 20-square-kilometre stretch of tied island in 2024 as the election swung into its final stretch, and it became very apparent that the paradise-like patch that is famously the winter destination du jour for the upper echelons of American society has now become a 21st-century hotspot for senators, socialites and Silicon Valley CEOs alike.
Its charm, of course, is that the island has somehow managed to hold on to its small-town, slightly sleepy magic, with its palm tree-lined avenues and pastel-painted homes. New boutiques and restaurants go through rigorous planning applications to ensure that the appeal of the place won’t be lost in a sea of showy shopping façades, and the 2021 completion of the superyacht marina that sits at the top of Worth Avenue was designed in keeping with the town’s meticulous standards.
Just a short stroll down Palm Beach’s famed shopping street lies the legendary Colony Hotel, a destination founded in 1947 that sits at the beating heart of the island. The establishment offers an intriguing gateway to age-old Palm Beach social circles that have previously proven near impossible to penetrate. Captured by celebrated photographers of both centuries Slim Aarons and Gray Malin, the aim of the pastel-hued hotel in many ways, says The Colony’s CEO and president Sarah Wetenhall, is to offer an introduction to the island and its people to newcomers who visit, acting as a home away from home.
On arrival, guests are welcomed not into a lobby but to The Living Room, decorated by Kemble Interiors with hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper that artistically tells the story of the hotel’s 78-year history. Complete with soft seating, warm lighting, live music every evening and the friendly faces of a team of valets, receptionists and hosts who remember you by name.
Bought by Wetenhall and her husband, Andrew, in 2016, the family-owned and operated hotel has returned to its roots, as Andrew’s father had been at the helm from the 1960s until he sold the property some 30 years later. The New York-based couple were delighted to buy the property back and took the opportunity to not only restore it to its former glory, but to redefine it as the heart and soul of the island.
The Living Room is not just a welcoming spot for guests to come and go but also plays host to a series of curated events each week. Talks and book signings take place, offering both visitors and locals a chance to mingle while hearing from fashion and interior designers, authors and artists. "It’s a way for guests to meet each other," Wetenhall says. Every inch the hostess, she says the evenings are "The Colony’s modern interpretation of the general managers cocktail party" – but without the slightly awkward formality that can often be found at other establishments.
It’s important here more than ever, as not only does the hotel offer rooms and suites – enchantingly decorated in alternating colour schemes of pinks, blues, greens and yellows, and furnished with decor that has proved so popular that guests can now buy it via the hotel’s website – but it also has a set of 14 residences. Found scattered within an easy walk from the main building, these are two- or three-bedroom villas, bungalows and penthouses, each designed in its own unique way by a household name, from Aerin Lauder and Gwyneth Paltrow to Carleton Varney (who did the interiors on presidential yacht USS Sequoia) and Serena & Lily.
These are chosen, Wetenhall explains, for "individuals within the design community who we feel are aligned with our brand, and who are aligned with Palm Beach – and so we invite them to put their stamp on Palm Beach style and design at The Colony."
Like the rest of the hotel, the residences have been designed to make each guest feel right at home. It’s an approach that’s clearly paying off – with long-term rentals available, most guests opt for at least a month to feel fully immersed into Palm Beach life. With a shared pool (and access to the main pool by the outdoor dining area too), privacy is key here and guests can come and go completely under the radar – with the added benefit of parking just next door, a much sought-after commodity on the island.
With the recent addition of the $40 million Town of Palm Beach Marina (where the 63.7-metre Scout and the 72.6-metre Quantum of Solace were spotted in neighbouring slips during our most recent visit), Wetenhall has found the hotel is a much-loved destination for yacht owners and their friends.
"We have that authentic experience," she explains. "We do see a lot of superyacht owners because we offer so much on one tiny property, and there’s the dynamic component of where the local community and the visitors mesh really well." Even those popping in for dinner or drinks will find themselves in good company at Swifty’s, the poolside restaurant and bar.
On Mondays you’ll find Trivia Night, a live music and quiz Q&A, with a little friendly competition running between packed-out tables while guests enjoy British-born executive chef Tom Whitaker’s take on classic Palm Beach cuisine. Voltz Clarke Gallery curates a space next to the ballroom with a rotating selection of artworks available to buy, should you want to update your saloon’s walls, while fitness gurus such as Tracy Anderson and Isaac Boots run workshops and classes throughout each winter season. Naturopathica also offers wellness treatments on site, rounding out everything you could ask for from this little piece of paradise by the sea.
The latest breaking news? The Wetenhalls have purchased The Hedges Inn in East Hampton, so guests can experience the same hospitality on the north-east coast. Speaking of the ocean, the hotel has also set up shop moments away on the beach with parasols, deck chairs and picnics at the ready for a day in the Palm Beach sunshine, whenever you’re ready.
First published in the March 2025 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.