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Once known for hordes of drunk and horny spring breakers, Fort Lauderdale has emerged as one of South Florida's gay hubs. It's a popular destination for gay travelers who want an alternative to South Beach and its A-list attitude.
The Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau is quick to point out that the city and Broward County contain more than 20 miles of palm-fringed beaches. But Fort Lauderdale, located roughly 30 miles north of Miami, offers much more than a day on the beach. Within the city limits there are around 150 gay-owned bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels at any given time.
Local tourism officials report gay travelers typically pump over a billion dollars into the area's economy each year. So it's no wonder Fort Lauderdale continues to lay out the welcome mat for visitors who seek out its alluring combination of sun, surf and sex.

Getting Here
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is located three miles southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Broward County Transit's #1 bus shuttles passengers between the airport and downtown Ft Lauderdale. A taxi to destinations within Fort Lauderdale will cost $20-40.

Getting Around
Broward County Transit offers an expansive system of buses covering many areas of the country. A one-way fare costs $2; an all-day pass is $5. The Tri-Rail commuter train stops at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and downtown Fort Lauderdale. A round-trip from Fort Lauderdale to Miami, for example, costs just $5 on weekends.

Even when the ocean is rough, the inland waterways are ideal for paddle boarding or kayaking. Hop-on, hop-off water taxis cruise the Intracoastal Waterway from Oakland Park Boulevard (just north of Wilton Manors) to 17th Street Causeway, providing a refreshing, affordable break from the city’s car culture.

Neighborhoods
Wilton Manors: Located just over Fort Lauderdale's northern border, Wilton Manors remains the heart of Broward County's gay community, and home to one of the largest year-round gay and lesbian populations in America. Scores of gay-owned and operated bars, restaurants, cafes, shops and guesthouses can be found along a mile of Wilton Drive, the main thoroughfare. Each club and bar lays claim to the crowds for their own special nights. Annual LGBT festivals and events here include the Wilton Manors Stonewall Festival in June, and Wicked Manors at Halloween, attracting tens of thousands of costumed partiers from around the world.
Las Olas Boulevard: A mix of galleries, restaurants and boutiques fill the Las Olas Boulevard palm-lined sidewalks. Suit-wearing profesionals appear at lunchtime, followed by afternoon shoppers. Partiers climb from stereo-blaring cars dressed in star-bright bling to linger well into the night.
Gold lamé T-shirts, jeans with excessive stud embellishments and collared shirts with detailed embroidery fill the boutiques here. Banana Republic loyalists may run screaming. The boulevard’s galleries follow a similar style. Big, bright, bold pieces are displayed in vast showrooms to tempt passersby in search of culture or air conditioning.
Fort Lauderdale’s local food scene is also centered here, with restaurants opening and closing quickly, but one gay bar/restaurant here, Alibi, has been around for a generation.

The Beaches
The city's warm climate and seven miles of sandy beaches are among Fort Lauderdale's biggest draws. A number of the area's gay resorts are located along the oceanfront near Terramar Street at North Birch. A poplular patch of sand, the Sebastian Street Gay Beach, is just down the coast a few blocks to the south on North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd (Route A1A), near the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
The beach at NE 18th Street, one of Fort Lauderdale's most popular cruising areas, is to the north on N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. Smaller and less crowded, it's popular with bears and leather men. Another local favorite is the clothing-optional Haulover Beach, south of Hallandale.

What to See
Fort Lauderdale has become a popular destination for leather aficionados, who have affectionately dubbed it "Fort Leatherdale." Bars, clubs and stores that sell a variety of leather goods are located throughout Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors and the surrounding suburbs.
Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors also have an abundance of shopping opportunities. The massive Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise is one of the largest commercial complexes in the United States. Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale is lined with dozens of boutiques, galleries, restaurants and sidewalk. Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors also contains a number of gay-owned and operated boutiques, along with the bars and restaurants.

