10 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Fort Lauderdale

The Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District spans 22 blocks along the New River in city centre Fort Lauderdale. It’s home to a number of cultural institutions as well as parks, restaurants, and shops. Stroll through Esplanade Park and catch a show at the Broward Centre for the Performing Arts. Engage with interactive exhibits at the Museum of Discovery and Science. View art or take a class at the NSU Art Museum – which is free every first Thursday of the month.

If a workout is your aim, take advantage of several exercise stations along the path. To take in the view, ride a free water trolley along the river. Catch an event such as the monthly Sunday Jazz Brunch.

Las Olas Boulevard has been called “the heart and soul of Fort Lauderdale” as well as a “shopper’s paradise.” Much of the boulevard has grassy medians with big shade trees, while many eateries have pavement dining areas. It has a cosy, European feel.

Fashion boutiques, art galleries, jewellery purveyors, yoga studios, and surf shops are among the vendors you’ll find. Dining and nightlife are part of the Las Olas vibe, too. For dinner or happy hour fare, try YOLO (You Only Live Once). For a cocktail and a cigar, stop by the Macabi Havana Lounge.

Central Beach offers ocean access as well as historical and natural areas, dining, and nightlife. Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is a 35-acre historic estate that blends art, history, whimsical architecture, and history. For Cajun food and oversized cocktails, head to Lulu’s Bait Shack. For live music and drinks, try the Elbo Room, a Fort Lauderdale institution since 1938. If you want food and a breezy, beachfront bar, 411 South Bar & Grill has what you need.

Just north of Central Beach is Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, a 180-acre area that’s sometimes called “Fort Lauderdale’s Central Park.” It includes trails for hiking, biking, and skating as well as picnic areas.

Wilton Manors is Fort Lauderdale’s walkable “gayborhood,” with many businesses owned by and catering to LGBTQ+ people. In addition to its fabulous nightlife, Wilton Manors (just west of city centre) is a destination for great food, shopping, and nature areas. If you’re looking for bar food, cocktails, drag shows, and dance parties, head to Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar. If food is your focus, the area has excellent Caribbean, Italian, Mexican, and American fare.

Before you dine and dance, head to Richardson Historic Park and Nature Preserve, a 5.4-acre park that features a river boardwalk, nature trails, natural habitat areas, and a historical manor house and carriage house. For novelties, gifts, and “old school” sweets, stop by To the Moon Marketplace.

Flagler Village was once a neglected warehouse area that has been revitalised as an arts district. It’s known for its restaurants, bars, and live music in addition to its resident artists, designers, and creative professionals. Numerous exhibitions, performances, and events are put on by 2 organisations: FAT Village (Flagler Arts and Technology) and the MASS District (Music & Arts South of Sunrise).

For cocktails, music, and axe-throwing – “perfect for date night,” says the website – head to Chops + Hops Axe Throwing Lounge. For creative IPAs, sour ales, and other beers, try Invasive Species Brewing. For locally sourced, new southern food alongside regional spirits and beers, try Batch New Southern Kitchen & Tap.

If you’re looking for a Florida beachfront area that’s more laid-back holiday and less spring break party, head just north of Fort Lauderdale to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. The small city with a predominantly midcentury modern architectural style retains its charm partly by restricting the height of buildings on the beach and in town. Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s retail district includes shops, restaurants, bars, and equipment rentals.

The city prides itself on common areas. These include Anglin’s Square, El Prado Park, and the Beach Pavilion, which are lined with Adirondack chairs and benches. Less than 100 yards off the beach are coral reefs, so snorkelling and scuba diving are popular.

Victoria Park retains its old-world Florida charm (many houses were built in the 1930s) while offering solid arts and culture components, a diverse restaurant scene, and outdoor recreation. See music or comedy at the Parker. Catch an artsy film or contemporary favourite at the Gateway. To learn about LGBTQ+ history, browse or stay for an event at the Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library. Area dining options include seafood (Shuck ‘n’ Dive), Latin American (Jalisco Restaurante), and American fare (The Foxy Brown).

For pickleball, tennis, and other sports, visit Holiday Park. You can also see Fort Lauderdale from the water – Victoria Park borders canals and inland waterways, so you can rent a paddleboard, kayak, or boat.

Sunrise is big on shopping, sports, and entertainment. It also offers outdoor recreation and an offbeat museum. This city just west of Fort Lauderdale is home to the FLA Live Arena, where you can catch a Florida Panthers professional hockey game or see a concert by the likes of John Mayer or Alicia Keys. Nearby is Sawgrass Mills, among the nation’s largest shopping centres with some 350 stores as well as restaurants, late-night bars, and an IMAX theatre.

At the Dauer Museum of Classic Cars, enter a time machine of a showroom to see restored autos, most from the 1930s through the 1970s. Markham Park offers mountain bike trails, nature walks, a shooting range, and a weekly observatory viewing.

Dania Beach offers small-town vibes and some of the best-known antique stores in the region. Dania Beach is just south of Fort Lauderdale on US Highway 1 (also called North Federal Highway). You’ll find vintage items including kitchenware, glassware, silver, jewellery, and furniture. Some shops specialise in high-end items while others offer more of a “shabby chic” approach.

The Akiba Antiques Mall is a good place to start. Other purveyors include Davidson Antiques, Jonathan Daniels Antiques, and Alan’s Antiques. Many of these shops are family-owned, and reviewers say the proprietors are extremely friendly and helpful. If you need a meal, the Dania Beach food offerings include seafood, Irish pub grub, Greek, and Cuban fare.

Some beaches have boardwalks, but here, just south of Fort Lauderdale on the coast, you’ll find something called the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk. It’s a 2.5-mile stretch of brick-paved walkway with a dramatic Atlantic coast view that’s good for walking, running, or cycling. Multiple restaurants and small cafes line the Broadwalk, offering spots to people-watch or take in the natural views.

On Hollywood Beach, designated areas exist for surfing, kiteboarding, and paddle boarding. When you’re done playing in the ocean and strolling the Broadwalk, you can catch a Sun Shuttle that takes you to Hollywood’s historic city centre for retail, restaurant, and entertainment venues.