Palm Beach · Food & Wine
2025 Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival Highlights: Chefs, Tastings and Unforgettable Moments
Four days, one glorious stretch of South Florida coastline and some of the best cooking of the year. From a glamorous kickoff to a bell that summoned shrimp cocktail on an ice rink, here is what made the 18th Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival unforgettable.
Every December, The Palm Beaches throw one of the most anticipated food parties in the country, and in 2025 the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival proved once again why it has earned that reputation. Its 18th edition stretched across several days and some of the most beautiful venues in South Florida, pairing world-class chefs and winemakers with the easy, ocean-breeze elegance of The Palm Beaches. Presented in partnership with Wine Spectator and powered by GEICO, it was a festival about food and wine, certainly, but also about the people and places that make this corner of Florida one of the country’s great places to eat.
Here are the moments that defined the weekend, and how to plan for next year.
From the first toast to the final bite, a festival about the people and places as much as the plates.
A glamorous kickoff at The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection
The festival came to life with a kickoff party at The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, where refined luxury met relaxed coastal style. From the moment guests arrived, the mood was set for the days ahead: warm, unhurried and made for long conversations. Passed bites showed off bold flavors and serious technique, while curated cocktails and fine wines kept the evening moving.
As live music played and the lights softened, the space turned into the weekend’s social hub, with chefs, winemakers and festivalgoers mixing easily. It was the perfect opening night, a preview of the hospitality, creativity and culinary talent that would carry the whole festival, and 5 Reasons to Visit Publisher and Editorial Director Adrian Bryce was there to toast it.
National Geographic at The Ben, Autograph Collection: storytelling through taste
One of the festival’s most thought-provoking evenings unfolded at The Ben, Autograph Collection, in West Palm Beach. The National Geographic dinner experience paired beautiful cooking with powerful storytelling, connecting each course to culture, travel and sustainability. Every dish felt intentional, drawing on global influences and inviting guests to think about what we eat and why, a reminder that a great meal can be both deeply personal and universal.
Then came a sweeter, more playful turn: a hands-on tiramisu class. Guided by the pastry team, guests layered espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone themselves, learning the small details behind the Italian classic and enjoying the making as much as the eating.
And just steps away, the night took its most delightful twist at the ice-skating rink, where a simple ring of a bell summoned freshly served shrimp cocktail. It was an unexpected, joyful touch that captured exactly what this festival does best: balancing elegance with fun.
The Grand Tasting: the heart of the festival
At the center of the weekend was the Grand Tasting, the festival’s signature walk-around event, bringing celebrated chefs, renowned winemakers and eager food lovers together in one lively space. The tasting floor buzzed with discovery as guests moved from station to station, sampling standout dishes and exceptional pours and chatting with the people behind them. Indulgent, interactive and endlessly inspiring, it was the festival in a single afternoon.
The Chef Showdown: creativity on the clock
The energy peaked at the Chef Showdown, a thrilling test of skill, speed and imagination. Chefs faced off in front of a live crowd, turning mystery ingredients into polished plates under pressure, and the audience watched every move. It was proof that some of the most exciting moments in food happen when creativity meets a ticking clock.
Where to stay: The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection
As the festival wound down, one thing was clear: where you stay matters as much as where you eat. The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, proved the ideal home base, with a serene setting, sophisticated rooms and easy access to festival venues across The Palm Beaches. Whether you are unwinding after a full day of tastings or easing into a quiet morning, The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, adds a layer of calm luxury to the whole trip.
The 2025 Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival didn’t just serve memorable meals; it created moments. For anyone already planning ahead, our guide to the 2026 Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival, December 10 to 13, has the dinners, brunches and parties worth booking. The menus will change, but the magic of the festival, and the comfort of The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, will be waiting.
Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival — At a Glance
- When
- Every December; the 2025 festival was the 18th edition
- Where
- Venues across The Palm Beaches, Florida
- Partners
- In partnership with Wine Spectator; powered by GEICO
- 2025 highlights
- Kickoff at The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection; National Geographic dinner and tiramisu class at The Ben, Autograph Collection; Grand Tasting; Chef Showdown
- Where to stay
- The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection
- Next year
- December 10–13, 2026; see our 2026 festival guide
Plan Your Festival Trip
Make next December’s festival a weekend: book a stay at The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, and pick your dinners as soon as the lineup is announced.
Explore The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph CollectionFrequently Asked Questions
What is the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival?
The Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival is an annual multi-day culinary festival held across The Palm Beaches in South Florida each December, presented in partnership with Wine Spectator. It brings together celebrated chefs, winemakers and food lovers for chef dinners, cocktail parties, hands-on experiences, a Chef Showdown and the Grand Tasting. The 2025 festival was its 18th edition.
Where are Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival events held?
Events take place at hotels, resorts and restaurants across The Palm Beaches. In 2025, highlights included the kickoff party at The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, the National Geographic dinner and interactive tiramisu experience at The Ben, Autograph Collection, and the Grand Tasting.
What is the Grand Tasting at the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival?
The Grand Tasting is the festival’s signature walk-around event, where guests sample dishes from celebrated chefs and pours from renowned winemakers, moving from station to station and meeting the talent behind each plate and glass.
What happens at the Chef Showdown?
At the Chef Showdown, chefs compete in front of a live audience, turning mystery ingredients into finished plates under time pressure. It is one of the most energetic events of the festival weekend.
Where should I stay for the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival?
The Belgrove Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, in West Palm Beach is an ideal base, with a serene setting, refined rooms and easy access to festival venues across The Palm Beaches. It also hosted the 2025 festival kickoff party.
How do I attend the next Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival?
The festival returns to The Palm Beaches every December; the 2026 edition runs December 10 to 13. Tickets are sold per event, and many of the smaller chef dinners sell out quickly, so it pays to book early once the lineup is announced.
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