As a food lover, you’re probably constantly looking for your next unforgettable culinary weekend. Well, have you ever considered taking a trip to Fort Lauderdale? When people think of South Florida, many automatically think of Miami, but Fort Lauderdale also has an exciting food scene with plenty of hidden gems and trendy restaurants. 

From bustling waterfront restaurants and bistros to global street food, foodies can expect a vast range of culinary delights, from the freshest seafood to the latest in innovation and international flavors, and there’s certainly something to tempt every single taste bud in Fort Lauderdale! With so much to try and taste, it’s essential to start planning your gastronomic adventure as soon as possible; if you’re working with a budget, search for hotel deals in Fort Lauderdale to keep costs down so you can focus the majority of your budget on visiting some of the most famous restaurants and hidden eateries in the city. 

To help you with your itinerary, read on for some of our best tips for where to eat, drink, and indulge in Fort Lauderdale. 

Arrival Day

Once you’ve arrived in Fort Lauderdale, your culinary expedition can begin! The best way to start any day is with a good breakfast, and you’ll be spoilt for choice in any of Fort Lauderdale’s trendy cafes. Sip on freshly brewed coffee and crumbly pastries, or try something a little fresher with a smoothie bowl made with locally sourced fruits. It’s the perfect way to set up your day. The Alchemist Cafe has an endearing charm and is a friendly and welcoming place. Art-filled walls give it a relaxed vibe, so why not kick back, sip on your coffee, and people-watch? 

For lunch, why not try another casual spot? If your tastebuds are ready for something regional, why not try some fresh seafood at Coconuts? Situated on the waterfront, you’ll have fantastic views of the Intracoastal Waterway while enjoying their Crispy Fish Tacos and tangy mango salsa. Inspired by Latin cuisine and a vibe to match, Coconuts is the perfect place to soak up the midday Floridan sun. 

In need of an afternoon snack? What could be better than some gelato? Head down to the Gelato & Co for a scoop of artisanal gelato and a great Instagram shot. You can enjoy the cool sea breeze as you choose from their array of mouthwatering flavors – from classic stracciatella to pistachio.

Now it’s dinner time, and to cap off your first day exploring the culinary delights of Fort Lauderdale, why not enjoy a beautiful dinner at Lobster Bar Sea Grille? With an innovative take on classic American fare, the extensive menu here is mainly seafood-focused, with a curated wine list that compliments every dish perfectly. We recommend the pan-seared scallops with buerre blanc sauce and crispy prosciutto!

Day 2

It’s day two, and it’s time for breakfast. So, why not have a late one and enjoy a full brunch experience at Java and Jam? This eatery in Las Olas serves up flavourful dishes in a rustic setting. It’s super welcoming, and you can expect classic brunch dishes with a twist, like avocado on toast with feta cheese and smoked salmon, banana yogurt parfait, and mimosas made with freshly squeezed Florida oranges. 

Check out Fort Lauderdale’s diverse cultural influences for lunch and try something completely new. Head to TacoCraft Taqueria & Tequila Bar, offering a delicious fusion of Latin flavors and craft cocktails! Partons can try Korean short rib tacos with spicy kimchi and sesame seeds and sample their house margaritas cocktail with fresh lime juice and agave nectar. 

Dinner time is here again, so it’s time to experience some farm-to-table restaurants and those that prioritize sustainability. Dining at S3 – Sun, Surf, Sand offers a sophisticated coastal vibe showcasing locally sourced ingredients’ flavors. Here, you can expect bold flavors from dishes like grilled octopus or sushi rolls crafted with the freshest fish. You can also try out the cocktail menu for photo-worthy handcrafted drinks that complement your meal. 

Day 3

It’s your final day in Fort Lauderdale, but don’t panic! There’s still plenty of time to indulge in some last-minute flavors. Start your morning with a gorgeous brunch and head to Top Hat Deli, known for its oversized pancakes and bottomless mimosas! We recommend the challah french toast or a classic bagel with lox and cream cheese.

After enjoying some last-minute sightseeing, make room for one last indulgence at Sweeter Days Bake Shop. If you’re a dessert lover, this charming bakery is the perfect way to sign off on your first visit to Fort Lauderdale. Their signature Chocolate Overload Cake is a must-try. As the name suggests, it’s a decadent layered cake smothered with ganache that will challenge even the biggest chocolate lovers! If you want something a little lighter and an authentic taste of Florida, try their Key Lime Tart. Whether you sit by the window and enjoy some people watching or take your sweet treats back to the airport with you, you certainly will remember these sweet treats in a hurry!

Final Thoughts…

So your foodie weekend has come to an end; I’m sure you’ll agree that with so much to offer, foodies can’t experience all of Fort Lauderdale in one weekend! This vibrant city is an excellent place for food lovers and culinary enthusiasts; whether you’re using public transport to get you from one restaurant to another, you want to try the freshest seafood, experience street food, or indulge your sweet tooth, Fort Lauderdale offers classic comforts with a contemporary twist! 

Are you planning a trip to Fort Lauderdale? How would you like to spend your time in this beautiful city? And which eateries would you like to try first? 

