By Gerry Barker
Photos by Gerry Barker unless otherwise noted
“Eau” is the French word for “water,” pronounced like a short “o” — good to know if you’re a guest at the five-star rated Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa.
Located in the small beach community of Manalapan, some 12 miles south of Palm Beach, the 309-room resort sits on seven acres along the Atlantic Ocean and for five years running has been recognized as Florida’s top resort in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
It’s not hard to see why. From the moment you arrive, the hotel staff greets you like long-lost family (which I suspect is true whether it’s your first or 10th stay). The opulent lobby is European luxury meets American chic. The appointments and décor are perfection. That’s all before you get to the two ocean-front pools, private cabanas and the 42,000 square-foot Eau Spa, rated five stars by Forbes.
As you walk among the outdoor palms and the resort’s 3,000-square-foot oceanfront terrace, you may notice a sign that says “La Coquille Club – Private Members Only.” And thereby hangs a tale.
The original La Coquille Club was built by Spelman Prentice, a grandson of John D. Rockefeller, on the resort’s current site in the 1950s as a luxury retreat for prominent families and socialites. Under new ownership in the 1970s, it was expanded with the addition of villas. (Random factoid: The U.S. presidential yacht Sequoia was auctioned at the La Coquille Club in 1977.)
After several ownership changes, the site was eventfully sold to Ritz Carlton and the private club was reopened in 1991 as part of the hotel, where it remains today. The property was purchased by the Lewis family in 2003, and rebranded as Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in 2013. In August of this year, it was announced billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison acquired the resort. Ellison is no stranger to Manalapan. In 2022, he bought a 22-acre property there for $173 million, reported to be “the most expensive home sale in Florida history.”
“We are excited about the acquisition by the Ellison family,” said Tim Nardi, the resort’s general manager in a press release. “Ellison’s extensive experience in luxury hospitality brings a new level of innovation to the resort and we are confident that this transition will not only enhance the unique experiences we offer but also introduce new amenities and services, ensuring Eau Palm Beach remains a premier destination for our valued guests.” One of those new additions will likely be famed Asian eatery Nobu (Ellison’s portfolio includes Nobu Ryokan Malibu and Nobu Hotel Palo Alto), although details are yet to come.
Speaking of food, the resort has a number of dining options, including Angle, an upscale steakhouse, Polpo Palm Beach (this is the second location for the Greenwich, CT.-based Italian and seafood restaurant); Breeze Ocean Kitchen, Savor, Bōken (sushi) and an ice cream shop, MELT, which also offers a convenient cart station in the lobby.
Our second-floor suite faced the Atlantic, and even with the effects of Hurricane Helene churning the surf, there’s no better view than the ocean in South Florida. Designed by Jonathan Adler (who did the guest rooms and interiors) and beautifully appointed with the resort’s signature colors — hydra blue and spearmint green — it had all the features you expect in a luxury getaway, including a spacious balcony to relax with our favorite bubbly and chocolate-covered strawberries.
While on a tour, we got a look at their Lilly Pulitzer Suite. Bright and cheerful, it showcases the iconic designer’s signature décor and look, including new Dandy Lions prints and bedding from their Pottery Barn collection. The collaboration is part of Lilly Pulitzer’s 65th anniversary celebration. Guests staying here get a Lilly Pulitzer beach bag and a complimentary glass of champagne upon check-in, but be aware the suite is only available through Nov. 18, 2024.
Of course, one of the main reasons to stay at a luxury resort is feeling indulged and pampered. What better place to have that experience than their Eau Spa. It’s 42,000 square feet of, as the resort describes it, “decadence found.” Visually stunning, with its own private “Self-Centered” garden escape, 19 treatment rooms, salon and private villas, it offers a full range of services guaranteed to make the world go away.
One example:
“The Redflower Hammam” treatment: “This purifying, ancient ritual cleanses the body as you are submerged in a heated Float Bed while slathered and wrapped in a Phyto-Power Sea Mask. The body is then cooled with an orange quince mist, and finished with a warm cardamom amber oil and tangerine fig butter crème massage.” It sounds like just the ticket for an overworked travel writer.
Other notable features of the resort include:
— Eau Club rooms that include a private concierge, separate check-in and check-out and access to complimentary food and beverage service in the Club Lounge, as well as daily pressing and VIP pool services.
— Special programs for younger guests, including Loggers, for children 3-12, and Hide Away Teens, for ages 13-17.
— Three Har-tru clay tennis courts with on-site pro, plus a fitness center that includes spinning and yoga studios and personal trainers.
— Over 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space. And as you might expect from their oceanfront location, they also are popular for weddings.
Relaxing in a lounger beside one of the pools, gazing out over the vivid blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean while sipping a cocktail, you know Rockefeller’s grandson would approve of how his vision continues to delight and inspire guests these many decades later.
Eau Pam Beach Resort and Spa is located at 100 South Ocean Boulevard in Manalapan (561.533.6000)
www.eaupalmbeach.com
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