Fort Lauderdale’s New Era: The Best Places to Stay, Eat, and Explore Around Pier Sixty-Six

For decades, Fort Lauderdale lived in the shadow of its own reputation.

Located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Miami on Florida’s southeastern coast, Fort Lauderdale is often the first stop for international visitors arriving through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport or embarking on Caribbean cruises from nearby Port Everglades.

To many travelers, however, Fort Lauderdale was simply the spring break capital immortalized in movies and college memories. Over the last decade, that image has quietly evolved into something far more sophisticated: a waterfront destination where luxury yachts glide through the Intracoastal Waterway, chef-driven restaurants thrive alongside beloved neighborhood institutions, and culture, history, shopping, and outdoor adventure are never more than a few minutes apart.

An Icon on the Waterfront

At the center of this transformation stands Pier Sixty-Six.

Following a massive redevelopment and restoration, the iconic property has reemerged as both a tribute to Fort Lauderdale’s maritime heritage and a symbol of its future. The legendary Pier Top Tower remains one of South Florida’s most recognizable landmarks, while the revitalized resort introduces modern luxury without losing sight of the history that made it famous. For travelers looking to experience the best of Fort Lauderdale, Pier Sixty-Six provides the perfect home base.

A Historic Landmark Reimagined

Few hotels are as intertwined with a city’s identity as Pier Sixty-Six. Originally developed during Fort Lauderdale’s rise as the “Yachting Capital of the World,” the property became synonymous with the glamorous boating culture that helped define the destination. Today, the reimagined resort blends contemporary design with its nautical roots, creating an atmosphere that feels simultaneously nostalgic and forward-looking.

Walking through the property, guests are greeted by expansive waterfront views, elegant accommodations, world-class marina facilities, and easy access to many of the city’s most compelling attractions.

More importantly, you’ll find yourself positioned directly on the Intracoastal Waterway, the liquid artery that defines life in Fort Lauderdale. The city is often called the “Venice of America” thanks to its more than 300 miles of navigable waterways. From Pier Sixty-Six, that nickname makes perfect sense.

See The City From The Water

No visit to Fort Lauderdale is complete without getting out on the Intracoastal. One of the best ways to understand why Fort Lauderdale earned its “Venice of America” nickname is from the deck of a boat. The city’s waterways reveal a side of South Florida that can’t be appreciated from the road.

Travelers looking for a deeper introduction to the destination should consider the Premier Sightseeing Cruise. The 90-minute narrated excursion winds along the Intracoastal Waterway, offering views of luxury estates, megayachts, historic landmarks, and some of the city’s most impressive waterfront neighborhoods. Along the way, guides share stories about Fort Lauderdale’s history, architecture, and evolution into one of the world’s premier boating destinations.

For those seeking a more festive experience, the Sunset Music Cruise offers a completely different atmosphere. Operating on Friday evenings, the cruise combines live music, sunset views, cocktails, and a lively social scene. Guests enjoy a complimentary welcome drink, a champagne toast, and an extended happy hour at Shooters Waterfront before boarding. As the sun sinks below the horizon, Fort Lauderdale’s waterways transform into a vibrant backdrop for one of the city’s most enjoyable weekend experiences.

Whether you choose a narrated daytime cruise or an evening on the water filled with music and cocktails, experiencing Fort Lauderdale from the Intracoastal remains one of the most memorable ways to see the city.

Stroll Las Olas Boulevard

If the Intracoastal is Fort Lauderdale’s heartbeat, then Las Olas Boulevard is its social center. Stretching from downtown toward the beach, Las Olas combines upscale boutiques, art galleries, sidewalk cafés, cocktail bars, and restaurants into one of South Florida’s most walkable districts.

Spend an afternoon browsing local galleries before settling into an outdoor café for people-watching. The boulevard’s Mediterranean-inspired architecture and tree-lined streets create a distinctly different atmosphere from neighboring Miami. It’s polished without feeling pretentious and energetic without feeling overwhelming.

