The diversity of Fort Lauderdale's bar scene is perhaps best on display along Fort Lauderdale Beach, where mega-resort cocktail nooks intertwine seamlessly with generational dives.
However, there are so many corners of greater Fort Lauderdale to explore for a memorable sip. Therefore, when five o'clock strikes, these are the ten best bars in Fort Lauderdale, listed in alphabetical order.
Big Dog Station
3148 NE 12th Ave., Oakland Park954-561-4304
facebook.com/bigdogstationfl In New Times' Best of Miami 2024 awards, this spot took home Best Dive Bar in all of South Florida for many good reasons. First, its staff is about as friendly and chill as it possibly gets – you'll feel right at home. Second, the ambiance – there's an outdoor pool table and stage for cozy jams, an indoor dart board, lotto scratcher and pull-tab machines, and plenty of TVs for watching sports. The drinks are strong, and the food is killer, certainly inclusive of its piled-high Cajun turkey club and the most delightfully crisp tater tots. Daily 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Elbo Room
241 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale954-463-4615
elboroom.com Where Las Olas Boulevard meets the ocean, this watering hole has been going strong since 1938. Whereas the skyline has towered around it since, Elbo Room has stood strong, with no-frills, open-air ambiance, live bands, and crowds that spill out onto the sidewalk and from its upper level. It's a place for locals and tourists alike to mingle and party, perhaps best on display during the Florida Panthers' 2024 Stanley Cup win, in which Elbo Room was the champions parades' epicenter. Sunday through Monday 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Friday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Escape Rooftop
2900 Riomar St., Fort Lauderdale954-908-7301
theescaperooftopbar.com A comparative newbie on this list, Escape opened atop the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort in early 2024. What makes it spectacular? To keep it simple, it's the vistas, with panoramic, unobstructed views of the canal scape as well as Fort Lauderdale's skyline. Count on fruit-forward cocktails, an intimate selection of wine by the glass, and a couple of frozen delights (such as a mezcal-loaded watermelon and agave concoction). Bonus: Nubé Rooftop atop the nearby Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is another newbie and worth the visit, too. Daily noon to 7 p.m.
Glitch Bar
905 NE Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale954-616-5762
glitchbar.com This arcade meets bar is the undeniable anchor of Fort Lauderdale's burgeoning Flagler Village neighborhood. It's a hip vibe, with the Killer Queen game taking center stage amid classic games like Skee-Ball and Mortal Kombat, and a back room with video game consoles. Its craft beer selection is expansive and doesn't skip its cocktail creations either, including its "Player 1: Old Fashioned" with a chocolate bitters flair. Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., Saturday noon to 3 a.m., and Sunday boon to 2 a.m.
High Dive
6235 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale954-491-9784
highdivefortlauderdale.com It's difficult to achieve balance – dive bar and cocktail haven – but this strip mall joint where 62nd Street and Federal Highway intersect does it just right. "Elevated dive bar" is the ambiance, with a brick-draped interior, plenty of TVs, and a very long bar. Whereas you might get snarled at in a typical dive bar for asking for a moderately dirty old-fashioned here, you'll be greeted with joy. For grub, pop into Hangry Joe's next door for some fried chicken tenders or wings. You're welcome. .Sunday through Monday 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Friday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Laser Wolf
901 Progresso Dr., Fort Lauderdale954-667-9373
laserwolf.bar Few craft beer spots in South Florida – let alone anywhere – do it quite like Laser Wolf. You won't find hundreds upon hundreds of options here, but instead a carefully curated selection of brewskis every time, with a bartender who always knows what's up. Additional highlights include its food truck staples (Taco Bellus is a favorite) and the adjacent courtyard for chillin'. Monday 5 to 11 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 5 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday 2 to 10 p.m.
No Man's Land
666 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale954-280-9919
nomanslandparlor.com From the mind of Memphis Garrett and Garrett Hospitality Group is this refined cocktail parlor. Sure, it shares a strip with a dry cleaner and Winn-Dixie, but step one foot inside, and it's as sultry and elegant as ever. The cocktails match the ambiance, spanning a "Bad & Bougie" (a vodka or gin with a caviar bump) to a classic pickle back. Its happy hour is a winner, with $10 cocktails and bites daily from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday 5 p.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Revelry
227 S. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach954-295-6662
revelryfla.com Pompano Beach is on this best bars list thanks to this spot serving "plates and potions." It opened in 2024 and has become growingly loved for its burlesque brunch, killer grub (like the prime rib French dip), and vibe, including an old TV for watching VHS tapes and regular live jams. There's an intimate bar space, too, with "Welcomed Spirits" that boast creative ingredients like spiced pear, bell pepper juice, and hibiscus simple syrup. Wednesday and Thursday 4 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sparrow
299 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale954-945-9500
sparrowbar.com Atop the Dalmar, views of Fort Lauderdale's skyline are front and center at this indoor-outdoor, stylish utopia. In the distance on a clear day, you can see the ocean, too. On the libations front, its beverages often have a tropically influenced pizzazz (e.g., the "Tokio Loop" with whiskey, coconut, and Citrus 15) or come in big portions. For example, its "Rumptopia" tableside beverage serves eight to ten people and includes Don Q, Mount Gay, and Rhum Haven, oh my. Thursday through Saturday 5 p.m. to late.
The Fitz Bar & Lounge
503 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale954-224-8022
thefitz.bar Consider this Tarpon River's neighborhood bar, but folks well beyond have caught on. Unpretentious and cozy are the keywords here – the owners have drawn inspiration from their favorite bars nationally to create their own. Beverage staples include a blackberry-dashed mule, pear-infused margarita, and a "filthy" black cherry juice-loaded cosmo. When hunger inevitably calls, the Fitz has its own food truck out back, too, with tacos, wings, and more. Monday through Thursday 4 to 11 p.m., Friday 4 to 1 a.m., Saturday noon to 1 a.m., and Sunday noon to 9 p.m.
