The Breakers

One South County Road
Palm Beach, Florida
Phone (561)655-6611
Rating:

Web: www.thebreakers.com

The Breakers continues to enjoy national and international acclaim after 100 years. In 1996, the famed oceanfront resort celebrated its Centennial as a monumental tribute to its founder Henry Morrison Flagler, the man who transformed South Florida into a vacationland for millions. Is it any wonder, the Breakers is focused on customer fulfillment, its staff, is empowered to deliver highly personalized service to each guest requests.

Its 20,000 square foot luxury indoor/outdoor spa exudes a feel of residential elegance; it radiates as much warmth to its guests as the inviting manner of its well-trained staff. The Spa at the Breakers is the only free standing spa outside of Paris which offers the exclusive Guerlain Institut de Beaute’ facial, utilizing Guerlain’s highly effective Issima skincare products and facial techniques.

The accommodations were outstanding; our newly renovated luxurious one bed room suites were incredibly appointed with the breathtaking Atlantic Ocean breaking below our balconies. These suites were approx. 1,650 square feet, with a private living room including a parlor, wet bar, half bath, social table with six chairs, five separate private walkout balconies to enjoy the ocean. Amenities included Internet access, on-command movies, in-room checkout, text messaging, modem connection, complete Sound System with VHS/CD players, CD/radio alarm clock, bathrobes, safe and mini-bar. No wonder they have so many resident guests on premise!

After settling in, we went to The Spa at the Breakers for our first treatments.

Our female writer received the 80 minute Swedish massage, and our male writer was given the 80 minute Sports massage, both compared notes afterward and commented of how outstanding both of the therapists were.

Next we were off to dinner.

As a possible alternative to the outstanding venue at The Breakers, may we suggest
Café L’ Europe?

In 1999, Café L'Europe was inducted into the prestigious and exclusive "Fine Dining Hall of Fame." This award is presented annually by the Nation's Restaurant News to 10 restaurants nationwide who meet and exceed the highest standards of the restaurant industry in food quality, service, ambience and staff training.”

Café L'Europe reigns as a top destination in the upscale Palm Beach dining circuit -- a regular stopping place for celebrity clientele, seasonal guests, millionaire tourists and local professionals. Sharing 150 seats between its two main venues, the restaurant feeds as many as 400 guests a night during the busy six-month winter season, lasting from November to April, when Florida's affluent Gold Coast is crowded with "snowbird" residents and vacationers.

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We were off to the Spa again. Many of the spa treatments incorporate sea and citrus ingredients indigenous to Florida. Among the 17 treatments rooms there are several Spa Suites uniquely designed to accommodate several services in one indulgent experience.
We both felt the welcoming and calming affect that the staff members created for us when we arrived.

We received our spa robe and slippers and were escorted to the locker area. We both opted for a steam prior to our treatments to help us really relax and get the most out of our experience.

The spa menu was quite extensive offering 13 different massage techniques, 12 Guerlain facial and skin care treatments with 11 other body treatments, not to mention the beauty and salon services offered.

Our list that we tried and highly recommend: Female writer; 80 minute Swedish massage, Sveltesse Wrap, The Guerlain anti-ageing restructuring facial and the Rose Pedicure. All, are outstanding!

Our male writer enjoyed the: 50 minute Sports massage, The Milk and Honey Body Wrap and the Absolute Serenissima Facial designed just for him. He was completely surrendered.

After a spectacular afternoon of treatments, we were given a special tour by our gracious hostess Margee Adelsperger of the grounds and a peek at the Flagler Club. For all of you who prefer an enhanced level of exclusivity within a luxury resort this is the right choice for you. The Flagler offers you a choice of one of their 28 luxuriously appointed rooms situated on the sixth and seventh floors of the ocean front resort, with your own personalized concierge services, private access to the Club lounge, and panoramic patio views of Palm Beach. Enhanced amenities, including continental breakfast, fresh-baked cookies, afternoon tea, evening hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and after-dinner cordials. The next stop on the tour was the family center where children are offered the best kid filled activities and kid meals as well as care while mom and dad enjoy the adult specialties of the resort. Finally we were guided to the 10 tennis courts and the 18-hole golf course as well as the Flagler Steakhouse. This 140 acre resort is quite impressive!

