I am Rachel Williams, a Real Estate Advisor with The Premier Group at Compass, the #1 real estate team in Delray Beach, Florida by sales volume. In 2025, our team closed more than 550 transactions and over $475 million in sales across South Florida. Boutique buildings and downtown townhomes are one of the more nuanced pockets of the Delray market. Here is how I walk a buyer through it.
A buyer called me a few months ago with a very specific ask. She wanted to live in downtown Delray Beach, walk to Atlantic Avenue, be close to the beach. But she was very clear about what she did not want. She did not want apartment-style living. She did not want the feel of a big amenity-heavy building with 100 units, long carpeted hallways, and neighbors through every wall. She wanted the walkability of downtown, but the intimacy and privacy of a home.
That is a real and increasingly common request, and downtown Delray Beach actually accommodates it. Two categories of product work here: downtown townhome communities, and boutique condo buildings with 40 units or less. This post walks through both, using the same conversation I had with her.
CATEGORY ONE : Downtown Townhome Communities
If you want a private front door, no shared hallway, and the feel of a home rather than a unit, townhomes are almost always the first place I look. Downtown Delray has a limited but excellent supply.
CANNERY ROW (Pineapple Grove)
Located in the heart of the Pineapple Grove Arts District, just north of Atlantic Avenue between Bankers Row and NE 4th Avenue. Approximately 84 townhomes ranging from 2,000 to over 3,000 square feet. Standard product is three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, with a two-car attached garage and a private entry. Built by Ironwood Properties (2014 to 2016) in a modern Key West coastal style with metal roofs, wide porches, and board and batten accents. Community amenities include a clubhouse, pool, and spa.
Why it works for the buyer looking for "not apartment style": private front door, no shared hallway, garage on your own home, three-story layout that lives like a house. Trade-off is the townhome scale (about 20 feet wide) and shared walls.
2026 pricing: recent listings run roughly $1.475 million to $1.825 million depending on unit size, upgrades, and location within the community. HOA fee is approximately $675 per month and covers exterior maintenance and community amenities. Community amenities include a clubhouse, pool, and spa. If Pineapple Grove is where you want to be, I break down more of the neighborhood’s residential options in my The 5 Most Loved Pineapple Grove Condos & Townhomes in Delray Beach guide.
CATEGORY TWO : Boutique Condo Buildings with 40 Units or Less
The second option for buyers who don't want apartment-style living is a genuinely small boutique building. When a building has 40 units or less, you get the walkability and lock-and-leave convenience of a condo without the density and hallway culture of a larger tower. In downtown Delray specifically, a handful of these buildings sit on residential side streets just off Atlantic Avenue or on the oceanfront.
ROYAL ATLANTIC IN DELRAY BEACH — 8 UNITS
12 SE 1st Avenue, one block off East Atlantic Avenue, directly behind the Elisabetta's Ristorante block.
Built in 2007. Four-story building with only eight two-bedroom residences total. Units range from approximately 1,270 to 1,307 square feet. Features include gourmet kitchens with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, hurricane impact glass, vaulted ceilings, solid core doors, outdoor spaces and balconies, and garage parking spaces. Ground floor lobby and elevator access to each unit.
Why it works: only eight units in the entire building. You know your neighbors. There is one short hallway per floor, not a corridor. Garage parking under the building. Walk to Atlantic Avenue and the entire east downtown restaurant lineup in under two minutes. Sundy Village (currently under construction) will further expand the walking radius directly east. If being able to walk to Atlantic Avenue is driving your search, I break down the numbers and different housing options in Living Walking Distance to Atlantic Avenue: What It Actually Costs in Delray Beach in 2026.
2026 context: turnover is limited given the small unit count. Active inventory can be zero at a given time, and units frequently sell within days when they do list.
OCEAN DELRAY — 19 UNITS
1901 South Ocean Boulevard, oceanfront on A1A.
Ultra-luxury boutique oceanfront community of only 19 residences. Designed for maximum privacy with nine private and semi-private lobbies and elevators, meaning most residences share very few common spaces with neighbors. Most residences sold off-plan in the $6 million and higher range.
Why it works for the same buyer profile: fewest possible shared common spaces of any downtown-adjacent condo option, oceanfront position, boutique unit count. Trade-off is the price band and the location on A1A (slightly removed from the Atlantic Avenue walking core, though drivable in under 5 minutes). For a deeper look at what actually separates Delray’s highest-end properties from the rest of the market, I break it down in What Qualifies as a Luxury Home in Delray Beach, Florida?
2026 context: very rare resale opportunity. Most units are held long term.
BERMUDA HIGH — 22 UNITS
Beach block, Delray Beach.
Built in 1966. Comprised of six low-rise buildings with a total of 22 condominium residences. Longstanding beach-block community with an older-Florida character. Turnover is limited.
Why it works: total unit count is 22, spread across six low-rise buildings, so shared common space per building is minimal. Beach proximity. Trade-off is the 1966 vintage: buyers should carefully review reserve studies, structural inspection status, and building financials before making an offer. If you're considering an older Delray Beach condo, I break down the milestone inspection and reserve requirements buyers should understand in Downtown Delray Beach Condos: The 2026 Milestone Deadline Buyers Need to Know.
2026 context: sales are episodic given the small size and long-term ownership. Confirm current active listings with a licensed agent.
ONIX RESIDENCES (ÓNIX DELRAY) — 26 UNITS
Downtown Delray Beach, currently launching.
