Hotel of the Week: This Gachot-Designed Stay Gives West Palm Beach a Stylish New Look

Sean MacPherson has masterminded some of New York’s most distinctive hotels, from The Bowery and the Ludlow to the legendary Hotel Chelsea, all of which have become cultural destinations and helped define the character of their neighborhoods. Yet MacPherson found inspiration far beyond Manhattan during the pandemic, when he spent several months in Palm Beach and developed an affection for its Mediterranean architecture and low-slung streetscapes after “bicycling daily through virtually every street,” he tells Galerie. Having grown up in Malibu, the hotelier saw echoes of his Southern California childhood in the sun-drenched, Spanish Colonial–inspired buildings of Addison Mizner. So when Wheelock Street Capital, an investment firm involved in the revitalization of Hotel Chelsea, approached MacPherson about developing a hotel in West Palm Beach’s burgeoning Nora District, the opportunity proved irresistible.  

The newly opened Nora Hotel channels the maverick spirit and lived-in charm of MacPherson’s celebrated New York properties but through a sunny South Florida lens. With stylish interiors by Gachot, the acclaimed Galerie Creative Mind firm founded by husband-and-wife designers John and Christine Gachot, the 201-room property marries Palm Beach’s breezy romance with the decadent ambiance of downtown Manhattan. The Gachots proved ideal collaborators, having conceived elegant digs for Detroit’s Shinola Hotel and The Shepherd in Charleston. Here they draw on the region’s architectural pedigree, with a facade inspired by Mizner and railroad magnate Henry Flagler, imbuing the hotel with an eye for history that belies its newness.  

Yet the interiors eschew Palm Beach’s pink-and-green motifs, favoring a moodier downtown vibe. “From the beginning, Sean referenced one of his favorite Rolling Stones lyrics from Rocks Off: ‘The sunshine bores the daylights out of me,’” Christine says. “Having grown up in California, he understood that when you’re surrounded by sunshine all the time, a little reprieve can be wonderful.” That sentiment inspired the Gachots to infuse a seductive palette through the public areas, from the breezy entry loggia and richly appointed library to the warmly lit bar. Deep wood finishes, sumptuous upholstery, and eclectic furniture provide respite from the Florida sun, reserving the rooftop for a more exuberant celebration of the tropical surroundings. 

The rooftop, however, embraces South Florida’s abundant sunshine with gusto. Lillys, an original concept from Mama Hospitality, the group behind the popular Mary Lou’s supper clubs, transforms the traditional hotel pool deck into an all-day social destination. Pink-fringed umbrellas shade plush loungers beside the crystal-clear water, with swaying palms and terracotta roofs completing the sun-soaked tableau. Guests can sip chilled rosé from private cabanas or settle into Bar Lilly for sunset cocktails before enjoying Mediterranean-inspired fare at Cafe Lilly, whose culinary program comes courtesy of celebrated restaurateur Stephen Starr.  

Starr also oversees the ground-floor dining options, including an outpost of Pastis that channels the beloved New York brasserie’s convivial spirit through checkered floors, bentwood bistro chairs, and soaring ceilings. Nearby, Jack’s Bar evokes the kind of old-world watering hole that John F. Kennedy might have frequented, with amber lighting and clubby environs conducive to lingering over ice-cold martinis. The hotel’s more intimate gathering places, meanwhile, reflect the Gachots’ affinity for residential comfort: pecky cypress woodwork, hand-selected antiques, and custom furnishings lend each room an idiosyncratic charm. “There’s a certain intimacy and residential quality that we gravitate toward in hospitality,” Christine explains. “We wanted Nora to feel like it belonged in Palm Beach, but to offer a different experience.” 

That residential sensibility permeates the hotel’s graceful blush-toned guest rooms, which include 14 suites with Juliet balconies. Creamy walls and pale wood detailing forge an airy backdrop for coral and sage accents, wicker furnishings, and shell-inspired flourishes that playfully reference the coastal locale. The Madison Melle Agency curated an art collection that lends even more personality to the property’s public areas and accommodations. Guests seeking a slower pace can retreat to Florida’s first-ever Sisley Spa, which offers treatments inspired by the Parisian beauty house’s botanical expertise. Four private treatment rooms accommodate restorative massages and facials complemented by a steam room and secluded outdoor terrace.  

The hotel’s arrival marks a major milestone for the surrounding Nora District, an ambitious redevelopment transforming a corridor of century-old railway warehouses into a walkable neighborhood of boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. As the area continues to welcome new businesses and visitors, MacPherson hopes the hotel will become a magnetic force like his New York addresses. “We strived to build a property that feels contextual to West Palm Beach, and we hope its thoughtful design will subtly add to [the city’s] myriad cultural offerings,” he says. Given his track record of turning hotels into neighborhood institutions, the Nora could easily become one of the defining destinations writing West Palm Beach’s next chapter.