In Focus

Gay books and the Village People
A lot of things come to mind when contemplating a trip to Fort Lauderdale: sunny days on the sand or beside the pool, a night out at the trendy clubs or even a visit to one of the famous clothing-optional resorts.
A trip to the library is not what most people dream about for a beach vacation.
But first-time visitors to Fort Lauderdale might not even realize that one of the country's largest gay libraries and archives is located along busy East Sunrise Boulevard, at the Stonewall National Museum & Archives. Sun-thirsty visitors who flock to Fort Lauderdale--especially in winter--are often unaware of the collection, housed within a short distance of the city's better-known gay attractions.

Founded in 1973, the Stonewall contains more than 20,000 books, and 1,000 DVD movies. Sixty national and regional periodicals may be found in the John Graves Reading Room, along with other materials. It also houses 5,000 artifacts, manuscripts, periodicals and posters that document the history of the gay rights movement, and they have an ongoing series of guest author events. The facility also contains exhibits highlighting various aspects of gay history. Visitors once donned platform shoes, leisure suits and other disco-era garb, to mark the opening of "Turn the Beat Around: Disco 1974-1982." They had vintage memorabilia from Studio 54, the Saint and other venues. The Village People figured prominently. Besides the exhibitions there is an ongoing series of gay and lesbian cinema screenings.
 

Pride

Pride Fort Lauderdale February festival includes parties, renowned entertainers, local and national exhibitors, and a food court at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park South, adjacent to the B Ocean Hotel & Resort.

The Stonewall Pride Wilton Manors parade and street festival takes place in June, with multiple stages, entertainment, exhibits, merchants, games, street performers, gourmet food trucks & beverage stations, at the center of the city's gayest neighborhood.

 

Cinemas, Film Festivals & Theater

Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW 5th Ave), theater productions, from tragedy to farce; modern dance, ballet, and opera.

At the Savor Cinema (503 SE 6th St) and the Cinema Paradiso Hollywood (2008 Hollywood Blvd), the Broward County Film Society screens art house movies from around the world. This is home to the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, scheduled for November - see our events listings.

Empire Theater (1140 N Flagler), artist-driven collective productions, new and repertoory dramatic works; LGBTQ plays and musicals.

The OUTshine Film Festival screens gay and lesbian films at their annual event in October at the Classic Gateway Theatre and and the Savor Cinema. Also in April in Miami at Regal Cinemas South Beach. See dates, and more info at their website.

Island City Stage (2304 North Dixie Hwy), LGBT community professional theater productions - developing new work, featuring playwrights who expose their audiences to different voices and experiences.

Parker Playhouse (707 NE 8th St), Speakeasy Soirées, comedy, concerts, variety shows, and musicals.

Now CLOSED, the Rising Action Theatre Company, produced works such as Some Men, and Bathhouse the Musical.

Free movie nights at the Stonewall Museum & Archives (1300 East Sunrise Blvd) take place each month, with screenings of American, foreign language and classic films of gay interest, usually at 7pm. Check their website for the program and dates.
 

Media and resources

South Florida Gay News, Hotspots Magazine, EDGE Fort Lauderdale, and Mark's List websites, each provides good coverage of what's happening in gay Fort Lauderdale, and across the state. GenreLatino is the Spanish-language website from the Hotspots media group.

Go Gay Fort Lauderdale is the website of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

See BrūtBears "the newest, hottest site for events and merchandise for bears, their admirers, and friends" in Fort Lauderdale and beyond.

The South Florida Boys of Leather and the Lambda Men’s Brotherhood leather/fetish groups sponsor social and fundraising events around towm.

The Pride Center (2040 N Dixie Hwy), is the LGBTQ community center with services, programs, events and resources, including a Cyber Center. The Voice is their print and online newsletter. Broward House (2800 N Andrews Ave) provides community services for those impacted by HIV and other health concerns.

The Broward/Palm Beach New Times has general-public news, reviews and listings for music, movies and other events around town.

Sunny is a general tourism website for info on area beaches, hotels, restaurants and events, also with LGBT pages.

