Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels in West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach has long been known as the winter retreat for wealthy snowbirds. The charming coastal city on Florida’s southeastern coast is famed for its array of activities, its hospitality, and its beaches. What’s more, the city is incredibly gay-friendly, and we found an entire community of gay hotels in West Palm Beach, Florida. It might not be as touristy or frantic as the gay scenes in other Floridian cities, but West Palm Beach has one of the largest and most respected LGBTQ communities in the country. In fact, it was named the “third queerest” city in America based on “less-than-obvious” LGBTQ-friendly factors. Despite not having a specific gayborhood, we found that the city has a host of gay bars and clubs. That, coupled with eclectic restaurants, beautiful beaches, and charming neighborhoods, are what made it so amazing for us to holiday here.

What we found great was that the city is practically surrounded by the very best of Florida’s gay scene. Gay-friendly Orlando lies just less than three hours north. What’s more, an hour south of the city lies Miami, one of the world’s most gay-friendly cities. A little above Miami lies gay-friendly Fort Lauderdale, which is home to one of the world’s best gay beaches. And, of course, when we went a little more south, we were in Florida’s gay mecca of Key West! All in all, we had a fantastic time exploring the coastal West Palm Beach and drew up a helpful guide for you guys too.

The Ben, Autograph Collection

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Best heritage hotel. We found The Ben to be one of the classiest and best LGBTQ-friendly hotels in West Palm Beach. Tucked right in the heart of Downtown, the hotel overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and Palm Harbor Marina. The hotel reputedly “channels the spirit” of the 1892-built historic country mansion for Ben Trovato, a noted bon vivant, hostess, and author. In fact, it’s that mansion that helped put West Palm Beach on the map with the elite jet set. 

We were slightly surprised by the run-of-the-mill eight-story block exterior, but the story was altogether different on the inside. For one, the decor and design are eclectic and attention-grabbing. This vibe extends to the rooms and suites, all of which feature swanky mod-cons and swish bathrooms with bathrobes and slippers. We chose the King Room with the marina view and balcony and had the time of our lives. The coffee machine was perfect for brewing a hot cup of joe and enjoying it on the balcony with mesmerizing views.

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We were impressed with the rest of the hotel too. For one, the heated outdoor rooftop saltwater pool perhaps offers the best views of the city. After a refreshing swim, we’d lounge on the cabanas and daybeds. Evenings were spent by the fire pits, cozying up to our beloved partners over a glass of wine. Finally, a fitness center and evening entertainment complete the facilities.

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa

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Most luxurious. A beach-facing pool and a private beach? Sign us up! The Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is one of the most lavish gay hotels in West Palm Beach, Florida. This beautiful seaside property sits on a private beach just south of the city, emanating a deeply relaxing vibe from its lush tropical gardens. 

The hotel is immensely personable, from face towels at check-in and yoga classes to champagne. The rooms and suites had a decidedly Florida holiday vibe, with generous balconies with the pool, gardens, or sea views. What’s more, the marble bathrooms are extravagant to boot, with deep-soaking bathtubs, twin sinks, and luxe Natura Bissē bath products. Topping everything off are the Keurig coffee-makers and artistic tote bag welcome gifts. If personable luxury was a thing, this resort would certainly come out on top.

That said, stepping out of the wonderful cocoon of your room is a must, as the resort overflows with amenities. This ranges from a decadent spa with luxurious spa cabanas to swing seats on every balcony. What’s more, it also has a business center, a great fitness center, and tennis courts. However, the star of the property is the two fabulous pools, one of which is adults-only. Since we wanted to indulge, we headed to the Couples’ Suite in the world-class Eau Spa for some good pampering. Finally, two oceanfront restaurants and a fabulous bar complete the place.

Hilton West Palm Beach

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One of the overall best LGBTQ-friendly hotels in West Palm Beach is the Hilton West Palm Beach. The modern hotel overlooks the heart of Downtown, making it perfect for us to explore the city. In fact, we could spy gorgeous, sweeping views of the entire city from everywhere in the hotel. Staying here also allowed us (and our stomachs) to indulge in this West Palm Beach Downtown Food Tour.

On the inside, we were impressed right off the bat by the scintillating, high-ceilinged lobby with a sculptural chandelier. The vibe extends to the rooms and suites, all of which are comfortable, bright, and modern. However, the highlight in all of them is the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the pool or the city. We especially love the touches, such as photo-collage-style modern art, and a navy club chair is delightful. Plus, the mod-cons and modern bathrooms always help.

