Food, Fun & Sun in Fort Lauderdale and Surrounds
While sunny Florida is often a good choice to visit in order to escape frigid winters elsewhere, this particularly brutal winter made coming to Florida even more pleasurable.
Escaping New York just hours before the January 25th storm stalled the city and wreaked havoc throughout the state, arriving in Fort Lauderdale to 68-degree temperature at dusk with my heavy winter coat, scarf and gloves in tow felt like a welcome miracle.
The Bed
Located oceanfront The Pelican Grand Beach Resort is a Noble House hotel with 157 rooms and suites, over 100 of which are ocean-facing. The 11-story resort possesses a chill, beach vibe and the lobby has orchid floral arrangements, driftwood pieces, and Bombay-style ceiling fans with an Atlantic view that will knock your socks off – if you bother wearing them – which you likely won’t.
Staying in a two-room ocean front suite, the foyer led to a large bedroom with a king-size bed, 60-inch flatscreen TV, large peacock-style chair, all in a neutral color palette.
The living area had a three-seater sofa and ottoman, a 42- inch flatscreen TV, a small retro turquoise refrigerator, mini bar, and Keurig coffee maker. The east-facing balcony provided an expansive view of the glorious sandy beach, blue waters, and spectacular sunrises to greet the day.
The bathroom had a quartzite dual vanity countertop and walk-in shower with a euro and rain shower-head and Noble House environmentally sized amenities.
It will be hard to tear yourself away from lolly gagging on the sand where there are plenty of comfortable loungers. It’s a perfect beach for endless morning or afternoon walks or jogs, north or south. You can also join a snorkeling tour, ride a seabob to swim under water like a dolphin, rent a paddle board, explore on a kayak, or fly on an e-foil like a seabird.
You will also want to take advantage of the oversized rocking chairs on the porch during happy hour at O2K and marvel at your good fortune at being in the right place at the right time.
If sand is not your jam, the pool is ocean facing and there’s a separate, free form, meandering kiddie pool with inner tubes.
If you need to work off some of the great meals you’ll have, the fitness center is open 24/7, has Matrix treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machine, anda full body exercise machine, free weights, yoga mats, and exercise balls.
Dining
The breakfast menu at Pelican Grand’s Ocean2000 has something for everyone and can be enjoyed on the ocean-facing veranda or inside. The menu had all manner of Benedict’s, griddle items, healthy options such as avocado toast and steel cut oats as well as Latin specialities. If seated outside, a complimentary add on is the musical cacophony the birds provide.
For a traditional steak house with truly professional service, head to Eddie V’s Prime Seafood on Las Olas Blvd., boasting a hip and happening, but not overly loud, atmosphere. An exquisite martini, shaken table side, was followed by an excellent oyster selection partnered with apple chili mignonette. It was impossible not to enjoy the warm house-made bread accompanying the perfectly dressed Caesar salad. Following, a marvelously flavorful rib eye so tender my knife yawned.
On the eastern end of Las Olas is Casa Sensei, a pan-Asian, Latin fusion marvel. Diners will happily need 20-minutes to go through its extensive menu and make decisions. It has an inviting indoor dining room and delightfully romantic outdoor patio quay side on the Himmarshee canal where many first dates – and no small wonder – marriage proposals occur. There are Latin specialities such as Argentinian beef empanadas, and Mongolian duck, and of course a full sushi bar.
To get the palate going, popcorn drizzled with daily made, divine kimchi butter was served. The tender charred octopus with fresh papaya and mango chunks and Peruvian sweet drops was splendid. The bursting-with-flavor eel hand roll and uber-fresh ahi tataki salad with ponzu sauce were both marvelous. Ending the meal uniquely, a tower of nostalgic, fluffy cotton candy was brought to my table. It would’ve made Barnum & Bailey very jealous had either tasted it.
