Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has a tropical rainforest climate. Summers are very humid with temperatures in the upper 80s °F and low 90s lasting into early fall. The city sees most of its rainfall in the summer (the wet season). Winter is warm and mild and mainly dry (the dry season) with mild temperatures that are occasionally broken up by some rain when cold fronts come through.

May to September is the summer wet season. During the summer, it is warm and humid, with the prevailing wind bringing tropical breezes blowing up from the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and equatorial Atlantic. It is often clear and sunny in the mornings but as the land heats up the air rises and the sea breeze kicks in. This brings in more damp moist air from the sea and so by noon it often starts to cloud over, and then there are commonly short showers in the afternoon, which helps to cool the air off for a cooler and generally dryer evening. The Atlantic hurricane season largely occurs from late July through early November, with peak activity generally occurring from mid-August through early October.

Fort Lauderdale, positioned just above the Tropic of Cancer, owes a lot of its winter warmth to the Gulf Stream that runs just a couple of miles off shore. The Gulf Stream brings warm water up from the tropics year-round.

On a typical summer day the temperature does not get below 75 °F (24 °C). Summer temperatures are commonly in the high 80s to low 90s (30-35 °C), which is often relieved by the sea breeze, which in turn brings some afternoon thunderstorms.

During winter, humidity is significantly lower. The average daily high in the winter is usually between 65 and 75 °F (18-24 °C) and the low normally around 59 °F (15 °C), rarely dipping below 40 °F (4 °C) when a front comes through.

Fort Lauderdale receives abundant rainfall, most of it falling in the summer. The annual total of 63.8 inches (1488 mm) is one of the highest for a U.S. city. This sounds like a lot, but it does not rain that often; when it does rain, it is a real tropical downpour.

Fort Lauderdale has the Gulf Stream running next to its shoreline. This allows South Florida to have very mild winters and humid summers. The temperature of the water does not depend on temperature of the air, as the water continues to flow from warmer regions. In winters it is possible to have warmer water than the air temperature. Average coldest temperature of the water falls to 74 °F (24 °C), while temperature of the air may briefly fall as low as low 40s (6 °C). December is the last month of lukewarm 80 °F (27 °C) water; in January it quickly cools to its lowest, 74 °F (24 °C). In the end of May, it climbs to 80 °F (27 °F). However, a comfortable 84 °F (28 °C) comes only at the end of June. July is known for balmy 86 °F (30 °C) and August is the warmest month with shore waters reaching high 90s (37 °C), a temperature that holds until the middle of September. After September the temperatures start to cool off: October is 84 °F (28 °C), November 82 °F (27 °C), December is 80 °F (27 °C). For scuba divers the temperatures don't change much with depth: recreational divers might see a 2 °F (1 °C) degree difference from the surface temperatures.

South Florida has three airports with commercial service:

• 🌍 Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL  ^IATA), 100 Terminal Drive (located just two miles south of down town Fort Lauderdale), ☏ +1 954 359-1200. It is a major airport and popular low cost carrier destination. This is the most convenient airport to Fort Lauderdale. Spirit Airlines and Silver Airways maintain a hub here; JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United all have substantial operations here. FLL is the main domestic airport for the South Florida region. It is also an emerging hub for flights to and from Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. To other parts of the world El Al operates flights to Tel Aviv from here. There are also some limited charter flights to and from Europe. Many passengers are bound for or coming from cruises using Port Everglades, some two miles away. Many taxis, cruise line buses, and hotel/motel shuttles make access to either easy. 
• Miami International Airport (MIA ^IATA), is 25 miles (40 km) south of Fort Lauderdale. It is the major international airport in South Florida, and known as 'The Gateway to the Americas'. Home of American Airlines' Latin American hub and an operational base for Frontier Airlines. There are frequent flights to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe and many direct flights to the US West Coast; it is a 40-minute drive south of Fort Lauderdale using I-95, but can be much, much slower during rush hour. You can catch the Tri-Rail from Miami airport to Fort Lauderdale station for about $4 per person. Then catch the linking bus, or get a cab from the station to the hotel. (More on Tri-Rail below). You can take a shuttle van from Miami Airport to Fort Lauderdale, price varies by destination but will be around $50 to $70 a head.
• Palm Beach International Airport (PBI ^IATA), 1000 Turnage Boulevard, West Palm Beach, +1 561-471-7420. This airport is another option for travelers coming from other cities in the U.S., Toronto or the Bahamas. PBI, however, primarily serves the Palm Beach area and is the least convienent of the three airports for visiting Fort Lauderdale. Nevertheless, you can use Tri-Rail to get from Palm Beach Airport to Fort Lauderdale.