Beyond The Beach: Exploring Greater Fort Lauderdale

While the waterfront often steals the spotlight, some of Broward County’s most memorable experiences lie beyond the Intracoastal. Less than an hour from downtown, Everglades National Park offers visitors a completely different side of South Florida. Airboat tours glide through vast sawgrass prairies where alligators, turtles, herons, egrets, and countless native species thrive. It’s a reminder that before luxury marinas and waterfront mansions, this region was defined by one of the most unique ecosystems in North America.

For shoppers, Sawgrass Mills remains one of the largest outlet malls in the United States. With hundreds of retailers ranging from luxury brands to value outlets, it’s easy to spend an entire day browsing stores, dining, and taking advantage of some of South Florida’s best shopping opportunities.

Then there’s one of the area’s most beloved cultural landmarks: Swap Shop. Part flea market, part entertainment complex, and part South Florida institution, the Swap Shop has entertained generations of locals and visitors alike. Its drive-in movie theater remains one of the last of its kind in the region, offering a nostalgic slice of Americana beneath the Florida night sky.

Explore Fort Lauderdale’s Cultural Side

Many visitors are surprised to discover how much art and history Fort Lauderdale offers. The NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale houses an impressive collection emphasizing contemporary art, Latin American works, and rotating exhibitions that reflect South Florida’s multicultural identity.

For a deeper dive into local history, visit Bonnet House Museum & Gardens. Set on a lush beachfront estate, the property offers a fascinating glimpse into Old Florida. Part historic home, part nature preserve, and part art museum, Bonnet House feels worlds away from the city’s modern skyline. Walking through the grounds reveals tropical gardens, native wildlife, and a quieter side of South Florida that existed long before luxury development transformed the coastline.

Where To Eat

Evelyn’s
Located within Pier Sixty-Six, Evelyn’s delivers an elevated waterfront dining experience inspired by Mediterranean and coastal flavors. Fresh seafood, thoughtful cocktails, and marina views make it one of the city’s most memorable dining destinations.

Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria
One of Las Olas Boulevard’s most beloved restaurants, Louie Bossi’s serves house-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and Italian comfort food in a lively atmosphere that remains packed day and night.

Takato
For oceanfront dining, Takato combines Japanese and Korean influences with fresh seafood and inventive cocktails. Floor-to-ceiling ocean views make it one of the most scenic dining experiences on the beach.

Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille
Seafood lovers will appreciate Wild Sea’s emphasis on fresh catches, oysters, and coastal-inspired fare.

A Taste Of The Caribbean

One of Fort Lauderdale’s greatest strengths is its cultural diversity, particularly its vibrant Caribbean community. Just west of downtown in Lauderhill, travelers will find some of South Florida’s most authentic Caribbean cuisine. The aromas of curry, jerk spices, and slow-cooked stews drift from family-owned restaurants serving Jamaican patties, Trinidadian doubles, Guyanese pepperpot, and flaky roti.

For visitors willing to venture beyond the tourist districts, Lauderhill offers a delicious introduction to the Caribbean cultures that have helped shape modern South Florida.

Beach Time, Fort Lauderdale Style

While Miami often dominates conversations about South Florida beaches, Fort Lauderdale offers a more relaxed alternative. The wide shoreline provides plenty of space to spread out without feeling crowded, while beachfront restaurants and bars create a lively but approachable atmosphere.

A morning walk along Fort Lauderdale Beach offers a perfect balance of natural beauty and urban convenience. You’ll find joggers, cyclists, paddleboarders, and locals enjoying the sunshine long before the afternoon crowds arrive. It’s one of the easiest places in Florida to combine beach time with city exploration.

Live Music And Nightlife

Fort Lauderdale’s nightlife has evolved well beyond spring break stereotypes. Venues throughout downtown and Las Olas regularly feature live jazz, blues, rock, and acoustic performances. Waterfront bars host musicians several nights a week, creating the perfect soundtrack to an evening along the Intracoastal.

The city’s entertainment scene feels more refined these days, attracting everyone from yacht owners and professionals to artists and visitors looking for a relaxed night out.

Step Back Into The Roaring Twenties

For a nightcap with a sense of mystery, seek out Room 901. Hidden inside a transformed guest room on the ninth floor of the Hyatt Centric Las Olas, this intimate speakeasy transports guests to the Roaring Twenties. Sultry lighting, plush furnishings, antiques, vintage décor, and expertly crafted cocktails create an atmosphere that feels worlds away from modern-day Fort Lauderdale.

