3-Day Foodie Itinerary

If the best part of traveling is the food, and you plan your entire vacation around the restaurants you’ll visit and the local flavors you want to try, you’re in the right place. After all, the best way to get to know a new city is by sampling the food—a good Instagram picture doesn’t hurt, either! 

Greater Fort Lauderdale has you covered with a dynamic foodie landscape brimming with options from freshly caught seafood, waterfront dining, and the best brunches you won’t find anywhere else. Read along to discover how to spend three days in Greater Fort Lauderdale the foodie way. 

Day 1

Start your trip by fueling up with a hearty breakfast that can cure anyone’s sweet or savory craving. Cafe Bastille, a 4,000-square-foot restaurant in downtown Fort Lauderdale embodies a Parisian cafe with tasty menu options, including cinnamon roll pancakes, smoked salmon benedicts, fresh fruit acai bowls, and a French Breakfast Burrito. Wash it all down with a French Toast Tini or a Pink Bellini. In the mood for something non-alcoholic? There are plenty of coffee and juice options, plus smoothies like the Choco Peanut. 

Options abound for lunch in the area. Depending on where you find yourself in town, you can’t go wrong with classics like seafood-centric Coconuts on Fort Lauderdale beach. Downtown is home to Moxies, House on the River, and everyone's favorite healthy eatery, Carrot Express. Pro tip: Order the carrot cake. You won’t regret it.

Check out Planta Queen on Las Olas Boulevard for some of the best  vegan or plant-based options. A favorite is the “Plant Power Lunch," which includes one starter, signature dish, and cookie. With menu options like a sushi burrito and truffled fried rice, it’s a winning combination all around. Another great option for vegan-friendly cuisine is SoBe Vegan at the W Fort Lauderdale. You can’t go wrong with the SoBe V Burger and chocolate shake. 

Head to Fort Lauderdale beach for dinner. Inside the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale, you’ll find MAASS, opened by renowned Michelin-starred chef Ryan Ratino. Here, the menu is centered around contemporary wood-fired cooking and spotlights a fusion of European and Japanese techniques. 

Not far away is the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, another beachfront favorite escape, which recently debuted Vitolo by famed executive chef Anthony Vitolo. Make a reservation here if you’re searching for classic New York-style Italian American staples like breaded crispy mozzarella with marinara, breaded veal chop with vodka sauce, or tagliatelle 'alla bolognese.'

Day 2

Fort Lauderdale has been instrumental in popularizing brunch across the U.S., making it a must-try experience when you’re in town for the weekend. Don’t miss sampling some of the area’s favorite brunch spots, like Boatyard on the Intracoastal, Hatch in Flagler Village, and The Terrace Grill, nestled inside The Dalmar for Sunday Brunch

After a morning of activities, head to Hallandale Beach to enjoy lunch at KAO Bar and Grill. The two-story container restaurant is the first in the area, so you’ll relish the space's unique ambiance and lively character. Order Argentine dishes and pizzas, plus sandwiches and more. 

Pompano Beach’s booming food culture is not to miss, so book your dinner at South Bar & Kitchen. This relaxed haunt features dishes inspired by Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole flavors with a menu underscored by Southern comfort food and all the fixings. Short ribs and grits or a pimento burger, anyone? The South Cobbler is a must for dessert — fresh macerated seasonal fruit, brown butter streusel, and vanilla ice cream. 

Day 3

For your third day of gastronomic adventures in Greater Fort Lauderdale, spend the morning in Oakland Park’s Bulegreen Cafe Yard, recently voted as one of Yelp’s Top 100 Places To Eat in the U.S. This cozy garden oasis serves all-day brunch favorites mixed with Brazilian nuances. If you’re staying on Fort Lauderdale beach, check out Archibalds Village Bakery, an award-winning bakery and coffee shop with some of the best pastries. 

When in Greater Fort Lauderdale, be sure to experience waterfront dining. Coming this May, the Marina Village at Bahia Mar promises an extraordinary experience. This open-air food hall, situated atop a floating ferry, will showcase eight enticing food kiosks, three vibrant bars, and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Or, consider reserving your evening at the ultra-chic DUNE by Laurent Tourondel inside Auberge Beach Residences along Fort Lauderdale beach. Dreamy interiors and water views paired with elevated American and seafood dishes set the scene for a memorable night of wining and dining. 

Before you bid farewell to Greater Fort Lauderdale, there's one essential destination you simply can't overlook. Whether it's for a sweet treat to cap off your day or any time in between, Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant stands as an iconic institution, beckoning with its timeless charm and irresistible delights.

This kitschy parlor opened in 1956 in Dania Beach, just minutes from the airport, and tourists and locals alike line up for more-than-generous servings of ice cream, milkshakes, and banana splits. The menu is also chock full of savory all-American favorites, including hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, wings, and house-made sodas. While you’re here, see if you and your gang are up for the Kitchen Sink challenge—36 scoops of ice cream drenched in chocolate syrup, bananas, strawberries, cherries, pineapples, marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, and even sparklers, brought to your table in an actual sink.