As locals, were often asked what are the best things to do in Fort Lauderdale, and what are the best Fort Lauderdale hotels, restaurants, shops and places for culture and nature? Timed for peak season, were sharing our curated guide about the Venice of America. Read on to see how the city is evolving for multigenerational visitors and tourists alike.
Fort Lauderdale Hotels
Fort Lauderdales renaissance has brought a flurry of hotel activity with every major brand jumping on board. Joining longtime favorites like The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, W Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa,Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Fort Lauderdaledebuts in March 2022. Fort Hospitality, the same developer/owner of Four Seasons properties in Miami, Surfside and Palm Beach, commissioned South Florida-based architect Kobi Karp and landscape designer Fernando Wong, as well as out-of-state interior designers Tara Bernerd (London) and Martin Brudnizki (New York). Since the 22-story tower lies directly across from Fort Lauderdales famous beach for stunning Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway views, it fittingly borrows from the citys vibrant yacht culture. Guests and owners of nearly 200 rooms, suites and residences can lounge by the Ocean Terraces horizon-edge pools and be pampered at the luxury spa with an Ocean Dream treatment table and Pietro Simone and Tammy Fender products. Chef Brandon Salomon comes to Evelyns restaurant from Flories at Four Seasons Palm Beach helmed by a three Michelin-starred chef. Evelyns pays homage to an early settler who donated her estate to become the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Named after the Kennedy familys presidential yacht, all-day caf and bar Honey Fitz also represents a piece of Florida history.
Fort Lauderdale Restaurants
Laurent Tourondel, the French chef behind the global BLT empire, took over the coveted dining space at Auberge Beach Residences & Spa. Steps from the surf, his aptly namedDunewas an instant hit for grilled colossal prawns atop polenta, branzino bursting with Mediterranean flavors and a magazine cover-worthy key lime meringue. For water views of the inland type, visitYOTat the Lauderdale Marine Center on the South Fork New River. Its mega menu for lively brunches, lobster rolls and steak frites with a 16-oz. ribeye matches the sunny, spacious setting. Giovanni Rocchio, the wildly popular chef restaurateur of the shuttered Valentino Cucina and One Door East, resurfaced atHolly Blueto the delight of his patrons. The space alonea converted churchmakes it a special night out on the town. And then theres his cuisine: classic surf n turf with a twist that highlights his hunt for prime ingredients. If you feel like dancing, wander over to the adjoiningAngelesby the same hospitality group. The citys dining scene has also been experiencing a Miami takeover. Miami-born conceptsSushi Garage, Pura Vida, The WharfandPubbelly, in the form of cofounder and James Beard-nominated chef Jos Mendins seafood-centric Rivertail for fish sandwiches, shrimp Louis and clams carbonara bucatini, have all expanded here.The Katherineis the latest Miami entry to the bunch. Created by Timon Balloo, another James Beard nominee made famous by Miamis Sugarcane, the East Broward Boulevard-nestled bistro specializes in recipes that combine his Chinese and Trinidadian roots. Fans can also visit his more casualMrs. Ballooat the Wharf Fort Lauderdale for bao buns and poke nachos. For exquisite coffee drinks, make a beeline forWells Coffee Company. Its husband-and-wife owners roast beans at their original caf in Flagler Village and recently introduced a second location in the Tarpon River district. The city claims its share of fine food and wine purveyors, too. Some are oenophiles Old World lairWine Watch, Sea Salt Fish Marketfor fish dips and the daily catch,Scolapastafor from-scratch pasta and gnocchi, andThe Shukgourmet market for organic, Kosher delicacies.Be sure to check out these other local restaurants that Fort Lauderdale residents could not live without: Caf Vico, Foxxy Brown, Shooters Waterfront, The Floridian, and Rendezvous.