For general aviation:

• 🌍 Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE  ^IATA), West Commercial Boulevard and NW 21st Av (Oakland Park area of the city). FXE is one of the ten largest general aviation airports in the country. This is where you arrive if flying your private plane. Charter companies such as Fort Lauderdale Air Charter, Monarch Air Group and Skymax offer access to a variety of planes for flights to and from this airport. (updated May 2019)

See also: rail travel in the US

• Tri-Rail, +1-800-TRI-RAIL. Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami Airport, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in Florida. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The 72-mile system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast. The train connects to the Metrorail in Miami at the Tri-Rail/Metrorail Transfer Station. For more detailed information refer to the entry. From Miami International Airport you can catch the Tri-Rail to Fort Lauderdale, and then a bus connects you the last mile downtown. Tri-Rail offers connections to Ft Lauderdale Airport on their 'FLA-1' shuttle from the 🌍 Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport at Dania-Beach Station at I-95 and Griffith Rd (SR-818). Tri-Rail runs less frequently on weekends, so check the schedule.
• Amtrak, 200 SW 21st Terrace, +1-800-872-7245. Provides service to cities along the Atlantic Coast of the United States via its Silver Meteor and Silver Star trains. Amtrak has two stops in the Fort Lauderdale Area, one in 🌍 Fort Lauderdale Station located on Broward Boulevard (SR-842) and I-95, and another one at the 🌍 Hollywood Station in the suburb of Hollywood on Hollywood Boulevard (SR-820) and I-95. Both offer cross-platform transfers to the local Tri Rail train. The train goes south to Miami and north to Okeechobee through Delray Beach, Deerfield Beach (closest to Boca Raton) and West Palm Beach.
• 🌍 Brightline (Virgin Rail USA), 101 NW 2nd Avenue. This is the first private passenger rail service to start anew in a long time serving a route from Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach since January 2018 and to Orlando since 2023 with plans to connect to Tampa via Walt Disney World in a future time to come. Note that the station is not the same as the ones served by Amtrak and TriRail. In 2019 the company was taken over by interests operating under Richard Branson's "Virgin" brand that already operates rail services in Great Britain and several airlines and the overall name was changed to "Virgin Rail USA". Virgin Rail USA have announced plans to expand their operations in Florida and plan to construct another rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area. 

• I-95 is the major north–south artery along the east side of the city. It connects Fort Lauderdale with the downtowns in Miami and West Palm Beach and goes north to Jacksonville and beyond.
• Florida's Turnpike runs north–south, west of the city. To the south it connects to Homestead and the Florida Keys. To the north it connects to Orlando and North Florida.
• I-595/I-75 connects Fort Lauderdale to Florida's West Coast (including Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and the Tampa Bay area).

Intercity bus and shuttles typically stop at the airport, the 🌍 Tri Rail Sheridan St Station at I-95 and Sheridan St (SR-822) (Exit #21); 🌍 Broward Blvd P&R at I-95 and W Broward Blvd (SR-842) (exit 27) north of the Ft Lauderdale Amtrak/Tri-Rail Station; and/or at another location. Check their website links or call them regarding pick-up/drop off locations:

