Palm Beach Confidential: Landscape Architect Fernando Wong Shares His City’s Gems

When Fernando Wong arrived in Miami in 2000 from his native Panama, he had just $400 to his name and a dream of becoming a famous designer. Today, Wong stands among the most acclaimed landscape designers in the industry, with a client list that includes actor Matt Damon and golfer Greg Norman. The designer and his husband, Tim Johnson (CEO of Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design), make their home in South Florida’s Palm Beach, a place Wong calls “one of the most beautiful places on the planet—with white powdery sand beaches and a culture worthy of a city 10 times the size.”

Wong is also the designer of all the outdoor spaces at three Four Seasons properties, including Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, which he describes as “a lush oasis of calm and beauty.” We asked him about his favourite places to dine, shop, and unwind in town.

Café Flora: “It’s tucked into one of the prettiest courtyards off Worth Avenue. The bougainvillea arches overhead, and you feel like you’ve been transported to Italy. I order the spaghetti pomodoro and a glass of cold white wine—it’s simple but perfectly done.”

Hive Bakery & Café: “This is where I meet friends for lunch when I want something fresh but casual. Their tuna burger is my favourite, and the key lime pie is the best in town. I love that the café is surrounded by beautiful fabrics and furniture; it’s like eating inside a design studio.”

Meg Braff Designs: “Meg’s shop is pure joy—lacquered bamboo chairs in bright orange, tropical wallpapers, rattan everything. When I walk in, I immediately start reimagining a room. It’s playful but smart design.”

Maus & Hoffman: “[This] is where I go when I need a crisp linen shirt or a new blazer. There’s a sense of tradition when you step inside—polished wood shelves, staff who know your name. They’ve been dressing Palm Beach for decades, and I like being part of that continuity.”

Stubbs & Wootton: “My first pair of Stubbs & Wootton [footwear] was French blue and white espadrilles. I wore them everywhere, from dinners at Ta-boo to cocktail parties. Now I have several pairs, and I love giving them as gifts. It’s a Palm Beach rite of passage.”

SurfSide Diner: “The definition of unfussy. The waitresses call you ‘honey,’ the pancakes are bigger than the plate, and locals read the Palm Beach Daily News at the counter every morning. It’s one of those rare places where billionaires and beachgoers sit side by side.”

Sant Ambroeus: “[It] gleams with marble counters and polished wood. I like to sit at the banquette with a cappuccino and watch the morning crowd drift in—socialites in tennis whites, art dealers, even the occasional celebrity.” 

Worth Avenue Historic Walking Tours: “I lived on Worth Avenue when I first moved to Palm Beach, so I have a soft spot for it. The tours show you little secrets, like the courtyards Addison Mizner designed with tiled fountains and wrought iron balconies. My favourite detail is that Mizner once kept monkeys in his tower. That mix of glamour and eccentricity sums up Palm Beach perfectly.” 

Seaway at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach: “I always start with a mojito—it just feels right by the ocean. At sunset, the Atlantic glows pink, and it’s the perfect place to sit and feel the breez

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