Four plans for the weekend, all within a 35-minute drive of Boca, all with a real reason to go now instead of someday. A bagel schmear that changes every week and is gone by the next. A breakfast counter doing lamb keema right next to eggs Benedict. The most popular Saturday morning in Delray. And a buck-fifty oyster happy hour that runs every single day. Here is the short list.
Cafe: PopUp Bagels, West Palm Beach
PopUp does one thing and does it loudly: hot, whole bagels straight from the oven, no slicing and no sandwiches, so you Grip, Rip and Dip right on the sidewalk. The draw is the schmear list, which rotates every single week and gets built with guest chefs, so whatever is on when you go will not be there next time. The shop bakes in fresh batches and, in its own words, they sell out fast, so this is a get-there-early move, not a lazy-brunch one. About 35 minutes north of Boca at CityPlace.
656 Hibiscus St, West Palm Beach (CityPlace) · Daily 7am-4pm · Weekly rotating schmears, order a dozen
Lunch: Pelican Restaurant, Lake Worth Beach
Pelican is a cozy, beach-inspired breakfast-and-lunch spot with one twist that makes it worth the drive: the menu runs American comfort food and Indian dishes side by side. You can order a Crab Cake Benedict or a custom omelette, then look over and see Lamb Keema and Aloo Gobi on the same page. Homemade, made to order, open daily 8am to 3pm. It is a tiny mom-and-pop, so bring cash, and there is an ATM inside if you forget. About 25 minutes north of Boca.
610 Lake Ave, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460 · Daily 8am-3pm · Cash friendly
Activity: Delray Summer GreenMarket
Fifty-plus vendors of Palm Beach County produce, just-picked citrus, farm eggs, grass-fed meat, and artisan bakes fill Old School Square every Saturday morning. This Saturday, July 18, it runs 9am to 1pm and it is free to walk. The market has been a Delray Saturday ritual since 1996, and this is one of the last mornings before the summer season closes on July 25. Get there early for the good produce, the parking, and the July heat. About 15 minutes north of Boca.
Old School Square, 51 N Swinton Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33444 · Sat July 18, 9am-1pm · Free
Nightlife: Lilo's Streetfood & Bar, Lake Worth Beach
Lilo's is three places in one: a street-food-and-cocktail bar up front, a hidden speakeasy called The Library behind it, and OKA Sushi running rolls out of the back. The hook is the oysters at happy hour, daily from 5 to 7pm, just a buck and a half each. Add tacos, ramen, and fresh sushi, and it is a full night without moving your car, since parking is free behind the building. Open daily from 11am, until 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 10pm on Sunday, about 25 minutes north of Boca.
701 Lake Ave, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460 · Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm · $1.50 oysters at happy hour, 5-7pm
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