America’s only private island resort, Little Palm Island, unveils its first wine and culinary retreat
- Jake Nicholas
- Jan 26
- 7 min read
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is a secluded four-acre oasis in the Florida Keys – the only private island resort in the entire United States. Accessible only by the resort’s boat or by seaplane, this adults-only hideaway promises unparalleled tranquility and indulgence.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa sits within the Noble House Hotels & Resorts collection, a portfolio known for stewarding some of the country’s most distinctive destinations—but this is its crown jewel. From the very start, the reaching this paradise is half the enchantment. After a scenic drive down the Overseas Highway to the Shore Station on Little Torch Key, you’re greeted with the island’s signature welcome cocktail—the “Gumby Slumber,” a refreshing blend of pineapple, cranberry, and orange juices with coconut-infused rum. Almost immediately, you realize this is a place people return to again and again; many of the guests arriving beside you are on their fifth or sixth visit, a quiet signal of the island’s hold on those who discover it.
Each time a seaplane settles onto the water or the wooden ferry eases up to the dock, there’s a quiet pause across the island—an unspoken curiosity about who’s arriving now, as if the setting itself were pulled straight from an episode of The White Lotus.
With the drink in hand, you step aboard The Truman, a vintage-style 15-foot wooden motor yacht named after President Harry S. Truman, its polished teak and brass catching the light. The resort’s private ferry carries you across turquoise water on a short ten-minute crossing, with the mainland receding behind you. The breeze, the rhythm of the water, and the captain’s easy chatter set the tone.
Pulling up to the dock, you’re struck by how the island looks plucked from the South Pacific – a tree-filled sanctuary among thatched-roof cabins sprinkled throughout. Swaying coconut palms and a tiny thatch-roof pavilion at the pier welcome guests to this hidden world. It truly feels like arriving at a secret tropical haven. The moment you set foot on the sandy paths of Little Palm Island, time seems to slow down, and every sense comes alive with the scent of salt air and hibiscus on the breeze. A friendly staff member offers a warm welcome and a cool scented towel, and just like that, your vacation has officially begun.
Only 30 guest suites occupy this island (no more than 60 guests at a time), ensuring an intimate atmosphere where privacy reigns. Each suite is housed in a thatched-roof bungalow inspired by British West Indies design, blending tropical island vibes with old-world elegance.
You’re escorted down a sandy pathway, beneath dense torchwood trees and palms, to your bungalow. Inside, it’s the picture of romance and barefoot luxury: a plush king-size four-poster bed draped in airy netting (so tall it even has a step stool), polished wood floors, and island furnishings that exude vintage tropical charm. Through shuttered windows, natural light filters in gently, and outside every window is lush greenery – the room stays cool, dim, and soothing.
What’s missing is just as intentional. There’s no television. No alarm clock. Little Palm Island encourages guests to “Get Lost” in the moment. Wi-Fi exists, but most guests unplug willingly. With no children, limited electronics, and phones discouraged in public spaces, the island maintains a rare stillness. French doors open to a private deck facing the ocean, complete with an outdoor copper soaking tub and shower beneath palm fronds. Some suites include a private beachside fire pit.
Above The Dining Room sits The Great Room, the island’s only true connection to the outside world. It’s where you’ll find the television, radios, books, board games, and a relaxed, living-room-style lounge. The space is intentionally singular—the one place on the island where screens exist—so that everywhere else remains quiet, unplugged, and immersive. Guests often drift up after dinner for a nightcap, a game of cards, or a low-key conversation.
At turn-down each evening, the staff perform near-magical feats: you return from dinner to find your suite transformed with soft candlelight and flickering lanterns around the bed and bath, with chilled bottles of water and fresh towels laid out. The combination of the ocean breeze and the glow of candles makes the bungalow feel like a dreamlike hideaway. And for good measure, the mini-bar snacks and drinks are complimentary, so you can nibble on gourmet treats or toast with a nightcap without ever needing to sign a check. Little details like this – an artisanal chocolate on the pillow, a replenished stash of tropical fruit and nuts, or champagne waiting on ice in your room – exemplify the superb service that anticipates every need.
With no urban light pollution, nights feel expansive. Stars stretch across the sky. Walking along the beach or resting in a hammock on the pier at midnight feels removed from anything beyond the island. The only reminder of the outside world is the small Truman boat making its hourly crossing.
