This week, the legendary New York restaurant La Grenouille is closing its doors after 61 years. Rumors are already swirling that a move to Palm Beach may soon be announced—fueled in part because owner Philippe Masson has been scouting locations in the town for years. But another reason these rumors have some weight is that a growing number of NYC boîtes are opening sister sites in south Florida.
This summer, news broke that Nobu is opening at the Palm House Hotel on Royal Palm Way. Meanwhile, in West Palm Beach, Pastis is opening at the Nora Hotel, and Milos is coming to One Flagler. They join Swifty’s, which established itself at The Colony Hotel a few years ago, and Sant Ambroeus, which, while originally Italian, is now a New York mainstay.
This is to say nothing of the marquee spinoffs that are on the way. Tutto Mare, sister of Hamptons favorite Tutto il Giorno, is opening at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse this year. The Boca Raton has a number of restaurants by Major Food Groups, the team behind Carbone. And in West Palm, Mr C Residences is bringing the Cipriani lifestyle to Florida with Bellini Café, Bellini Restaurant, and the Bellini Rooftop Lounge.
Then there are the celebrity chefs launching Palm Beach restaurants. José Andrés‘s first PB eatery will open at the Olara in 2027, while Thomas Keller is set to reboot Ta-boo in 2025. Should Masson choose to start a new project in Palm Beach, he will certainly be in good company.