Downtown / Urban Core
Downtown Fort Lauderdale
39 placesBandoleros Tacos & Tequila Bar - Fort Lauderdale
This downtown taco spot delivers killer tacos and cocktails with a lounge-meets-nightclub energy. The menu spans traditional Mexican fare alongside creative cocktails, making it equally suited for dinner or late-night drinks.
Bodega Taqueria y Tequila
This downtown taqueria doubles as a high-energy lounge with speakeasy vibes and bottle service. They're serious about their weekly specials—Margarita Mondays and Taco Tuesdays keep the place buzzing.
Booze Garden
Funky, high-energy watering hole featuring arcade-style games, a turf floor & sports on TV.
Crema Gourmet Las Olas
Coffee, smoothies, juices & light bites are served in a spacious wood-and-brick–trimmed setting.
Delicias Chapinas Restaurant
A family-run Guatemalan restaurant in downtown Fort Lauderdale serving traditional dishes like pepián, jocon, and tamales. Authentic Central American home cooking in an unpretentious setting.
E41
E41 brings Peruvian Nikkei fusion to downtown Fort Lauderdale, combining traditional Peruvian ingredients with modern techniques. This growing concept has expanded from one Sunrise location in 2020 to multiple South Florida spots.
Emily's Garden
Set in a 1920s Las Olas garden estate, this atmospheric spot serves breakfast and lunch from local favorites On The Run Coffee Bar and River Café by day, then fires up Roman-style pizza from an outdoor Piaggio Ape oven come evening.
Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill
American eats & seafood are served at this local chain restaurant & sports bar with plenty of TVs.
Ichimora
Chef Hiroyuki Terada brings his Guinness World Record skills and 2M+ YouTube following to Downtown with Japanese comfort food in the Shokundo style. Expect handcrafted sushi, ramen, and stir fry plus off-menu specials showcasing his Kansai training.
La Corte Cafe
This family-run downtown spot serves Latin-American breakfast and lunch with daily specials ranging from Italian to European dishes alongside specialty sandwiches and wraps. Open weekdays 7:30am-4:30pm with delivery available.
Las Olas Pizza Company
This N.Y. style pizza spot sits right on Las Olas Boulevard, bringing authentic New York-style pies to downtown Fort Lauderdale. The prime location puts you in the heart of the action on one of the city's most bustling strips.
Morton's The Steakhouse
This downtown steakhouse serves USDA prime-aged beef and seafood in a crisp-linen dining room one block from Las Olas Boulevard. Bar 12-21 pours signature Mortinis alongside bar bites on the outdoor patio.
Moxies Fort Lauderdale Restaurant
This two-level modern flagship on Las Olas serves a globally inspired menu with handcrafted cocktails and an extensive wine list. Indoor-outdoor bars on both floors plus a spacious covered patio make it ideal for everything from weekend brunch to late night eats.
OL'DAYS - Farm to Table Las Olas
This all-day cafe brings Buenos Aires vibes to Las Olas with specialty coffee and Argentine-influenced brunch. The bilingual welcome reflects their South American roots, serving breakfast through lunch daily.
Phat Boy Sushi, Kitchen & Bar - Downtown
This local sushi chain operates with their trademark "This is how Phat Boy Rolls®" philosophy across seven South Florida locations. The downtown spot serves everything from gyoza and ramen to specialty rolls, plus they handle catering and private events.
Pie-zan's Home of Frankie Meatballs
Downtown's Pie-zan's serves New York-style thin crust pizza alongside Italian sandwiches and their signature Frankie meatballs. Their House Special loads up pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, roasted peppers, and caramelized onions on that thin crust base.
Poorhouse
Live music draws locals to this boisterous watering hole serving lots of American bar food.
Pura Vida Miami
This multi-concept spot serves grass-fed steak plates, smoothies, and fresh juices with a focus on healthy options. Their signature Sunset Steak Bowl and Mango Pineapple Refresher highlight the menu's blend of hearty proteins and tropical flavors.