• Flixbus, (bus stop @ Broward Blvd Park & Ride) 200-216 NW 22nd Ave (Please wait at the concrete platform with a curb cutout and garbage can inside the Park & Ride. Bus will board from the concrete platform.). Connects Miami with the Orlando area via Port St Lucie, W Palm Beach and Ft Lauderdale. Multiple departures a day. They also have another stop at the Ft Lauderdale International Airport. Check schedules and tickets. From $15. (updated Feb 2021)
• Greyhound Bus Lines, (bus stop) Broward Blvd P&R at 200 NW 22nd, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. Service from Orlando, Tampa, Ft Myers, Naples, Jacksonville and Miami/Miami Airport. Local stops in the area are Miami/Miami Intermodal, Hollywood, Ft Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.Some of their buses make additional stops in Boynton Beach Tri-Rail Station and Boca Raton. 
• Jet Set Express, (bus stop) 2900 Sheridan St in Hollywood (Sheridan Tri Rail Station.), ☏ +1 407 649-4994. Venue at stop open 24/7. Thrice Daily departures to W Palm Beach, Ft Pierce, Kissimmee, Orlando from the Sheridan Tri-Rail Station in Hollywood. Going the other directions buses go to Miami Airport, Regency by the Miami Airport and Bayside Marketplace. Check schedules for additional stops. (updated Jul 2019)
• Keys Shuttle, ☏ +1 305-289-9997, toll-free: +1-888-765-9997. The company provides door-to-door service to the Keys from the Miami and Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airports (and vice versa). (updated Sep 2017)
• Megabus, 2900 Sheridan St (Sheridan St Tri-Rail Station). Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Orlando. Passengers transfer in Orlando to continue towards Atlanta via Jacksonville. 

• Our Bus (Operated by different bus companies on contract to Our Bus), (bus stop) Between Terminals 2 & 3 at departure level at the airport, ☏ +1 844 800-6828. Operates service to/from the Miami Cruise Terminal, Tampa, Sarasota and Ft Myers. Fares range from $11 if purchased in advance on the internet starting at $10-22.. 
• Redcoach, (bus stop) 320 Terminal Dr (Ft Lauderdale Airport), ☏ +1 407-851-2843, toll-free: +1-877-733-0724. Service from Tallahassee via Gainesville, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa. Some of their buses travel from Ocala through Orlando while others go through Tampa on a different route to get to South Florida. (updated Sep 2017)

Port Everglades, on the south side of the city center, is the most active container port and second most active cruise port in Florida. It supports a high number of cruise ships with about ten thousand passengers arriving and departing each week. Many find Port Everglades somewhat more convenient and economical than Miami to park and stay overnight at local lodging, and then catch a shuttle to/from the ship's terminal. Numerous hotel/motel chains offer park/stay/cruise-shuttle packages. Most are also quite close to the airport.

Additionally, Baleària Caribbean runs a regular ferry from Freeport, in the Bahamas.

The easiest way to get around Fort Lauderdale and South Florida is by car. If you are renting—all the major national chains, and several local ones, can be found here—it is substantially less money to rent a car from a location outside of the airport. The city is set up on grid system and is fairly easy to navigate. Downtown is roughly two miles west of the beach. You need to consult a map when on the East side of town because the canals divide up the city and you need to find the bridges.

Broward County is served by three major Interstates (I-75, I-95, I-595) and some U.S. Highways including U.S. Highway 1, US 27 and US 441. It is also served by Florida's Turnpike and State Highway 869, also known as the Sawgrass Expressway.

Taxis are generally expensive, but available at almost any time and place.

• Yellow Cab, ☏ +1 954-777-7777. The largest company in the city. 
• Water Taxi. via the Intracoastal waterway and New River. A different way to see the city, its beautiful waterfront mansions, and stately yachts. 

• Broward County Transit (BCT), ☏ +1 954-357-8400. The county bus system. BCT provides connections with the bus systems in other parts of the metropolitan area: Metrobus in Miami-Dade County and Palm Tran in Palm Beach County. Buses are available, but often slow and inconvenient. There is a push to increase bus service. 
• LauderGO! Community Shuttle, ☏ +1 954-828-8000. An free shuttle serving the downtown, beach, and convention center areas. It also provides a link from downtown to the Broward Blvd Tri-Rail station. 