Our next adventure was the preparation for our exquisite dinner at the L’Escalier Restaurant, located on the hotel main level.

L'Escalier features modern French cuisine coupled with unpretentious, highly personalized service. Entrée specialties such as Pan Roasted Palmetto Farms Squab with celriac and sweet potato found ant and figs poached in port, or Pan Sautéed Florida Pompano with roasted shellfish sauce, Quinoa, and tomato compote, are examples of some of the creative combinations. This casually sophisticated oceanfront resort, also earns the prestigious five diamond award for the L’Escalier; the only five diamond restaurant in the country located within an independent privately-owned Five Diamond resort for the sixth consecutive year.

This was a truly a world-class dining experience! Chef Matthew Sobon and his passionate team of chefs prepare alluring flavor combinations using the freshest ingredients possible, while the knowledgeable wait staff -- acting as tableside concierges -- consistently delivered unpretentious, highly personalized service. L’Escalier reflects the evolution of fine dining to an inspired place.

The name L'Escalier, "the staircase," is intended as a double entendre, referring literally to the restaurant’s location on the mezzanine of the Florentine Room, which guests ascend six steps to reach. But the name also refers to the commitment of the culinary and service staff that elevated and exceeded our expectations.

Wine is as critical to the L’Escalier experience as the food. The 6,500-bottle display Wine Cellar is a showcase of the resort’s noteworthy 15,000-bottle collection. L’Escalier has won a Grand Award from The Wine Spectator since the award’s inception in 1981 for outstanding dedication to wine as part of the total dining experience. Chef Sommelier Virginia Philip enjoyed sharing her passion for wine with us, and demystifying the award-winning wine list of more than 800 selections. We began the meal with a taste of things to come -- the complimentary Amuse-Bouches. These small “amusements for the mouth” represent Sobon’s most flavorful and creative combinations. L’Escalier’s Chef’s Tasting Menu presents the perfect solution -- a collective sampling of the best the menu has to offer, so this was the one we decided to go with. Chef Sobon designed each of our courses with individual tastes and preferences in mind. With each course, our Sommelier paired a compelling wine that drew out the unique underlying flavors of each dish.

Just prior to dessert, the “fromagier” made a stop at our tableside with a tempting cheese cart. We were delighted by the choices he recommended. Offerings change daily and include a deliberative selection of more than a dozen of the world’s best cheeses.

To conclude the meal, executive pastry chef Michael Gietel worked magic to design an array of scrumptious desserts for us. As with the entire menu, dessert selections highlight seasonal specialties such as Granny Smith Apple in Phyllo with Maytag Blue Cheese Ice Cream. We choose the Shades of Chocolate and Profiteroles with raspberries.

L’Escalier evokes elegance and sophistication, reminiscent of the dining halls of France’s most elegant chateaux. Originally built in 1926, the dining room is framed by antique mirror panels furnished with handsome pieces of carved mahogany sofas and chairs upholstered in lavish red, gold and cream fabrics, and enlivened with magnificent carpets, the space is crowned by a 24-foot, richly hand-stenciled ceiling. This was a completely memorable evening!

Adjacent to L’Escalier, The Tapestry Bar which is named for the exquisite 15th Century Flemish tapestries which hang floor-to-ceiling over one entire wall.

This is a destination in its own right, where you may relax with a cocktail, flight of wine, or an after-dinner cigar with Port or brandy. We enjoyed the nightly entertainment found at the Tapestry Bar.

The next morning we enjoyed the Circle Restaurant for our farewell breakfast.

All we can say is “When can we return?”

Thank you for joining us.

Please think of [email protected] if we may assist you to book this outstanding location.

See you at the Spa!
Review Team for Finest Health Spas