Wake up to the travel buzz that is the "new" Fort Lauderdale. This upbeat, progressive, diverse, beach bonanza—lively with distinctive restaurants, world-class performance and fine arts venues, ace accommodations, nature-reveling diversions and shop-licious Las Olas Boulevard—has graciously grown-up, shedding its 1980s reputation as a spring-break party scene. Situated on a 23-mile-long, pristine, sandy Atlantic Ocean shoreline, Fort Lauderdale now attracts a varied bounty of vacationers: young professionals, avid foodies and mixology mavens, energetic families, sporty adventurers, romantic couples and Northeast snowbirds. It's highly praised as LGBTQ friendly. Plus, since its Port Everglades cruise ship area is one of the three busiest ports in the world (servicing more than 3.87 million passengers in fiscal year 2018), sea-voyaging passengers increasingly extend their trip pre- or post-cruise in Fort Lauderdale. Consider these favorite cool places in this easy-to-relax-and-recharge hotspot:
STAY & PLAY: A SHORE THING
Planned by the celeb Michael Graves Architecture & Design firm, Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach is an ocean-view resort, positioned within walking distance of many of the city's key pleasures. Its 290 all-suite, roomy guest accommodations unfold luxurious amenities, such as Italian marble bathrooms with Shanghai Tang toiletries; handsome, well-stocked kitchenettes with touchscreen stovetops and subzero refrigerators; and tripod-mounted telescopes. Guests are greeted in the hotel’s lobby, on an almost hidden circular driveway, by a subtle signature scent of bergamot-lavender-patchouli-yuzu. Hang in its snazzy ground-floor Atlas Cocktail Lounge, where imaginative, bold drinks are expertly crafted. It's a blast to watch head mixologist Danwel Olivo work his magic with floats, garnishes, coats, dusts and frosts. (Personal fave: The Old & Smoky—Bulleit Rye infused in a stainless-steel frame smoking box; served with orange bitters, Angostura bitters, brown sugar, Luxardo Italian cherries and burnt orange peel.) Olivo formulates signature spirits, as well, such as his Cruzan Bay single-barrel rum imbued with dried fruits, roots and woods, then aged 14 days before service-ready. Conrad's attractive Terra Mare restaurant—with its outdoor tiered patio—overlooks Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Its 4,000-square-foot Conrad Spa promotes self-care. For head-to-toe renewal, select its orange blossom illuminating facial and foot relief soothing massage. Strengthen your core at its high-tech, 24/7 fitness center and in its wellness classes, including sunrise yoga on the beach. Wheel around the town via the hotel's customized rental bicycles.
FLOATING FASCINATION: OGLE MEGA-MILLIONS REAL ESTATE
Often surprising to newbie visitors: Fort Lauderdale's network of remarkable inner canals. There are 165 miles of navigable, scenic waterways. Spy awesome mansions of curvaceous Millionaires Row (many housing celebrities, business titans, famous athletes and other notables) that are perched at waters-edge. Mega-yachts abound.
Sightsee via a no-fuss hop-on-hop-off Water Taxi, narrated by personable story-telling guides. Or, for a grander excursion, opt for Carrie B. Cruises. Its 112-foot, paddle-wheel-style boat, Carrie B., features air-conditioned roominess and full-bar. If you prefer a more private experience, book a chartered journey on Coastal Yacht Tours.
Kayaking, paddle-boarding, para-gliding tours are available, too. From March through October, learn about sea turtle nesting season when the marine animals come ashore to lay their golf-ball size eggs.
Go further afield on "a river of grass" in the nearby Everglades—home to alligators, beavers, blue herons, egrets, hawks, raccoons, Roseate spoonbills, panthers and pythons. At Everglades Holiday Park, high-speed airboats zip through a sanctuary that is unlike anywhere else on Earth.
APPLAUD APLENTY: MUSIC, THEATER, DANCE, COMEDY
Kudos to the creative leaders and biz whizzes behind the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Fort Lauderdale, next to the river. This entertainment anchor for the 22-block, landscaped Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District showcases more than 700 annual presentations: dances by ballet companies, concerts by acclaimed musicians, lectures by newsworthy thinkers and laugh-centric shows by comedians. Broadway musicals and plays tend to draw the biggest audiences. Along with the allied Parker Playhouse and Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, upcoming productions include Leela James; The Opera Atelier: Return of the Not So Little Prince; XXIV International Ballet Festival of Miami: Contemporary Performance; The Motowners; Les Miserables; David Koz & Friends: Summer Horns; 40th Anniversary Tour: The B-52s; Shrek The Musical; Escape to Margaritaville; An Evening with David Sedaris; Disney's Aladdin; Mandy Patinkin in Concert; and Come From Away. That's just for starters.
