Dining with a view of the ocean at the new Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach. (OMPHOY OCEAN RESORT / November 12, 2009) |
The Omphoy Ocean Resort, 2842 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach. omphoy.com; 561-540-6440
Back story: You seldom see new hotels pop up on Palm Beach. No room. So the new Omphoy, which opened in September, is actually a renovated building – circa early '80s -- once home to the Palm Beach Hilton.
Closer to funky downtown Lake Worth than tony Worth Avenue, the hotel's vibe is more South Beach than Palm Beach. Nothing fussy or stuffy. Palm Beach designer Leslie Schlesinger used lots of wood and sleek, contemporary design for an Asian feel.
Cream-colored coquina stone contrasts with ebony basalt – volcanic rock in the flooring. Chocolate-colored suede covers walls with splashes of ocean blue throughout the hotel.
This hotel is geared to younger guests in search of a Palm Beach getaway at a hip hotel. Leave the kids at home with Grandma.
Just for fun: New York-based Exhale spa offers facials, manicures, pedicures and classes of yoga-Pilates-type exercises in 3,000 square feet of space. While waiting for a massage, take a personality assessment quiz to determine which tea you should sip. A 2,500 square foot gym with wooden lockers and a sauna is complimentary to guests.
The beach is at your door along with equipment for water activities. You can rent a catamaran, a water scooter or surfboards. Parasailing is available, too. Because some folks do bring kids, a children's room is scheduled to open in January with game tables, a TV and supervised activities.
Sleep well: The average room is 300 square feet with either ocean or pool views. Most rooms have private balconies. Furnishings are sleek brown wood with floor tiles of metallic bronze porcelain. Rooms have showers only. Two 700-square foot suites have full baths and double oceanfront balconies. The second room can function as another bedroom with a sofa that converts into a sleeping space. Total rooms: 134.
Eat, drink and be merry: Miami's Michelle Bernstein moves into Palm Beach County with two restaurants – Michelle Bernstein at The Omphoy, open for dinner, and MB Terrace, open for breakfast and lunch with a tapas menu.
With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, you have a picture-perfect view of the ocean. At MB Terrace, eat inside or out, sitting under tables covered by white umbrellas and surrounded by palm trees.
Bernstein's signature dish is braised short ribs, but you'll also find salt-crusted sea bass and bouillabaisse. All desserts are made on site, including a cherry sundae of homemade vanilla ice cream and cherry sorbet and amarena cherries.
At the 90-seat O-Bar, a billiards table and 70-inch flat-screen TV offer entertainment. There's an Omtini on the menu, and the mojitos are made from freshly squeezed fruit.
Attractions: Downtown Lake Worth, with its shops, restaurants and a touch of Art Deco architecture, is just a mile away over the Intracoastal bridge. If Worth Avenue beckons, a hotel staffer will deliver you in a BMW. It's a complimentary trip and a six-mile drive.
Golfers have playing privileges at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach.
Prices: Through Nov. 30: $199, resident; $239-$279, non-residents. Suites: $599, resident; $699 non-resident. Dec. 1-April 30 for resident and non-resident: $459 to $599. Suites: $899. To all rates add 11.5 percent tax.
Liz Doup
Back story: You seldom see new hotels pop up on Palm Beach. No room. So the new Omphoy, which opened in September, is actually a renovated building – circa early '80s -- once home to the Palm Beach Hilton.
Closer to funky downtown Lake Worth than tony Worth Avenue, the hotel's vibe is more South Beach than Palm Beach. Nothing fussy or stuffy. Palm Beach designer Leslie Schlesinger used lots of wood and sleek, contemporary design for an Asian feel.
Cream-colored coquina stone contrasts with ebony basalt – volcanic rock in the flooring. Chocolate-colored suede covers walls with splashes of ocean blue throughout the hotel.
This hotel is geared to younger guests in search of a Palm Beach getaway at a hip hotel. Leave the kids at home with Grandma.
Just for fun: New York-based Exhale spa offers facials, manicures, pedicures and classes of yoga-Pilates-type exercises in 3,000 square feet of space. While waiting for a massage, take a personality assessment quiz to determine which tea you should sip. A 2,500 square foot gym with wooden lockers and a sauna is complimentary to guests.
The beach is at your door along with equipment for water activities. You can rent a catamaran, a water scooter or surfboards. Parasailing is available, too. Because some folks do bring kids, a children's room is scheduled to open in January with game tables, a TV and supervised activities.
Sleep well: The average room is 300 square feet with either ocean or pool views. Most rooms have private balconies. Furnishings are sleek brown wood with floor tiles of metallic bronze porcelain. Rooms have showers only. Two 700-square foot suites have full baths and double oceanfront balconies. The second room can function as another bedroom with a sofa that converts into a sleeping space. Total rooms: 134.
Eat, drink and be merry: Miami's Michelle Bernstein moves into Palm Beach County with two restaurants – Michelle Bernstein at The Omphoy, open for dinner, and MB Terrace, open for breakfast and lunch with a tapas menu.
With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, you have a picture-perfect view of the ocean. At MB Terrace, eat inside or out, sitting under tables covered by white umbrellas and surrounded by palm trees.
Bernstein's signature dish is braised short ribs, but you'll also find salt-crusted sea bass and bouillabaisse. All desserts are made on site, including a cherry sundae of homemade vanilla ice cream and cherry sorbet and amarena cherries.
At the 90-seat O-Bar, a billiards table and 70-inch flat-screen TV offer entertainment. There's an Omtini on the menu, and the mojitos are made from freshly squeezed fruit.
Attractions: Downtown Lake Worth, with its shops, restaurants and a touch of Art Deco architecture, is just a mile away over the Intracoastal bridge. If Worth Avenue beckons, a hotel staffer will deliver you in a BMW. It's a complimentary trip and a six-mile drive.
Golfers have playing privileges at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach.
Prices: Through Nov. 30: $199, resident; $239-$279, non-residents. Suites: $599, resident; $699 non-resident. Dec. 1-April 30 for resident and non-resident: $459 to $599. Suites: $899. To all rates add 11.5 percent tax.
Liz Doup
