The quarter at a glance
What changed
The first quarter put new dining into several different trade areas. Lake Park gained SeaHawk Prime and The Birdie, Delray added Barcelona Wine Bar and Tropical Smokehouse, and Wellington gained Rosie’s. Downtown West Palm added both a small tasting counter at Emelina and larger social dining at NORA and CityPlace. The useful comparison is the operating model in each neighborhood, not a single countywide restaurant trend.
Hotel and development news moved on different clocks. The Vineta returned to service in Palm Beach, while Vanderbilt advanced fundraising and received a land gift for its planned West Palm Beach campus. Boca Raton approved a hotel project near Mizner Park. Restaurant closures also continued. For an owner, those are separate underwriting inputs: guests who can book now, customers who may arrive later, and specific sites whose operating histories need investigation.
[33][36][31][5][29][4][35][28][2][14]Documented opening entries
Q1 2026
Includes identified reopenings, relocations and residencies. Each is labeled in the inventory. View the entries.Documented closing entries
Q1 2026
Confirmed closures and location exits. Relocations and ended residencies are labeled.Gross bed tax collections
January-March 2026
+11.0% year over year
Hotel occupancy
March 2026
+1.7% year over year
Average daily room rate
March 2026
+10.8% year over year
Inventory counts describe this report’s documented businesses, not total market openings, closures or net growth. Each demand figure carries its own reporting period.
Highlights
- Tutto Mare began service January 3 on Palm Beach’s lakefront. [33]
- The Vineta returned with 41 rooms and suites after renovation. [36]
- Lake Park added SeaHawk Prime and The Birdie Dockside Bar & Grill. [31][5]
- Rosie’s opened February 14 in Wellington; Barcelona Wine Bar opened January 17 in Delray. [29][4]
- Vanderbilt’s March land gift advanced a planned campus, with approvals still required. [35]
- Ravish, Asian Fin and Mathews were among the quarter’s documented closures. [28][2][14]
Our read
What the quarter tells us
Lake Park needs two separate dining models
SeaHawk Prime and The Birdie brought different versions of waterfront dining to Lake Park. The shared view does not make the service economics interchangeable. A steakhouse reservation and a dockside drink require different pacing, prep and staffing. If a project contains both, give each outlet its own labor targets and contribution report so one restaurant’s costs do not disappear inside the other. [31][5]
Small dining rooms need precise capacity math
Emelina’s 16-seat format is a useful counterpoint to the larger restaurants opening around it. A small dining room has little room to absorb cancellations or a missed seating. Before copying a tasting-menu model, price the actual covers available, production labor and booking policy. The relevant comparison is contribution per service and labor hour, not the headline price of the menu. [13]
Palm Beach has rooms back in service
The Vineta’s reopening gave the island a completed hotel milestone. That is a different sales opportunity from a rendering or an announced development. Restaurant and bar owners nearby can approach a functioning concierge team, test referrals and measure conversion. Hotel owners should also separate the restaurant’s resident business from room-driven covers before using one strong season to set a full-year operating budget. [36]
A closure is a prompt to investigate the lease
Ravish and Asian Fin ended service during the quarter. The sources do not establish a shared cause. Ask about lease rights, permitted uses and physical operating constraints before treating an exit as evidence of weak neighborhood demand. For outdoor-heavy premises, model the revenue and labor plan when weather makes part of the dining room unusable. [28][2]
The local inventory
Area by area
Openings and permanent closings appear alongside dated hotel and development milestones. Planned openings are labeled as plans. Sources sit beside each entry.