See ArtsCalender for upcoming theater, dance, music, visual arts, festivals and a variety of outdoor events in the Broward County area.

Florida Agenda, and Next Magazine Florida shut down as their parent company Multimedia Platforms went out of business in 2016.

For locations and website links to businesses listed below, see our Fort Lauderdale gay map & listings pages.

 

Accommodations
The city's many gay establishments cater to a broad cross-section of the gay world, with a good selection of gay resorts at Fort Lauderdale Beach, two blocks off the ocean, within easy walking distance of sand and surf. The gay beach is opposite Sebastian Street, just north of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Eleven of the guesthouses below are still clothing-optional, but with four similar ones closing recently, a trend is emerging. Enjoy the freedom while you can.

Alcazar Resort (555 North Birch Rd; 888-830-9931), all-male, by the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach, convenient to gay shops and clubs, clothing-optional pools and hot tub. Part of the Worthington Resorts complex.

The Atlantic Resort & Spa (601 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd; 866-318-1101), stylish luxury hotel overlooking pristine beaches, three miles from downtown.

Cabanas (2209 NE 26th St, Wilton Manors; 866-564-7764), all-male resort complex, smart cabanas, kitchens, big windows overlooking Middle River canal (kayak here!). Clothing-optional pool, whirlpool with waterfall, steam room and spa services; pet friendly.

Cheston House (520 North Birch Rd; 866-566-7950) gay-exclusive guesthouse, spacious rooms, suites and apartments at reasonable rates, clothing-optional pool area, just steps from the beach.

Coral Reef Guest House (2609 NE 13th Court; 888-365-6948), upscale, quiet, 25+ adult-only guesthouse ten minutes walk from the beach, eight modern, sunny, spacious rooms, pool with a built-in whirlpool, bikes for rent.

Deauville Hotel (2916 N. Ocean Blvd; 954-568-5000), backpacker dorm, hotel rooms, and efficiency apartments for any budget with all the amenities, two minutes from the beach and dog-friendly too.

DeSoto Beach Inn (2916 DeSoto St; 954-923-7210), cozy studios and spacious efficiencies, 21+ adults only, lush gardens by the sea, bougainvillea-shaded veranda, smoke-free inside and out.

Ed Lugo Resort (2404 NE 8th Ave; 954-275-8299), luxury one or two-bedroom suites at Wilton Manors center; clothing-optional heated pool and showers, hot tub, hammock, large patio, waterfall, beautiful landscaping.

The Grand Resort & Spa (539 North Birch Rd; 954-630-3000), 21+ gay men's resort hotel; luxury rooms, suites, penthouse suites, steps from beach, exceptionally hospitable staff. Oversized clothing-optional heated pool, courtyard, spa, fitness center, ten-man Jacuzzi; spa facials, body wraps and scrubs, massage, manicure/ pedicure, waxing and hair styling.

Hotel Lush Royale (2901 Terramar St, Fort Lauderdale Beach; 954 564-6442), 28 rooms/suites gay resort, hot tub, pool, lush gardens, cocktails, concierge service, nearby gym.

Inn Leather (610 SE 19th St; 877-532-7729), south side of Fort Lauderdale, with sling in every studio and suite, hosting all-male international crowd of Leathermen since 1999, a mile from downtown. Clothing-optional compound hot tub, heated pool and free wireless internet.

Island Sands Inn (2409 NE 7th Ave, Wilton Manors; 954 990-6499), gay-popular B&B, poolside rooms and suites, exterior entrances, heated saltwater pool; near bars, cafes and restaurants.

La Casa del Mar (3003 Granada St; 954-467-2037), bed & breakfast on south side, one block from Fort Lauderdale Beach; rooms and kitchenette suites, pool, rooftop deck, free access to Granada Inn amenities.

La Casa Fort Lauderdale (2727 Terramar St; 800-888-2639), 15-suite/studio boutique hotel near the beach, uncommon furnishings, five-star amenities, mixed clientele, lush tropical landscape, pool, spa. Was Flamingo Resort.

