West Palm Beach Becomes Culinary Hotspot as Wealthy Relocate to Florida
The city, nicknamed 'Wall Street South,' is seeing a surge in high-end dining establishments and celebrity chef interest, mirroring its growing appeal to affluent residents and businesses.
West Palm Beach is rapidly establishing itself as a premier culinary destination, attracting a wave of new restaurants and high-profile chefs as wealthy individuals and businesses increasingly relocate to Florida. The city, already nicknamed "Wall Street South" due to the influx of financial firms, is now aiming to become a top-tier food capital.
Among the notable new arrivals is Los Mochis, a London-based Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant with a celebrity following, which is set to open at Phillips Point next fall. This expansion marks a significant step in the city's culinary growth. Los Mochis will also participate in the inaugural Taste of West Palm Beach food festival, scheduled for October 16 at CityPlace.
Other culinary ventures heading to West Palm Beach include restaurateur Keith McNally's Pastis and Tutto, from Gianpaolo and Gabby Karan de Felice, known for their Hamptons eateries. Chef Harold Moore of New York's Café Commerce is also opening a winter pop-up, with rumors suggesting interest from chefs like Michael White, Mario Carbone, and Rich Torrisi.
Expanding the casual dining scene, the popular Hamptons froyo shop BuddhaBerry recently opened its first location outside the East End in West Palm Beach. Modern Indian restaurant Ela Curry & Cocktails is slated for a fall opening in CityPlace, and Little Ruby’s Café, with existing New York City locations, is expected to open at CityPlace in 2027.
The upcoming Taste of West Palm Beach festival will feature over 30 local restaurants, including Estiatorio Milos, Harry’s, Felice, and Eataly.
Los Mochis will occupy an 11,500-square-foot space at Phillips Point, accommodating 280 diners and featuring a 2,000-square-foot terrace.
Kenneth Himmel, President of Related Ross, highlighted West Palm Beach's transformation into a culinary hub, supported by Michelin recognition and expanding brands. He emphasized that high-quality dining is a key driver for attracting regional visitors to developments.
Stephen Ross, founder of The Related Companies, has been instrumental in West Palm Beach's development, including the 72-acre CityPlace open-air mall launched in 1999. His firm has since developed office towers, luxury residences, and the necessary infrastructure to support the growing population.
West Palm Beach now hosts offices for major financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Private Bank, and BlackRock. Vanderbilt University is also planning to open a graduate campus in the downtown area by 2029.
Markus Thesleff, CEO of Thesleff Group, which is bringing Los Mochis to the city, stated that West Palm Beach's burgeoning culinary scene and waterfront location at Phillips Point offer an exceptional setting. The decision by Los Mochis to debut in the U.S. in West Palm Beach underscores the caliber of hospitality establishments choosing the region, according to Himmel.
Tutto is set to open in the South Flagler House, a new luxury tower, where notable residents like former Apple CEO John Sculley are purchasing property.
The 3,500-square-foot space for Tutto will be designed by Gabby Karan de Felice in collaboration with Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture. Gianpaolo de Felice noted that the move reflects the increasing number of friends and patrons migrating from the Hamptons to Florida, seeking a comfortable and high-quality environment like South Flagler House.