A Hedonistic Day in West Palm Beach

For the hedonistic solo traveler.

By Thought Daughter Travels

By far the most darling city with the worst reputation, not many young, active solo travelers find themselves in West Palm Beach. Why? Is it because of the attitudes, the whispers of cultishness, the general draw for activities besides polo tournaments and boating competitions slim? Maybe you’ve been told there’s not much to see there, that it’s too laid back, to the point of being treacly. Currently holding the place in my heart for favorite airport hotel, West Palm is my most recent conquest, a place I have been able to make lovely in my mind. A small warning that I might be biased: growing up in a small town south of Orlando, home of a gas station and Publix only, it was the closest big city; my parents would drive us down to the farmer’s market by Clematis, or to get ice cream and walk on the Municipal Beach on a Sunday in November, when the weather was pleasant. They would go to Sunfest by the waterfront in their wilder days, and leave my brother and I with our grandparents. Now the only times I traipse around the little city are when I go for work, in which I’ve recently constructed what would be the absolute perfect day in West Palm Beach: a day set for myself, a “thought daughter” esque writer, constantly on the brink of existentialism, bored with everything except people-watching.

As always, a perfect day begins and unfolds near the water, and a nice, thought provoking walk, the length depending on where you stay the night before. Surfside Diner on Royal Palm Way is a perfect stop for a black coffee on the run, a quaint cafe facing the street, its tiny blue tables boasting fried grouper sandwiches and Eggs Benedict. Ordering at the counter and waiting for it there is always a good idea anyway; watching the orders appear facedown on the wooden countertop, the lazy handwriting of the servers, so early in the morning. Potentially full of families, especially if you come to town on a Sunday, catching the church crowd. Coffee in hand, the beach is a mere few steps away, where you can lay your towel and your items, for me, my undoubtedly large Ted Baker, full of my journal, my poetry notebook, my runes and my current read, the out of season Master and Margarita (when I left, it was fall in New York).

After a dip in the ocean and baking in the sun for a few minutes, assuming you’re still looking presentable, behold my favorite bookstore in all of Florida, Raptis Rare Books, a quiet antiquarian bookshop that sits on Worth Avenue, its silent crown. A gem in the midst of the Chanel and Bottega Venetta, the store specializes in fine first editions and classics, with stunning floor to ceiling displays behind fragile glass covers, wine red editions of F. Scott Fitzgerland and Homer. Maybe you’ll have the blessing of meeting Matthew and Adrienne Raptis, who founded the store on their love of rebinding and repairing custom clamshell boxes, and Greek status that adorn the store, their heads on display. The private office of the literary paradise is usually open to the public; located behind the displays, an elegant pool table sits, untouched, and several brown leather armchairs, and Matthew and Adrienne have even put in a cigar lounge conjoined to the shop, and a literary themed coffee shop. Though the store is small it is grand and easy to get lost in, the likes of Artie Shaw playing as you comb through the inscribed editions of Rosseau, of Virginia Woolf. The current highest priced item is Cervantes’ final revised third edition of Parts I and II of Don Quixote- for $1,900,000.00.

Soon it’s time to take yourself to lunch: and BiCe Ristorante is waiting, just a few doors down, courtyard dining that’s coveted and chic. Let it be noted that BiCe is my perfect pick for a solo lunch because of the limited space the courtyard offers- squeezed between an antique jewelry store and a CJ Laing, it is the perfect spot to watch the shoppers and the lovers, who linger nearby the storefronts, a shared space. But the perfect table for a lone diner is waiting- a small spot at the very front, nose to nose with the entertainment, a Spanish guitar player on Saturday mornings and afternoons. Opt for a glass of the Whispering Angel in one of their sparkling champagne tulip flutes, to be enjoyed with the Parma e Mozzarella pizza- mozzarella, roasted cherry tomatoes, arugula, prosciutto San Daniele, and extra virgin olive oil, while you enjoy the music. The service is curt and friendly, a chic spot to stop and take a break, not intimate a place enough to linger due to the quick turnaround table service.

