Bringin’ the “South” to South Florida: West Palm Cowboy Club
With flavorful Latin-inspired barbecue, live music, and plenty of whiskey and bourbon, the new honky tonk is one of the best things to hit Clematis Street in a long time
Clematis Street in West Palm Beach has always been a hotbed of nightlife in Palm Beach County, with dozens of bars and restaurants lining the street from the Intracoastal to the 500 block. As longtime residents know, establishments have come and gone, some disappearing faster than expected. After a night out at the new West Palm Cowboy Club, I can only hope this one sticks around (and something tells me it will).
The two-story venue opened at the end of March at 200 Clematis (in the old Bar Louie space), a proper honky tonk that would fit in seamlessly in downtown Nashville. Aesthetically speaking, it’s got all the fixin’s—a lighted sign, lots of wood, hanging chandeliers (and a bedazzled pig or two), a stage, and plenty of Florida cowboys and cowgirls.
The food—barbecue with a Latin twist—is incredible. Chef Adrian of Miami’s Slab Daddy BBQ is the culinary visionary here, and he brings his Nicaraguan heritage to American barbecue for some of the most flavorful smoked dishes around. Made daily in the in-house slow smoker are turkey, pulled pork, and brisket, all served by the half pound, plus a half mojo chicken and peach-glazed spare ribs. There are also shareables on the menu, like loaded nachos, smoked fish dip, and fried pickles, plus pizzas and handhelds (Florida hot chicken!). For brunch, menu items include Southern faves like chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, and brisket and eggs. And yes, they do a bottomless brunch Saturdays and Sundays (mimosas, Bloody Marys, and spritzers), from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live music 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The bar menu includes signature cocktails, special shots, draft and bottle beer, and wine. But the true Florida cowboys/cowgirls know the “back bar” is where it’s at. It’s a menu of some of the best whiskeys, bourbons, tequilas, and mezcals including premium pours like Weller Single Barrel, Blanton’s Gold, and Jefferson’s Straight Bourbon.
So let’s talk about the music. . . If you haven’t yet heard, Grammy-winning musician and producer Diplo runs the music program here, curating all the acts and special events. While you might know Diplo as an EDM artist, the South Florida native has gone back to his Southern roots lately, creating country music under his real name, Thomas Wesley, and collaborating with artists like Zac Brown and Morgan Wallen. At the Cowboy Club, he books live musicians as well as high-energy DJs, melding musical genres at the venue just as he has done in his own career. For the grand opening party, Diplo worked his celeb connections and had Brody Jenner and Devien Lucien DJ (as BROSA).
A high-energy honky tonk and a ton of fun—the Cowboy Club definitely brings the “South” to South Florida! Click here to see how much fun we has on a recent visit.