Inside The Bristol: Exclusive look at luxurious living in a club-like atmosphere
The Bristol, an ultra-luxury condominium, features amenities and upscale finishes for residents who paid millions of dollars per unit. This is the first-ever look inside West Palm Beach’s newest and most extravagant residence.
A trip into the The Bristol, the new condominium in West Palm Beach, is a step into a world where luxury living attains a new level of opulence.
The valet attendants wear white gloves and matching suits.
Waterfalls surround the entryway.
But nothing compares to the dramatic large glass windows that frame the entire building, starting with the lobby. Light bounces off the Italian white marble floors, drawing the eye to the terrace, the windows and the waterway beyond.
With perfection, or near perfection the goal, The Bristol’s developer said he and his team have endeavored to meet every promise made to buyers.
“There are a million details, and the expectation level is off the charts,” said Al Adelson of Flagler Investors.
But even Adelson seems amazed by the way it all came together: “It’s a beautiful project.”
Once the site of an outdoor church amphitheater, The Bristol is a new West Palm Beach condominium tower open for its first winter season. The tower rises 24 stories, although The Bristol describes itself as a 25-floor tower. The building, at 1100 S. Flagler Drive, does not feature a 13th floor.
Considered the most expensive condominium ever built in Palm Beach County, the 68-unit property has logged more than $430 million in closed sales of condominiums, which range in price from under $5 million to $43 million. It is mostly sold out of its units, which range in size from about 3,600 to 14,000 square feet.
Flagler Investors set out to create an ultra-luxury condominium that would draw wealthy buyers not only from the across the country but from across the bridges to Palm Beach. To sell the idea, The Bristol built its sales office on Palm Beach and not in West Palm Beach.
Initially, real estate observers wondered whether island residents, or would-be residents, would be willing to cross the Intracoastal and live in a West Palm Beach address. In fact, The Bristol served as something of a test of West Palm Beach’s appeal to the super luxury seeker.
But with no new condominiums on Palm Beach, The Bristol began to attract buyers who wanted something new and contemporary.
“We looked on Palm Beach and were disappointed by everything. All the older buildings,” said Bristol resident Ronald Shear.
But the West Palm Beach-based Bristol offered Palm Beach-style living “at a reasonable amount” compared to the island, Shear said.
And the finished product?
“Above and beyond expectations,” said Shear, who paid $4.3 million for a 7th floor unit. “It’s like living in an elegant hotel.”
“It’s new, it’s on the water and it’s the best location,” added Timothy Traff, who bought a $5.1 million unit on the 5th floor. “It’s a club-like atmosphere, a one-of-a-kind deal.”
The Bristol’s sales volume also is remarkable given that the project was the subject of heated resistance by West Palm Beach residents when it was proposed in 2013. Lawsuits by neighborhood opponents were filed, then eventually settled, prompting a delay in the building’s original timeline.
But once sales began in 2015, the project’s fortunes changed and pre-construction sales took off. One Palm Beach resident even paid $43 million for an entire floor.
With an exterior design that evokes the look of a cruise ship, The Bristol’s curved glass walls offer stunning views of the city, including the Royal Park Bridge leading from West Palm Beach to Palm Beach.
But the multi-million dollar views from inside the property are all about the water. Situated on a rare piece of land on the east side of Flagler Drive, views of the city, Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach and the Atlantic Ocean greet the eye from every condo unit.
The Palm Beach Post was granted an exclusive first look at The Bristol on Thursday.
The Bristol’s common areas feature a contemporary decor in a sea of neutrals, including white, driftwood brown, eggshell and gray. Touches of brass and gold metal framing in alcoves, lounges and even the restrooms unify the building and add a modern touch. The building’s interiors were designed by Amir Khamneipur.
Standing in the lobby, one sees the water and boats to the east. To the west, perfectly framed through the lobby doors, is the columned entryway of First Baptist Church. Flagler Investors paid the church $22 million for the land.
The Bristol is more than just another pretty building, however.
Luxury service is the goal, Adelson said. Adelson built The Bristol with Eugene Golub, founder of the Chicago development firm Golub & Co., and real estate developer and investor Jack Azout of Elion Partners in Aventura.
Clad in sockless loafers, jeans and a bright print shirt, Adelson oversees the building’s final touches on a busy morning. He peers at security cameras and quizzes workers. He even offers an opinion on the flavor of the breakfast croissants laid out for owners.
The luxe elements start in the lobby. Soft music filters in through speakers and a light scent is filtered in all day. In a side room every morning, continental breakfast is served.
There’s an outdoor dog park, and an indoor one, too. A concierge is available for a condo owner’s any wants or needs. Dry cleaning service is available daily. A full-time staff of 37 keeps the building running, and security is on the job 24 hours a day.
As elegant and expensive as The Bristol is, Adelson stressed it was designed for socializing. Parties have been held and more are planned, including a Chanel fashion show for residents set for the outside terrace.
A downstairs conference room featuring rich lacquered Australian wood can accommodate both a condominium meeting or a business confab.
Nearby is the beauty salon, which faces east toward the water. Those getting their hair washed or styled can pass the time watching the yachts motor by.
The eastern water views are repeated in an upstairs ladies’ spa. Not only can women disappear into dry or wet steam rooms, they also can receive massages, relax in the whirlpool or simply lounge by a glass window offering views of the Intracoastal.
The men’s locker room also features a whirlpool, plus massage and steam rooms.
But the rooms with the views belong to the women.
“Every room is designed for the woman. If the woman likes it, the husband will buy it,” Adelson said knowingly.
On the amenity floor, a gym featuring equipment and free weights faces the water. On the pool deck, a 75-foot lap pool adjoins a whirlpool. The deck features lounge chairs that can be shaded by a slatted canopy overhead.
Also in a corner of the deck: A play feature for children, with a fountain spraying jets of water.
Down below along the Intracoastal is a walking path lined by a terraced garden.
Back inside The Bristol, there are 12 guest suites. Owners who bought a unit at the Bristol also could buy a suite to accommodate visitors. The suites, which ranged in price from $600,000 to $1 million, resemble a posh hotel room with a small kitchen included.
Another extra: 16 private garages inside the main garage. These bays sold for $600,000 for one car to $1.75 million for four cars.
Robert and Carol Garvy are Bristol owners who sold their longtime Palm Beach home to enjoy the lifestyle of the building and the city. They also bought a guest suite and a private car garage.
Standing in their 19th floor unit, they point to the bridges, the boats on the waterway and the vibrant city around them. They say it’s a pleasure to watch the world go by through their 11-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows. “The location is great,” Robert Garvy said.
Fllagler Investors completed the Garvy’s unit up to a point, and then their interior designer, Marc-Michaels, took over.
With 5,600 square feet inside and another 1,500 in a wrap-around exterior balcony, there’s a lot of space to work with. For instance, a foyer wood wall features nooks for art pieces. It wraps around a wall facing the dining table to offer additional storage next to the built-in wine cooler and hidden fridge.
Next to the grand living area, an onyx-topped bar, inlaid with gold leaf, creates a whimsical gathering spot.
His office has sumptuous warm colors and custom art; hers is a soothing cream-and-white palette.
From his sky-high condominium above the city, Garvy predicted The Bristol will anchor what is expected to be a growing cluster of wealthy residents coming to West Palm Beach to enjoy the city’s culture, restaurants and lifestyle, plus take in the amenities of Palm Beach, too.
“This is a can’t-miss area for growth,” Garvy said.
View Photo Tour and Read Article at PalmBeachPost.com.