SAVOR FLAVORS: CULINARY CHARISMA
You can eat very well in Fort Lauderdale, which has become the leading innovator for South Florida's foodie following. Its renaissance of restaurants, both fine-dining and casual, heralds a cornucopia of chef-driven, farm-to-table, garden-to-glass, sustainability-minded and global-gastro options. DUNE, a new beachfront dining gem, is located in the new Auberge Beach Residences (photo below)—affiliated with the Michelin Star portfolio of Auberge Resorts Collection.
Success stems from DUNE's devotion to details: quality ingredients, savvy staff and a welcoming vibe. The indoor-outdoor restaurant, designed by award-winning New York firm Meyer Davis, delivers appealing menus—by executive chef Edgar Beas and chef de cuisine Brian Barry—that emphasizes seafood, interesting veggies and organic ingredients.
Relish freshly shucked oysters galore; whole roasted Branzino with charred lemon, heart of palm and vadouvan sauce; octopus a la plancha with sofrito, patatas bravas and green onion. Crunch into well-orchestrated salads: Beets with baby kale, sunchoke, walnut vinaigrette and herbed goat cheese; burrata with eggplant caponata, kalamata olive vinaigrette, arugula and guava pesto.
DUNE’s advanced Josper charcoal oven enables cooking at high temps, achieving juicier meats with a flavor-abundant, ember finish. Red meat lover? There are sizzling steaks. Say yes to the grilled rack of lamb with sumac, charred cucumber and tzatziki sauce. Keen attention is given to diners who request vegan, nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free or gluten-free dishes.
Sip beach-inspired libations. The 24th Mile (photo below) is concocted with Chinaco Reposado Tequila, Torres orange liqueur, basil, saffron, fresh squeezed lemon juice, fresh squeezed lime juice and Himalayan pink salt rim. Sand Reed (below) satisfies with Hangar 1 vodka, Granny Smith apple, fresh squeezed lemon juice and wheatgrass. Enjoy a wine repertoire that pays homage to Auberge’s Napa Valley, California roots. Its glass-enclosed wine cellar inventories more than 600 selections. And, on select weekly evenings, dance and romance to DUNE's five-piece jazz band.
Here's an indulgent escape: Make an uplifting day of it by scheduling an afternoon spa appointment before dinner at DUNE—in Auberge's elegant, tranquil, 20,000-square-foot The Spa. The unique multi-table Friendship Room is ideal for a gal-pal getaway or pre-wedding glam celebration. Gently rejuvenate in the infrared sauna, hot steam room, cool deluge shower, salt cave and sound meditation lounge.
Feel transported to a fancy India at Fort Lauderdale's Bombay Darbar, which is decorated in vibrant jewel tones, mood lighting and chandeliers. Chef Rajesh Rana, originally from Mumbai who also worked at the Bombay Darbar in Miami, heads this new Las Olas Boulevard location. Feast on panner pakora (Indian cheese appetizer stuffed with mint chutney); shrimp and basmati rice with herbs, nuts, raisins and spices; mango chicken curry with cashew sauce; and lamb kadhai with ginger, onion, green pepper and tomatoes (seasoned to your preferred taste from mild to super-spicy). Order an abundance of warm naan (leavened, tear-shaped flatbread baked in a tandoor); naan choices are many, including cilantro and garlic; spiced onion; nuts and raisins; potatoes and peas. For dessert, leave room for the pistachio kulfi—a fragrant frozen Indian dessert.
Committed to sustainability, Even Keel Fish & Oyster—brainchild of chefs-owners Dean James Max, Brad Phillips and Dave MacLennan—adds ethical oomph to scrumptious seafood dishes. Its raw bar pleases: hamachi poke with hijiki, cucumber, sesame chili, yuzu, ginger and cashew; scallop ceviche with cucumber jalapeño agua chile, red onion and radish. Dive into its small plates: charred octopus with chorizo aioli, sofrito, confit potato, almonds and fennel; grilled cheese with brie, truffle, blue crab and blueberry chutney. From its hot wood oven, order roasted oysters with Meyer lemon butter, garlic and Parmesan; white clam pizza with lemon zest ricotta, arugula purée and lemonette. Hungry yet? Popular main courses include lobster mac and cheese with orecchiette pasta, chives, lemon and breadcrumbs as well as hot lobster roll with ginger butter and Old Bay chips. Bootleg Greg Genias runs the bar with aplomb and his cocktails cheer: Consider Naked and Famous (with Famous Grouse Scotch, honey syrup, fresh lemon juice and Pinot Noir) and Gun Smoke (with Noble Oak Bourbon, Bin 27 port, Barrow's Intense Ginger liqueur, B&B liqueur and aromatic bitters). And craft beers intrigue: Banging Banjo Moodoo Voodoo Stout, Funky Buddha Floridian Wheat Beer, Iguana Bait Honey Hibiscus Ale and SeaQuench Ale.