West Palm Beach
6 openings · 3 closingsThe quarter added both highly limited seating and larger social formats. Match staffing and reservations to each model.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChhaukaDowntown West Palm Beach, former Sassafras space | Opening · Opened Indian restaurant introduced a new concept in existing premises. | [7] | |
| PopUp Bagels, CityPlaceCityPlace, West Palm Beach | Opening · Opened CityPlace opening followed the brand’s Delray arrival. | [27][26] | |
| Emelina424 Park Place, West Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Sixteen-seat Cuban tasting-menu restaurant. | [13] | |
| Mystic Table218 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Restaurant began its Clematis Street run. | February 2026 | [3] |
| Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar840 N. Railroad Avenue, NORA, West Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Boston-origin restaurant added tacos and oysters at NORA. | [21] | |
| MoxiesCityPlace, West Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Full-service restaurant opened at CityPlace. | March 2026 | [25] |
| Juicy Cocktail BarS. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach | Closing · Permanently closed Cocktail bar beside Tropical BBQ Market ceased operations. | January 2026 | [22] |
| Oriental Food Market4919 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach | Closing · Location closed Final public-service date was announced for February 13; the lease ended March 1. | February to March 2026 | [14][8] |
| Tropical BBQ Market206 S. Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach | Closing · Location closed Downtown market location closed. Other Tropical Smokehouse locations are separate. | [22] |
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt campus commitment and fundraisingGovernment Hill, West Palm Beach | Development · Development advanced, not open University advanced its planned campus and a new fundraising phase; education approvals remained necessary. | [34] | |
| Vanderbilt campus land giftWest Palm Beach campus site | Development · Land donation announced Jeff and Mei Sze Greene’s gift assembled additional campus land. | [35] |
Palm Beach
2 openings · 0 closingsA waterfront restaurant and the return of an existing hotel changed the island’s current offer.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutto MareRoyal Poinciana Plaza, Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Lakefront restaurant began service after a previously announced January 2 date. | [33] | |
| Coco’s at The VinetaThe Vineta Hotel, Palm Beach | Opening · Opened with hotel reopening Mediterranean restaurant is part of the reopened hotel. | Q1 2026, operating by March 11 | [36] |
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Vineta HotelPalm Beach, near Worth Avenue | Hotel · Reopened Former Chesterfield returned after renovation with 41 rooms and suites. | Late February to early March 2026 | [36] |
Delray Beach
3 openings · 0 closingsSundy Village and West Atlantic added dining alongside new restaurants east of Swinton.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona Wine Bar22 W. Atlantic Avenue, Sundy Village, Delray Beach | Opening · Opened Spanish wine and tapas restaurant at Sundy Village. | [4] | |
| Tropical Smokehouse524 W. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach | Opening · Opened Barbecue operator expanded to Delray Beach. | January 2026 | [32] |
| Geronimo Tequila Bar & Southwest Grill105 E. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach | Opening · Opened Southwestern restaurant and tequila bar joined Atlantic Avenue. | Q1 2026, open by February 6 | [19] |
Boca Raton
2 openings · 1 closingsA burger shop and plant-based café opened while Hooters exited. A hotel approval belongs in the longer-term pipeline.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charm City Burger Co.201 NW First Avenue, Boca Raton | Opening · Opened Burger restaurant began service in Boca Raton. | [25] | |
| Greens and Grains179 SE Mizner Boulevard, Royal Palm Place, Boca Raton | Opening · Opened Plant-based café established its first Florida location. | Q1 2026, open by February 4 | [16] |
| Hooters, Boca RatonNW 19th Street, Boca Raton | Closing · Permanently closed Boca location ended service; the announced last day was February 22. | February 2026 | [14][8] |
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mizner-area hotel redevelopment approvalFederal Highway south of Mizner Park, Boca Raton | Hotel · CRA approval A 12-story hotel redevelopment was approved for a shopping-plaza site. No hotel rooms opened. | [24] |
Boynton Beach
2 openings · 1 closingsThe documented additions served everyday lunch and family takeout occasions.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field of Greens, Renaissance CommonsRenaissance Commons, Boynton Beach | Opening · Opened Salad, sandwich and juice concept added a Boynton location. | February 2026 | [15][25] |
| Mistah Lee’s Smokin’ Good BBQ8240 State Road 7, Suite 250, west Boynton Beach | Closing · Location closed First permanent restaurant closed; owner discussed a future return. | [23][11] | |
| Bud’s Chicken & Seafood8801 Boynton Beach Boulevard, west Boynton Beach | Opening · Opened Family-owned chain added a western-county location. | February 2026 | [6] |