Fort Lauderdale Culture
NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale has blossomed under the vision of art veteran Bonnie Clearwater. A new generation of emerging local collectors further ensures its growth and acquisitions with their newly formed Curators Circle. Keith Haring and Pierre Alechinsky (February 27-October 2) explores the connection between the New York street artist and Belgian painter of the European art movement CoBrA, for which the museum holds the largest collection of any American museum. Multimedia group show Lux et Veritas (April 3-October 23) focuses on artists of color who attended the Yale School of Art during the aughts. Galleries dot Las Olas Boulevard and downtowns Flagler + Arts + Technology (FAT) Village. The latter hosts an art walk the last Saturday of the month through November. The big theater news around here is the Parker Playhouses $30-million reinvention as The Parker that restored its Sixties-era, neoclassical design and upgraded amenities. One of the many homes of the South Florida Symphony Orchestra, the venue also presents diverse acts such as Los Lobos, Tig Notaro, Little River Band and Chris Botti this winter. Miami City Ballet, Florida Grand Opera and touring productions come to The Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Upcoming shows are choreographer Alexei Ratmanskys Swan Lake, Verdis Rigoletto, Kevin Nealon and Diana Krall. Music fans wait all year for the oceanside Tortuga Music Festival. Luke Combs, Nelly and Travis Tritt are among its stellar lineup from April 8-10. Having outgrown its riverfront campus, History Fort Lauderdale celebrates its 60th anniversary with a fundraising initiative for a new 30,000-square-foot museum for more comprehensive, interactive exhibits. Timed for Womens History Month, its photography exhibit Women Trailblazers: Champions of Change Broward County is on view at the Galleria mall from March 10-31. The ticketed preview party recognizes six outstanding women in the community today.Finally, dont miss theThriveDaniel Popper sculpture, a giant sculpture that opens its chest to reveal a fern-covered tunnel that people can walk though, at Society Las Olas.
Fort Lauderdale Outdoors
The answer to Manhattans Central Park, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park provides a superb respite for nature walks, cycling, water sports and picnics. Dont miss its Martis Meditation Garden and Fort Lauderdale Garden Clubs Secret Garden Tour on February 26. For more peak blooms, ponds and wildlife amid lush acreage, visit The Bonnet House Museum & Gardens built over 100 years ago by Mr. Birchs daughter and son-in-law. Further enjoy tours of their artistic home, Concerts Under the Stars seasonal series and the 13th Annual International Orchid & Garden Festival on April 2-3. The city has been busy revamping its green spaces, too, such as the $65-million, multi-phase LOOP (Las Olas Oceanside Park System) project with great lawns, shade trees, an observation deck and playground slated to wrap up by years end. Not many people know that the states first Olympic-sized swimming pool opened in Fort Lauderdale in 1926. Its among sveral pools at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, whose $47-million overhaul and expansion adds a 27-meter dive tower. Swimmers should be able to dive in by next winter. Hockey players and ice skaters will also receive a huge gift this summer when the Florida Panthers NHL team debuts the FTL War Memorial in Holiday Park. The 144,000-square-foot, multi-use concept features the teams practice iceplex, NHL regulation-sized rinks for the community and a concert ballroom.Water lovers wont want to miss out on the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi and Jungle Queen Riverboat, these family friendly options provide a glimpse of life on the water, including a dinner cruise.
Fort Lauderdale Shopping
Shoppers gravitate toward Las Olas Boulevard, a boutique- and caf-lined mainstay since the citys early days. Dating to the 1940s, family-owned Maus & Hoffman dresses professionals in classic attire imported from Europe and Great Britain. Pick up Solemare blazers, Artioli shoes and blouses in Liberty of London prints. Another longtime boutique belongs to Deborah James, who stocks womens labels like Ulla Johnson, Raquel Allegra, Citizens of Humanity and Lola Hats. Stroll along the strip to discover Yeti, Warby Parker, J. McLaughlin and more. Island Style caters to its Ritz-Carlton guests and locals alike. Robert Graham and Vilebrequin menswear and womens lines Camilla, LoveShackFancy, Poupette St. Barth and Melissa Odabash are among its beach chic assortment. For more swim and resort wear, locally designed Montce and Poem offer upscale mommy-and-me styles at their well-appointed boutiques. SistrunKollective and the weekly New River Open Air Market on Sundays give local artisans a platform to display wares, while major retailers including Macys, Apple and Sephora fill The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale.
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