If Miami and LA had a baby, it would be Las Olas.
Stretching 2.5 miles from downtown Ft. Lauderdale to the glistening beachfront, Las Olas Boulevard is a glorious ribbon of sunshine and opulence. Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis line the streets, wine bars spill out onto the sidewalk and everyone’s hot, rich or both.
But aside from 10/10 car-spotting and people-watching, what else is there to do in and around Las Olas? Whether you’re passing through Ft. Lauderdale for a cruise or sticking around for some beach time, what’s worth checking out around this billionaire playground?
Let’s rent a Bentley, get a tan and explore 7 unmissable stops around Las Olas.
Hyatt Centric Las Olas is an excellent place to stay during your Las Olas adventure. Not only does it contain both Harborwood and the alluring Room Nine01, it also boasts a rooftop pool and bar, a robust fitness center and comfy, soundproof rooms.
And yes, soundproofing is important in Las Olas, with Ferraris and Lamborghinis screaming through intersections at 3 a.m and the Hyatt Centric provided a quiet sleeping environment. With room rates starting in the $150 range, it’s a superb value for the comfort, convenience and walkability.
For another option for accommodations, please see our story “Peddling, palm reading, pampering at wellness getaway in Fort Lauderdale“
With a nickname like “The New Miami,” Ft. Lauderdale and specifically Las Olas Boulevard are naturally filled with high-end restaurants. So imagine my surprise when the best meal I had all week was in this hotel.
Harborwood Urban Kitchen offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a few long tables to host large parties. You’ll find an eclectic mix of global cuisine on the menu including Pan-Seared Spanish Octopus, Mojo Pork Tostadas, Fresh Burrata with Herb-Grilled Ciabatta and Lump Crab Arancini.
For a main, I got the Tamari Honey-Glazed Salmon, which came on a bed of – dramatic pause – bacon fried rice. It was one of those rare meals that’s so good you have to close your eyes to chew, just so you can taste it a little more.
2. Java & Jam
For your first brunch outing, I can wholeheartedly recommend Java & Jam. As the name implies, Java & Jam’s menu is replete with fancy coffee and delectable breakfast dishes. Overnight oats, egg tacos and the smoked salmon Benedict were some of the highlights on our table.
You can also order from an impressive array of bougie coffee drinks, including a crème brûlée homage, a churro latte and a bonafide butterbeer.
But perhaps the most impressive aspect of Java & Jam – one that elevates it to the pantheon of great Florida lunch spots – is that you don’t feel heavy getting out of your chair. After all, what’s the point of brunch if it weighs you down for a precious vacation day?
Even if you did overdo it on the breakfast chicken sandwich, you won’t have far to walk for the Riverfront Gondola tour.
“That’s Wendy’s house,” said our riverboat captain, rather nonchalantly, as she gestured towards a waterfront estate the size of a shopping mall.
“Wait – Wendy, like from Wendy’s?” I asked, picturing the Baconator I ate last week.
“Yes.”
When I signed up for a Riverfront Gondola Tour (that’s the name of the company, not just a generic term), I wasn’t expecting a full-blown tour of Millionaire’s Row. For a serene, dreamlike 90 minutes our quiet electric gondola floated past mansion after mansion until we were nearly desensitized by the opulence.
“You can actually rent that one,” our guide said, gesturing to a 12-bedroom megayacht.
“How much?” I asked.
“$500,000 per week – plus tip.”
We passed homes owned by the founders of Chewy, WeatherTech, and surely a drug kingpin or two. Truthfully, I’ve never experienced anything quite like it, and it might’ve been my favorite overall experience in Las Olas.
If you want to get the true “Venice of America” experience, check out Riverfront Gondola Tours. You don’t need to be a billionaire yourself to enjoy it, either, since prices start at $249 for the entire boat (up to 6 passengers).
4. The Fort
Leave it to Florida to open the world’s first pickleball stadium.
Boasting 43 regulation-sized pickleball courts (14 of which are indoors), The Fort is a bonafide pickleball mecca. It even features a Wimbledon-like arena with stadium seating and box seats, so you and your friends can bask in glorious A/C while you watch the professionals play.
If you’re new to the sport, don’t be intimidated. The Fort offers free introductory classes and will even provide the paddle.
Whether you’re totally new or a grizzled veteran with your own pickleball shoes and high-end paddle, The Fort is a must-see, just a 10-minute drive from Las Olas.
5. Bodega
Right across the street from the Hyatt Centric Las Olas’ are the best birria tacos in Ft. Lauderdale at the delightfully unpretentious Bodega. If the indoor trailer didn’t give it away, the marquee surely will (on the day of our visit it said “hot moms and hot sauces – we’re here for both”).
The menu features the usual suspects for an authentic taqueria; you’ll find chicken, fish and pork tacos, but also jalapeno brisket, steak chimichurri and rather decadent birria (which I can highly recommend). Grab some Mexican Cokes and you’ll temporarily forget which country you’re in, which is about as high of praise as I can give a taco place.
The other fine dining option that impressed me near Las Olas Boulevard was Sunness Supper Club.
The menu is brief but varied, boasting a mix of surf, turf and Southern comfort food. Of course, we had little choice but to try the Lil-Kosher Hot Dogs, which came wrapped in “everything” blankets and managed to outperform my gold standard (Costco).
Our cabal of hungry diners also fought over the Wood-Fired Mussels, Wild Mushroom with Toast Points and Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes. Then came the mains. I ordered the Wagyu Beef Skirt Steak with Frites, which was good, but the filet and salmon I sampled were better.
I tried not to eat too many truffle fries because I knew what was coming next for dessert – the bougiest s’more in the world made with flaming marshmallows right at your table. Michelle’s face says it all:
Finally, after a long day of sunshine, pickleball and s’mores, it’s time to turn down the lights, put on the best outfit you brought and head to a speakeasy.
7. Rm. Nine01
Imagine you’re about to open a new hotel in paradise and there’s a room with a pillar blocking the view. What do you do with it? Give it to guests with no loyalty status and pray they don’t complain? Or do you take advantage of its natural darkness and turn it into a Roaring 20s-style speakeasy?
Hats off to the Hyatt Centric for choosing the latter. Located in a secret room of the hotel (you’ll never guess which one), Rm. Nine01 features plush seats, vintage artwork, intimate lighting and impressive hand-crafted cocktails from a master-class bartender.
My first choice off the menu was pure testosterone in a glass: the Smoke & Mirrors Bacon-Infused Old Forester Bourbon. We watched in silent amazement as bartender Lucas Derkatch peeled the orange and seared the bacon to perfection.
Rm. Nine01 also features an array of fancy finger foods, from fresh macaroons to Wagyu beef sliders. All were as delectable as the cocktail.
Of course, Room Nine01 is really only a “speakeasy” in terms of design and style. It’s not hard to find nor access. You can even make a reservation online, and the front desk staff of the Hyatt Centric Las Olas will greet you and point you in the right direction (hint: try the 9th floor).
But it’s still highly exclusive by design since it can only host 10 guests at a time – making it ideal for big families or bachelors/bachelorettes.
Wrapping up
From flaming s’more towers to sun-drenched pickleball, gondola tours to bacon-topped cocktails, Las Olas Boulevard has a ton to offer besides white sand. Whether you’re a billionaire shopping for a 14th home or a member of the proletariat like me seeking a sunny adventure, it’s absolutely worth a weekend.
– Chris Butsch, Contributor
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