Lake Park
2 openings · 0 closingsTwo David Burke-associated waterfront venues entered service with different dining formats.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaHawk Prime by David Burke220 Lake Shore Drive, Lake Park | Opening · Opened Waterfront steakhouse entered service at the start of the year. | January 2026 | [31] |
| The Birdie Dockside Bar & GrillLake Park waterfront | Opening · Opened Dockside bar and grill joined the waterfront offer. | March 2026 | [5] |
Jupiter and Tequesta
3 openings · 1 closingsNew Italian, Southern and fast-casual formats arrived, while NiMo closed.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaltBird Kitchen & Bar251 U.S. Highway 1, Jupiter | Opening · Opened Southern-influenced restaurant opened before a February 15 celebration. | Q1 2026, operating by February 4 | [30] |
| Arthur & SonsJupiter | Opening · Opened Italian-American restaurant added a Jupiter location. | Late February 2026 | [1] |
| Guaca Go, TequestaTequesta | Opening · Opened Fast-casual bowl and burrito operator expanded north. | [18][17] | |
| NiMoTequesta | Closing · Permanently closed Restaurant ended service. | [14] |
Palm Beach Gardens
0 openings · 1 closingsAsian Fin’s exit removed an established local sushi restaurant.View activity and sources
Lake Worth Beach, Lantana and Atlantis
0 openings · 3 closingsClosures affected several separate trade areas and formats. Their reasons should not be pooled into one explanation.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathews Brewing Co.Lake Worth Beach | Closing · Closed Brewery ended service. | [9] | |
| Ravish Off OceanLantana | Closing · Permanently closed Outdoor-focused restaurant ended service. | [28] | |
| Atlantis Grill & Bar5805 S. Congress Avenue, Atlantis | Closing · Permanently closed Longstanding restaurant closed. | [22] |
Wellington and Royal Palm Beach
2 openings · 0 closingsFamily operators added sit-down dining in western communities.View activity and sources
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie’s Pizza & Restaurant13860 Wellington Trace, Suite 41, Wellington | Opening · Opened Vultaggio family restaurant brought pizza and Italian cooking to Courtyard Shops. | [29] | |
| Domenic’s & Vinnie’sOkeechobee Boulevard, Royal Palm Beach | Opening · Opened Italian restaurant began service in Royal Palm Beach. | March 2026 | [12] |
Regulations
Rules affecting the operating plan
| Business or project | What changed | Timing | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smaller-restaurant liquor-license proposal stopsFlorida | Regulation · Proposal did not pass SB 392, which proposed changing the size and capacity requirements for special restaurant beverage licenses, died in committee. Do not base a lease or floor plan on that proposed change. | [39] |
At quarter-end
What to watch next
The outlook below reflects information available at the close of Q1 2026. An announced date is a target, not a confirmed opening.
Vanderbilt remains a future demand source
The land gift and fundraising progress matter for long-term site selection. Academic programming still required approval. Do not turn the campus announcement into near-term lunch covers or hotel room nights. [35]
Boca’s hotel redevelopment
The March 23 approval creates a site to monitor for construction, displaced tenants and future restaurant space. Approval is not a delivery schedule. Confirm the next permitting milestone before negotiating around promised foot traffic. [24]
Cooper’s Hawk in Delray
A proposed restaurant at the former Duffy’s site was reported at quarter end. Track the redevelopment and opening confirmation separately from the chain’s operating Wellington restaurant. [10]
Decisions to take back to the business
- Give waterfront outlets separate operating statements when their check averages and service models differ.
- For a tasting counter, stress-test revenue at fewer completed covers and include cancellation handling in the reservation plan.
- Contact newly operating hotel teams about measurable referral arrangements rather than budgeting on projected future rooms.
- Confirm lease rights, outdoor seating limitations and equipment condition before underwriting a closed restaurant site.
Common questions
Palm Beach County: the practical questions
Which Palm Beach hotel reopened in the first quarter of 2026?
The Vineta, formerly The Chesterfield, reopened in Palm Beach. Discover The Palm Beaches reported 41 rooms and suites and an operating signature restaurant, Coco’s.
Did Vanderbilt open its West Palm Beach campus in Q1 2026?
No. The quarter included a commitment and fundraising announcement, followed by a land gift. Campus development and academic approvals were still ahead.
Research notes
Sources and coverage
Documented inventory assembled from month-by-month opening and permanent-closure searches, municipality searches, local reporting and operator announcements. Events are assigned by service date or stated milestone, not article date. Reopenings, relocations and concept replacements are labeled. Planned openings and temporary inspection closures are excluded from completed-opening and permanent-closure claims. These are documented changes, not a countywide census or a measure of net restaurant growth.