Tri-Rail, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Commuter train which runs north and south parallel to I-95, connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Tri-Rail provides access to South Florida's three major airports, as well as links to Miami's Metrorail. However, since Tri-Rail trains can sometimes be thirty minutes to an hour late and has trains coming every two hours apart on the weekends so you will probably have better luck taking the city bus system. Tri-Rail also does not offer a very scenic tour as it is just a commuter line through the back sides of town. 

Fort Lauderdale is America's yachting capital, and as such has numerous boat charter and rental companies. There are many restaurants and bars along the intracoastal that cater to the passing yachtsmen and their guests.

Water Bus has 11 pick up/drop off locations in east Fort Lauderdale along the Intracoastal Waterway and New River. Float to and from the hotels, shopping, restaurants, beaches and nightlife. Slow and costly, but worth it for the view and romance.

When you visit the beach you will see that many locals bike to the beach. Things in Fort Lauderdale are close, but often further apart than a quick walk. A bike makes everything much closer, and you don't have to find parking. By bike, it is only 10 minutes from the beach to downtown, the supermarkets, or the malls. A bike creates its own breeze so biking is not only quicker and less effort than walking, it's often cooler too.

You can rent a bike, or, if you know you are going to be staying more than a couple of days, it may be more cost effective to buy a $100 bike from a big discount store and sell it or pass it on when you go home. (If you stay a week, you can just about pay for a bike in the money you save on parking.)

There are bike lanes on the road by the beach on A1A and on Las Olas Blvd. going between the beach and downtown and the Riverwalk. Ride in the same direction as the traffic. It is common to take to the sidewalks on the bridges or on major roads when the bike lane disappears.

Because most things are quite close and Florida is very flat, bicycles are a very green, very sane, and relatively quick way to get around. You also get to see more, hear more, and be able to stop easily along the way to take pictures, something that is difficult to do when in a taxi or a car.

The most popular section of beach is where A1A runs alongside the beach, between Las Olas Blvd north to Sunrise Blvd.

The "Elbo Room" bar, at Las Olas Blvd and A1A, was featured in the 1960s film Where the Boys Are. The movie led to the city's former reputation as a spring break mecca. The bar anchors the Southern end of the 'Strip', a strip of eating and drinking establishments that run along the land side of the beach road.

Spring Break peaked in the mid 1980s and the city now attracts a more upscale crowd. Fort Lauderdale is in the midst of a luxury condo building boom, this is displacing the hotels that once lined the beach.

The city is more cosmopolitan than most, having lots of Europeans and gay residents. The beach culture reflects the laid back nature of the community. You will find European food in the restaurants and bathers in thong swimsuits.

• 🌍 Beach Place, Located on A1A, north of Las Olas Blvd. A collection of bars, restaurants and retail stores connected to a Marriott hotel. 
• 🌍 Bonnet House, 900 N Birch Rd, ☏ +1 954 563-5393. 
• 🌍 Elbo Room, 241 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd (At the corner of Las Olas Blvd), ☏ +1 954-463-4615. The most famous spring break bar, and one of the few remaining from that period. 

The downtown area, especially around Las Olas Boulevard, has seen dramatic growth in the past decade, and now hosts many new hotels and high-rise condominium developments. Other improvements include a wide array of new boutiques, art galleries and restaurants.

The entertainment district runs east–west along Las Olas Boulevard. East Las Olas Blvd has a mile of upscale shops and restaurants. Across the railway lines, West Las Olas caters to a younger crowd. There are funky nightclubs and restaurants between the railway lines and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. In between East and West, there is a new set of shops called Riverside that sits on the RiverWalk. The RiverWalk runs along the north side of the new river, from the shops at Las Olas to the performing arts complex.

