10 Best Beach Bars in Fort Lauderdale

Aruba Beach Café is a happening Lauderdale-By-The-Sea locale serving sublime seafood plus fruit-infused cocktails and other assorted beverages. The chilled Caribbean-style venue does a roaring trade during its Sunday sessions. Cruisy jazz tunes permeate the balmy sea breeze while patrons feast on seafood delicacies and slurp down ice-cold beverages.

If you can’t make Sunday, rest assured this popular beachfront venue will be bopping every night of the week. The place gets particularly packed during Happy Hour (from 4 pm to 7 pm) when prices for the margaritas drop. Beach attire – Hawaiian shirts included – is entirely appropriate at this laidback haunt.

Lulu’s Bait Shack is a lively Cajun-themed bar boasting sweeping Fort Lauderdale Beach views. The venue specializes in serving oversized cocktails in an array of quirky containers. From hand-carved coconuts to big bulging fishbowls and voluptuous bikini glasses, expect the unexpected with each subsequent drink. Found one you adore? Each novelty cup is available to purchase as a souvenir.

Located on the 2^nd floor in the famously fun Beach Place mall, Lulu’s draws regular scores of locals and out-of-towners. Line the stomach before enjoying your colorful cocktail with one of their delicious Cajun dishes. The Louisiana-style crawfish and tangy Buffalo shrimp go down a treat.

McSorley’s Beach Pub is a popular local pub in Fort Lauderdale that swings between a rowdy frat house-style venue and an easygoing sports bar. The pub overlooks Fort Lauderdale Beach, and you can enjoy sweeping ocean views from the patio or the slick rooftop bar. Head to the 2^nd floor if you’d rather catch a game over some nibbles and beverages.

The big multi-storey establishment even has a dancefloor, where booming house beats draw a crowd on weekends. Pop in during the midweek for Happy Hour (from 4 pm to 7 pm) to score 2-for-1 drink deals. The bartenders are friendly and Friday night karaoke is always a lively time.

Elbo Room is a longstanding Fort Lauderdale institution that’s been lubricating locals and tourists for over 60 years. The legendary venue first rose to fame upon featuring in the hit 1960s flick, Where The Boys Are. It’s been a landmark nightlife establishment for beach vacationers and spring-breakers ever since.

True to its namesake, you’ll struggle to secure much elbow room on weekends (or any day during Spring Break). The bustling A1A establishment also gets busy during South Florida’s fearsome storms – it’s a popular place to ride them out. Live music, retro theme nights, and an unfussy clientele ensure the fun never stops.

Rock Bar is a huge, multi-level establishment in Fort Lauderdale with a beachfront patio serving an array of creative cocktails. You’ll find a swanky Miami Vise-style venue with pulsating techno tunes inside.

The outdoor couch area is a brilliant spot for people-watching and enjoying Arabian hookahs with an ocean view. If you’re peckish, the calamari, nachos, and tacos won’t disappoint. And if you’re longing for a drink, the 45-ounce (1.3-litre) jumbo margaritas will quench your thirst very well.

Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar & Café is a laidback bar located in Ocean Manor Beach Hotel, right on Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach. True to its name, the carefree venue features a Caribbean-style bamboo tiki hut that exudes sublime vacation vibes. From it, amicable bartenders serve a selection of tasty frozen cocktails and other beverages.

Come during the day to rent a sun lounger and parasol right there on the sand. Their staff will happily bring your order onto the beach, so there’s no need to move all day. Despite the picture-perfect location and next-level service, the place is surprisingly affordable, especially at Happy Hour.  

Casablanca Café does delectable Morrocan cuisine and top-notch beverages in a sophisticated, beachfront locale. The gorgeous, 2-storey Spanish-style home has a lovely upstairs balcony with ocean views. In the evening, it doubles as a piano bar with soothing live melodies wafting through the air.

This is a romantic place to bring a date – think stucco walls, Arabian lamps, and rich dark-wood accents. While it’s a tad on the pricey side, Casablanca is well worth the splurge. Come during Happy Hour (from 4 pm to 7 pm) to drink fine Spanish wine and other assorted beverages at discounted prices. 

While 411 South Bar & Broil is primarily a seafood restaurant, the laidback establishment also doubles as a breezy beachfront bar. You’ll find a broad range of tempting cocktails on the menu (the mojitos and margaritas are top-notch), plus a solid selection of premium beers and imported wine. 

The A1A venue overlooks the boulevard and the beach, perfect for people-watching or peering over the horizon. If you fancy some food to accompany your booze, give the pizzas, tacos, or lobster rolls a go. If you visit in the morning, the big breakfast special is a brilliant hangover buster.

Sangrias is a buzzy beachfront Spanish restaurant with a lively lounge and club. The drink of choice here is, of course, sangria. They regularly feature live music. And if you’re keen to crank the party up a notch, they do 2-for-1 jumbo margaritas too.

People-watching on the patio is entertaining on busy nights, best enjoyed with a hookah and drink in hand. The scene often gets livelier by closing time with a diverse but mostly young and energetic crowd.

Hunters Beach Bar is an unpretentious, hole-in-the-wall watering hole just one block from Las Olas Beach in Fort Lauderdale. The warm and friendly dive bar boasts some of the lowest drink prices in town. And the bargain-basement booze lures a loyal contingent of interesting local characters – mostly kind locals who are always up for a chat.

While the decor isn’t exactly flashy, it’s an authentic spot to escape the common tourist traps of the resort city. You’ll hear live music on some nights, and there’s a jukebox with selections worth checking out.