In recent years, a crop of posh places to go for a spritzer or an espresso martini has emerged. The best is No Man’s Land, 666 N. Federal Hwy., (tel. 954/280-6291), a strip-mall speakeasy (not an oxymoron) that has some of the some of the tastiest tipples in town. While mixology is the MO here—check out the various tinctures on the bar and ask the bartender to craft you a customized spirit that matches your mood—the food is not to be sniffed at like a mug of Pappy. Oyster shooters with Bloody Mary hot sauce, and Los Magos Sotol (mezcal’s grassy cousin) are the bar nosh of choice, sided by a plate of deviled eggs with caviar.
Another speakasyesque spot is The Wilder, 701 E. Broward Blvd. (tel. 954/918-7212) which, despite its name, is more sultry than wild serves “elevated bites” and handcrafted cocktails in a very cool, dimly lit 3-room lounge and leafy terrace.
And, for the coolest, and most legit speakeasy, check out Rm. 901, a swank cocktail lounge in an actual guestroom at the Hyatt Centric, 100 E. Las Olas Blvd. It’s open 5:30 to 11:30pm Wednesday through Sunday and serves serious cocktails with a small menu of fancy fare (think: caviar and wagyu beef katsu on Japanese milk bread) for a very well heeled crowd. It’s tough to get into, so book in advance, and there are rules and time limits since it’s so small.
If those scene are too posh, consider Yot Bar & Kitchen, 2015 SW 20th St. (tel. 954/953-9000), tucked away in an actual boatyard and featuring live music, good food, and great cocktails. You may see some familiar faces from Bravo’s “Below Deck” here.
For beer lovers, the Funky Buddha Brewery, 1201 NE 38th St. (tel. 954-440-0046), has locally brewed suds, a taproom, games, and entertainment. If you prefer wine, Vino’s, 901 E. Las Olas Blvd. (tel. 954/765-6730), is a dimly lit oneophile’s dream, hidden off the main drag and featuring cozy seating, lively bar, and excellent wines by the glass.
LBTQIA+ Nightlife and Culture in Fort Lauderdale
With politics turning Florida’s LBGTQ+ community into a persecuted one, forcing Equality Florida to issue a travel warning to the community in 2023, the Fort Lauderdale hamlet of Wilton Manors has remained a safe haven for the community. It refers to itself as the area’s most fabulous “gayborhood” —and rightly so. The heart of the ‘hood is on Wilton Drive, described as the “epicenter of the gay community in South Florida, where bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops wave their pride flags and welcome everyone into their businesses with open arms and maybe even a cocktail".It has some fun restaurants with serious bar scenes like Georgie’s Alibi, 2266 Wilton Dr. (tel. 954/565-2526), Pub on the Drive, 2283 Wilton Dr. (tel. 754/200-5244), Rosie’s Bar & Grill, 2449 Wilton Dr. (tel. 954/563-0123), Voo La Voo Café, 2430 NE 13th Ave. (tel. 754/200-5285), La Mexicana Taco Bar, 2430 NE 12th Ave. (tel. 754/701-5977), and Thai Me Up, 2389 Wilton Dr. (tel. 954/202-0000).
Wilton Manors is home to the annual Stonewall Pride Festival and Parade, which attracts some 30,000 people yearly, and the expanded Stonewall National Museum, 1300 E. Sunrise Blvd. (tel. 954/763-8565), featuring an impressive collection of items documenting LGBTQ+ political, cultural and social history. It contains more than 6 million pages of materials and archives of the plight and the fight of the community, which has never been more important—especially in Florida—than it is today.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