• 🌍 Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave, ☏ +1 954-522-5334. 
• 🌍 Las Olas Boulevard. An upscale collection of stores, restaurants and bars near downtown. 
• 🌍 Museum of Art, 1 E Las Olas Blvd, ☏ +1 954-525-5500. Tu-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. 
• 🌍 Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St, ☏ +1 954-467-6637. 
• 🌍 Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum, 219 SW 2nd Ave, ☏ +1 954-463-4431. Daily 10AM-4PM. 
• 🌍 Stranahan House, 335 SE 6th Ave, ☏ +1 954-524-4736. 

Wilton Manors is a city surrounded by Fort Lauderdale. It is a popular area for gays and lesbians. It has many guesthouses, restaurants, and bars/nightclubs catering to its gay clientèle. The busy center of the city is Wilton Drive near NE 26 Street. This is only two miles north of downtown Fort Lauderdale.

• 🌍 Antique Car Museum, 1527 Packard (SW 1st) Ave, ☏ +1 954-779-7300. Collection of pre-war Packard automobiles and other memorabilia. 
• 🌍 African American Research Library and Cultural Center. 
• 🌍 Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop. A large indoor/outdoor flea market with the country's largest drive-in movie complex (13 screens). 
• 🌍 Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, 3109 East Sunrise Blvd, ☏ +1 954-564-4521. Contains some of the area's last stands of native forest, with short nature trails. $6 per car, $2 per person. (updated Dec 2019)

Golfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and deep sea fishing are very popular sports in the area. The metropolitan area also offers the following spectator sports:

• The Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League play at FLA Live Arena in suburban Sunrise, Florida.
• Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens is the home to the Miami Dolphins of the NFL; the Miami Hurricanes football team, representing the University of Miami; and the annual Orange Bowl college football game held in early January. It's also the main stadium for the Miami Open, one of the biggest tennis tournaments outside of the four Grand Slam events, held in late March–early April. In 2022, a temporary auto racing course branded as the Miami International Autodrome was created in the stadium parking lot for a new Formula One event, the Miami Grand Prix. The 2022 Miami GP, held in early May, was the first of a 10-year agreement between F1 and the event organizers. The stadium is 17 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale.
• Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins play home games at loanDepot Park in Miami, 28 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale.
• The Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association play at Kaseya Center in downtown Miami, located 23 miles south of Fort Lauderdale.
• Inter Miami CF of Major League Soccer plays at DRV PNK Stadium (pronounced "drive pink") near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, about 6 miles from the downtown area. Inter's tickets have become the most sought-after in MLS after Argentine legend Lionel Messi signed with the team in June 2023, debuting shortly thereafter. The stadium also hosts Inter's reserve side, Inter Miami CF II, which plays in MLS Next Pro, a third-level league made up almost entirely of MLS reserve sides.
• Cricket: 🌍 Central Broward Regional Park, 3700 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill. With a capacity of 20,000, this is the only US stadium certified to host cricket internationals. Matches in the Caribbean Premier League are played here. (updated Feb 2019)
• The International Swimming Hall of Fame is located at Fort Lauderdale Beach.
• South Florida also hosts multiple college sports teams. Three South Florida schools are members of NCAA Division I, the top level of US college sports. The aforementioned Miami Hurricanes play most sports on their campus in Coral Gables, but as noted above the football team shares Hard Rock Stadium with the Dolphins. The FIU Panthers, representing Florida International University, are located in the University Park area to the west of Miami proper. The Florida Atlantic Owls represent Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

There are sports and events held year round; although less frequent in the summer due to the intense heat. There are so many local running races during the cooler months that they may be held just several weeks apart. Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runners keeps a central listing of running races on their web site.

• The swimming Hall of Fame pool complex is one block back from the beach. A world class venue where top athletes swim. There are a number of national swimming meets throughout the year.
• There are a good number of local Triathlons, mostly the shorter sprint distances.

