Hibiscus House
501 30th St., West Palm Beach561-863-5633
We're a few hours into a happy hour at this perfect tropical garden when somebody brings up the idea of going someplace else for dinner. Sure, we all probably need something to soak up hours' worth of alcohol, but nobody likes the idea of leaving a place that feels like an ideal Old Florida backyard. Tables and chairs are scattered across a patio amid tiki torches, a fountain, and tropical fauna, all comfortably spaced out to give groups of drinkers their room. At the full bar nearby, the friendly bartender overhears our dilemma about dinner and offers, "Why don't you just order in? Pizza Girls delivers." Brilliant idea, sir. Before we finish off -- what was it? -- a fourth round or so, a few boxes of steaming pizza pies arrive from nearby Clematis Street. The guests here -- this is a B&B, after all -- have probably long gone to bed by the time we ask for the check, which always seems to be missing a few rounds. We join the crowd outside passing between Clematis and CityPlace and then head home, envious of those smart enough to book a room at Hibiscus House who will in a few short hours wake up to a slice of Florida as comfortable as any backyard paradise can get.
