Polo Power, Michelin Buzz & Italian Icons Fuel Palm Beach's Latest Food & Lifestyle Wave

Polo star Nacho Figueras has taken over the former PB Catch space on Palm Beach island, to open The Polo Room Palm Beach, a continental restaurant with Argentinian accents to reflect Figueras’ roots.  Set against a cozy, clubbish background with equestrian touches and a collection of photographs, it features a raw bar and crudos, salads, pastas, lobster frites and empanadas. Fish and steaks will be asado-style – seared over a grill and served with sauces and condiments. Among the desserts are Argentinian favorites like flan, and dulce de leche crepes.

Prime steaks and seafood will also be a draw at uber chef David Burke’s Seahawk Prime, due by the new year and set against the backdrop of a terrace and expansive marina. It’s situated in the impressive Nautilus 220 building, so guests can even dock and dine. Burke is also opening a more casual spot, Birdie Dockside Bar & Grill, expected later in the month.

The 100-year old historic Harriet Himmel theater in West Palm Beach’s CityPlace has been transformed into Eataly West Palm Beach, in a partnership with Related Ross. The building houses a seated restaurant, quick-service counters, an entertainment area, outdoor dining, a performance space, and a cooking school. A cafe will feature Lavazza, and there will be a gelato counter as well as a specialty market with imported Italian goods including artisanal pasta, caviar, fresh truffles, olive oil, meats including Wagyu, and wine.

West Palm is moving up in the culinary world, with the recognition of three restaurants by the Michelin Guide this year, including Palm Beach Meats, Aioli and Moody Tongue in the Hilton West Palm Beach.

That’s not all the Hilton West Palm Beach has going on.  On January 22, the hotel’s Galley restaurant will present a 4-course feast accompanied by wines from Napa Valley’s Belle Glos Vineyards and live music.

Reserve Padel, the sports club that has prime courts in Hudson Yards, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and in North Miami, is coming to Delray Beach, setting up ultra luxury courts in March at the The Seagate Hotel, Golf & Beach Resort.

The Pineapple Grove location that held the funky bar, Third and Third, has gone through a total metamorphosis, and emerged as the welcoming Italian restaurant Secreto, which will no longer be a secret.  Rustic dishes were inspired by the chef’s Southern Italian hometown of Avelino, and the menu features such dishes as lasagna with short rib, and veal parmigiana on the bone, as well as Dover sole deboned tableside.  The restaurant has a hopping happy hour all nights except Saturday, and Monday when it is closed. Diners might recognize the manager, Cristoforo De Pippo, from his years as the maitre d’ at Tramonti.

If you like your pizza and pasta al fresco, you’ll be happy to hear that Bacaro at the Belgrove in West Palm has reopened, with seafood dishes and brick oven pies served by the pool.  Chef Ron Pietruszka, whose restaurants at the Ritz Carlton in Osaka earned Michelin-stars, is at the helm.

Lovers of the Italian American trend should pay a visit to Runway 84 in Ft. Lauderdale, one of the pioneers.  Standout dishes include cauliflower rigatoni, which has a cacio e pepe style sauce, stuffed Sicilian long peppers, chicken parmigiano with vodka sauce and prosciutto, and pistachio cake.

The doctors are back! Top New York esthetic gurus Dr. Anetta Reszko and Dr. Howard Sobel will both hold office hours and consultations in Palm Beach throughout the season, so there is no need for New Yorkers to run back up north for their injectables.

In other beauty news, debloating wellness studio, The Top Technique, has opened a location in Boca Raton and another is on the way in Wellington. The lymphatic-based method uses a combination of hands, gua sha, and machines to detoxify and reduce water retention in the face and body. They have herb patches and debloating gummies to help the process along.