West Palm Beach retro chic bar with celebrity shine named among America's best
It's also making national news as a tastemaker of the highest order.
According to USA Today's 2025 Bars of the Year list, this rising bar is one of the top 29 places to drink in America. Food writers across the country nominated bars that excited them, bars they would recommend to friends and family, bars they'd return to again and again.
A big deal indeed for a space that accommodates only 125 yet feels larger than life.
'To be named one of USA Today's Bars of the Year, and the best in Florida, is deeply personal. It's a tribute to the vision, soul and community that brought Mary Lou's to life, and our muse — my incredible grandmother, Mary Lou Curtis — whose brilliant mind and vibrant spirit continue to inspire everything we do,' said co-founder Alex Melillo.
The 29 best bars in America in 2025: See USA TODAY's top picks
The buzz factor
To be fair, while Mary Lou's neighbors are rather pedestrian, the establishment does sit within sight of the bridge that deposits Palm Beach-bound drivers next to Donald Trump's backyard.
And without giving away too many surprises for those who want to go, Mary Lou's is more than just a luxe cocktail lounge.
Blending history, hospitality and high design, it pays homage to a bygone era of glamour, nostalgia and the art of celebration that evokes a trip back in time yet feels very au courant.
The concept was created by Melillo with business partners Joe Cervasio and Topher Grubb, who all spent time working in New York City. Their collective inspiration was sparked by that city's golden era of nightlife when iconic venues like Studio 54 and Peppermint Lounge shaped the social landscape — a pre-cellphone time defined by uninhibited fun.
Grubb, a Palm Beach native, said the area "has always known how to party, we just gave it a new room to dance in.'
Celebrities of every order
Opening night's guest list with Bettina Anderson (widely known as Donald Trump Jr.'s girlfriend) and fashion designer Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia fame were early indications this tres chic gin joint would be different from other bars opening in town.
It's played host to Michael Jordan twice: A TikTok video of him dancing with his wife Yvette Prieto went viral. Insiders spotted the GOAT a second time with Jalen Hurts, quarterback of the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles.
Other sightings of note include Venus Williams, Lorraine Bracco, Ramona Singer, pro-golfer Dustin Johnson and wife Paulina Gretsky, the daughter of another GOAT.
Even some of its collaborating consultants are famous. Grammy Award winners The Chainsmokers and two-time nominee Sofi Tukker, an e-music duo comprising Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern, shape the venue's entertainment programming.
More: The best bars in America in 2024: See USA TODAY's 27 favorite spots
Tribute to a trailblazer
Mary Lou's is named for Mary Lou Curtis, Palm Beach's fashion-forward entrepreneur, whose Le Shack boutique on Worth Avenue counted Jackie Onassis as a shopper. She was also known for her flair for entertaining.
Her legacy lives on through the venue's eclectically chic design and playful energy. Melillo describes Mary Lou as a woman who lived by the mantra, 'always have a sense of ridiculousness.'
From floor to ceiling, that ethos is woven into every tactile decor detail.
Best sips, nibbles
Drinking and dining at Mary Lou's is anything but traditional. In addition to the breathtaking bar, the space is peppered with sexy velvet booths that shimmer under seductive lighting in a room that feeds off the collective, almost communal, energy of other people.
The first order of business was choosing between classic craft cocktails and designer drinks. We settled the matter by ordering a round of each.
In a town where $28 cocktails abound, potent potables on Mary Lou's list average $20. Swellegant martinis and margaritas in fancy glasses felt very sophisticated. The 'Daddy's Girl' vodka concoction and tres playful 'Back Zip' with rum were almost too gorgeous to drink.
The only thing missing was a grasshopper riff, Curtis's cocktail of choice, to get us in the mood for season two of 'Palm Royale' on Apple TV+.
Wines by the glass are priced from $15 for prosecco to $24 for a Rioja selection. A coconut mocktail for the teetotaler in our group was a bit sweet for my pal but gently priced at $10.
Not that Mary Lou's is a cheap date as you'll discover if feeling peckish and order from the elevated bar bites menu.
Favorites included a delectable crispy octopus which was perfectly cooked (impressive because it's a dish that's hard to get right.)
The $50 A5 waygu burger takes a few cues from McDonald's Big Mac. It's decadent and served inside an elegant emerald jewel box emblazoned with Mary Lou's motto outside; inside, a gorgeous palm motif. Earning oohs and aahs from my pals, we couldn't stop playing with the box in appreciation of its beauty.
After decimating the fries, for the name alone we couldn't resist diving into a 'Millionaire's Baked Potato' topped with caviar for $32.
The pièce de résistance: a luscious banana creme brulee brilliantly plated a la Art Basel's famous duct taped banana, whose official title is "Comedian" by absurdist artist Maurizio Cattelan.
Instead of selling for $6.2 million at auction, dessert was $20.
Ridiculous and genius.
Mary Lou's: What to know if you go
Address: 250 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach
Web: marylouspb.com
Reservations email: gatorrides@marylouspb.com
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to the wee hours. The later it gets, the more fun you'll have.
Etc.: Reservations are strongly advised; the intimate space has limited seating at the bar and surrounding tables. After 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, a mininum spend applies; pricing depends on the entertainment and party size. Complimentary valet parking. There is no official dress code but looking expensive is de rigueur with the see-and-be-seen crowd Mary Lou's attracts. Think smart casual and leave the sweats, shorts and flip flops at home.
Coming soon: June marked the debut of a spinoff in Montauk, New York. On May 27, Shivana Vora for Forbes reported that Palm Tree Crew, co-founded by global DJ Kygo and longtime manager Myles Shear, is making a strategic investment in Mary Lou's.
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's food & restaurant writer. Care to share news tips about the local dining scene? Please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mary Lou's in West Palm Beach named one of best in the US by USA TODAY
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