With more than 4,000 eateries, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s eclectic dining scene offers something to please every palate. From restaurants to rooftops to pubs to speakeasies, the culinary scene continues to flourish. If your clients are looking to relax and enjoy a glass of wine, a smooth cocktail or a brew or two, they’re in the right place. Greater Fort Lauderdale offers refreshment options for every taste.
For coffee drinkers, there are coffee shops with coworking spaces or spaces to simply relax. For beer drinkers, the gastropubs serve tasty plates, sports bars have plenty of TVs to watch the big game, and breweries that specialize in a variety of brews from IPAs to ciders. And trendy bistros or sophisticated bars provide a slew of options for that perfect glass of wine or refreshingly tasty cocktail.
There’s no better place to be when the sun goes down. Greater Fort Lauderdale’s nightlife offers something for everyone. Your clients can sip a cocktail at one of the area’s rooftop bars while they decide the evening’s entertainment. They could try their luck at one of the casinos, sample the justly famous fare at a nearby restaurant, then perhaps enjoy the entertainment and live music at a club or bar while they dance the night away – the region’s vibrant nightlife offers dusk to dawn enjoyment.
The best rooftop bar in Greater Fort Lauderdale? It’s hard to choose, but here are a few of the best.
Elevated above Fort Lauderdale’s renowned Las Olas Boulevard and the New River, Rooftop @1WLO brings a laid-back cosmopolitan vibe to the heart of downtown. It’s a garden in the sky, offering panoramic views over the Fort Lauderdale skyline along with a great selection cocktails, wines and seasonal, shareable small plates.
Sparrow is a chic and trendy rooftop cocktail lounge offering retro vibes and urban views, located on top of The Dalmar hotel in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The outdoor patio provides panoramic views over the city and ocean along with inventive food and drinks, ranging from tropically influenced riffs on classic cocktails to shareable plates mixing Asian flavours and tropical vibes.
For amazing views of the sunset and the Intracoastal Waterway on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, the Sunset Club Rooftop Bar & Lounge located at the Costa Hollywood Beach Resort is sure to delight your clients. Here they can also enjoy tropical cocktails, live music, DJ sets and inspired creations from Chef Geancarlo Mayora.
The High Tide Lounge at the Bahia Mar at Fort Lauderdale Beach, is yet another bright and stylish rooftop venue offering panoramic views over the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean, a rooftop pool and poolside food and drinks.
Speakeasies
It is the ‘twenties’ after all, and Greater Fort Lauderdale certainly has its share of speakeasies! These hidden bars, some only accessible if you know the secret code, bring back the ambience and atmosphere of the earlier “Roaring Twenties” so your clients can whisper the code, grab a seat and enjoy the fun.
The Ale Trail
Is there anything better on a warm sunny day than a cold brew? And, if your clients are craft beer aficionados, they’ll love exploring Greater Fort Lauderdale’s wide selection of breweries and beer bars and thriving beer culture. The Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail features 18 local nano- and micro-breweries and 32 craft brew pubs offering 500 different beers – everyone can find a favorite new brew along the map. Visitors can experience breweries, beer gardens and brewpubs offering guided tours, an open-air cigar patio and horchata-inspired brew on tap.
And now your clients can experience a curated collection of 13 craft breweries throughout the region with the “Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport,” a free mobile-exclusive digital pass that all locals and visitors can sign up for. With many breweries tucked away, this passport makes it easy to go where the locals go or to create their own tour. Your clients can sign up to receive their link to the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport here.
Concerts
Whatever your clients’ musical tastes, Greater Fort Lauderdale has something they will enjoy. From diverse local music genres and talented musicians performing in neighborhoods across the area, to world-class acts performing at events and festivals – the music of Greater Fort Lauderdale keeps the beat alive and fresh.
Casinos
From blackjack and poker to thoroughbred racetracks and Jai-Alai courts, Greater Fort Lauderdale offers high-stakes, high-energy action 24/7. Add in slots, harness racing, baccarat, pai gow, and dozens of other table games—as well as drinks, dancing, and entertainment—and it’s clear that Greater Fort Lauderdale’s casinos are a can’t-lose proposition.
Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival welcomes ‘Everyone Under the Sun’
The Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival boasts an impressive lineup of signature events taking place during a week-long festival January 9-15, 2023, offering culinary events for everyone under the sun. Some of the events include:
Bar Fight! A Spirited Competition – a master mixologist showdown that puts local mixologists in a head-to-head, no-holds barred matchup that to declare the ‘Official Cocktail of DowntownFTL.’
Taking the classic poolside BBQ to a whole new level is the Poolside BBQ Battle which has pitmasters showcase their best BBQ creations in a quest to be crowned 2023 Poolside BBQ Battle Champion.
The Grand Tasting is a four-hour beachside culinary celebration unlimited bites and sips, cooking demonstrations, live music and some good-old-fashioned culinary competition.
Rounding out the week-long epicurean excitement is the Picnic in the Park presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital at Las Olas Oceanside Park. The future foodies and parents alike will enjoy a curated lineup of food trucks, hands-on culinary classes for all ages, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, a Kid’s Zone, and local artisan vendors.
These Signature Events will ultimately be complemented by an Educational Series, Cooking Demonstrations, Intimate Chef Driven Dining Series and more, all soon to be announced.