• Jungle Queen. Dinner cruise featuring sites along the New River in and around downtown.
• Pier Fishing at Commercial Blvd, Atlantic Blvd, Hillsboro Blvd and Dania Beach. Each area has long piers into ocean, and fishing available.
• Bahia Mar Marina. Just across from the beach. You can walk around the marina and look at luxury boats and yachts owned by the well-heeled. On one jetty there is a monument and plaque announcing slip F-18 as an American Literary Landmark - this is where author John D MacDonald's fictional hero, Travis McGee , moored his 52-foot houseboat The Busted Flush (21 Travis McGee novels were published).
• 🌍 Flamingo Fishing, 801 Seabreeze Blvd, ☏ +1 954-462-9194. A drift fishing boat that makes 3 trips daily from the Bahia Mar Marina. The boat supplies all the equipment and supplies needed for deep sea fishing. 
• 🌍 Lagerhead Cycleboats, 1534 SE 15th St #5 Fort, ☏ +1 954-300-2401, info@lagerheadcycleboats.com. (updated Aug 2018)
• 🌍 Soflo Tiki, 1784 SE 15th S, toll-free: +18335628454, soflotiki@gmail.com. 09:00-24(00. Cruise the beautiful boat cruise of Fort Lauderdale aboard SOFLO TIKI. Take in the beautiful sites and the surrounding areas on board your private Tiki Boat tour . Celebrate with friends on a morning cruise or unwind at the end of your day aboard a sunset tour. Or, take a plunge at the local sandbar and bask in the glorious Florida sunshine! A perfect way to see the wonder and spectacular beauty of the huge yachts and mansions of Fort Lauderdale, or to enjoy a wonderful sunset cruise Feel free to bring along your own food & beverages, and enjoy! (updated Jan 2024)

• Shop at Swap Shop. Get your hair braided there Phone: +1 954 583–2221. The Swap Shop is an older flee market located east on Sunrise Blvd. Along with getting your hair braided you can shop for fruits, vegetables, clothes, nick knacks, and you can practically find other things that other locations would not have.

• 🌍 Big City Tavern, 609 Las Olas Blvd, ☏ +1 954-727-0307. Great atmosphere, outside seating available. Sandwiches to steaks served. 
• 🌍 Capital Grille, 2418 E Sunrise Blvd (Galleria Mall). Upscale restaurant featuring excellent service and great steaks. Incredible wine selection. 
• 🌍 Cheesecake Factory, 600 E Las Olas Blvd, ☏ +1 954-463-1999. At base of Riverside Hotel where Las Olas meets the Tunnel. Popular chain featuring a large menu and countless desserts. 
• 🌍 Chima Steakhouse, 2400 E Las Olas Blvd, ☏ +1 954-712-0580. Excellent Brazilian rodizio. Great salad bar too. 
• 🌍 Jalisco, 700 N Federal Hwy, ☏ +1 954 462-9695. Small, family-owned Mexican restaurant. Looks can be deceiving as excellent, yet affordable cuisine is served with a smile. 
• 🌍 PF Chang's, 2418 E Sunrise Blvd (Galleria Mall), ☏ +1 954-565-5877. Popular national chain, serving non-traditional Chinese food. 

• 🌍 Alibi, 2266 Wilton Dr, ☏ +1 954 565-2526. Wilton Manors. Gay bar & casual restaurant (hamburgers & sandwiches). Friendly, diverse "straight-friendly" crowd; lunch & dinner served both indoors & outside under covered patio area. Very reasonably priced. 
• 🌍 Thai Me Up, 2389 Wilton Dr (on the main drag in Wilton Manors), ☏ +1 954-202-0000. M-Th 11:30AM-10:30PM, F 11:30AM-11PM; Sa 1:30PM-11PM, Su 5PM-10:30PM. Thai and Asian-fusion food. Great food, great atmosphere, enjoy the patio year 'round 
• 🌍 Mai Kai, 3599 N. Federal Highway, ☏ +1 954 563-3272. Along Polynesian food, you can view a show with fire. 
• 🌍 Rosie's, 2449 Wilton Dr, ☏ +1 954-563-0123. Great hamburgers and lite fare, with large outdoor seating area. Fun gay-themed restaurant, with live music on weekends. (updated Apr 2022)
• 🌍 Tee Jay Thai Sushi, 2254 Wilton Dr (Wilton Manors), ☏ +1 954-537-7774. 

