Worth Avenue and the Vias

Worth Avenue is the most elegant street in Palm Beach and one of the best-known shopping streets in the world, but you do not need a large budget to enjoy it. The architecture is the draw. In the 1920s, architect Addison Mizner shaped the street and its side passages, the vias, into a Mediterranean Revival fantasy of arches, loggias, fountains, tiled stairs, hidden courtyards and cafes tucked into gardens. Walk the avenue and duck into Via Mizner, Via Parigi and others, and you find a series of small, picturesque spaces that feel closer to Spain or Italy than South Florida. Window-shopping is free, the cafes are welcoming, and the experience is one of the most characteristic of Palm Beach.

The street's history is bound up with the island itself. Mizner arrived in Palm Beach in the early 1920s and designed the Everglades Club, a private social club, which set the tone for the island's architecture. Worth Avenue grew up as the shopping street for the winter colony, and its boutiques, galleries and jewelers attracted the same wealthy clientele as the hotels.

The vias, narrow passages connecting Worth Avenue to the parallel streets, were designed as intimate, village-like lanes, and many remain nearly unchanged. Exploring them is the heart of the visit; each has its own character, from tiled courtyards to staircases with views of the street below.

Shopping on Worth Avenue spans the high end, with designer flagships and fine jewelers, and a layer of independent boutiques, galleries and cafes. You do not have to buy anything to enjoy the walk; the architecture, the fountains and the people-watching are the point. Several cafes and restaurants line the street and the vias, offering a pleasant place for coffee, lunch or an afternoon drink.

Hours vary, and many shops close on Sundays or have limited hours in the summer low season, so check ahead if you plan to shop. The street is also the starting point for walks to the beach and the Lake Trail, both a short distance away.

To enjoy it fully, go in the morning when the light is soft and the street is quiet, or late afternoon when the stucco glows. Wear comfortable shoes and note that parking can be tricky; there are metered spaces and nearby garages, and a rideshare or trolley may be easier in the busy season. Combine the visit with the Flagler Museum and a boat tour to build a Palm Beach day.

If you are interested in the architecture, look for details such as carved stone, wrought iron, painted ceilings and decorative tiles, and consider asking at a gallery about the history of the building you are in. The avenue is a place to look, wander and linger.

A couple of insider habits make the walk richer. Look for the little details in each via: a carved door, a wall fountain, a tiled stair, a balcony half hidden by a vine. Try the cafes in the courtyards for a coffee or lunch, and sit for a while rather than rushing through. If you enjoy art, several galleries on the street welcome browsers, and some host openings in the winter season. Early weekday mornings offer the best chance of having the vias to yourself.