The 12 Best Fort Lauderdale Restaurants For Waterfront Views
When most people think of Florida, they're likely to conjure up images of the tourist traps and dizzying roller coasters in Orlando or the notoriously sweltering beach parties of Miami. But the truth is that Florida has so much more to offer. Blessed with 24 miles of gorgeous shores and the state's famously sunny weather, Fort Lauderdale has become an exciting destination in its own right (via Visit Fort Lauderdale). In fact, according to Forbes, Fort Lauderdale is experiencing an unprecedented boom of economic development that's giving rise to a thriving scene with an abundance of cutting-edge entertainment, art, and dining options.
But let's face it — the real star of the show here is the beach. It doesn't get much better than staring out at those mesmerizing turquoise waves that shimmer with sparkles of sunlight while you enjoy fresh, local seafood plucked straight from those very same waters. That said, with so many different waterfront restaurants to choose from, narrowing it down to the best options can be a challenge. That's where we come in. Here are some of the best Fort Lauderdale restaurants for waterfront views.
1. Shooter's Waterfront
Shooter's Waterfront is an iconic South Florida restaurant that has been open since 1982. Guests can arrive by car or boat, and there are tons of fresh seafood dishes on the menu like lobster rolls and brown butter scallops (via Visit Lauderdale). The restaurant also hosts fun events for guests like sushi classes and yoga sessions.
The eclectic weekend brunch menu offers a wide range of tasty treats like blue crab benedict, huevos rancheros, and challah French toast with maple cinnamon sugar and whipped cream. If you wake up with a big appetite, there's also a brunch buffet option to fill your belly with that includes waffles, omelets, and crepes — which plenty of diners rave about.
For lunch, there are even more great choices like a Cuban sandwich, Cajun shrimp fettuccine, and seared brown butter scallops. And when it comes to dinner, you can't lose with dishes like St. Louis-style ribs with fried potato salad, and herb honey lavender roasted chicken. Thanks to its full bar of specialty cocktails, beer, and wine, you can wash everything down with the booze of your choice and enjoy the picturesque views of the shoreline.
2. Rivertail
Open for dinner service and brunch on the weekends, Rivertail's celebrated food is the creation of James Beard-nominated chef José Mendín. Sitting on the edge of the New River, checking out Rivertail's brunch would be a wise decision, considering choices like lobster benedict with yuzu hollandaise, chicken and waffles with Korean BBQ syrup, and red shrimp with cheddar grits and charred onions. If you're just in the mood to snack, there are smaller plates like crab donuts on brioche with spicy honey, cotija cheese cornbread, and smoked fish dip with corn chips made in-house. With creatively delicious dishes and killer views like these, it's no wonder that the Miami New Times awarded Rivertail the distinction of Best Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale in 2020.
When it's time for dinner, there's even more succulent fare to pick from on the menu. The Rivertail chowder — teeming with white clams, crab, smoked bacon, and potato — is a great way to kick off the meal. If you're in the mood for a sandwich, you can't go wrong with the beer-battered cod that comes topped with yuzu tartar sauce, butter lettuce, and American cheese. Of course, there's also more extravagant offerings like the crispy whole snapper, garlic parmesan crusted trout, and clams carbonara. Between the amazing food on it's inventive menu and the scenic riverside, there's no doubt that Rivertail is one of the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.
3. Blue Moon Fish Company
There's a lot to love about Blue Moon Fish Company. From the locally-sourced ingredients in its scratch kitchen to the seasonal dishes developed by its chefs, Blue Moon Fish Company goes above and beyond to provide exceptionally fresh and delicious food to its diners. Of course, the beautiful views on the patio that borders the Intracoastal Waterway also lends to its undeniable charm.
One of the dishes on the menu that diners tend to gush over is the savory gumbo that comes with shrimp, crab, crawfish, andouille sausage, and okra. Other hits include the green curry mussels cooked in sake and coconut milk, the za'atar spiced grilled swordfish, and the filet mignon with charred broccolini. Whether you're in the mood for fresh seafood or craving some succulent red meat to sink your teeth into, Blue Moon has you covered with its deliciously diverse menu.
If you're looking for something lighter, there's also plenty of salads to choose from, like the blackened chicken and watermelon salad with feta and the Key West pink shrimp cobb. Don't sleep on the desserts, either: the chocolate brownie with salted caramel and pretzel crumbs topped with a luscious scoop of vanilla ice cream is truly transcendent.
4. Boathouse at the Riverside
Nestled along the edge of the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale that leads out to the beach, there's no doubt that Boathouse at the Riverside has some of the best views in the area. Between the calming views of the river, the tropical fish tank near the entrance, and the palm-lined pool on the patio, dining at Boathouse truly feels like you're immersed in a lush, aquatic paradise — a perfect setting to dine and absorb the environmental splendor of Florida.