• 🌍 Pomperdale, 3055 East Commercial Blvd, ☏ +1 954-771-9830. An excellent New York Jewish style deli. 
• 🌍 The Village Grille, 4404 El Mar Dr, ☏ +1 954-776-5092. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. Great place for breakfast, lunch and dinner or just drinks. Next to the beach. $8-12. Try the banana nut pancakes, they are to die for. 
• 🌍 101 Ocean, 101 E Commercial Blvd (Head East on Commercial blvd to Ocean it's on the corner of El-Mar & Commercial), ☏ +1 954 776-8101. 11AM-2AM. Really cool restaurant with a great outdoor bar. Perfect for people watching and 50 yards from the ocean. They have arguably the best happy hour in town: 50% off all drinks from 5-7PM, 7 days a week. Food and drink are both great—try the flatbreads or the cowboy steak. 

• Riverfront is a collection of stores and bars on the west side of the downtown district.

• Beach Place is on A1A across from the beach. It has many bars and restaurants, and is very popular on the weekends.
• Elbo Room famous spring break landmark at Las Olas Blvd and A1A.
• 🌍 Shooters, 3033 NE 32 Avenue (On the Intracoastal Waterway, south of Oakland Park Blvd), ☏ +1 954-566-2855. Very popular with the yacht crowd, as there are boat slips available. (updated Apr 2022)

• 🌍 Flossie's Bar and Grill, 3985 Ravenswood Rd (On the opposite side of I-95 from the airport. Outdoor tiki bar with live music some nights. Popular biker hangout.), ☏ +1 954-583-9656. (updated Apr 2022)

• 🌍 Georgie's Alibi, 2266 Wilton Dr. At the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. Wilton Dr. and NE 6 Ave. 

In order to make local phone calls, all ten digits of the phone number are required. As such, you'll notice that all local phone numbers include an area code. The local area codes are 954 and 754, and you don't dial a 1 first but do dial the area code, i.e. you dial 954-555-1212 or 754-555-1212.

To call anywhere else you must dial 1, then the area code, i.e. to call to Miami from Fort Lauderdale you dial 1-305-555-1212.

Area codes for Miami are 305 or 786 and for Boca Raton and Palm Beach it is 561.

Fort Lauderdale is served by two English-language newspapers, the Sun-Sentinel|South Florida-Sun Sentinel and The Miami Herald, as well as two Spanish language|Spanish-language newspapers El Sentinel del Sur de la Florida|El Sentinel and El Nuevo Herald.

Fort Lauderdale is considered to be part of the Miami media market, which is the 12th largest radio market and the 17th largest television market in the United States. Television stations serving the Miami area include WAMI (Telefutura), WBFS (UPN), WBZL (WB Television Network|The WB), WFOR (CBS), WHFT (TBN), WLTV (Univision), WPLG (American Broadcasting Company|ABC), WPXM (i television network|i), WSCV (Telemundo), WSVN (Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX), WTVJ (NBC), WPBT (PB), and WLRN (also PBS).

Fort Lauderdale has a few honorary consulates, but most diplomatic missions in the area are in Miami, and a few are in Coral Gables.

• Czech Republic (Honorary), 1 E Broward Blvd, ☏ +1 954-987-7550, fax: +1 954 985-4176, FortLauderdale@honorary.mzv.cz. 
• Denmark (Honorary), 213 East Sheridan Street, Suite 3, Dania Beach, ☏ +1 954 967-8800, jon@jrosenthallaw.com. 
• Mali (Honorary), 1710 W Cypress Creek Rd., ☏ +1 954-771-1795, fax: +1 305 593-2758, lanajoy@aeortoystore.com. 
• Philippines (Honorary), 1635 Miami Rd., Ste. 3, ☏ +1 954-524-2610, outreachapp@philippinesusa.org. 
• Sweden, 1 East Broward Blvd, 3rd Floor, ☏ +1 954-467-3507, fax: +1 954 467-1731, fortlauderdale@consulateofsweden.org.