There’s a certain kind of night that draws most out-of-towners to Nashville: live music drifting out of every doorway, cowboy boots tapping worn wood floors, cold beer in hand, and a crowd that’s only the right breed of rowdy.
It’s not a scene you’d expect from South Florida—but at the new Diplo-backed West Palm Cowboy Club on Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, you’ll encounter exactly that.
It doesn’t take long after you darken the door of Cowboy Club to see that this isn’t your typical South Florida nightlife spot; nevertheless, it’s a long overdue, warmly welcomed addition.
A Honky-Tonk With Florida Style
The two-story venue is part honky-tonk, part restaurant, with lots of cowboy accents (keep your eyes peeled for cowhide, python, gator, and denim!), a glowing landmark marquee, and just enough Floridian flair to keep it from feeling too much like Broadway.
The energy is the main draw here, with a second-story bar and lounge overlooking a stage where rousing live acts span rotating bands, live band karaoke, and late-night DJs every weekend. On weekdays, happy hour draws a crowd for fairly priced drinks, pizza, and shareables like brisket potato skins and smoked wahoo dip.
Credit: Slab Daddy BBQ
The menu, led by Miami chef Adrian Ricouz of Slab Daddy BBQ fame, centers around Southern staples and Florida-sourced ingredients with a few Latin influences: think smoked meats, the signature caviar-topped cornbread, hearth-fired pizzas, and even a “Florida hot chicken” sandwich, a nod to one of Nashville’s most famous foods.
Go for brunch, lunch, dinner, or just drinks; there are 14 beers and cocktails on tap plus a curated bourbon and whiskey program.
Country Energy in South Florida
But Cowboy Club is far less about food and beverage than it is about the feeling. It’s a place you go for the atmosphere—good friends, good food, cocktails flowing, maybe even a little two-stepping—and guaranteed sightings of Florida cowboys.
That’s thanks in large part to the Club’s musical director, our very own Florida boy gone global. The entertainment program is curated in part by Grammy Award–winning producer and Florida native Thomas Wesley, better known as Diplo. In 2023, Wesley released his second country album (Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley: Chapter 2 Swamp Savant) featuring collaborations with stars like Morgan Wallen, Thomas Rhett, Zac Brown, and Sturgill Simpson, helping bring crossover country music mainstream.
“I grew up and cut my teeth in South Florida, and it inspired so much of who I am,” Wesley said in a release. “I’m really proud to bring this energy home and show some love to the SoFlo Cowboy.”
A Natural Fit for West Palm
Positioned on a prominent corner in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, it taps into a crowd primed for a good time, especially when you consider its late-night hours, themed nights, live performances, and the city’s stacked event calendar, from Saturday green markets to the annual boat show. It’s easy to see Cowboy Club becoming a regular stop in any local’s rotation.
No need to fly to Tennessee for a down-home honky-tonk night; now, all you need is a quick trip to Clematis—and a willingness to rock boots in 80 degrees with a sea breeze.
Read the original article on Southern Living