Downstairs, the Mediterranean-style spacious poolscape was our absolute favorite spot on the property, lending it a resort-like feel. It has everything from pool floats to daybeds and is surrounded by palm trees. That’s one of the many reasons why we loved the pool area. Two restaurants and a bar took care of all our drinking and dining whimsies. Wrapping up the amenities is the concierge service and a fitness center.

White Elephant

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Best boutique. The White Elephant is one of the chicest boutique gay hotels in West Palm Beach, Florida. The boutique hotel is frequented by LGBTQ jetsetters and has become the destination “du jour.” So we also wanted to check out this amazing property. 

The exterior might be 1920s Spanish-Colonial, but the interiors are beachy, contemporary, and chic. That’s what set it apart from other hotels in the area. Think vibrant artwork against sleek, whitewashed backdrops, with tropical plants, Scandinavian furniture, and coffee table books filling the place. We had the choice of 32 spacious and minimalist rooms and suites, all of which are decked out in vibrant abstract art, Scandi furniture, and neutral hues. Moreover, they all have Nespresso machines, plush robes and slippers, and L’Occitane bath products. What’s more, our King Room with a balcony overlooked the pool and central courtyard. We especially loved the patio with its wonderfully cozy and comfy seating.

The swimming pool with the sun loungers is the epicenter of all fun at the hotel and is the perfect place to relax. There’s a fitness center too, but our absolute favorite amenity was the fleet of slick new BMWs, complete with the latest gadgets and leather seats. In true boutique hotel style, the concierge team took care of everything we wanted at any point in time. The on-site restaurant serves delectable Mediterranean and pan-Asian meals, but come evenings, we’d be sipping fruity martinis at the outdoor bar, just like the locals.

Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach

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Best beachfront. The Four Seasons Resort is one of the most luxurious LGBTQ-friendly hotels in West Palm Beach. The posh beachfront hotel sits slightly south of Downtown on a barrier island near Lake Worth, fronting the Atlantic Ocean. So, it’s no surprise that the expansive pool area, extending to the pristine beach, is where we’d be all the time. 

“We wanted absolute luxury in West Palm Beach, and the Four Seasons gave us just that – and so much more! A location right on the beach was the cherry on top.”

WOW Travel

The best amenity here is the beautifully landscaped pool and beach sprinkled with daybeds and featuring excellent service. The rest of the service and facilities are equally impressive, like the two tennis courts, watersports at the beach, and a fitness center with complimentary classes. However, the best of them all was the spa, which is a true temple of relaxation with whirlpools, a sauna, a steam room, and 11 treatment rooms. Two sea-facing restaurants serve all meals, including a heavenly breakfast buffet that serves sinful delights such as chocolate croissants.

The rooms and suites are plush and chic hideaways awash in sand and cream hues. While there are many room types with partial resort, garden, or ocean views, the rooms directly facing the ocean are mesmerizing. Our King room with an ocean view even came with a sea-facing balcony! Nevertheless, you’ll be more than comfortable in any of the rooms, which have sumptuous beds, velveteen sofas, coffeemakers, and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs.

The Brazilian Court Hotel

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The Brazilian Court Hotel is one of the most iconic LGBTQ-friendly hotels in West Palm Beach. This 1920s boutique hotel, which lies on a barrier island, was perfect for gay history enthusiasts like us. At the same time, it’s been entirely modernized for the 21st century. Did you know that Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, and Cary Grant were frequent visitors? Yes! 

The entire hotel is all about discreet, old-world charm; think period black-and-white photographs, a Fountain Courtyard, an elegant pool area, and mature tropical gardens. We had the choice of 80 one/two/three-bedroom suites, all of which have plush king beds and eye-catching mahogany furniture. They also have ultra jet-air baths and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, while many feature private terrace gardens. Even though we chose a guestroom with a patio, the 400-sq-feet-huge space was more than enough for us to unwind in peace. 

Fine dining at the on-site restaurant and bar aside, the hotel even has its own private beach club right on the pristine sands of the Atlantic coast. That was perhaps what drew us to this hotel right away. When we had our fill of the beach, the heated outdoor pool was where we’d be all the time. Moreover, the hotel even has a fitness suite, bike rentals, a library, and its own art gallery. The cherry on top is renowned stylist Frederic Fekkai’s spa and salon – for that Beverly Hills touch, of course!