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One of the highlights of living in the east coast of the United States is that you can visit Miami quite easily. Although there’s a risk of tropical storms, I love fall and early winter travels to Florida and the Caribbean. There are great deals to be found and you get to avoid the masses of tourists. I’ve traveled to the Miami area for years and this is my idea of the perfect three days in Miami.

Although Miami has a party city reputation (and it truly is), it can also be very relaxing with its beautiful beaches, great spas, and delicious Latin food.  It’s the perfect long weekend escape destination and it’s only a two hour trip from most cities on the East Coast. With so many cultures in South Florida, you truly feel like you are in a foreign country even if you don’t need a passport.

Dining Traveler’s Three Days in Miami

Where I stayed:  I arrived late on a Saturday and left early on a Wednesday so technically I only had three full days.  I wanted to experience two radically different neighborhoods so I spent two nights at South Beach at Sense Beach House and the last two in Sunny Isles at Acqualina Resort & Spa. (More about these properties soon).  Dining Traveler Tip:  Miami’s attractions are pretty spread out.  I highly recommend renting a car if you are the explorer type like me.

South Beach:  Sometimes South Beach gets a bad reputation.  People tend to think of crazy parties and Jersey Shore type tourists on Ocean Drive.  Although those types do exist, there’s also a pretty zen vibe to the area.  I lived in South Beach in 2011 for three months and loved the scene.  On this most recent trip, I found many improvements to the area.  If your agenda is to relax, I recommend the most southern point of South Beach, 4^th Street and below for less crowded beaches with a local vibe.

You can catch free yoga classes on the beach almost every morning and sunset.   One of my favorite brunch spots is Books and Books with is an eclectic menu and wide selection of coffee table books.  On this trip, my South Beach food highlight was the brunch at Europa Delicatessen.  This inconspicuous spot off of Washington Ave has a delicious European menu that ranges from smoked salmon to a Turkish breakfast platter.  If you’re craving some European goodies like Milka chocolate or eastern European cured meats, it’s all available in their retail area.

Brickell:  When I used to travel to Miami on short business trips, I stayed at the Conrad Miami.  The view of Biscayne Bay from the modern high-rise building is stunning.  Although Brickell has a more business vibe, there’s a lively nightlife scene at Brickell Center.  It’s the perfect cross between business and pleasure.  One of my favorite things to do in that area is going for an early morning run. The sunrise against the water is enough motivation to wake up early.

One of the foodie highlights of my three days in Miami was lunch at La Mar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which is located on Key Biscayne off of Brickell Rd.   This acclaimed restaurant by Gaston Acurio has a delicious three-course lunch menu for $25.   The tucked away location of property feels like an oasis in the busy streets of Brickell.

Wynwood and the Arts & Entertainment District:  I always pay a visit to Wynwood during my trips to Miami.  It’s an escape from the glitzy waterfront neighborhoods of the area.  The area has grown quite a bit since I lived there in 2011.  It’s filled with hip art galleries and restaurants. Not to miss: the monthly Wynwood art walk.  While in Wynwood, I headed to its new hip neighbor, the Arts and Entertainment district.  This up and coming area is focusing on art and design.  The area is currently hosting some fun events for the fall.  What to eat in Wynwood: an acai bowl topped with coconut and cocoa nibs at Jugo Fresh.

Sunny Isles:  My last two nights in Miami, I stayed at the gorgeous Acqualina Resort at Sunny Isles, located in the north of Miami.  This area is perfect for relaxation.  It is not as busy as South Beach as it has plenty of high-rise residential properties with a more mature yet glamorous crowd.  You can catch locals walking their dogs early in morning or on their evening runs.  I was fortunate enough to catch a free moonrise yoga class offered by Sunny Isles.

I am not big into yoga but the instructor was awesome, she made it very easy for non-yogi’s like myself to follow along.  For luxury lovers:  head to Bal Harbor if power shopping is your workout.  Even if you are just window shopping (like me), I must say that it is one of the most beautiful outdoor shopping areas I’ve seen in the United States.  My foodie highlight: breakfast at Acqualina Resort.  The breakfast buffet has everything your breakfast loving heart desires- an extensive selection of cheese, made to order omelets, and fresh fruit.

The verdict:  Regardless of your taste, Miami has something for every taste.  Three days in Miami is the perfect escape from the madness of the cold city. This trip was very relaxing for me. Writing comes so much more fluidly to me when I have the warm ocean breeze on my skin. If you book ahead, you can find fall and early winter deals to Miami as cheap as $200 from DCA.  American Airlines has really stepped up their game with their fares to compete with low-cost carriers. I must admit, this airline has been on the bottom of my list for a while, but I have been very impressed with my flights to Miami and Puerto Rico this fall. Did you visit Miami and don’t want to leave? Here are some real estate gems.

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Weekend Trip to Boca Resort

The Scene:  As you enter the majestic pink Mediterranean-style resort, you know you are in for a treat. The rich marble white floor, the white walls and ceilings, and modern art sculptures welcome you upon check-in.  It transports you to a glamour film of the 40’s with its old fashioned charm and the formality of its doorman and front desk staff.  We (Dutchman and I) arrived on a Friday night and were welcomed with the sounds of salsa coming from the lounge being played by a live band. Just with that, we knew our weekend trip to Boca Resort was going to be unique.  The atmosphere was casual with an air of elegance.