Despite its remoteness, Little Palm Island has made a name for itself in the culinary world. In fact, it’s Florida’s only hotel to earn the prestigious Three Michelin Key rating, signifying an “extraordinary” stay in every category, including dining. The resort’s sole restaurant, simply called The Dining Room, is an open-air, palm-thatched pavilion by the sea – an elegant yet relaxed setting with coral stone floors and panoramic ocean views. Here, Chef Richard and his team craft gourmet meals that rival the world’s best restaurants. The menu changes nightly, a rotating tapestry of island flavors and seasonal ingredients, so each dinner feels unique and special.
Mornings may begin with breakfast on your bungalow patio or in the dining room. Lunch is often taken poolside. Come evening, the restaurant becomes the island’s social heart. Some nights, tables are set directly on the beach. Wine flows easily. A pianist plays from a grand piano near the shoreline, a tradition carried on for decades.
One of the joys of Little Palm Island is that you can do as much or as little as you desire. For those seeking adventure, the resort offers a host of included activities and excursions. A highlight for many is taking out one of the complimentary Boston Whaler skiffs from the island’s marina to explore the surrounding Keys. There are four of these 13-foot mini-boats available, and you don’t even need to reserve one – simply ask, and the staff will pack a cooler with cold drinks, hand you a local chart, and send you off for a self-guided island-hopping adventure. With the little motorboat chugging along, you spend an afternoon cruising to a hidden sandbar where you beach the skiff and swim in bathtub-warm shallows. You even visit tiny Picnic Island, where visitors have nailed dozens of quaint wooden placards bearing their hometowns to the mangrove trees. It’s the ultimate castaway fantasy, playing out in real life.
If you prefer to stay on the property, Little Palm provides paddleboards, kayaks, Hobie Cat sailboats, and snorkeling gear for guests to use freely. The world’s third-largest barrier reef is nearby, and snorkeling at Looe Key Reef reveals a rainbow of tropical fish and coral just a short boat ride away. Fishing enthusiasts can charter a trip to legendary nearby waters – President Truman himself used to visit this island primarily for the spectacular fishing of mahi-mahi and tuna, and if you catch something noteworthy, the resort’s chef will happily prepare it for your dinner that night. On the island, there’s an inviting lagoon-style pool with poolside cabanas for lounging in the sun (cocktail in hand, of course), and tucked-away hammocks strung between palms for an indulgent midday nap.
When it’s time to slow down further, SpaTerre offers open-air treatments in a two-story pavilion. Signature rituals include sunrise immersion therapies, herbal massages, and wellness treatments infused with tropical botanicals.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa delivers an experience that feels almost mythical in its perfection. It has earned the highest accolades, from Travel + Leisure’s “Best Resorts” lists to its recent Three-Key honor from the Michelin Guide recognizing its extraordinary comfort, service, and style. Yet those accolades only echo what guests feel the moment they arrive: a sense that they’ve discovered a rare jewel hidden in plain sight. This four-acre speck of land off the Florida coast manages to transport you to another world – one where palm fronds whisper overhead, where no request is too large and no detail too small, and where you truly “get lost” in the paradise around you.
This winter, Little Palm Island is taking its culinary reputation even further with the debut of Vintners’ Voyage—an immersive, four-day wine and culinary retreat that transforms the entire island into a private gastronomic playground. From February 5–8, 2026, the resort will be reserved exclusively for just 25 bungalow suites of guests, creating an intimate, uninterrupted weekend devoted to fine wine, rare vintages, and Michelin-level cuisine.
Designed as a true “island takeover,” Vintners’ Voyage brings together world-class talent in an environment already defined by rarity. Michelin-starred Chef Julien Lefebvre will join the island’s culinary team to craft a multi-course Dual-Chef Dinner on opening night, setting the tone for a weekend where every meal becomes an event. The following day centers on wine, led by Master Sommelier Desmond “Des” Echavarrie, who will guide guests through intimate tastings and masterclasses featuring rare selections from his Scale Wine Group portfolio.
The weekend’s Michelin Wine Dinner pairs legendary labels—from Champagne Jacquesson, one of the oldest houses in Champagne, to Napa Valley icon Eisele Vineyard—with boutique wines from acclaimed winemaker Sam Kaplan of Memento Mori, MAXEM, and Vida Valiente. That evening concludes with a private performance by Grammy-nominated artist Grace Potter, bringing her raw, soulful sound to Little Palm Island for an exclusive beachfront show.
Packages start at $35,000 per couple. For booking inquiries, please call: 305-422.4244 or email managingdirector@littlepalmisland.com