Coverage limits and unresolved items
- The Vineta’s reported late-February reopening and early-March brand debut vary by source. The quarter is certain; a single day is not asserted.
- Kura’s April 7 corporate release confirms it had opened after February 28, but does not distinguish March from early April. Its April grand-opening milestone appears in the next report.
- Oriental Food Market’s announced public closing day and lease-end date differ; both fall inside Q1.
- Small independent openings without a reliable quarter-level service date remain outside the counted inventory.
- Hotel statistics are monthly STR market observations. Bed-tax totals use the county's industry-month labels and can be affected by collection timing or adjustments.
Event dates determine which quarter an entry belongs to. Source publication dates and this report’s publication date are recorded separately. Later reporting may verify an earlier event; it does not move that event into a later quarter.
- Arthur & Sons opens in Jupiter ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Mar 24, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Asian Fin closes in Palm Beach Gardens ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Mar 30, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- South Florida restaurant closures in spring and summer 2026 ↗South Florida Sun Sentinel · Published Aug 26, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Barcelona Wine Bar opens in Delray Beach ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Feb 14, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- The Birdie Dockside Bar & Grill opens in Lake Park ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Mar 17, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Bud’s Chicken & Seafood opens west Boynton restaurant ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Mar 12, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- January restaurant openings and closings ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jan 23, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Palm Beach County restaurants that closed in 2026 ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Sep 8, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Palm Beach County closed restaurants, dated gallery captions ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Feb 11, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Cooper’s Hawk plans Delray restaurant at former Duffy’s site ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Mar 29, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Restaurants closed in December 2025 and January 2026 ↗South Florida Sun Sentinel · Published Feb 18, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Domenic’s & Vinnie’s opens in Royal Palm Beach ↗Wellington The Magazine · Published Sep 1, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Emelina opens in West Palm Beach ↗Miami Herald · Published Feb 3, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Hooters, NiMo, Oriental Food Market and Mathews closures ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Feb 11, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Field of Greens expands in Palm Beach County ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Feb 13, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Greens and Grains opens its first Florida location ↗South Florida Daily · Published Feb 4, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Guaca Go opens in Royal Palm Beach ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Sep 15, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Guaca Go opens Tequesta location February 2 ↗Guaca Go via National Law Review · Published Jan 26, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- New restaurant openings in West Palm, Delray and Boca ↗Boca Magazine · Published Feb 6, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Fiscal second quarter 2026 results and restaurant openings ↗Kura Sushi USA · Published Apr 7, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Loco Taqueria & Oyster Bar opens at NORA ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Mar 5, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- South Florida permanent restaurant closures, March and April ↗South Florida Sun Sentinel · Published May 6, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Mistah Lee’s closure announcement ↗Lee Stransky · Published Jan 8, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Boca Raton approves hotel and retail space near Mizner Park ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Apr 2, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Palm Beach County new restaurants in 2026, dated gallery captions ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jun 17, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- March 31 report confirms Delray and West Palm Beach shops opened ↗What Now Miami · Published Mar 31, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- PopUp Bagels February 28 grand opening ↗CityPlace · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Ravish Off Ocean closes in Lantana ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Apr 2, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Rosie’s Pizza brings a family restaurant legacy to Wellington ↗Wellington The Magazine · Published Apr 1, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- SaltBird opens in Jupiter ↗BocaNewsNow · Published Feb 4, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- SeaHawk Prime opens in Lake Park ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jan 26, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Tropical Smokehouse opens in Delray Beach ↗The Palm Beach Post · Published Jan 23, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Tutto Mare opens on Palm Beach’s lakefront ↗Palm Beach Daily News · Published Jan 7, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- University advances West Palm Beach campus and fundraising ↗Vanderbilt University · Published Jan 12, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Jeff and Mei Sze Greene land gift advances campus ↗Vanderbilt University · Published Mar 23, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- The Vineta Hotel reopens ↗Discover The Palm Beaches · Published Mar 11, 2026 · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- Monthly summary report, March 2026 ↗Monroe County Tourist Development Council / STR · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- FY 2025-2026 bed tax collections, by industry month ↗Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026
- SB 392 (2026): Issuance of Special Beverage Licenses, bill history ↗Florida Senate · Publication date not supplied · Checked Oct 30, 2026