Beyond its attractive aesthetics, Boathouse also features some seriously impressive food on its menu. If you happen to swing by for brunch on Sunday, don't miss out on the biscuits (made from a local café) and homemade sausage gravy. The all-day menu has even more deliciousness in store, with dishes like charred octopus, passionfruit shrimp ceviche, and pressed Cuban panini with mojo marinated pork. There's also blackened snapper and all-you-can-eat steamed mussels among many other choices. Also keep in mind that Boathouse's menu is also available poolside. Between its beautiful views and killer food, it's easy to see why diners love Boathouse.
5. 15th Street Fisheries
Located inside Lauderdale Marina, 15th Street Fisheries offers dockside dining with great views right on the water. The restaurant's dockside bar features a beautiful and unique lighted bar top that evolves its hue depending on the season and time of day. As if that weren't cool enough, 15th Street Fisheries also regularly hosts live musical performances, and you can even purchase shrimp to feed tarpon from the dock.
The dockside menu is impressively expansive and reasonably priced, offering everything from guava barbecue chicken wings to blackened mahi tacos with slaw, sweet corn salsa, and avocado sour cream. This is also a great place to try some alligator, which is marinated in buttermilk and hot sauce, deep fried until golden brown, and served with a horseradish sauce. If biting into crispy chunks of swamp monster doesn't appeal to you, the less adventurous will be happy to see classic dishes like crab cakes, coconut shrimp, and a prime rib French dip with caramelized onions and Swiss cheese on a brioche bun. Diners are also consistently impressed with the lobster roll and generous portions on the fish tacos. Pro-tip: if you're traveling by boat and you want to see how busy the dock is before swinging by, take a peek at the restaurant's live camera.
6. Boatyard
Situated in a marina beside the Stranahan River that leads out to the ocean, Boatyard is an upscale restaurant that offers locally-sourced seafood and a 120-foot dock that you can comfortably dine on. If you're looking to save a few bucks, swing by in the afternoon to check out the lunch menu. Featuring a handful of affordable sandwiches and salads, some popular choices include a fresh fish sandwich that changes on a daily basis, the boatyard burger made with a blend of brisket and short rib, and the kale salad with green goddess dressing and ancient grains.
When it comes to the dinner menu, there's even more to pick from. Expertly executed dishes like pan-roasted scottish salmon with lemon hollandaise, grouper piccata, along with several different cuts of wood-fired steaks to choose from, make Boatyard one of the best restaurants in the area. The drink menu is equally impressive, with an extensive wine list and nearly a dozen hand-crafted specialty cocktails. If you ask us, we're partial to the "island hopper" that comes with Zacapa Centenario aged rum, coconut water, pineapple, and lime. Fruity and tropical, this is the perfect drink to sip on while you take in the views and bask in Florida's famously soothing oceanic breeze. Locals also tend to recommend the bimini bread and amazingly crispy calamari.
7. Coconuts
Snuggled up along Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway is Coconuts, a seafood-forward restaurant with excellent views and a prime spot to soak up some of Florida's world famous sunshine. While plenty of diners recommend the oysters, the truth is that the entire menu knocks it out of the park. The crab cake salad manages to be filling yet refreshing thanks to its fresh field greens, while other dishes like the Danish baby back ribs with chipotle barbecue sauce will induce drool-worthy daydreams long after your last bite.
If you're up for brunch during its limited window on Sundays, there's plenty of imaginative and tasty options to pick from. The lobster club sandwich on toasted brioche with lettuce, tomato, bacon, and avocado with a healthy spread of lemon thyme aioli is sure to knock the socks off any crustacean-lover. The salmon BLT with garlic mayo on sourdough is another all-star on the menu. All things considered, Coconuts manages to offer elevated food in a comfortable, down-to-earth atmosphere that's bound to fill your belly and put a smile on your face.
8. Sun Surf Sand
Sun Surf Sand — a name often simplified to S3 — opened its location right on the shore of Fort Lauderdale beach in 2013. One of the highlights at this spot is the weekday happy hour menu special that offers great deals on snacks, cocktails, wine, and beer. For a few hours right before dinner, you can score incredibly tasty grub like bao buns with braised pork, goat cheese croquettes, and a fresh sushi roll stuffed with spicy tuna, avocado, jalapeno.
If you want to try the fish tacos grilled over a wood fire, be sure to swing by for lunch, since that's the only time they're available. Served with chipotle slaw and avocado pepper salsa on a corn tortilla with a side of rice and beans, this is a great dish to munch on while enjoying the warm, calming sea breeze that rolls in from the beautifully blue waves that ceaselessly lap onto the shore. The dinner menu opens up access to over 20 different sushi dishes, which diners rave about thanks to their exquisite taste and undeniable freshness. Sun Surf Sand's impressive views, amazing food, and generous happy hour specials make it one of the best restaurants on Fort Lauderdale beach — especially if you're a lover of top notch sushi. And if you're up for brunch on Sunday, don't skip the seared tuna benedict with gochujang hollandaise — a highly delightful fusion of coastal fare, Korean flavors, and classic Western-style brunch.
