This Oceanfront Resort in Florida Just Got a Multimillion-dollar Renovation — With a Chic Pool Bar and the First Omakase in Palm Beach

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa has long been one of the top resorts in Palm Beach. Sitting pretty toward the quieter southern end of the eight-square-mile barrier island, this playful yet extravagant oceanfront resort has fans around the world.

It’s home to a decadent spa (one of Palm Beach’s best-kept secrets) and one of the best pools in Florida, has made headlines for its Champagne butler, and is one of the hot spots leading the charge in Palm Beach’s ever-growing cool factor.

The haven for travelers recently wrapped up a multi-year, multimillion-dollar renovation, returning to the scene more fresh and modern than ever. Throughout 2022, the resort renovated its lobby, kids’ and teens’ clubs, and outdoor pool landscaping. It also added new pool cabanas, an adults-only pool bar, and new dining outlets, including a spa terrace café, a signature Italian restaurant called Polpo, and an outpost of locally beloved Oceana Coffee.

However, perhaps the most trendy and exciting addition for locals and visitors alike is the debut of Bōken — Japanese for “adventure” — the first and only omakase experience in Palm Beach. Loosely translating to “I leave it up to you,” omakase is a meal during which diners hand the reins completely over to the chef, who will select the dishes to serve rather than presenting a menu of options.

“We are excited to launch our newest concept, Bōken, to provide our guests and locals with an exquisite, intimate dining experience that is unlike anything else at the resort or in the Palm Beach area,” Tito Rodriguez, assistant general manager and vice president of food and beverage at Eau Palm Beach, said in a statement released to Travel + Leisure.

The intimate 12-seat dining experience at Bōken is an epicurean adventure through five themed courses and 15 dishes by seasoned chef Chris Cantrel, who will curate a menu of sushi, sashimi, and nigiri depending upon his whims, the fresh catch of the day (some specialty premium fish will be imported from Japan), and local in-season ingredients. Diners may be treated to quail egg to tea-smoked salmon and beyond, but the chef’s aim is to surprise and delight, crafting a savory dining experience unlike any other.

The omakase experience at Bōken begins (and ends) with itadakimasu, a traditional sake toast loosely translating to “let’s eat,” then transitions into the next phases of the journey: wabi-sabi (“beauty in imperfection”), fuubutsushi (“seasonal nostalgia”), yūgen (“beauty unseen”), and finally, gochisosama deshita (“It was a feast”). In addition to the memorable eats, a menu of special sake and wine pairings is on hand to complement the meal — the house-infused cucumber sake or Fukucho Seaside, a sparkling sake from a female-owned brewery in Japan, are two standouts.

There are two omakase seatings per night (from $155 a person, reservations required Thursday through Saturday), or guests can opt to try the à la carte sushi menu Monday through Wednesday.

Of course, if chef-led sushi isn’t your speed, there are seven other dining outlets (both long-term faves and new offerings) at Eau Palm Beach to choose from. You can’t go wrong with a poolside blackened grouper sandwich at the oceanfront Breeze Ocean Kitchen, for example, or a farm-to-fancy-table dinner at Angle, the resort’s take on contemporary American cuisine.

Or, if you want to stick to room service or whatever fresh salad strikes your fancy at the spa, absolutely no one could blame you.