DINE & DRINK 50 THINGS WE LOVE

Hotel in Palm Beach—is here now. We ain’t too proud to beg that the cover charges decrease—$40 for two people, $120 for eight—but Delray is getting more expensive as demand (and wallets) expand. Old-timers long for the days of rockabilly at Elwood’s—and we second that emotion.

Best fancy cocktail

The Perfume daiquiri at Le Colonial.

Top 5 Reasons To Go Downtown

1 First Friday Art Walk every month

2 The Delray GreenMarket

3 Showing off the vibe to out-of-town guests

4 Live music at Tin Roof, Johnnie Brown’s or 3rd & 3rd

5 Savor the Avenue

Best new restaurants

Le Colonial in the newly opened Atlantic Crossing is stunning—with the kind of romance we’d associate with Rick’s Place if Rick’s Place was in Delray, and offered exquisite Vietnamese-French cuisine in addition to Sam’s piano. We also love the dress code, even if it falls short of Bogart’s white dinner jacket.

Our other new crush is Costa, with its fresh and flavorful menu, its clean contemporary tropical vibe, its inventive selections and reliance on local artisanal greens and suppliers. Don’t let the organic-gluten-free-vegan-options scare you away—this is fresh fine dining at its best in an elegant but easy coastal restaurant. You’ll never know it’s good for you.

Antidote to the Monday blues

Motown Nights on Mondays at Tin Roof from 6 to 9 p.m. have become huge in Delray. The band Memory Lane—which used to have a longstanding show on Friday nights at the Polo Lounge at the “old” Colony

Still crazy after all these years

The Sail Inn is a bit more civilized compared to the old days (pictured here), but it’s still the last standing neighborhood bar.

Happy Hour redefined

Who needs happy hour when you can have rosé all day? The newly launched Hampton Social at Atlantic Crossing is a home run, especially with the demographic that tends to gravitate toward (sweeter) craft cocktails, and things like pizza, Caesar salad, avocado toast and truffle fries. But there are several seafood options as well as a great-looking brunch—which millennials singlehandedly reinvented in the past decade. It’s bright and beachy and, best of all, you can have your cocktail served in a large seashell.

Best new food app

The Best of Delray app (page 20) launched by Stephen Dickstein and Michael Mayo provides a communal and upbeat guide to great dining in and around Delray. Don’t tap into it before lunch or you are doomed.

Oldies that are still goodies

♥ Sande’s still offers a legendary American diner breakfast and lunch. Cash only. Fast service. Hot coffee.

♥ Luna Rosa is across from the ocean, is open all day long and everyone loves chef/co-owner Ernie DeBlasi. Still packed, after all these years.

♥ Tramonti has been a standard for Italian food in Delray for years—and still is.

♥ Delray Hideaway (formerly Pepe’s Hideaway) tucked downstairs in the basement about two blocks from the beach has it all: bingo on Tuesday nights, poker on Wednesday nights, karaoke every Friday night, darts, pool, live music, TVs.

And a great burger.

♥ J&J Seafood Bar and Grill is a locals’ favorite, with stellar food and an expansive menu from chef/owner John Hutchinson. Most of us have the signature dishes memorized. This is Delray at its core. This is us.

Cha-cha-cha-changes

♥ Grangers changes hands.

♥ The arches on the exterior of the Hands building are removed.

♥ The Falcon closes. Again.

♥ Atlantic Crossing opens, long regarded as the missing link between the beach and central downtown.

♥ Captain Clay’s moves nine blocks north to a beautiful new space. And there’s always a line.

♥ Delivery Dudes is sold, and its new name is ASAP. We miss the Dudes.

♥ Beloved Ellie’s 50s Diner closes and, in record time, The Bees Knees diner opens in its place.

♥ Real estate and private equity investment firm Pebb Capital breaks ground for Sundy Village, which will include ownership of Sundy House. Stay tuned.