Nora Hotel West Palm Beach Opens October 19 With Pastis and Sisley Spa

Palm Beach season gains a new mainland base on 19 October 2026, when Nora Hotel West Palm Beach opens at 1135 North Railroad Avenue in the Nora District. The 201-room house, including 14 suites, is the first ground-up hotel outside New York from BD Hotels, the group behind The Mercer, The Bowery and The Greenwich, developed with hotelier Sean MacPherson and joining The Leading Hotels of the World.

Timing is deliberate. Palm Beach's social calendar runs roughly October through April, and Nora arrives at the front of that window rather than mid-season. Guests who usually stay on the island itself now have a walkable West Palm alternative beside century-old railway warehouses turned into restaurants, shops and studios, with Mediterranean and Spanish Colonial Revival cues from Stantec on the exterior and Gachot Studios interiors upstairs.

Why Pastis and Lillys matter for guests

The ground-floor anchor is Pastis, Stephen Starr's Parisian-style brasserie spanning more than 13,000 square feet. Expect onion soup, escargots, steak frites and a raw bar, plus Pastis Privé as a private event room. For travellers who already book Pastis in New York, the West Palm version removes the need to leave the hotel for a full dinner programme on opening night.

On the roof, Lillys from Mama Hospitality (the team behind Mary Lou's) runs as three linked experiences: Lillys Pool by day, Bar Lilly for aperitifs, and Cafe Lilly for evening dining, with STARR Restaurants leading the culinary programme. Live music and collaborations sit beside the pool rather than as a quiet amenity deck. Downstairs, Sisley Spa Paris joins a fitness centre and lobby bar. Sisley's other American hotel spas are in New York, Los Angeles and Scottsdale, so the Palm Beach winters now have a brand guests already recognise from other cities.

How Nora sits against Palm Beach inventory

Island ultra-luxury still centres on addresses such as The Breakers Palm Beach and Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach. Nora is not trying to copy those oceanfront grand hotels. It sells a New York operator pedigree, a cobblestone district setting and a food-led rooftop instead of a private beach. Rooms promise sunlit layouts and generous bathrooms; categories such as the Grand King Terrace add a private terrace for guests who want outdoor space without crossing the bridge every evening.

Reservations are open through the hotel and Leading Hotels. For anyone planning gala weeks or a long winter stay, the practical so-what is simple: book early October arrivals if you want Pastis and Lillys before the season calendar fills the district. Nora will not replace the island's classic resorts, but it changes where the New York crowd can sleep when the season starts.