Manor Inn (2408 NE 6th Ave, Wilton Manors; 954-566-8223), gay guesthouse, rooms with kitchenettes, clothing-optional pool and Jacuzzi.

Pineapple Point (315 NE 16th Terrace; 888-844-7295) near Las Olas Boulevard in Victoria Park; luxury clothing-optional gay resort, vast grounds, verdant lush tropical foliage, restored splendor of 1930s architecture, one and two bedroom suites, gym, lap pool, two Jacuzzis, massage studios, sun decks, evening happy hour.

The Royal Palms Resort (717 Breakers Ave; 800-237-7256), gay-friendly resort, large, luxuriously appointed rooms, spa massage and body care, fitness center with personal training. American fare poolside cafe, indoor/outdoor breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner plus cocktails.

Villa Venice Resort (2900 Terramar St; 877-284-5522), all-male resort two blocks from the beach, clothing-optional resort, sociable events like poolside cookouts. Part of the Worthington Resorts complex.

W Fort Lauderdale (401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd; 954-414-8200), large high-rise hotel at ocean's edge, stylish accommodations, two infinity-edge pools, gym/spa.

Worthington Resorts (543 N Birch Rd; 800-445-7036), with a sexy vibe, one of gay Fort Lauderdale's most popular all-male resorts; gated complex of 63 rooms includes Alcazar Resort, Worthington House and Villa Venice. The clothing-optional pool and deck get plenty of sun all day, and the gay beach is just a few minutes walk away.

CLOSED: Alhambra Beach Resort (3021 Alhambra St); Coconut Cove (3012 Granada St); Elysium Resort (552 North Birch Rd); Grand Palm Plaza (2801 Rio Mar St); Liberty Suites (1501 SW Second Ave); The Schubert Resort (855 NE 20th Ave); Windamar Beach Resort (543 Breakers Ave).

For additional Fort Lauderdale area accommodations, see our full maps & listings tab.

 

Nightlife

Alibi (2266 Wilton Dr), aka Georgie's Alibi, local treasure at the heart of the social gay scene, helped turn Wilton Manors into the major gay destination it's become. Many events, videos and sports, killer drink specials, great food, outdoor patio, and people in droves. Dame Edna's Broadway Cabaret shows. Restaurant service 11am-1:30am daily, drinks until 3am weekends.

Boardwalk (1721 N Andrews Ave), naked men dancing, guest porn stars. Badpuppy members get intimate online views of dancers. Amateur Wednesday night contests, Sunday brunch and charity carewash (at Beefcakes) highlight their every-night 18+ weekly events.

The Corner Pub (1915 N Andrews Ave), Wilton Manors neighborhood bar, pool table, beer specials, bear nights, underwear events; basic food.

Cubby Hole (823 N Federal Hwy), no-attitude neighborhood men's bear bar of many years, all welcome. Famous for their burgers and other tasty snacks. Jukebox, 50-cent pool games, video games, underwear and bare chest nights, HDTV, WiFi, two-for-one special nights.

Drynk Bar & Lounge (2255 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors), comfortable indoor and patio gay cocktail bar, conversation-level music.

Eagle Wilton Manors (524 NE 23rd St), men's bar, underwear/jock nights, Bear Cave.

GYM Sportsbar Fort Lauderdale (2287 Wilton Dr), gay sports bar, darts, poker, games on TV, burgers, tacos, bears' nights, theme nights.

Hunters Nightclub (2232 Wilton Dr), cocktails crowd from 4pm, gay nightly dance club, everyone welcome. Fur Friday bear nights, Country-Western dance nights, Sunday T-dances, karaoke and cabaret nights. Former Boom location.

Infinity Lounge (2184 Wilton Dr), sleek gay/mixed cocktail lounge, wines, craft beers and cider.

Johnsons (2340 Wilton Dr, Wilton Manors), gay bar, international male strippers/ dancers; private dances.