A Global Wine Map From England To Australia

From emerald Douro slopes to Mendoza’s sweeping plains—here are the world’s 50 best wineries, ranked by wine experts at Virgin Wines.

By Lewis Nunn

Terraced vineyards climb Douro’s emerald slopes, century‑old Malbec vines sweep Mendoza’s plains, and horse‑drawn carriages roll through time‑worn estates. From neo‑Gothic chapels in Chile’s Maipo Valley to submerged cellars in Argentina, these wineries unite cultural landmarks with innovation. To distill the very best, applications were submitted by leading estates via more than a dozen global tourist boards, before being sent to wine experts at Virgin Wines to analyze and rank the world’s 50 best wineries, via a data-driven framework. The criteria? Heritage and longevity, mentorship of future winemakers, sustainability certifications, social responsibility, innovation in viticulture, transparency through ESG reporting, and even packaging choices (see Virgin Wines’ ranking insights at the end of the guide). The result? A global atlas of wineries well worth the flight—from storied icons to rising stars.

Sophie Lord, Buying Director, Virgin Wines, spoke about the final shortlist: “The final line-up showcases those that achieved the highest scores across a range of benchmarks, including historical significance, innovation, consumer engagement, sustainability, and social responsibility. Sustainability and social responsibility carried particular weight—values that have become increasingly vital to the global wine industry and central to our judging process”.

34. Château d’Esclans

Where: Provence, France

Set on elevated land near the Gorges de Pennafort, Château d’Esclans is the Provençal estate behind the global rosé phenomenon Whispering Angel. Acquired by Sacha Lichine in 2006, the château—once a residence of the Counts of Provence—ignited the “Rosé Renaissance” with a portfolio that includes Rock Angel, Les Clans, and Garrus. Now majority-owned by LVMH, the estate marries 19th-century architecture with modern winemaking, harvesting grapes at sunrise to preserve freshness. Tour the cellars, stroll the Mediterranean gardens, and enjoy guided tastings that trace the evolution of rosé.

Château d’Esclans wins IWSC 2025 Rosé Wine Producer Trophy

By Gosia Young

Nearly twenty years after Sacha Lichine acquired a Provençal estate with dreams of creating “the greatest rosés in the world,” Château d’Esclans has been awarded the IWSC’s 2025 Rosé Wine Producer Trophy. 

When founder Sacha Lichine founded Château d’Esclans in 2006, rosé was, quite frankly. largely dismissed as ‘simple summer refreshment’. Today, thanks largely to his vision and the global success of Whispering Angel, Provençal-stylerosé commands serious attention in wine lists from New York to Hong Kong. Our IWSC judges recognised this transformation: “What they’ve done at Château d’Esclans has been so extraordinary for rosé as a category.” 

The IWSC Rosé Wine Producer Trophy celebrates excellence across rosé portfolios, and Château d’Esclans demonstrated a remarkable range. From Whispering Angel – now sold in over 100 countries – to their premium Garrus, the estate showcased what happens when traditional Provençal terroir meets uncompromising winemaking standards. David Kermode noted: Château d’Esclans entered Garrus – a rosé crafted to age – into blind competition. It stood out for its quality, and it should serve as a signal to other producers of the power of entering vintage wines.” 

Under technical director Bertrand Léon, whose father Patrick established the estate’s winemaking philosophy, Château d’Esclans continues pushing boundaries whilst maintaining rigorous standards. Their approach combines old-vine minerality from chalky soils with state-of-the-art cellar technology, including one-of-a-kind individual temperature-controlled barrel systems and optical sorting equipment. 

The estate also achieved Level 3 Haute Valeur Environnementale certification in 2024, lightened all bottles by 20%, and introduced the first carbon-neutral bottle for Garrus. Meanwhile, Rock Angel After Dark – featuring a luminous bottle designed for nightlife – demonstrates how tradition can embrace contemporary culture and for younger generations. 

As Château d’Esclans approaches their twentieth vintage, the estate has transformed not just their own fortunes but an entire category. From a single visionary’s dream to global rosé renaissance – that’s the Château d’Esclans story. 

Congratulations to Château d’Esclans.