As Miami’s northern neighbor, the charming city of Fort Lauderdale is a great spot for those who love sun and sand.
One of the major metro areas in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale is the largest city in Broward County and one of the most popular destinations for tourists in the state. This coastal gem is a great place to visit on your next trip to the beach, with a stunning canal network downtown, plenty of amazing restaurants and bars, and many boutiques and designer shops for high-end shopping. If you plan to do a little relaxing on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, these are the top Fort Lauderdale beach resorts you need to know about.
Pelican Grand Beach Resort – Enjoy Victorian-inspired ambiance
South Florida is known for its glitz and glamor, but if you want a more classic experience, the Victorian-inspired Pelican Grand Beach Resort is the place for you. Decked out in a style the hotel calls “old Florida grandeur,” this beach-side resort is beautiful on the inside and out. With a spacious wrap-around porch complete with white rocking chairs, private beach access for a relaxing day by the water, and one of the best restaurants in town, this Fort Lauderdale beach resort is a must-visit.
Pelican Grand Beach Resort is home to 156 guest residences, which includes standard rooms, suites, and premier suites. Each room is decked out with amazing amenities, including pillowtop mattresses, luxe marble bathrooms with rainfall showers, Keurig coffee makers, cozy sitting areas, and, of course, stunning views of either the ocean or the city skyline. When not enjoying the rooms, guests can hit the beach and unwind on the sand under complimentary umbrellas, take a dip in the zero-entry pool, or float on Fort Lauderdale’s river. If a soothing spa treatment is on the agenda, Pure Spa has everything you need, boasting a Swedish spa experience with treatments that include massages, facials, and wraps. With a location on the 11th floor, guests can take in panoramic ocean views while enjoying blissful pampering. The on-site fitness center can keep you looking your best, with top-of-the-line equipment and daily yoga classes to clear your mind.
Pelican Grand Beach Resort is also known for hosting one of the top restaurants in town: OCEAN2000. An upscale spot beloved by visitors and locals alike, this seafood hotspot offers upscale American fare, while the attached lounge serves up creative small plates with big, bold flavors. Seating is available in the main dining room as well as on the veranda for those who want to dine under the stars. Families staying at the hotel will love the Emporium, an ice-cream and soda shop straight out of the 1950s. Meals and drinks can also be served on the beach itself, giving guests the freedom to soak up every moment of sun possible while enjoying a stay at this resort.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort – An amazing beach-side experience
The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is located along the main beach promenade in downtown Fort Lauderdale, putting you right in the action. This upscale high-rise resort is a great spot for those who want to explore the city, visit local bars and restaurants, or stroll along historic Las Olas.
A sprawling resort with beachfront access, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort has something few others do: all-suite rooms. This means that every visitor staying on-site can enjoy a suite with a living area and up to three bedrooms, a kitchenette, and a private balcony, creating a true home away from home experience. The hotel also offers an on-site fitness center with both strength and cardio equipment. Massage and skin-care treatments are available at the swanky on-site spa, Spa Q.
For those who want to venture outside and enjoy Florida’s year-round sun, the hotel has plenty of other opportunities to kick back and relax, including an enormous outdoor pool area with ocean views, a wrap-around pool deck with rows upon rows of lounge chairs and umbrellas, private cabanas for rent, and daytime food and beverage service. In addition to the pool, guests can also spread out on the white sand beach and take advantage of umbrella and lounge chair access. A full-service concierge team is on hand to help plan outings, and the hotel also offers child-friendly activities during the day to keep little ones occupied, including the Funky Fish Ocean Camp for children aged four to 17.
Dining on the property is plentiful, with several options for visitors to enjoy. Le Marché Gourmet Market and Bakery in the lobby provides a casual European-inspired experience, serving lighter fare with beach views. Ilios offers a Mediterranean experience focusing on fresh, local ingredients with options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. S3 is the ultimate in upscale dining, offering steak, seafood, and sushi in a beachside spot on the hotel terrace, accompanied by live music after dinner.
Lago Mar Beach Club and Resort – Enjoy private beach access
For those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Fort Lauderdale, Lago Mar Beach Club and Resort is a great choice. Set on the more isolated sands at the quiet southern end of Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, those who want a relaxing vacation will love this sprawling estate.
Lago Mar Beach Club and Resort sits on 10 acres in the exclusive Harbor Beach neighborhood and boasts more than 500 feet of private beach area for visitors to enjoy. The hotel is designed with grandeur in mind, with dark wood furniture and warm interior colors dominating rooms and suites. All rooms, including standard rooms, offer balconies and luxury amenities, making every stay as comfortable as possible. The 9,000 square foot lagoon-inspired pool area is a perfect place to unwind in the sun, featuring a large swimming pool with its own island, private cabanas, chaise lounges, and spacious umbrellas that offer the protection necessary to spend the day in the sun. On-site activities also include volleyball, four tennis courts, a putting course, an outdoor oversized chessboard, shuffleboard, and a playground for children. In the evening, visitors can enjoy live entertainment. Also available are activities like boating, parasailing, jet-skiing, and snorkeling.