Le Boy (1243 NE 11 Ave, Wilton Manors), 18+ male strippers nightly from 7pm, VIP cabin lap dances, Sunday Shower shows, amateur Hot Bod contests for cash prizes, diva stage shows; Friday, Saturday and Sunday free buffets, never a cover.

The Manor Complex (2345 Wilton Dr), multi-level restaurant, martini bar/ lounge, sports bar and nightclub dancing; DJs, mixed, somewhat younger crowd. Tapas and American-style main entrees, Sunday brunch, Porn Bingo, game nights, drag and cabaret shows.

Mona's (502 E Sunrise Blvd), home vibe, pool games, games, karaoke, Lisa's Background outdoors with affable bartenders; "arounders" and out-of-towners. Holiday celebration -- even pets get annual pageant. December 26th annual "Grab-bag,"  presents, and cash.

The Naked Grape Wine Bar (2163 Wilton Dr) good wine, cheeze nibbles, tapas, relaxed atmosphere, tasting events, plush and comfortable seating for mixed crowd.

The Pub (2283 Wilton Dr), Wilton Manors gay bar, DJs/ VJs, singers, drag shows, daily food specials.

Ramrod (1508 NE 4th Ave), Levi/Leather and uniform cruise bar, non-stop rotation of leather, fetish and kinky events, bear nights, undies and bulge contests, weekend back patio bar, Friday bear nights, Saturday caged hunks. Mr Ramrod contests each October.

Rosie's Bar and Grill (2449 Wilton Dr), local institution for casual dining, indoors or on large covered outdoor patio; open daily with a big fat menu.

Sidelines Bar on The Drive (2426 Wilton Dr), gay bar/lounge, sports games and music videos, games, karaoke, beer busts, shows -- Sep 2019 took over the space of Rumors Bar & Grill (previouly Matty's on the Drive).

Club Silver (2209 Wilton Dr), LGBTQ-friendly piano bar, live music and entertainment, comedy, Daddies Dances, karaoke.

Scandals (3073 NE 6th Ave), Wilton Manor's country-western dance bar, line dancing and lessons, karaoke, and lots of pool games and tournaments. Beareaoke Fridays and Sunday T-dance and beer blast on the patio.

Smarty Pants (2400 E Oakland Park Blvd #101), fun neighborhood bar with bingo, trivia games, drag cabaret shows, underwear nights and weekend karaoke.

Tap 42 (1411 S Andrews Ave), craft foods, cask ales, beer and cocktails; snacks/starters, burgers, salads, veggie options, brunch.

CLOSED: BAM (2829 W Broward); Bill's (2209 Wilton Dr); Castle Lounge (1322 N Dixie Hwy, Hollywood); Depot (2935 N Federal Hwy); Dudes (3270 NE 33rd St); Johnny's (1116 W Broward); New Moon (2440 Wilton Dr); PJ's Corner Pocket (924 N Flagler); Progress Bar (2440 Wilton Dr); Rumors (2426 Wilton Dr); Sidelines, Ballz and Club 2031 (2031a Wilton Dr); Southern Nights (2209 Wilton Dr); Stable (205 E Oakland Park); Swinging Richards (1350 SW 2nd, Pompano Beach); Torpedo (2829 W Broward); Tropics (2000 Wilton Dr); Wolf Bar (2209 Wilton Dr).

 

Restaurants & Cafes

Beefcake's Grill (1721 N Andrews Ave) on corner patio at Broadwalk bar, indoor and patio seating, specializes in wraps, cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings and salads. Sunday brunch and sexy-guy car wash fundraisers, 11am-4pm.

Bona Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria (2468 Wilton Dr), gay-popular Italian restaurant at Wilton Manors central; pizzas, subs, pastas, parmiagiana, chicken, veal, and seafood seafood.