Rivertail
Chef-driven New American on the New River — locally sourced seafood with a creative tasting-menu sensibility.
Rush Street Bar & Nightclub
Rush Street brings the nightclub energy to downtown Fort Lauderdale with a bar and grill setup that transitions from casual dining to late-night scene. The dual concept means you can grab food early then stay for the party atmosphere that kicks in later.
Santorini by Georgios
The spirit of the Greek islands lands on Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk. Grilled seafood, handcrafted cocktails, and a lively DJ brunch that goes long.
Sea City Fish And Chicken
This downtown chicken and seafood spot serves up no-frills fried favorites at wallet-friendly prices. The casual counter-service setup works equally well for families grabbing dinner or solo diners looking for a quick bite in the neighborhood.
Sister Sara Crab House
A downtown Fort Lauderdale seafood spot specializing in crab and shellfish. Casual, straightforward, and focused on doing what it does well.
Smitty's Wings Sistrunk
Smitty's serves what they call the best wings in town with their signature Smitty's Sauce. Wine Down Wednesday, Karaoke Friday, and Cigar Sunday keep the weekly calendar packed with regulars.
Snappers Fish & Chicken
Casual outfit serving fried fish & chicken with sides like conch fritters, corn & collards.
Snappers Fish And Chicken Broward Blvd
Casual local chain serving fried fish & chicken with sides like conch fritters, corn & collards.
Stache 1920's Drinking Den
A dimly lit prohibition-era cocktail den in the arts district. Craft cocktails and live jazz until late — plan to stay longer than you meant to.
Sushi Sake
This Las Olas sushi spot from Miami-based brothers serves South Florida-inspired rolls like the Miami Heat with baked salmon and their signature Bobby Salad alongside traditional hibachi and teriyaki. Open until 11pm weeknights and 1am weekends with homemade sauces.
Sushi Song - Downtown Fort Lauderdale
Sushi, sashimi & cooked Japanese dishes, plus sake & wine, served in a chic lounge environment.
Swizzle Rum Bar & Drinkery
Over 150 rums and a speakeasy-inspired room that earns its moody reputation. A serious cocktail bar for people who mean it.
Taqueria El Paisa
This Mexican taqueria operates four South Florida locations, including two in Fort Lauderdale. They stay open until 1am on weekends, making them a solid late-night option.
Taqueria El Paisa Food Truck
This downtown Mexican food truck serves up authentic fare at budget-friendly prices. The mobile setup brings street-style tacos and traditional dishes right to the heart of Fort Lauderdale's business district.
The pizza spot
Straightforward window-service pizzeria offering generous subs, plus meatballs & other bites.
The Wharf Fort Lauderdale
This Hamptons-inspired waterfront destination features communal tables under shaded tents, synthetic lawns, and rotating pop-ups from Fort Lauderdale's top chefs. Open Thursday through Sunday with riverfront views that shine at sunset.
TIMBR Restaurant & Lounge
TIMBR serves vineyard cuisine blending refined American staples with European classics across two enchanting spaces on Las Olas. The Parc sits among trees with glowing fireflies, while The Atrium dazzles with 50,000 flowers beneath a 33-foot glass pyramid.
Tin Roof
Tin Roof delivers live bands on weekends plus DJ sets in their Green Room, creating a dual-room entertainment setup with multiple bars and a patio. Their kitchen cranks out hand-breaded chicken tenders, house-ground smash burgers, and wings they claim are Fort Lauderdale's best.
TRP Taste
TRP Taste operates as a rooftop chef's table experience with rotating dining events paired with wine or spirits. Each evening unfolds as a curated, course-by-course culinary adventure where diners watch chefs perform up close.
Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse
Japanese soul food meets American BBQ on the riverfront. Chef Michael Lewis runs a wood-fired smoker alongside a 26-foot bar with waterfront terrace views.
YOLO Restaurant
Snazzy destination featuring a New American menu, happening bar & outdoor lounge with a fire pit.