The Breakers

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Do you love your hotels to have a wee bit of history? Then, just like us, you’ll absolutely love The Breakers, one of the most iconic “pink-dollar” hotels in West Palm Beach. It was founded by railroad and oil baron Henry Morrison Flagler in 1896 and has been rebuilt twice since. 

Even today, the behemoth 500-room-plus hotel is a cathedral to signature style and period design. The marble bathrooms and soft pastels in the rooms and suites create an ‘island lifestyle’ feel. What’s more, touches like slippers, plush robes, minibars, large TVs, and designer linens add to the decadent vibe. The oversized bathrooms are simply gorgeous, especially since they have deep-soaking bathtubs and branded toiletries too. We were in a total mood to splurge, so we chose the top Club Level rooms. Staying here came with a whole lot of perks for us, like snacks, breakfast, afternoon tea, pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres, and even desserts! And since ours was an ocean-facing room, too, it made for the ultimate experience.

The range of facilities here is dazzling, right from the eight restaurants and a sea-view fitness center to a championship-quality golf course. There are not one but four oceanfront swimming pools, one of which we’d lounge at the adults-only one for hours together. Furthermore, we even had access to bicycle tours, Pilates and yoga classes, tennis courts, watersports, and designer outlets for Lilly Pulitzer and Guerlain. The bicycles were a blessing when we wanted to go off exploring on our own. There’s even an extensive spa, but the crown jewel is the half-mile of private beach.

The Colony

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The Colony Hotel is one of the handful of “highrise” LGBTQ-friendly hotels in West Palm Beach, Florida. This boutique-style 1947 historic enclave was a favorite of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and has hosted U.S. presidents too. So, it was only natural for us to be curious about this hotel!

Tucked on a serene side street in downtown Palm Beach, it has just 90 rooms and suites and is thus more boutique than a ‘modern Florida resort.’ We loved the fearless hues of green and pink, which are complemented by plush white beds and elegant wood furnishings. The bathrooms, albeit compact, have Ortigia bath products and gorgeous walk-in showers. We appreciated the thoughtful touches, like the handy tote bags and plush robes. We stayed in room no. 509, which offered excellent views of the sea. If you want to stay longer, choose the seven individually-styled villas across Hammon Avenue.

That’s not to say that the public spaces are any less amazing. The lobby boasts bold carpets, softened by soft seafoam and coral accents and a scintillating Art Deco chandelier. Service is impeccable, as are the amenities, especially the pool and the lovely lush gardens surrounding it. The full-service restaurant boasts a Floridian garden party ambiance and served American classics with a healthy twist. Despite there being no onsite spa, the hotel did arrange for in-room massage sessions for us. Plus, we spent an entire day at the beach, where the chairs and umbrellas are complimentary. Top-notch, indeed.

Residence Inn by Marriott West Palm Beach Downtown

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Are you in West Palm Beach for an extended stay? The Residence Inn by Marriott West Palm Beach is the perfect place for you to stay. This Residence Inn, just like all other outposts, boasts excellent digs for staying for a long time in the city. The only difference? It boasts an amazing location close to the Lake Worth Lagoon and the beaches! 

Coming to the stays, we had the choice of a host of roomy suites that were contemporarily designed. What’s more, they came with everything from work desks and kitchens to flatscreen TVs and modern bathrooms with huge shower spaces. So, when we didn’t want to eat food outside, we’d whip up light to extravagant meals in the well-equipped kitchen. And, of course, the bedrooms were perfect for sound sleep before waking up to another day of exploring the town.

Downstairs, the hotel is equally impressive, despite being an extended-stay hotel. For one, we loved the design elements, like the swanky chairs in the lobby and the pops of purple and mauve everywhere. Moreover, breakfast is complimentary, while the fitness center is more than adequate. That said, the outdoor pool is great, especially for an extended-stay hotel. We’d lounge on the daybeds after a long, humid day in Palm Beach.

Grandview Gardens

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Staying at the Grandview Gardens was the definitive Floridian staying experience for us. It’s one of the most charming LGBTQ hotels in West Palm Beach, Florida. Tucked on a quiet residential street just south of Downtown, this 1925-built Spanish-style villa is the pinnacle of Floridian Mediterranean Revival architecture. 

The resort has been wonderfully restored and boldly decorated, might we add. In fact, clicking photographs of the vibrant furnishings, elaborate mirrors, and heavy antique-style furniture really brightened up our Insta page. Overall, we found the hotel to be a nice blend of eccentric, quirky, and stylish. We had the choice of four rooms, all of which faced either the lush gardens or the small courtyard pool. While one room had four posters, another came with minimalist, all-white bathrooms. Plus, there’s even a nine-bedroom estate on the property for larger groups, complete with its own private pool!