Newer boutique building with only 26 two- and three-bedroom residences. Units range from approximately 1,551 to 1,995 square feet under-air. Positioned as luxury pre-construction / new-construction product with a modern architectural approach.
Why it works: contemporary design, small unit count, downtown position. Trade-off is that it is currently launching, so most inventory is developer sale rather than resale, and specific unit availability varies over time. For a broader look at how projects like Ónix are changing the downtown market, I break down the new-construction pipeline in Downtown Delray Beach New-Construction Condos in 2026: What the Building Boom Means for Buyers and Sellers.
How I helped The Buyer Decide
The framework I gave her:
1. If you want a private front door and the feel of a home, go townhome. Cannery Row is the clearest answer.
2. If you want the lock-and-leave convenience of a condo but hate the density of a 100-unit building, go boutique building with 40 units or less. Royal Atlantic is the clearest downtown-walkable answer at a reasonable price band. Ocean Delray is the ultra-luxury oceanfront version. Bermuda High is the vintage beach-block option. Onix is the newer downtown option.
3. If none of those fit, we look at single family homes in the walkable neighborhoods like Del-Ida Park, Osceola Park, or Old School Square Historic District.
She ended up focused on Royal Atlantic. The eight-unit scale plus the direct walk to Atlantic Avenue matched exactly what she was looking for.
Why Boutique Buildings Are Harder to Find
Buyers underestimate how small the true "boutique" segment is in Delray Beach. Most condo product downtown sits in the 40 to 150 unit range because zoning and land economics favor larger buildings. Buildings with 40 units or less are unusually specific: they typically sit on smaller lots on residential side streets or beach blocks, were often built by a single developer with a specific product in mind, and rarely come back to market once a buyer commits. That scarcity is part of the value proposition.
Downtown Delray Beach can accommodate a buyer who explicitly does not want apartment-style living. The path is either a townhome community like Cannery Row (private front door, two-car garage, three-story home feel) or a boutique condo building with 40 units or less like Royal Atlantic, Ocean Delray, Bermuda High, or Onix Residences (small-scale intimacy without giving up walkability). Both categories are limited in supply. Both require a specific search rather than a general Zillow browse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the boutique condo buildings in downtown Delray Beach?
A: The most notable boutique condo buildings in downtown Delray Beach with 40 units or less include Royal Atlantic at 12 SE 1st Avenue (8 units, built 2007, one block off Atlantic Ave), Ocean Delray on A1A (19 oceanfront residences with nine private lobbies), Bermuda High (22 units across six low-rise buildings on the beach block, built 1966), and Onix Residences (26 two- and three-bedroom units, currently launching). These are distinct from the larger 40 to 150 unit buildings that make up most of the downtown Delray condo inventory.
Q2: How many units is Royal Atlantic in Delray Beach?
A: Royal Atlantic in Delray Beach is a four-story building with only 8 two-bedroom residences total, located at 12 SE 1st Avenue, one block off East Atlantic Avenue. Units range from approximately 1,270 to 1,307 square feet, were built in 2007, and include garage parking, hurricane impact glass, and vaulted ceilings.
Q3: Are there townhomes in downtown Delray Beach?
A: Yes. Cannery Row in the Pineapple Grove Arts District is the primary downtown Delray Beach townhome community, with approximately 84 three-bedroom townhomes ranging 2,000 to over 3,000 square feet. Each unit has a private entry and two-car garage. 2026 pricing runs approximately $1.475 million to $1.825 million with HOA about $675/month.
Q4: What is Ocean Delray?
A: Ocean Delray is an ultra-luxury oceanfront boutique condo community on A1A with only 19 residences. It is designed for maximum privacy, featuring nine private and semi-private lobbies and elevators so most residences share very few common spaces with neighbors. Most residences sold off-plan in the $6 million and higher range.
Q5: How many units is Bermuda High in Delray Beach?
A: Bermuda High is a beach-block condominium community in Delray Beach built in 1966. It is comprised of six low-rise buildings with a total of 22 condominium residences. Given the 1966 vintage, buyers should review reserve studies, structural inspection status, and building financials carefully before making an offer.
Q6: What is Onix Residences Delray Beach?
A: Onix Residences (also stylized as Ónix Delray) is a newer boutique condo building in downtown Delray Beach with only 26 two- and three-bedroom residences. Unit sizes range from approximately 1,551 to 1,995 square feet under-air. It is currently launching as luxury pre-construction and new-construction product.
Q7: What is the difference between a boutique condo building and a regular condo building in Delray Beach?
A: A boutique condo building in Delray Beach typically has 40 units or less, sits on a smaller lot on a residential side street or beach block, and offers minimal shared common spaces such as one short hallway per floor rather than long corridors. Regular condo buildings in the area typically range 40 to 150 units and include amenities like larger pools, fitness centers, and full lobbies, but come with more density.
Q8: How can I find a condo in Delray Beach that does not feel like an apartment?
A: Look at two specific categories: downtown townhome communities like Cannery Row (private front door, two-car garage, three-story home feel) or boutique condo buildings with 40 units or less like Royal Atlantic, Ocean Delray, Bermuda High, or Onix Residences (small-scale intimacy with lock-and-leave convenience). Both categories are limited in supply and require a specific search rather than a general Zillow browse.
Rachel Williams | Real Estate Advisor and REALTOR
The Premier Group at Compass
Serving Delray Beach • Boca Raton • Palm Beach County
561-900-5477
403 N Swinton Ave Delray Beach, FL 33444
