"Daniel Boulud's polished French room in the Brazilian Court, Dover sole filleted tableside — book it for a season anniversary or a client dinner."
About Café Boulud Palm Beach
Daniel Boulud opened Café Boulud inside the Brazilian Court Hotel at 301 Australian Avenue in 2003, and it has been one of Palm Beach's steadiest fine-dining rooms ever since, holding four stars from the Forbes Travel Guide and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. Executive chef Christopher Zabita runs the kitchen, cooking Boulud's French repertoire alongside seasonal Florida produce. A full dinner lands around $85 to $140 a person; early prix-fixe menus cost less. For more of the island, see our Palm Beach dining guide.
The Kitchen
Christopher Zabita cooks to Daniel Boulud's template: French classics done precisely, with Florida seafood and produce worked in by season. The Dover sole meunière, filleted tableside in brown butter, is the signature and the dish to order. The potato-crusted sea bass is the other plate regulars name, and Boulud's warm madeleines close the meal the way they do across his restaurants. Maine scallops, prime steaks and a strong raw selection round out the card.
A full dinner runs about $85 to $140 a person before wine; an early three-course prix-fixe is around $48 Sunday through Thursday, and a weekday lunch prix-fixe about $32, which makes the room more accessible than the address suggests. The wine list earns its Best of Award of Excellence, deep in French and California labels. It sits comfortably among Palm Beach's best French restaurants and the kind of polished room that anchors a night out near Café L'Europe.
The Room
Café Boulud spreads across an elegant indoor dining room and a courtyard within the Brazilian Court Hotel, a Mediterranean-revival landmark a short walk from Worth Avenue. Lighting is soft, tables are well spaced, and the sound stays low enough for conversation even on a full season night. The crowd skews well-dressed regulars and hotel guests; dress is resort-elegant, with jackets common but not required. The courtyard is the seat to request in cooler months. Service is seasoned and unhurried, the kind that knows returning guests by name.
Best for an Anniversary or Client Dinner
Café Boulud fits a milestone or a business table for three reasons: the Boulud name carries weight, the room is calm enough to actually talk across a deal, and the tableside Dover sole gives the night a sense of ceremony. Book the courtyard in season for an anniversary, or a quiet corner of the dining room to impress clients. The weekday lunch prix-fixe also makes a sharp business lunch. Reserve ahead through the winter season. For more milestone rooms, see our best anniversary restaurants.
Not for
Not for a lively, casual night out or anyone after a scene. The room is calm and classic by design, and the off-season can feel quiet on a slow weeknight.
Frequently Asked
Who is the chef at Café Boulud Palm Beach?
Café Boulud is a Daniel Boulud restaurant, with day-to-day cooking led by executive chef Christopher Zabita. Boulud opened it inside the Brazilian Court Hotel in 2003, and it has earned four stars from the Forbes Travel Guide and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. The kitchen follows Boulud's French repertoire alongside seasonal local dishes.
How much does dinner cost at Café Boulud Palm Beach?
Expect roughly $85 to $140 per person for a full dinner with a starter, main and wine. An early three-course dinner prix-fixe runs about $48 from Sunday to Thursday, and a weekday lunch prix-fixe is around $32. Signature mains like the Dover sole and prime steaks sit at the upper end, so the bill scales with how you order.
What should I order at Café Boulud Palm Beach?
The Dover sole meunière, filleted tableside, is the dish to order, alongside the potato-crusted sea bass. Daniel Boulud's signature madeleines arrive warm at the end of the meal. The menu balances French classics with seasonal Florida produce and local seafood, so ask about the day's catch. Save room for the pastry, which is a strength of the kitchen.
Where is Café Boulud Palm Beach?
Café Boulud sits inside the Brazilian Court Hotel at 301 Australian Avenue in Palm Beach, a short walk from Worth Avenue. The setting includes an elegant dining room and a courtyard, and valet parking is available at the hotel. It has been a Palm Beach fixture since 2003 and draws a season crowd from across the island.
What is the dress code at Café Boulud Palm Beach?
Resort-elegant. The room expects collared shirts and dresses, and the season crowd dresses up; men often wear a jacket though it is not strictly required. Beachwear, shorts and flip-flops are out of place. Lunch runs a touch more relaxed than dinner, but Café Boulud sets a polished standard typical of Palm Beach's better rooms year-round.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Café Boulud
Booked on OpenTable. Courtyard tables are the prize in season; reserve ahead through the winter.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address301 Australian Avenue, Palm Beach, FL 33480
NeighbourhoodBrazilian Court Hotel (near Worth Avenue)
CuisineFrench
Price$85–$140 per person; early dinner prix-fixe about $48, lunch about $32
Dress CodeResort-elegant; jacket common, no shorts or beachwear
ReservationOpenTable · book ahead in season
