Explore the Culture, Cuisine and Shopping in West Palm Beach, Florida

Once considered the little sister to ritzy, glitzy Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Florida, has embraced this distinction: It’s younger, cooler and way less formal. All it takes is one visit to bustling, palm-tree-lined Clematis Street to see why the city attracts a crowd: With its popular bars, coffee shops and restaurants, this boulevard alone holds enough cultural caché to warrant a visit.

Then there are the area’s museums and attractions, such as the Norton Museum of Art and the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. You’ll especially love spending an evening at Grandview Public Market, where you can take your pick from the gourmet food hall’s 12 different vendors while listening to live music.

As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.

Friday: Discover Downtown

Begin your weekend in West Palm Beach by exploring the historic heart of the city on Clematis Street. Ease into your day with a late brunch at Subculture Coffee. Enjoy a milky cortado or cold brew beneath a red umbrella on the adjacent patio. Take your pick of the café’s fresh offerings: banana chai smoothie, avocado toast or a breakfast sandwich of scrambled eggs and cheddar.

Spend the afternoon shopping on Clematis. Be sure to drop by the Waterfront Commons area, host to the Flagler Park green space with an interactive fountain and views of the Intracoastal Waterway, then snap a selfie (or two) in front of one the many street-art murals, from mermaids to honeybees to tropical flowers.

For happy hour, walk a few blocks north of Clematis Street to Spruzzo, the chic rooftop bar at the Ben, downtown West Palm’s only waterfront hotel. Enjoy a cocktail at the circular bar, which overlooks a marina of swanky sailboats and multimillion-dollar yachts.

Friday evening, venture to Northwood Village, a fun, eclectic area of colorful art galleries and shops, restaurants and bars. If you go on the last Friday night of the month, you’ll be just in time for Art Night Out, where you can wander the many galleries, wine in hand.

Once you’ve browsed the contemporary glass artworks at Habatat Galleries and the handmade furniture and sculpture at James Sagui Woodworking, dine at Agora Mediterranean Kitchen. Select from dishes like lemon chicken and rice soup, or shared plates of baba ghanouj and lavender-marinated octopus.

Feel like a nightcap? Hit up the outdoor bar at Pétanque Kitchen & Bar for craft cocktails and live music.

Saturday: Museum Hop

Take Saturday to explore the cultural offerings of West Palm Beach at the Norton Museum of Art, host to more than 8,200 permanent works. Browse the museum’s collections of European, American, Chinese and contemporary art — including Stuart Davis’ “New York Mural” and Jackson Pollock’s “Night Mist.”

When you’re done, have lunch at the Restaurant, an indoor-outdoor eatery with floor-to-ceiling views of the museum’s Pamela & Robert B. Goergen Garden.

Venture just south of downtown to the beautiful historic El Cid residential neighborhood to visit the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, the former home of late artist Ann Weaver Norton.

Situated on the Intracoastal Waterway, the junglelike garden features rare plants and 250 species of palms. The tropical grounds are also home to some 100 works by the artist, including nine monolithic sculptures, eight made from brick and one made from granite.

After that, drop by the nearby shops of Antique Row, set along South Dixie Highway, to find dealers selling fine antiques, vintage goods and midcentury modern furnishings.

End your day with a visit to Rosemary Square (locals know it as just the Square). At this open-air plaza and shopping district, you’ll find brand-name shops like Anthropologie and H&M.

Opt for a meal of braised steak tacos at Taqueria Bonitas or a vegan dinner at Planta, where you can select from starters like coconut ceviche and an array of gluten-free pizzas. Next door is the Kravis Center, host to regular performances, including concerts, comedy shows, operas, and touring Broadway productions.

Sunday: Meet Wild Animals and Local Plant Life

Spend your last day in West Palm Beach with a morning at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. Walk the zoo’s 23 tropical acres to see more than 500 animals, from endangered Malayan tigers to Mexican spider monkeys. Kids will love the interactive wildlife experiences, where they can enter the exhibits of animals like tortoises, sloths and flamingos.

Get an early lunch at the 1950s-style Nick’s Diner, where you can play a song on the jukebox while you enjoy a classic tuna melt or French dip sandwich and a root beer float.

In the afternoon, families should take time to browse the 100-plus educational exhibits at the Cox Science Center & Aquarium. Be mesmerized by the center’s Marvin Dekelboum Planetarium, and the 10,000-gallon Aquariums of the Atlantic, home to some of Florida’s most beautiful native sealife, such as spadefish, moray eels, stingrays and seahorses.

Then head to Mounts Botanical Garden, which makes the most of Florida’s tropical climate across its 14 acres of flowers, plants and trees from warm-weather locales worldwide. The butterfly garden and reflection pond are especially lovely.

End your day with a visit to Grandview Public Market, where you can take your pick from the gourmet food hall’s 12 different vendors, while listening to live music. Try the gyoza dumplings and red curry ramen from Ramen Lab Eatery or spicy tuna nachos from Point Break Poke House. Save room to sample the milk teas and Oreo ice cream at Sugar Milk Boba & Dessert Bar.