Why you should experience the Worth Avenue Clock Tower in Palm Beach.
The Worth Avenue Clock Tower isn’t just a landmark, it’s the timeless guardian of Palm Beach’s elegance, where the Atlantic breeze meets old-world charm in perfect harmony.
Standing proudly at the eastern gateway of Worth Avenue, this seaside monument feels like something out of a dream, a fusion of Mediterranean romance, coastal sophistication, and quiet grandeur. With its creamy limestone façade, ornate arches, and twin clock faces gazing toward both ocean and avenue, the tower perfectly embodies the spirit of Palm Beach: poised, sunlit, and eternally refined. Completed in 2010 as part of Worth Avenue’s historic restoration, the clock tower quickly became the district’s most photographed icon, a symbol of continuity where tradition meets modern indulgence. As waves crash softly against the seawall below, and palms sway above the polished boutiques of Chanel, Gucci, and Cartier, the tower’s chimes mark not just the hour, but the cadence of Palm Beach life itself. It’s more than architecture; it’s an atmosphere, serene yet cinematic, like stepping into a frame of coastal perfection that never fades.
What you didn’t know about the Worth Avenue Clock Tower.
Behind its effortless beauty lies a story of preservation, community pride, and symbolic rebirth.
The tower was conceived during the early 21st-century revitalization of Worth Avenue, a project meant not to reinvent, but to restore the avenue’s historic soul. Designed by architect Addison Mizner’s spiritual successors, it reflects the signature Palm Beach Mediterranean Revival style that Mizner himself popularized nearly a century earlier. Its coral stone base and coquina texture mirror the very materials that built Palm Beach’s gilded legacy, from the Everglades Club to Mizner’s mansions that line the island. But more than an architectural flourish, the clock tower was envisioned as a gateway: a symbol marking where commerce gives way to coastline, where sophistication meets simplicity. The structure incorporates symbolic details, from its weather vane and maritime compass to the plaque honoring the avenue’s 100th anniversary, celebrating the passage of time as both literal and poetic. Interestingly, its design nods to Palm Beach’s earliest oceanfront watchtowers, which once guided ships along the coastline before radar existed. Today, the tower not only stands as a civic landmark but also as a gathering place, a beloved backdrop for wedding photos, charity galas, and early morning walks at sunrise. Locals affectionately call it “the town clock,” though its precision is rivaled only by its grace. In the golden light of dawn, it feels less like a new addition and more like something that’s always been there, timeless by design, eternal by intention.
How to fold the Worth Avenue Clock Tower into your trip.
Experiencing the Worth Avenue Clock Tower is about slowing down, letting Palm Beach’s rhythm wash over you like sunlight on the tide.
Start your visit early in the morning, when the avenue is hushed and the Atlantic horizon shimmers in soft pink light. Approach the tower from the east end of Worth Avenue, where it rises at the junction of ocean and opulence. Take a moment to stand beneath its archway and gaze seaward, the breeze carries salt and perfume in equal measure, and the sound of waves mixes with the distant clinking of coffee cups from nearby cafés. From here, stroll westward down the avenue, lined with designer boutiques, art galleries, and vine-draped courtyards that feel transported from the Riviera. The Via Mizner and Via Amore passageways invite exploration, filled with hidden fountains and the faint echo of live jazz drifting from tucked-away patios. Return to the tower around sunset, when its limestone glows rose-gold and the sky ignites over the water, a moment so cinematic it feels choreographed. If you’re visiting in December, the tower becomes even more magical, adorned with wreaths and soft lights that reflect against the ocean like jewelry. Pair your stop with a meal at Bice Ristorante or a glass of wine at Renato’s, both steps away yet worlds apart from the bustle beyond the island. The Worth Avenue Clock Tower isn’t just a meeting point or photo backdrop, it’s the quiet soul of Palm Beach, where elegance is measured not in luxury, but in grace. To stand beneath it is to stand at the edge of time itself, where every hour feels like forever, and forever feels like home.
Hear it from the Foresyte community.
“It’s basically the unofficial selfie station of Palm Beach. You don’t stay long but somehow you always stop. The clock’s not what you’re looking at anyway.”
Where meaningful travel begins.
Start your journey with Foresyte, where the planning is part of the magic.
Discover the experiences that matter most.
