Walk down South Ocean Boulevard today and you might walk right past the spot without even realizing it. Honestly, if you’re looking for a sign that says "The Omphoy," you’re about fifteen years too late.
But for a minute there, back in 2009, the Omphoy Hotel Palm Beach Florida was the only thing anyone in the luxury travel world wanted to talk about. It was the first new hotel to open on the island in nearly two decades. In a town known for Lilly Pulitzer pinks, heavy floral drapes, and a "grandmillennial" aesthetic that existed long before the term did, the Omphoy was a total shock to the system.
It didn't do the Palm Beach thing. It did the Zen thing.
The Rise and Fall of the Omphoy Concept
Most people don't realize that the building itself wasn't new. It was actually an old Hilton that had seen better days. When developer Leslie Schlesinger—who, along with her husband, owned the legendary Brazilian Court—took it over, she didn't just want a renovation. She wanted a revolution.
The vibe was "Indonesian chic." Think dark woods, koi ponds, and a massive water wall in the lobby that made you feel like you’d accidentally flown to Bali instead of West Palm. It was meant to be the "anti-Palm Beach." It was moody. It was dark. It was sophisticated in a way that felt more like a sleek New York lounge than a sunny Florida resort.
They even brought in celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein to run the kitchen. For a while, it worked. The "Omphoy" became the place where you went to escape the stuffy, old-world glamour of the Breakers or the Four Seasons.
But staying that cool is hard work.
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The hotel ran into some immediate friction. You’ve got to remember that Palm Beach is a small town with very big rules. In 2010, the town council basically told them they had to tear down a beach cabana because they hadn't asked for the right permission. There were rumors of financial strain almost from the jump. By 2011, less than two years after the grand opening, the "Zen" started to feel a bit more like "stress."
Enter Jeff Greene and the Great Rebrand
In 2011, billionaire real estate investor Jeff Greene stepped in. He bought the place for $42 million. At the time, that was a steal for nearly three acres of oceanfront property on one of the most expensive islands on the planet.
Greene is a local, and he had a different vision. He didn't want a dark, moody Asian retreat. He wanted something that actually looked like it belonged on the beach. Basically, he wanted to let the light back in.
From Omphoy to Tideline
In late 2014, the Omphoy officially died. It was rebranded as the Tideline Ocean Resort & Spa.
Greene initially partnered with Kimpton Hotels to manage the property. This was a smart move because Kimpton is the king of "boutique but accessible." They lightened the color palette to whites, beiges, and soft blues. They swapped the heavy, dark furniture for stuff that felt like a high-end Malibu beach house.
The transition wasn't exactly seamless, though.
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- The Kimpton Era (2014–2017): Kimpton brought in their signature "wine hour" and yoga mats in every room. It felt like a modern hotel again.
- The Management Shuffle: In 2017, Greene and Kimpton had an "amicable" split. Greene’s team took over management briefly before eventually handing the keys to Dream Hotel Group in 2018.
- The $20 Million Facelift: Most recently, the property underwent a massive renovation to scrub away the last lingering bits of the Omphoy’s "city feel" in favor of "oceanfront luxury."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Property
If you look at old reviews of the Omphoy Hotel Palm Beach Florida, you’ll see people complaining about the "small pool" or the "dark rooms."
Here’s the reality: the footprint of the building hasn't changed. If you go there today—now known as the Tideline Palm Beach Ocean Resort and Spa—you are still dealing with a boutique-sized property. It’s not a sprawling mega-resort. It’s 134 rooms.
The pool is still relatively small compared to the neighbors, but that’s actually the appeal. It’s intimate. People often think the hotel was "abandoned" like the infamous Palm House project down the street (which sat as a shell for nearly 17 years before finally reopening). That’s a total myth. The Omphoy never sat empty; it just went through a massive identity crisis.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
As of early 2025, there have been reports that Jeff Greene might finally be ready to part with the property. Bloomberg recently noted that he’s exploring a sale that could value the hotel at over $150 million.
That tells you everything you need to know about the location.
Even if the "Omphoy" brand failed to capture the long-term imagination of Palm Beach, the real estate itself is gold. Being "unencumbered by brand"—meaning a new owner can come in and call it whatever they want—makes it one of the hottest commodities in Florida right now.
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Current State of Play
If you book a stay at 2842 South Ocean Boulevard today, don't expect Buddha statues. You’re going to find:
- Brandon's: The signature restaurant that survived the transition (though it's been updated a dozen times).
- A World-Class Spa: The Tideline Spa is actually one of the better ones on the island, focusing heavily on ocean-inspired treatments.
- The View: This is the one thing that never changed. Every room has a view, either of the Atlantic or the Intracoastal.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
If you’re planning to visit the former Omphoy site, or if you’re a history buff looking to see what’s left of the original design, keep these things in mind.
First, don't look for the Omphoy on Google Maps. You won't find it. Search for "Tideline Palm Beach." It’s the same address.
Second, understand the "boutique" trade-off. If you want 15 restaurants and a water park, go to the Breakers. You come here if you want to walk from your room to the sand in about 45 seconds without seeing 500 other people.
Third, check the ownership news. If the hotel sells in 2026, expect another round of renovations. This property seems to reinvent itself every decade like clockwork.
The Omphoy was a bold experiment. It tried to tell Palm Beach that it didn't have to be "old money" all the time. While the name didn't stick, the spirit of "modern luxury" it introduced paved the way for the current crop of trendy hotels on the island. It wasn't a failure; it was just ahead of its time.
To see the transformation for yourself, look for current photos of the Tideline's lobby and compare them to the 2009 "Zen" launch photos; the difference in lighting alone tells the entire story of Palm Beach's evolution.