FOOD & NIGHTLIFE
You can travel the globe and never leave Greater Fort Lauderdale – such is the diverse array of restaurants on offer in this South Florida bolthole. You’ll get epic ocean views from Lona Cocina Tequileria, which dishes up modern Mexican plates like octopus tostada, brisket quesadilla and the chef’s special drunken grouper with a Mexican beer glaze. Next, whizz over to Cuba at Padrino’s Cuban, where belly-busting Cubano sandwiches filled with pork and cheese are on the menu, alongside croquetas and empanadas. You’ll get a taste of the Continent at Cafe Seville, a charming, family-run spot that deals in traditional tapas and Spanish dishes. Mouthwatering options range from seafood paella to tomatoey rabbit stew, and the menu is paired with an impressive wine list. Watching your meat intake? There’s a world of plantbased delights cooked up at The Rabbit Hole in Pompano Beach. Try a veganised Southern barbecue platter or feast on meat-free burgers and wings. Screaming Carrots in Hallandale Beach is another great option: it focuses on organic, plantbased food with Thai specialities like drunken noodles and pad cha.
From elegant seafood restaurants to failsafe steakhouses, Fort Lauderdale does fine dining to a tee too. Steak 954 at the W Hotel is the cream of the crop. You can drink in ocean views as you feast on decadent seafood platters (think Alaskan king crab, Maine lobster and oysters), or sample fine cuts of meat including prime tomahawk. Sea Watch on the Ocean is something of a local landmark. More breathtaking sea views are coupled with an upscale menu featuring blackened mahi mahi, buttery lobster tails and scallops, and filet mignon with Bearnaise sauce. Discerning chain Mastro’s Ocean Club is a fine choice too.
Got the kids in tow? They’ll be well satisfied in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Little ones will love gloriously old-fashioned Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor Restaurant, known for its generous scoops in flavours from ‘rocky road’ and ‘fudge ripple’ to bright blue ‘cookie monster’ and sprinkle-filled ‘birthday cake’. Stay for dinner and a menu of chicken sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. If you’re hoping to get your kids excited about seafood, the homely Rustic Inn Crabhouse is a good place to start. The laidback spot is known for its mouth-watering garlic crab and there’s a separate kids’ menu too.
Food halls have taken the USA by storm and Greater Fort Lauderdale isn’t left out. Hip Sistrunk Marketplace has become a favoured local hangout – swing by for makeyour-own poke bowls, pita wraps, craft tacos, ceviche and classic Southern dishes. There are regular live music sets and art shows here too. Meanwhile, die-hard foodies shouldn’t miss the annual Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival, which takes place in January. The event showcases offerings from some of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s finest and most creative restaurants and allows punters to try a variety of tipples too.
It’s not ‘lights out’ in Fort Lauderdale when the sun sets. A variety of luxurious cocktail lounges, waterside bars and down-to-earth joints showing sports keep the city alive when evening falls. The Rooftop @1WLO, on Las Olas Boulevard, makes a lovely special occasion spot. Visit for epic views of the winking skyline, imaginative cocktails and elevated bar bites. Speakeasy Unit B is another noteworthy option. For date night, opt for No Man’s Land, a romantic 1920s-style cocktail parlour that offers tempting sharing plates too. Wine connoisseurs should try out Vinos on Las Olas. This Key West export fits right in in Fort Lauderdale and offers world wines in a stylish space with cool vintage accents.