Food & Drink
Best Waterfront Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale & Hollywood FL
Few destinations in South Florida make it this easy to eat well on the water — the best waterfront restaurants in Fort Lauderdale & Hollywood FL range from barefoot fish-taco shacks to Michelin-adjacent dockside dining, and nearly every one of them is within striking distance of your villa.
Key Takeaways
- 20 hand-picked waterfront restaurants spanning upscale dockside dining, casual oceanfront spots, and hidden local favorites.
- Restaurants are organized by vibe — from Michelin-adjacent fine dining to a legendary cash-only burger bar.
- Several restaurants (Shooters, Boatyard, Nauti Dawg) are accessible directly by boat — no car required.
- Hollywood FL gems like Le Tub, Taverna Opa, and GG's Waterfront tend to fly under the tourist radar.
- Every restaurant on this list is within 25 minutes of Villa Hollywood.
- Half are reachable from Villa Hollywood's private dock via rental boat.
One of the underrated joys of this part of Florida: you can eat nearly every meal on the water. Here are the restaurants we actually send guests to — organized by vibe.
Upscale & Dockable
15th Street Fisheries (Fort Lauderdale)
Classic dockside dining on the Intracoastal. Tarpon feeding at sunset. Best swordfish in the city.
Steak 954 (Fort Lauderdale Beach)
Inside the W Hotel, but the ocean-view patio is what you're paying for. Dry-aged steaks, whole grilled fish.
Boatyard (Fort Lauderdale)
Wraparound patio on the New River. Ceviche + branzino + a long wine list.
Casa Sensei (Fort Lauderdale)
Pan-Asian on the canal in Las Olas. Their Duck Bao alone is worth the trip.
Pro Tip: If you want to arrive in style at Boatyard or Shooters, rent a boat for the evening and dock directly — no parking, no problem. Villa Hollywood guests have access to a private dock to make this effortless.
Oceanfront Casual
Taco Beach Shack (Hollywood)
Fish tacos, frozen margaritas, sand between your toes. Our #1 guest referral.
Le Tub Saloon (Hollywood)
Half-century-old burger bar on the Intracoastal. GQ once called it "best burger in America." Cash only, no reservations — go early.
The Hollywood Beach Bar (Hollywood)
Live music, pitchers of sangria, Broadwalk people-watching.
Hot Dog Heaven (Hollywood Beach)
Not technically a "restaurant," but if you don't stop here at least once you're doing it wrong.
Intracoastal / Canal Dining
Shooters Waterfront (Fort Lauderdale)
Huge dock, busy weekends — come by boat if you can.
Bokamper's Sports Bar (Fort Lauderdale)
Sports bar with a surprisingly great patio on the Intracoastal.
Coconuts (Fort Lauderdale)
Key West energy, live music, fried conch done right.
Hidden Local Favorites
Taverna Opa (Hollywood)
Greek taverna on the water with plate-smashing. Chaotic in the best way.
GG's Waterfront (Hollywood)
Classic white-tablecloth Italian on the Intracoastal. Locals keep it to themselves.
Nauti Dawg Marina Café (Hollywood)
Breakfast on the water with the boaters. Cheap, huge portions, perfect.
Pro Tip: Le Tub Saloon is cash only and doesn't take reservations — arrive before 6 PM on weekends or expect a wait. It's absolutely worth it.
For Sunset & Drinks Only
- Rooftop at Dalia — Fort Lauderdale Beach skyline views
- Beach Bar at B Ocean — mermaid show at 6:30 PM, yes really
- Margaritaville Hollywood Beach — touristy but a great sunset
Getting There by Boat
Half the fun of staying at a villa with a private dock is the ability to take your rental boat straight to dinner. Our guests routinely pull up to Shooters, Boatyard, or Nauti Dawg without ever touching a car. That's the Fort Lauderdale lifestyle.
Your Home Base for All of It
Every restaurant above is within 25 minutes of Villa Hollywood — and half are reachable by boat from our private dock. See the villa and dock or book your stay.
Dinner Is Better When You Arrive by Boat
Villa Hollywood puts you within 25 minutes of every great waterfront restaurant on this list — and our private dock means Shooters, Boatyard, and Nauti Dawg are a sunset cruise away. No car. No parking. Just Florida living.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterfront restaurant in Fort Lauderdale?
That depends on your vibe. For upscale dockside dining, 15th Street Fisheries and Boatyard are perennial favorites. For a more casual, local experience, Coconuts delivers Key West energy with live music and fried conch on the Intracoastal.
Which Hollywood FL waterfront restaurants are best for a local experience?
GG's Waterfront (white-tablecloth Italian on the Intracoastal), Taverna Opa (Greek taverna with plate-smashing), and Nauti Dawg Marina Café (waterfront breakfast with the boating crowd) are all beloved by locals and tend to fly under the tourist radar.
Can you reach any Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood restaurants by boat?
Yes — Shooters Waterfront, Boatyard, and Nauti Dawg Marina Café all have docking access. Guests staying at Villa Hollywood regularly rent a boat and pull up to these spots directly from the villa's private dock, skipping the car entirely.
What is the best burger on the Hollywood FL waterfront?
Le Tub Saloon on the Intracoastal has been serving burgers for over 50 years and was famously named "best burger in America" by GQ. It's cash only, takes no reservations, and is absolutely worth the wait. Go early on weekends.
Where should I go for sunset drinks near Hollywood Beach or Fort Lauderdale?
The Rooftop at Dalia offers Fort Lauderdale Beach skyline views, the Beach Bar at B Ocean features a nightly mermaid show at 6:30 PM, and Margaritaville Hollywood Beach is a reliably fun (if touristy) spot for watching the sun go down over the water.