For a real treat, actually a double treat, reserve an environmentally friendly riverfront electric gondola and dinner can be ordered from Casa Sensei which will be onboard waiting for you for the 90-minute private ride through the canals known as Venice of America. Don’t forget to pack the box with the ring.
Housed in a former Lutheran church lovingly restored brick by brick with graceful attention to and maintenance of artistic detail, Jay’s Steakhouse & Supper Club opened in May 2025. It is an homage to the supper clubs of my parents’ generation, though with a thoroughly modern twist and hip vibe. On Thursdays there’s a DJ, while on weekends there’s live music. It is also deliciously, where diets go to quickly die.
An amuse bouche of homemade potato chips topped with Ahi and mashed avocado was followed by a divine marrow served in bone. Mouth-watering zucchini blossoms with creamy goat cheese was kept company by fresh ahi over sticky rice.
The filet mignon served with a half dozen sauces – for the indecisive among us – was coupled with delicious melt-in-your-mouth Dauphinois potatoes. Not to omit the ocean, the Chilean sea bass in a tangy glaze was fantastic. The “tall, dark, and handsome” seven-layer chocolate pronounced me yet again, the president and CEO of the National Association of Chocoholics Anonymous, while the espresso martini ended a fantastic experience.
Retail therapy
A stroll on Las Olas during the day is mandatory. It’s a haven of smaller and popular shops such as Lululemon, Lily Pulitzer, and Tommy Bahamas for resort wear, al fresco eateries, and several cafés and gelato shops. There are several art galleries, including Britto, for pieces by Romero Britto for his fun-filled wall art and statues.
For a large city mall with anchor tenants Macy’s and Willards, and the usual chain stores, head to Galleria Fort Lauderdale. In Boca Raton, 20-miles north, the Town Center has anchor tenants Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstroms, and specialty shops.
At Bal Harbor 20-miles south or on Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue 30-miles north, you will not only get your retail therapy needs thoroughly met, you may also get a call from your financial advisor wondering what high cost item you purchased.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Sawgrass Mills outlet mall in Sunrise, 10-miles east of Fort Lauderdale.
Culture
Fort Lauderdale’s NSU Art Museum has a significant modern art collection, including Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s stunning Surrounded Islands documentation collection. Or you can catch a live performance at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
If you’re traveling between February 7th and March 29t and wish to channel your inner night-in-shining armor, the Florida Renaissance Festival takes place at Deerfield Beach on weekends
The Flamingo Gardens Exotic Plant Festival and Bonsai Show will take place March 7th and 8th. Then of course, mid-March, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and festival transforming Las Olas Blvd.
If here May 9th and 10th, the Air Show Tour will return to Fort Lauderdale Beach. The team’s demonstration is a mix of six aircraft performing formation flying and solo routines showcasing the precision and skills of U.S. Air Force pilots and the remarkable grace of the F-16.
At the Boca Raton Museum of Art there’s an excellent permanent collection of over 4,500 works, mainly modern and contemporary. It also has yoga most Sunday mornings. Currently on display and through March 1st are pieces of art nouveau graphic artist Alphonse Mucha whose work was revived in the 1960’s. Go upstairs to take in Antonio Santin’s incredible 3-D carpet painting. There’s also a delightful sculpture garden.
After leaving the museum take in the shops of Mizner Park and stop at one of the cafés. If you get peckish, pop into Max’s Grill in Boca for killer ribs or sushi.
Relaxation
There is no shortage of spa and wellness treatment centers in the area. However, for one with truly magnificent views, head to Pure Spa located on the top floor of the Pelican Grand Resort. As you step into the separate doubles pavilion for your treatment selected from a full menu, the sensation of suspended animation takes over, allowing for an ethereal start and end to your spa experience.
The Lesson Learned
Whether you are going to Fort Lauderdale and environs to avoid the winter weather elsewhere, or simply to relax or stroll the beaches, shop until you drop, or dine in one of the many great restaurants that dot the area, rest assured you will enjoy yourself. Happy travels!