Candela's (2909 NE 6th Ave), small Wilton Manors cafe, kababs, Spanish Mediterranean-stye fish, Cuban chicken, pork, Ropa Vieja and Picadillo Habanera con Tostones; lunch specials at bargain prices.

Courtyard Cafe (2211 Wilton Dr), open daily, 24 hours Thursday through Saturday, Sunday until 3am, breakfast, lunch, sandwiches, salads, platters, patio tables.

Indian Harbor (1830 Cordova Rd, South Harbor Plaza), innovative, extensive menu, South Asian meat/ seafood/ vegan plates, curries, starters, desserts.

Galanga Kitchen & Sushi Bar (2389 Wilton Dr), stellar Thai fare and sushi, considered one of the best Thai restaurants in Broward County, and they deliver.

There's always a crowd at Java Boys (2230 Wilton Dr) for their many varieties of coffees, hot and cold libations, and sweet treats.

La Bonne Crepe (815 E Las Olas Blvd), breakfast, lunch or dinner, distinctive crepes, waffles and french toast topped with fresh fruit; eggs, meat and potatoes, bagels and smoked salmon, sidewalk terrace tables.

Lips (1421 E Oakland Park Blvd), also with locations in Atlanta, San Diego and New York, the ultimate in drag (show) dining, with service from 7:30pm.

Peter Pan Diner (1216 E Oakland Park Blvd), gay-friendly 24-hour American diner; breakfast, wide-ranging menu entrees, sandwiches and burgers, plus full bar.

Sage (2000 Harrison St) Cafe & Oyster Bar has casual ambience and good French country cuisine at decent prices.

Stork's Bakery Coffee Cafe (2505 NE 15 Ave, and 1109 East Las Olas) brings a bit of Viennese coffeehouse bistro style to Florida, with soups, sandwiches, pastries, salads, cakes, tarts, tortes, mousses plus fine wines, imported beers and, yes, coffee.

For another 35 Fort Lauderdale area restaurant suggestions, see our maps & listings section.

 

Shopping
For sexy underwear and trendsetting beach and swimwear, Audace.com dazzles, and not only at the crotch, with t-shirts, jeans, belts, shirts and accessories as well. Formerly with store on Wilton Drive, they now sell online-only.

Leather Werks (1226 NE 4th St) continues to serve the leather community with garments, accessories and play equipment. A second store is located within Ramrod bar, (1508 NE 4th Ave), open every night from 8pm.

Pride Factory (850 NE 13th St) men's fashion, gym, swim and underwear, adult DVDs and novelties, lubricants, cards, CDs, pride gear and gay-themed movies; jewelry, bracelets, pendants and watches.

To the Moon (2205 Wilton Dr) candy, sweets and gourmet food from 80 countries, especially dark chocolate and licorice goodies; also gag gifts and novelties, magazines, greetings cards, and party supplies -- over 13,000 different items.

The Galleria Mall, located between Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale Beach, is the largest shopping mall in town, with 90 or so stores, services and restaurants, including an Apple Store, Macy's and Neiman Marcus. To the south, the Aventura Mall has about 100 outlets, including five department stores and an Apple. Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise is the largest US outlet mall, with 350+ stores.

 

Saunas & Sex

321 Slammer (321 W Sunrise Blvd), nightly, private club for 21+ men; wanton pursuit of pleasure - unabashedly proud to be called a sex club. "You bring the booze, we've got the bar" byob policy. Glory holes, slings, dark room, three-month memberships.

Club Fort Lauderdale (110 NW 5th Ave), Florida's largest private men's club, among largest in the USA. With 12,000 square feet of space, lush tropical landscaping, clothing-optional outdoor pool and spa, steam room/ sauna overlooking pool. Multiple TV rooms show regular TV and adult entertainment. A large state-of-the-art gym has all the latest equipment. Second Saturdays Cumunion parties.

The Clubhouse II (2650 E Oakland Park) private membership club, big leather night every Tuesday, popular bears and cubs night each Thursday; steam and dry saunas. Third Saturdays monthly Cumunion parties.