The Property:  The property has two sides: a main resort area (Boca Raton Resort) and the Beach Club.  Both areas have their charm:  the main resort area has beautiful gardens to wander around, several restaurant selections, and the spa. You can get to the beach front property via shuttle or by boat (my favorite form of transportation).  The Boca Resort is so large that we did not feel “trapped” as I do in other properties, especially catching the boat to the beach club where the décor and feel of the area is completely different than the main resort area.  We spent time at the beach, had a spa day, did some work by the pool, and dined at the several restaurants on property.

The Rooms:  Given the luxurious surroundings of the hotel, I thought our standard room would have been larger.  The bed was comfortable, the room was beautifully decorated, and the Ferragamo toiletries are always nice but wish we had a bit more room.  Perhaps it’s a trick to get you to enjoy all the amenities the hotel has to offer…

The Spa:  It’s been several months and I still think of the spa at the Boca Resort. I’ll say it was the highlight of my weekend trip to Boca Resort.  If you need a mental break, this is the place.  Although the treatments were great (I had a facial and the Dutchman had a massage), what we loved the most were the spa amenities. The spa has a pool that is exclusive for spa patrons where you can order a healthy lunch and peacefully swim on their fairly large pool before or after your treatment.  It also has an indoor relaxing area equipped with complimentary snacks and fruit infused water.  We literally spent five hours at the spa.  Both of us have been overworked and this was the perfect treat.

The Food:  Given that we didn’t leave the resort, we got to experience plenty of the dining options at the property.  The breakfast buffet at Palm Court was deliciously decadent with a vast selection of fresh fruit, yogurts, and a great hot selection as well (they are famous for their monkey bread).  One of the highlights was having seaside lunch at the blue restaurant at the Beach Club.  The beautifully delicious lychee margarita paired with a coconut ceviche quickly put us in culinary vacation mode.  Another must order is the key lime merengue dessert at the blue, as you bite into the crunchy meringue you encounter the creamy key lime interior.  Amazing… We also enjoyed the relaxed vibe of the Monkey Bar, which evokes Mr. Minzer (the architect behind the Boca Resort) passion for monkeys which manifests across the bar.

The Verdict:  Feeling stressed?  Dealing with long days at work?  A weekend trip to Boca Resort may be for you if you’re looking for an escape with absolutely no worries other than which cocktail you want to order.  The property is a short trip from anywhere in the East Coast and you have plenty of airport options (Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami) within the hour. What’s your favorite Florida escape?

Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 East Camino Real, Boca Raton, Florida 33432, Website: http://www.bocaresort.com/

Disclaimer: I was hosted by the Boca Resort. As always, opinions are my own. 

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This post is the start of a deliciously stylish collaboration with one of my faves, the beautiful Metanoya Webb of Globetrotting Stiletto. She’s the best dressed travel blogger out there, I met her at TBEX Cancun in all her glory, rocking a gorgeous maxi dress. I will be exchanging my dining tips on her blog and she will be sharing her globetrotting style with us.  She recently beat the NYC cold and headed to the Florida Keys for some sunshine. All about what she wore and how she packed it:

MY TOP 3 GLOBETROTTING FASHION TIPS

Elegant dining? Once that’s solid, lay out and categorize looks so you can visually see what you’re working with.

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Le Meridien Tampa Exterior Photo Courtesy of Le Meridien Tampa

We arrived to Tampa late on Halloween night.  When we arrived at Le Meridien, we were taken by the design of the hotel. I am a fan of modern design and this hotel does it perfectly.  We had a quick check in and went to our room.  We were appalled to see that the room was not cleaned thoroughly as there were remnants of someone who may have had a rough party night.  We told the management who took care of the issue ASAP and placed us in a new room immediately.  Some hotel experiences are not perfect as we would like but I rather judge not the condition of the room but praise the speed in which the management responded. 

Decor at Le Meridien Tampa

My favorite feature of the hotel was the design. The building was a former courthouse and the designers were able to adapt it perfectly to a hotel. There’s plenty of marble and dark wood intertwined with the modern furniture in shades of navy and neutral tones. Needless to say, I got plenty of inspiration to decorate our new home.  Our room was spacious and the bed was so comfortable that I ended up sleeping in most of the days there. The rooms are decorated with modern furniture with amazing floor to ceiling windows with lovely light.

Dessert at Braserie Bizou, Le Meridien Tampa

A close second to the decor at Le Meridien Tampa was the food.  It all starts in the morning. The hotel treats you to complimentary eclairs made in house from the Brasserie Bizou and a Illy espresso machine in the room. I got to experience dinner, brunch, and room service at the hotel and I can say the food was delicious. Dinner was composed of the refined classics: duck and filet mignon. The server Kate, was an expert of the menu. We also appreciated her knowledge of the wine and cocktail program. I had great service at Bizou throughout my stay. A few times after work I would go to the bar area to work and also noticed it was a popular place among the locals.

Eclairs at Le Meridien Tampa

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