At The Terrace Grill at the Dalmar (in Fort Lauderdale's newest luxe-trendy hotel), executive chef Craig McNeil, a Scotland native who once cooked at Florida's legendary Fontainebleau and Fisher Island, has conceived a dinner menu of well-recognized dishes that are anything but ordinary—fare kicked up far more than a tasty notch. Presentation in this high-ceiling, greenery-frocked space is inviting. Choose a medley of comfort-foods: olives marinated in garlic, orange and rosemary; artichokes alla romana with lemon and fresh herb crumb; Dover sole Meunière; roasted chicken with spinach gnocchi, wild mushrooms and English peas.
Salute YOLO (You Only Live Once and You’re On Las Olas), which feels as much like a community friend as it does a bustling, social-siren restaurant. Given life by The Restaurant People, headed by co-founder and CEO Tim Petrillo and co-founder, partner and executive chef Peter Boulukos, TRP has built, managed and operated more than 70 happening restaurants in South Florida. YOLO, a premier Las Olas Boulevard eatery, rocks an open kitchen with a wood-fired grill, seating for 300, two bars, an outdoor garden patio and courtyard lounge with fire pit. Dining dreams are made of its multiple menus. Try smoked corn bread with chili honey butter; blistered shishito peppers with truffle, yuzu, soy, bonito flakes and miso sauce; oak-grilled artichoke halves with lemon aioli; cedar-roasted salmon with shallot, fennel, thyme, lemon and tabouleh; and rotisserie Greek chicken with lemon, oregano, garlic, wilted spinach, feta, olives and tzatziki. Get serious about its fun cocktails: The Halmo (YOLO's version of a Manhattan with Bulleit Bourbon, Dolin Sweet Vermouth and Drambuie); Hemingway's Chateau (Bacardi Rum, grapefruit, Luxardo, lime and agave); and Smokin' Me Sweet (Ilegal Mezcal, Sauza Tequila, Ancho Reyes liqueur, orange, pineapple, lime and agave).
For sweeping city views and refreshing taste-maker cocktails, Rooftop @ 1WLO (also a TRP brainstorm) is a desired hideaway. Hail its sunset gatherings, called Sipset, atop the greenery-lush, open-air patio, replete with assorted seating that heartens mingling and more. Nibbles—such as short-rib grilled cheddar cheese with shallot confit on brioche; coconut shrimp ceviche; goat cheese stuffed dates with maple glaze; and Buffalo chicken empanadas with buttermilk blue dressing—fortify.
FIND YOUR MUSE: ART WITH HEART
Leisurely stroll Las Olas Boulevard, brimming not only with restaurants, bakeries and clothing boutiques, but also a wealth of eye-candy art galleries, spotlighting a wide range of styles, artists and prices. Among the noteworthy stops: National Geographic Fine Art Gallery, Jamali Gallery, New River Fine Art, Bellagio International Gallery, Blue Gallery. Nearby, also check out Mac Art.
Shake up your beach-focused itinerary by visiting NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, which presents a permanent collection of more than 7,000 works. Delight in the vibrant expressions at this 61-year-old artistic haven that became part of Nova Southeastern University approximately a decade ago. Director and chief curator Bonnie Clearwater is especially commended for her skill identifying and nurturing emerging artists. It displays the world's largest collection of 19th- and early-20th-century paintings and drawings by American realist William Glackens. View eye-opening work by post-World War II avant-garde artists from Amsterdam, Brussels and Copenhagen, as well as prime pieces by top Latin American artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and Joaquín Torres García. Don't miss contributions of African and Oceanic Tribal Arts and Art of the Americas. And gaze at stellar surprises by mid-20th-century New York School artists, such as Frank Stella, Philip Guston, Lee Krasner and Joan Mitchell. With interesting lectures and films, as well as food-wine gatherings, this sweet slice of culture fills you up.
GET GOING: IN-THE-KNOW TIPS
It's easier than ever to travel among Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach—in case your vacation goals aim to combine two or more cities—by hopping aboard newish Brightline (soon to be Richard Branson-branded Virgin Trains USA), the only privately owned, operated and maintained passenger rail system in the USA. This South Florida high-speed lifeline boasts fast Wi-Fi, seats equipped with charging ports and stations with fab food. A planned expansion to Orlando is on the horizon.
For more Greater Fort Lauderdale travel ideas, info and inspiration: Sunny Org.
