To experience hands down the coolest dining in Fort Lauderdale (and fit in some street art, rotating events, and local businesses) head to Flagler Village’s development The Hive for restaurant Heritage, helmed by chef/owner Rino Cerbone. The speakeasy-style location is a more unique spin on Italian-inspired food, with menu items that include wagyu-stuffed peppers, lemon-crema razor clams, a whipped-potato and cheddar pizza, and fresh pistachio panna cotta.
It’s definitely worth going to a restaurant whose name, Takato, means “in a state of extreme happiness.” Located within the Conrad Hotel, the Japanese-Korean fusion menu consists of dishes like wagyu gyoza and duck bao buns.
The crowd pleaser of nightlife, no matter whether it’s 5 p.m. or 11 p.m. and for all ages and tastes—read: a multigen gathering or a picky group of friends—is sure to be Sparrow, located on the 25th floor of the Dalmar hotel with panoramic views of the city. With a mix of indoor and outdoor space, the vibe is part luxe, part retro living room, and part disco club. Still, there is something for everyone, with a full dinner menu, an allergy/dietary restrictions menu, and a bottle service menu.
Things to do in Fort Lauderdale
While you can get around Fort Lauderdale in your own car or via rideshare, it’s almost a crime to visit the yachting capital of the US and not go out on a boat. Because Fort Lauderdale is teeming with waterways, there are many options for getting out on the waves: The local water taxi ($35 per person for hop-on-hop-off access) makes 11 stops, milling from Shooters waterfront restaurant to Los Olas Boulevard. For a more private experience, hire your own electric gondola tour, or spring for a boat charter on Sailo or Get My Boat: For a two- to three-hour sail, choose one that stays within the canals and intracoastal waterway, where you’ll get a gilded real-estate tour. For a longer trip, head farther south toward Miami for crystal-clear water and possible dolphin or manatee sightings. But you don’t have to venture out of Fort Lauderdale for excellent swimming—the public beaches lining North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard are pristine, and have lifeguards.
Back on land, head to Flagler Village fort art galleries, Circle House coffee house’s decadent donuts, nonalcoholic bar Karma Kava’s elixirs and hookah, and Chick ’n Cone for crispy chicken served in a waffle cone. A short walk away lies Sistrunk Market‘s food hall, patios, cooking classes, and distillery tours.
And it wouldn’t be Fort Lauderdale without a little taste of its party scene: Lona Cocina Tequileria, located inside the waterfront Westin Fort Lauderdale, is a favorite for ocean views, a $5 margarita happy-hour special, and a legendary lobster quesadilla.
Those looking for culture should head to NSU Art Museum, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. NSU Art Museum spans 83,000 square feet and has an impressive collection of Latin American, contemporary art with an emphasis on women, Black, and Latinx artists and African arts.