9. Sea Watch
Since opening its doors on the South Floridian shores of the Atlantic in 1974, Sea Watch has become one of the most popular waterfront restaurants in Fort Lauderdale. If you want to take advantage of some of the restaurant's most affordable items on the menu, pop in for lunch and check out its sandwich offerings. The grilled salmon BLT with applewood bacon on multi-grain bread, crispy grouper sandwich with tartar sauce, and blackened mahi on a cornmeal kaiser bun are all excellent choices that won't break the bank. Another smart choice: the crab tostada — which is only available for lunch — that comes piled on crackling corn tortillas with avocado, tomato, red onion, beans, cilantro, and parmesan cheese.
Sea Watch's dinner menu opens the door to an assortment of specialties and seafood selections that are sure to fill your belly with some of the freshest and tastiest fare around. To get a small sample of a few all-stars on the menu, go for the medley that offers lobster tail, shrimp, and scallops basted in garlic butter. Diners often recommend the lobster benedict on the Sunday brunch menu that's made with homemade tarragon hollandaise. As you can see, there's no shortage of delicious options at Sea Watch. With its primo spot on the beach and elegant, well-executed menu, there's no doubt that Sea Watch is one of the top-tier waterfront restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.
10. Bo's Beach
Located on a strip of land between the New River and the Atlantic Ocean, Bo's Beach is an ideal place to take in some of the best waterfront views in the area. To fully immerse yourself in Fort Lauderdale's scenic waterways, get tickets for a water taxi that cruises through the river and makes 10 stops along the way — with one that brings you very close to Bo's Beach's tropical doorstep. Once you arrive and take a peek at the menu, you'll know that camping out at Bo's Beach for a while is a good choice.
The menu at Bo's Beach is smartly curated, offering a wide range of dishes to please an assortment of palates. Seafood lovers will rejoice at the raw bar that features oysters, shrimp cocktail, and ahi tuna. Locals rave about Bo's Beach, praising its reasonable prices, beautiful views, and fish tacos with mango salsa. For those who prefer land-roaming proteins can enjoy bacon cheeseburgers aged Wisconsin cheddar, Caribbean jerk chicken, and pork carnitas with sweet plantains. Bo's Beach effectively captures the essence of Florida's food scene by offering a balanced mix of coastal fare, Caribbean food, Cuban dishes, and classic American comfort food, making it one of the finest waterway outposts in the city.
11. Casablanca Cafe
Unlike a lot of other restaurants on the beach that are only open for brunch on the weekends, Casablanca Cafe offers an affordable breakfast every day of the week. With dishes like vanilla cream-soaked French toast, steak and eggs with home fries, and a roasted vegetable frittata made with seasonal produce, it's no wonder that Casablanca has become a hot spot to watch the early morning sun hypnotically glimmer on the blue abyss of the Atlantic.
If you show up a little later for dinner, be sure to check out Casablanca's impressively fresh seafood dishes. The chili-dusted sea scallops with fried plantains and creamy whipped potatoes is a surefire way to experience the kitchen at its best. Another delectable choice: the filet mignon with blue cheese potato gratin. But if you're in the mood for something lighter, there are plenty of soups and salads to choose from, like east coast clam chowder and Greek salad. Some diners even say that Casablanca Cafe has some of the best French onion soup and fried calamari they've ever had. What this all adds up to is a well-rounded menu fit for early birds and night owls alike with some of the best views around. If you find yourself perusing the Venice of America, be sure to make a pitstop at Casablanca Cafe.
12. Aruba Beach Cafe
With a kitchen run by the talented Christopher Nealon — one of the most celebrated chefs in South Florida — Aruba Beach Cafe has been pleasing the palates of locals and tourists alike for decades. Here at Aruba, you'll find all the classics you've come to expect from a restaurant that focuses on seafood: crunchy fish and chips, a garlicky shrimp scampi served over buttery linguine, and broiled lobster tails bursting with sweet, briny flavor. Guests are happy to recommend Aruba for its crispy calamari and breathtaking views of the sun-soaked beach that's just a stone's throw away.
One of the highlights at Aruba is the unbelievably cheap happy hour. With beers for under three bucks a pop, this is a great place to post up and get your buzz on for a very reasonable price. If you sit up at the bar, you can also score an assortment of affordable happy hour bites like Jamaican jerk chicken wings, baja nachos, and oysters on the half shell. Between its close proximity to the shoreline and remarkably low-cost offerings of top notch food, Aruba Beach Cafe is one of the most outstanding waterfront restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.