If you drive down Hammon Avenue and see that specific shade of "Colony Pink," you just know. It isn’t just a hotel. It’s a mood. The Colony Palm Beach has been sitting there since 1947, acting as the unofficial living room for a crowd that finds the Breakers a bit too formal and the rest of Florida a bit too loud. It’s old school. But somehow, it’s also the most Instagrammed spot on the island.
People think Palm Beach is all about stuffy blazers and quiet whispers. They’re wrong.
Actually, it’s about a certain kind of effortless chaos. The kind where a socialite in a vintage Pucci caftan is having a dirty martini at 11:00 AM while a tech founder in a t-shirt tries to take a Zoom call near the pool. It’s weird. It’s colorful. And for some reason, it works.
Forget What You Know About Florida Luxury
Most luxury hotels feel like they were designed by a committee of people who hate fun. Beige carpets. White marble. Silence. The Colony Palm Beach is the opposite of that. When Sarah Wetenhall took over the reigns—her family bought the place back in 2016—she didn’t just "refresh" it. She leaned into the eccentricities that made the place famous when the Duke and Duchess of Windsor used to hang out here.
There is a specific smell when you walk in. It’s a mix of sea salt, expensive candles, and history.
The lobby, or the "Living Room" as they call it, is a masterclass in Florida Kitsch. You’ve got the custom de Gournay wallpaper. It’s hand-painted. Look closely and you’ll see the hotel’s mascot, Johnnie Brown—the famous spider monkey that belonged to architect Addison Mizner—hidden in the tropical foliage. It’s details like this that keep the place from feeling like a museum.
It feels alive.
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The Design Shift No One Expected
For a long time, the hotel was... tired. Let’s be honest. In the early 2000s, it was leaning a bit too hard into the "grandparent’s guest room" vibe. That changed with the 75th-anniversary renovation.
They brought in Kemble Interiors. Celerie Kemble is a local legend, and she basically stripped the place back to its soul. They didn't just paint the walls; they reimagined what a "Palm Beach Pink" should be. It’s softer now. More sophisticated.
The rooms aren't massive. If you’re looking for a sprawling 2,000-square-foot suite with a home theater, go somewhere else. These rooms are intimate. They have wicker, high-end linens, and views of the Atlantic or the Worth Avenue rooftops. It’s about the scale. It feels like staying in a very wealthy friend’s mansion rather than a commercial property.
Why the Swifty Pool is the Heart of the Island
The pool area is shaped like Florida. Yes, literally.
It’s called the Swifty pool, named after a legendary local character, and it’s where the real action happens. This isn't a "peace and quiet" pool. It’s a "who is that talking to the mayor?" pool. The pink and white striped umbrellas are iconic. You see them on every travel blog for a reason.
The service here is kind of legendary too. They have these beach buggies—customized pink carts—that will take you the one block over to the ocean. They’ll set up your chairs, give you towels, and leave you alone. It’s the ultimate flex in a town where parking is a nightmare.
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Swifty’s and the Art of the Power Lunch
Eating at The Colony Palm Beach is a spectator sport. Swifty’s, which was originally a Manhattan institution before it migrated south, is the main draw.
The food? It’s classic.
Don't come here looking for "molecular gastronomy" or foam.
You come for the Crab Cakes.
You come for the Meatloaf (seriously, it’s famous).
You come for the Cobb Salad.
The tables are close together. You will overhear things. Business deals, gossip about who’s selling their estate on South Ocean Boulevard, and debates over which charity gala is worth attending. Robert Caravaggi, the man behind Swifty’s, is often there greeting people by name. It’s that "Cheers" vibe, if everyone in "Cheers" owned a yacht.
The Johnnie Brown Factor
We have to talk about the monkey. Johnnie Brown wasn't a marketing gimmick created by a PR firm in 2022. He was a real spider monkey in the 1920s. He used to sit on Addison Mizner’s shoulder.
He’s buried in a tiny grave in a courtyard nearby, but his spirit is everywhere in the hotel. He’s on the wallpaper, the cocktail napkins, and the embroidered pillows. It represents the "Old Palm Beach" quirkiness that people are desperate to preserve.
In a world of sanitized, corporate hospitality, a hotel that obsesses over a long-dead monkey is refreshing. It’s authentic.
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Living the Pink Life: What It Actually Costs
Let’s be real. It’s expensive.
During "The Season" (January through March), room rates can skyrocket. You’re paying for the location—seconds away from the shops on Worth Avenue—and the access. But there is a way to do it without spending your entire inheritance.
- The Off-Season Pivot: May and October are actually great. It’s hot, sure, but the hotel is quieter, and the rates are slashed.
- The Living Room Pass: You don’t have to stay there to grab a drink. Anyone can walk into the Living Room or grab a coffee at the pink poolside window.
- The Penthouse Dream: If you do have the money, the villas are the way to go. They were designed by brands like Aerin Lauder and Serena & Lily. They have full kitchens and private entrances.
Why It Matters in 2026
The travel world is shifting. People are tired of "luxury" that feels cold and anonymous. They want places with a point of view. The Colony Palm Beach has a very loud, very pink point of view.
It survived the pandemic. It survived the changing of the guard in Palm Beach. It’s currently thriving because it knows exactly what it is. It isn't trying to be a Miami beach club with thumping bass. It isn't trying to be a corporate Hilton.
It’s a candy-colored sanctuary for people who still believe in the glamour of the mid-century.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're planning a trip, don't just wing it. Palm Beach is a small island with very specific rules.
- Book Swifty’s for dinner well in advance. Especially on Thursday nights when they often have live music or "Trivia Night" (which is way more intense than you’d think).
- Dress the part. You don't need a tuxedo, but "Palm Beach Chic" is real. Think bright colors, linens, and no cargo shorts. Ever.
- Walk the Lake Trail. It’s just a few blocks from the hotel. You can rent bikes at the front desk. It’s the best way to see the backyards of the most expensive homes in America.
- Check the Event Calendar. The hotel hosts everything from book signings with famous interior designers to trunk shows for boutique fashion brands.
- Ask for a room with a view of the pool. The street-side rooms are fine, but watching the sunrise over the Florida-shaped pool while sipping coffee is the quintessential Colony experience.
The Colony isn't just a place to sleep. It’s a piece of Florida history that you can actually touch. It’s flawed, it’s expensive, and it’s unapologetically pink. And honestly? That’s exactly why it works.