Outdoor dining in Palm Beach’s Royal Poinciana Plaza

For all of those – I suspect there are many – who love outdoor dining as much as we do, it looks like another option can be added to the list shortly. Locals and visitors are excited about possibly soon being able to dine “al fresco” at the newly renovated Royal Poinciana Plaza. William Kelly wrote on Dec. 22, 2016 in the Palm Beach Daily News: “The Town Council gave its blessing last week to a zoning change that will allow plaza restaurants to seek town permission to move some seating outdoors, provided the overall number of seats does not increase. Each eatery’s request would be considered individually. The council could reject it or attach conditions, such as requiring screening or noise buffers. The plaza is the only commercial district in town where eateries cannot request town permission for outdoor dining. Councilwoman Bobbie Lindsay said there’s no logic in treating the plaza differently from other commercial districts. Plaza manager Up Markets requested the change as part of its efforts to renovate and revitalize the 12-acre, open-air plaza and attract new, higher-end retail clients. Outdoor seating was allowed in the early days of the Regency-style shopping center, which was designed by John Volk and opened in 1957.”