The experience begins before guests even enter, adding a layer of exclusivity and intrigue that recalls the secret bars of the Prohibition era. For travelers seeking something beyond traditional nightlife, Room 901 delivers one of the city’s most distinctive evenings out.

Why Pier Sixty-Six Matters

Many hotels function merely as places to sleep. Pier Sixty-Six functions as a gateway. Its location places travelers within easy reach of beaches, museums, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and water-based adventures while simultaneously offering a destination-worthy experience of its own.

The property embodies Fort Lauderdale’s broader evolution. It honors the city’s maritime legacy while embracing the luxury, culture, and sophistication that define modern Fort Lauderdale. In many ways, the hotel’s revival mirrors the city’s own. Both have rediscovered what made them special in the first place.

If You Go

Getting There
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a short drive from Pier Sixty-Six and the beach, and Port Everglades sits next door for travelers starting or ending a cruise.

Getting Around

• The Water Taxi works as both transportation and sightseeing, with hop-on, hop-off stops along the Intracoastal and New River, including Las Olas Boulevard. Grab an all-day Water Taxi pass here.
• A rental car makes it easy to reach Sawgrass Mills, the Swap Shop, Lauderhill and the Everglades. Compare rental cars on Discover Cars.

Where to Stay

• Pier Sixty-Six sits right on the Intracoastal beside its own marina, with beaches, dining, shopping and waterfront activities all within easy reach.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is directly on Fort Lauderdale Beach, with ocean views, an expansive spa and easy access to the beach promenade.
• Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach is a modern all-suite oceanfront property popular with families and longer stays, thanks to spacious rooms and resort-style amenities.
• Pelican Grand Beach Resort offers a more classic Florida beach experience, with a quieter stretch of sand, Old Florida charm and one of the only lazy rivers in the area.
• Hyatt Centric Las Olas Fort Lauderdale puts you within walking distance of Las Olas Boulevard’s restaurants, galleries and nightlife, plus the hidden speakeasy Room 901.

Where to Eat

• Evelyn’s at Pier Sixty-Six for upscale waterfront dining
• Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria for Italian favorites and lively outdoor seating on Las Olas
• Takato for oceanfront Japanese and Korean dishes
• Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille for oysters and fresh catches
• Lauderhill, just west of downtown, for Caribbean roti, doubles, jerk chicken and other island specialties

What to Do

• Take the Premier Sightseeing Cruise for a 90-minute narrated tour past waterfront mansions, megayachts and historic landmarks.
• Catch the Sunset Music Cruise, which runs Friday evenings in summer with live music, cocktails and sunset views on the Intracoastal.
• Stroll Las Olas Boulevard.
• Visit NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.
• Tour Bonnet House Museum & Gardens.
• Spend a day shopping at Sawgrass Mills.
• [Ride an airboat at Everglades Holiday Park](LINK PENDING) for a narrated hour on the River of Grass.
• Catch a movie at the Swap Shop’s drive-in theater.
• Enjoy cocktails at Room 901, hidden inside the Hyatt Centric Las Olas.

Best Time to Visit
November through April brings warm temperatures, lower humidity and ideal conditions for exploring the city and its waterways. Summer means fewer crowds and lower hotel rates, though afternoon thunderstorms are common and hurricane season runs June through November.

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Author Bio: Carlos Omar Gardinet is a Miami-based journalist and senior copywriter covering music, arts, culture, and travel. A graduate of The New School in New York City, he has interviewed everyone from Chaka Khan to Zoe Saldaña, with bylines in Vibe, The Source, MTV, BET, and the New York Post. His travels have taken him from the vibrant souks of Morocco to the rolling countryside of Italy, aboard the scenic Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps, to the waterfalls of Iguazu and the rainforests of Costa Rica. Passionate about sustainable, eco-friendly, and plant-based travel, Carlos is always searching for destinations that nourish both people and the planet. When he’s not chasing a story or mentoring college students in marketing and advertising, you’ll likely find him on the tennis court or working on his first novel and a short screenplay.

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