Clematis Street 100 block
Businesses on 100 block North side:
Pistache (restaurant, French)
Businesses on 100 block South side:
E.R. Bradleys (restaurant, food and drink)
Sloan's (ice cream)
Pizza Girls (pizza)
Luigi's (pasta and pizza restaurant)
Pistache website
E.R. Bradley's website
Sloan's website
Pizza Girls website
The 100 block of Clematis Street is the latest block to come alive in this incredible transformation of the street that began in the spring of 2008. Even though this block sits right up against the Intracoastal Waterway, it has been somewhat desolate in the past. There is a large triangular section of pavement between the split sections of N. Clematis St and S. Clematis St. (which only occurs on the 100 block). This section, behind the library (which blocks the view of the Intracoastal Waterway), had become a popular hangout for homeless people. That's perfectly fine for the homeless people (who generally do not create any problems for passersby) -- nevertheless, it may cause other people (especially families with children) to avoid the area if there is no one else around. However, the problem of no one else being around was solved in 2008, by the opening in April of the Pistache French restaurant at 100 N. Clematis St. Pistache has become a popular eating and gathering place, with the outdoor tables (and indoor as well) packed with patrons during lunch and dinner hours throughout the week and weekend. Pistache also has generous hours (including breakfast). Pistache's popularity with the older crowd serves as a great compliment to the wildly popular Rocco's Tacos on the adjacent 200 block, which seems to draw a younger and more boisterous crowd. Couple these two venues with the good old water fountain behind the library (always popular with kids) and there is now something to draw all age groups to the area.
This block is going to be looking a lot different, now in a very short time. The city's waterfront project is showing more visible signs of progress. The old library has been demolished and the waterfront project is nearing completion. Farther to the east on the intracoastal waterway, all of the three new public piers are complete and the private marina piers to the north also appear to be near completion. The city's goal is to complete the waterfront project by February 2010.
Above is the Clematis Street fountain in the middle of the 100 block, and then a picture of the same area facing east toward the library, on the day of President Obama's inauguration (with wide-screen TV set up for the public to watch).
Below is the ever-popular E.R. Bradley's restaurant, which is located right on the intracoastal waterway (Flagler Drive) between Clematis Street and Datura Street.
Click here for a shocking development regarding the health club on this block
For more information on the controversy regarding the location of the homeless feedings in the 100 block, click here
Click here for a June 2009 update on the homeless problem on the 100 block of Clematis Street
For a discussion of the health club on this block, click here
For more information on Pistache restaurant, click here
Below is a view of the City of West Palm Beach Meyer Amphitheater, a park just to the south of the eastern end of Clematis Street.
Directions to Clematis Street
To get to Clematis Street, take I-95 or Florida's Turnpike North (if coming from Miami-Dade or Broward County) or South (if coming from Martin or St. Lucie County). The exit you want is Okeechobee Blvd. (which is Exit #70 off I-95 and Exit #99 off Florida's Turnpike). Take Okeechobee Blvd and go East (about 5.5 miles from Florida's Turnpike or just 1 mile from I-95) to downtown West Palm Beach (the only large collection of tall buildings in the area). Clematis Street runs parallel to Okeechobee Blvd in downtown West Palm Beach, about 7 blocks to the North of Okeechobee Blvd. So you can turn left on just about any street from Okeechobee Blvd. and go about 7 blocks to get to Clematis Street. The best streets to turn left on, in order, are Tamarind, Sapodilla, Rosemary, Quadrille, US1, or Flagler Drive. If you find yourself crossing the bridge over the intracoastal waterway, you have gone too far on Okeechobee Blvd. But don't worry, you'll be on the very upscale island of Palm Beach, so it should be safe to turn around and come back over the bridge to West Palm Beach.
Click here to go to a Google map of Clematis Street
