The beauty of an ever-growing destination like Greater Fort Lauderdale is that there are always new places to try, whether it’s your first visit or your 100th. Maybe it’s a smashburger joint with a devoted following, a new hotel dotting the skyline, or a restaurant devoted entirely to caviar, the luxury delicacy taking over menus everywhere.
Here’s a guide to some of the South Florida destination’s newest collection of hotspots, from restaurants and art galleries to cocktail clubs, so you’ll know exactly where to go the next time you’re in town.
ACCOMMODATION
- Omni Fort Lauderdale: One of the city’s most exciting projects to date is the opening of Omni Fort Lauderdale, which marks a new place to call home for visitors to the area. It is especially convenient for those seeking on-site accommodations at the Broward County Convention Center. The hotel sits along the Intracoastal Waterway, just minutes from miles of beaches, Port Everglades Cruise Terminal, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. With over 800 rooms, 82 suites, and seven dining concepts, you could easily spend an entire trip without leaving the property. Highlights include Fair Ketch, a sports bar featuring a state-of-the-art Topgolf Swing Suite; Ibis Sky Lounge, a rooftop social lounge with unparalleled views and craft cocktails; and Reef 76 Kitchen & Bar – the hotel’s signature restaurant showcasing coastal cuisine infused with Caribbean influence. When not out and about, catch some rays on the pool deck or unwind at the new Mokara Spa.
- W Fort Lauderdale: The beachfront hotel W Fort Lauderdale (photo below) has refreshed its Living Room lounge and WET Deck. The Living Room features “Golden Hour” cocktails, vinyl DJs, ladies’ nights and Sunday spritzes. Upstairs, the revamped WET Deck, the largest elevated pool deck on Fort Lauderdale beach, now includes VIP cabanas and lounge spaces. In the morning, guests can relax poolside. In the afternoon, Sunchasers programming, held Wednesday through Sunday, brings in DJs and transforms the deck into a lively gathering space.
ENTERTAINENT & EXPERIENCES
- Thrive Art District: Thrive Art District is emerging as a cultural hub for Broward County, offering visitors the opportunity to explore large-scale street art through guided tours or self-guided walks while experiencing the neighbourhood’s ongoing transformation day and night.
- While there, stop at Laurie Duncan Art Studio & Gallery (banner photo), a light-filled space showcasing coastal-inspired originals and prints from the Fort Lauderdale-based artist. Her palette of ocean blues, sandy neutrals and warm light captures the feeling of South Florida on canvas. Visitors can make an appointment or stop in during Art Walk on the last Saturday of each month.
- Puttshack Dania Beach: Now open, Puttshack Dania Beach offers a tech-infused mini golf experience paired with a full-service bar and globally inspired menu, making it ideal for social outings, group gatherings, and corporate events.
- The Fort: The Fort is the world’s first professional pickleball stadium, featuring 43 tournament-level courts along with dining and social spaces that redefine sports entertainment in South Florida.
RESTAURANTS & CULINARY
- Florida Room at The Fort: Inside The Fort is Florida Room (photo below), a 4,000-sq.-ft. lakeside restaurant. It comes from husband-and-wife duo Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis, alumni of the TV show “Top Chef” and James Beard-nominated chefs who first made waves in Miami with Stiltsville Fish Bar. Their Fort Lauderdale venture features a menu blending Southern comfort and tropical flavors. The space reflects old Florida charm, with sunlight bouncing off the lake and glass walls framing the courts.
- G&B Dockside: What happens when Fort Lauderdale favourites Coconuts and G&B Oyster Bar introduce a sister spot? Meet G&B Dockside, a small-plate-driven, seafood-forward restaurant anchored by the premium cold-water oyster program locals already swear by. Tucked inside the Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal/Il Lugano Residences, it pairs breezy waterfront views with lunch, dinner, and brunch service. Come for the famous “scoobies” – snow crab claws bathed in garlic chili butter – and stay for the Bell & Evans half-roasted chicken.
- Bondi Sushi: Designed to mark the brand’s next evolution, the new Bondi Sushi space blends fine-casual roots with a more elevated approach. The restaurant features a sushi bar, expanded indoor and outdoor seating, and a menu of inventive new creations. The location also introduces The Bar at Bondi, a standalone cocktail bar developed in collaboration with sister concept Shinji’s, ranked among the top 100 cocktail bars in North America.
- Del Mar: Cameron Mitchell Restaurants brings its Mediterranean-inspired Del Mar concept to Fort Lauderdale with its largest location to date. Spanning more than 17,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space, the waterfront restaurant debuts at Auberge Beach Residences with a beachfront bar and dining experience.
- Pier Top at Pier Sixty-Six: Reopened as one of Fort Lauderdale’s most iconic venues, Pier Top now offers 360-degree panoramic views along with Champagne, caviar, and an elevated cocktail menu.
- E41: Embarcadero 41 USA is a Peruvian Nikkei fusion restaurant bringing more than two decades of culinary legacy from Peru to Fort Lauderdale. The menu blends traditional Peruvian ingredients with Japanese techniques, creating bold and inventive dishes served in a warm, hospitality-driven setting.
- Sweetwaters: Serving as a centerpiece of the reimagined Huizenga Park, the restaurant features a riverfront patio and a terrace facing the park.
If you enjoyed or found this story useful, we’d appreciate if you would forward it to a colleague or friend who may also enjoy it. If, on the other hand, a friend shared it with you, welcome! You can get all the latest travel news and reviews from Travel Industry by simply clicking HERE.