For those who want to dine on-site, there are plenty of options to enjoy. Acquario is a progressive and global dining experience boasting gorgeous views in an elegant atmosphere. Breakfast is available in the Palm Garden Dining Room and Seagrape Terrace, as well as casual lunch daily. Lunch is also an option at Ocean Grill, serving up traditional favorites like hot dogs and hamburgers as well as salads and fresh fruit. From 5 p.m. until midnight, guests can enjoy a drink in the rich and welcoming Wine Cellar Lounge decked out in carved wood. Families will love the Soda Shop, an old-school style soda counter with ice cream, baked goods, coffee, wine, and cheese. When sitting poolside, the Promenade Bar is also an option, dishing up signature frozen cocktails, beer, and wine, as well as light items like salads.
The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort – Stay in the middle of the city
The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort was designed with tranquility in mind. Decorated in a pale blue and white color scheme, this beachy resort is an elegant place to enjoy the best Fort Lauderdale has to offer. Located along the water with a prime location just steps from the sand, staying at this lovely hotel gives you access to the best beach in Fort Lauderdale.
The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is nothing if not modern, boasting a sleek, sophisticated lobby area complete with hanging plants along the walls. The rooms themselves are much the same, with traditional and suite rooms boasting large windows, pale laminate flooring, spacious marble bathrooms, and Westin Heavenly Beds, the hotel chain’s premier sleep experience. Suite rooms are also available with private balconies and ocean views – a perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning while enjoying the sea breeze as the sun comes up.
The pool deck at the hotel is spacious, featuring a large pool surrounded by blue lounge chairs and orange umbrellas. Guests can go for a swim, sit in the sun, or enjoy light snacks and cocktails while sunning poolside. Attached to the pool area is the sky bridge to the beach, carrying guests directly to the sandy shores of a perfect oceanside location. Here, guests can take advantage of chairs and umbrellas to spend the day in the sun. For those who want to relax and unwind after a long day of swimming or exploring the city, Heavenly Spa by Westin is a perfect spot, offering massages and skin treatments in a contemporary yet comfortable space. Those who enjoy exercise will love the WestinWORKOUT fitness area, featuring a large selection of equipment, Peloton bikes, TRX classes, and yoga.
Dining at the resort is plentiful, pleasing even the pickiest eaters. For those who want to munch on tacos and sip margaritas in the sunshine, Mexican favorite Lona Cocina Tequileria offers indoor and outdoor seating in a relaxed cabana space. Waves Bar and Grill is located poolside, boasting ocean views and delicious American favorites for lunch and dinner. Tinta, the breakfast buffet, serves up hearty treats to start the day, including an omelet station, pastries, and fresh-made smoothies.
B Ocean Resort – Stay in the sun at this spacious beachside resort
Comfortable and conveniently located with a laid-back vibe, B Ocean Resort is a favorite in Fort Lauderdale. Just six miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and a quick walk from some of the most popular hotspots downtown, this resort hotel is the perfect balance between relaxing days on the beach and nightlife experiences in the city.
The B Ocean Resort first opened its doors in 1956 as the Yankee Clipper, a renowned historic hotel that hosted many celebrity guests, including Marilyn Monroe and Robert De Niro. Today, it stands as one of Fort Lauderdale’s favorite resort spots, boasting a modern and upscale experience just steps from the water’s edge. The rooms are chic and contemporary, featuring wood accents, tropical-inspired wall art, and the hotel’s signature Blissful Beds for a good night’s sleep. Both rooms and suites are available, with the latter offering a living space area in addition to the bedroom.
The private beach is one of the biggest perks of this seaside hotspot, providing a place to relax without interference from other beachgoers. Guests can enjoy a spot on a lounge chair under umbrellas while enjoying the ocean waves. Food and drink are available from Salty Siren, the hotel’s restaurant on the sand, which serves up health-conscious food and drinks. Guests at the hotel’s two infinity pools can also enjoy snacks and beverages while lounging next to the sparkling water. Visitors can also rent bikes to explore the nearby area, visit the tranquil Indulged Spa Suite for a little pampering, or grab a run on the treadmill at the 24-hour fitness center.
While the location and the outdoor spaces can’t be beat, the dining options set this resort apart. The Naked Crab Seafood Kitchen offers a light, creative twist on Mediterranean dining, boasting local ingredients and seasonal flavors. Wreck Bar, a tiki-themed seafood spot, is perhaps the best known of B Resort’s dining options; its legendary underwater mermaid show takes place nightly. Guests can also visit Florida Bar, a cocktail spot in the hotel’s lobby, and Clipper Express, a fast, casual spot ideal for a bite on the go.
