Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale (2025)

Chef Rino Cerbone’s Flagler Village favorite spins soulful pies and Italian plates with swagger. Recognized by the MICHELIN Guide and praised by Time Out, it’s a buzzy room where locals linger over artichokes, pastas, and standout olive oil cake.

Timon Balloo’s intimate spot channels South Florida’s global pantry with seasonal plates and natural-leaning wines. Celebrated by Time Out and Miami New Times, it’s the downtown dinner choice for creative flavors and warm, neighborhood energy.

Set in a 1929 horse barn, this brewery-kitchen anchors the Tarpon River neighborhood with classics on tap, bluegrass nights, trivia, and community markets. Named Best Brewery (Broward) by Miami New Times, it’s as local as it gets.

Tucked near Port Everglades, LauderAle pours small‑batch Florida‑inspired beers in a gardenlike taproom with food trucks, yoga, and live music. Lauded by local critics and beloved by regulars, it’s the brewery locals bring friends to first.

Roasted on site and poured with care, Wells is the city’s specialty‑coffee hub. Awarded Best Coffeehouse (Broward) by Miami New Times and highlighted by Eater, it fuels mornings and meetups with horchata cold brew and single‑origin pours.

A craft‑beer pioneer with rock‑n‑roll spirit, Laser Wolf keeps rare cans, rotating drafts, and food trucks flowing beside the train tracks. Endorsed by Condé Nast Traveler and Miami New Times, it’s quintessential Flagler Village nightlife.

Elbo Room - Review - Fort Lauderdale - Miami - The Infatuation

The Elbo Room is one of the only things on Fort Lauderdale beach that your parents will recognize from their ’83 spring break trip. The open-air dive bar on A1A has been around since 1938, and it’s still one of the most reliably packed bars on a street that has no shortage of drinking options. The crowds can get very sloppy here, but as long as you’re cool with having bizarre conversations with strangers and rubbing against sunburned tourists, it’s fun. There’s usually live music, and it’s a fine day drinking option to tack onto any Fort Lauderdale beach day. Just avoid it during spring break. - Ryan Pfeffer

A family‑run craft‑beer cafeteria with 500+ bottles and cans, self‑serve coolers, and solid sandwiches. Long loved by local writers and TV shows, the original location still draws neighborhood crowds for relaxed, couch‑and‑teak‑chair hangs.

Downtown’s independent rock room where touring bands and local acts break. With a packed 2025 calendar and a two‑decade legacy noted by Miami New Times, it’s the city’s go‑to for intimate, high‑energy shows.

Skip traffic and sightsee the canals aboard the local Water Taxi. Recommended by Condé Nast Traveler and Visit Lauderdale, it links Las Olas, the beach, marinas, and parks — a relaxing way to experience the “Venice of America.”

Quiet, electric gondolas glide through leafy neighborhood canals with dinner served from Casa Sensei. Fort Lauderdale Magazine has profiled the experience; it’s pure romance and local scenery in 90 unrushed minutes.

A dockside staple since 1973 near Port Everglades, known for oysters, conch fritters, and peel‑and‑eat shrimp. Featured by CBS Miami and Visit Lauderdale, it serves Old Florida flavor where boaters tie off and locals linger.