The outdoor swimming pool is perhaps one of the few we’ve seen in boutique hotels across the city. We loved lounging on the daybeds here, especially since it’s surrounded by the creeper-clad villa, making it one of the most laidback places to unwind on the property. A self-serve coffee bar, a terrace, and a garden wrap up things here.

Canopy West Palm Beach

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Canopy West Palm Beach is one of the most charming and stylish LGBTQ hotels in West Palm Beach. The hefty steel-and-glass facade belies its sleek, bright, and almost Scandi style on the inside. Our jaws dropped at the sight of the statement plant wall and the LED-lit banyan tree root art installation in the six-storeyed atrium. Everywhere, we found reclaimed wood, shrubbery, and even potted plants, along with local craftsmanship and locally sourced art. 

Coming to the digs, all rooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, plush beds, and chic bathrooms. Some rooms in the house feature balconies, but our King Corner Room had wraparound windows for spectacular views of the city. We were no less impressed by the amenities, the star being the swish “amenity deck” on the rooftop. It boasts an elongated outdoor pool and a Florida fusion restaurant. Our days began with a delicious continental breakfast and ended with a sundowner at the restaurant. After that, we’d head out to explore West Palm Beach’s gay scene.

Our Verdict!

West Palm Beach is one of the gay-friendliest of all the Palm Beaches, which is evident by the sheer number and options of gay stays. That said, we’ve curated a specialized list below for the hotels’ specific features:

• Best heritage hotel: The Ben, Autograph Collection
• Most luxurious: Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
• Best boutique: White Elephant
• Best beachfront: Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach

Best Gay Neighborhoods in West Palm Beach

The Palm Beaches cities began commissioning artists to paint crosswalks with the hues of both the traditional and progress Pride flags. Northwood Village in West Palm Beach was the first place to get a street mural, with more crosswalks popping up in Boynton and Delray Beaches. Since West Palm Beach doesn’t really have a neighborhood, most of its gay bars lie in the amazing Downtown area. Along with amazing restaurants and a fabulous beach, that makes it one of the best places to stay in the city. If that wasn’t enough, it’s also the place of the annual Palm Beach pride celebrations. Another excellent neighborhood is Lake Worth, which holds the next biggest cluster of gay-friendly bars.

Finally, north of downtown West Palm Beach sits Northwood Village, which was named one of the most Instagrammable places in Palm Beach County. It was also voted 2019’s “Best Neighborhood” by South Florida Gay News readers and is a hip haunt for art, dining, and cool shopping.

Best Gay Bars / Clubs in West Palm Beach

• Camelot: This gay-friendly John F. Kennedy-themed hotspot exudes upscale vibes and is a party paradise. Besides a chic crowd, we found New England-style seafood, amazing libations in the form of beer, cocktails, and wine, and a lively atmosphere.
• Sunset Bar and Grill: Tucked in the historic and chic Northwood Village, the gay-owned Sunset Bar & Grill is a very popular local LGBTQ-friendly hangout. Featuring Art Deco digs, this place serves soups, wraps, and sandwiches that are to die for.
• Mad Hatter Lounge: This Lake Worth bar is very popular with Lake Worth and the Palm Beaches’ gay community. It’s all about bar games and Happy Hour drink specials at this laidback dive joint, which is also a very popular spot for sharing gay travel stories.

Best Gay Saunas in West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach doesn’t have any gay sauna, unfortunately. However, the nearest gay sauna in Fort Lauderdale is less than 40 minutes south of the city.

Best Gay Events/Shows/Tours in West Palm Beach

• Palm Beach Pride: Taking over Bryant Park in Lake Worth Beach is the fabulous and vibrant Palm Beach Pride, one of the largest LGBTQ events in Florida. The place fills with thousands of vendors and festival goers and attracts an array of local talent and celebrity guests as well. It all culminates in a giant and vibrant Pride parade, after which there are a slew of after-parties at Lake Worth’s gay bars.
• International Gay Polo Tournament: Every April, the Gay Polo League brings both sportsmanship and glamour to Wellington in the form of the International Gay Polo Tournament! Located just 20 minutes from West Palm Beach, this event was even 2017’s “LGBTQ Sporting Event of the Year” by Connect Sports. Besides the exciting competition, it also features some of the most festive and vibrant tailgating in the world.