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The 2025 Digital Nomad's Guide to Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The 2025 Digital Nomad's Guide to Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Forget the winter chill and set up your remote desk in a paradise of 300 miles of navigable waterways and world-class dining. 🍽️

Kevin from Nomad for Less
December 28, 2025

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🌴 Introduction to The Venice of America

If you’re looking for a vibrant hub to set up your remote office while escaping the winter chill, Fort Lauderdale has evolved into a premier destination for the modern nomad. My girlfriend Jacqui and I recently spent several weeks immersed in the "Venice of America," and let me tell you, this city offers far more than just a beach. It’s a high-energy playground of world-class dining, hidden rooftops, and legendary nightlife.

From our home base at Flow Fort Lauderdale, we spent our days balancing deep work with exploring the local scene. Whether you are navigating the 300 miles of navigable waterways via the Water Taxi or shucking oysters at a local raw bar, you’ll find it’s a place where work feels like a vacation. Here is our guide to making the most of your time in this sun-kissed paradise.

View from Flow Fort Lauderdale

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🎹 Nightlife: Rooftops & Dueling Pianos

Fort Lauderdale’s rooftop scene has exploded recently, and experiencing the city from above is a non-negotiable part of the nomad lifestyle here.

• The Sparrow: Perched on the 25th floor of The Dalmar, this is the tallest rooftop in the city. It has a chic, modernist vibe with both indoor and outdoor spaces. Jacqui and I grabbed drinks and appetizers here, including their crispy brussels sprouts and chicken skewers, and were blown away by the urban views and the sophisticated atmosphere.

South Florida and ambient purple lighting are like peanut butter and jelly

• Nubé Rooftop: Located on the 26th floor of the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, this is a premier oceanfront rooftop lounge. It’s a "lounge-aurant" where the windows seem to dissolve into the sky, offering incredible sunset views. It’s got a great outdoor area where you can see all of A1A and the beach so I’d recommend checking that out if the weather is nice. We tried the "Staring into the Sea” cocktail, a show-stopping mix of E11even Vodka and blueberry with lavender that is essentially built for Instagram.

Don’t mind the hair - it gets windy on this rooftop

• Howl at the Moon: When we wanted to kick the energy up a notch, we headed to this high-energy dueling piano bar in its new downtown location. It’s a nonstop show where versatile musicians rotate instruments from baby grands to saxophones, taking audience requests all night. We had a blast with a bucket of their Cherry Limeade (literally a bucket of vodka with grenadine and lemon-lime soda) and appetizers while taking in the high-octane performance.

Dueling pianos is always a great time

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🌮 The Best Food Spots: Tacos, Tequila, and Cajun Soul

The culinary landscape here is a melting pot of bold flavors, from upscale Italian to authentic "Mexican Soul Food."

• El Camino: This Las Olas staple is famous for its "Mexican Soul Food" concept, using fresh, from-scratch ingredients for everything from tortillas to their 20 different sauces. With a selection of over 400 varieties of tequila and mezcal, it’s a vibrant spot for people-watching on the patio. Don’t sleep on El Camino’s happy hour either - it’s one of the most affordable happy hour spots in town with $5 cocktails, $2 chips & salsa, and $3 tacos. And their brisket quesadilla is really tasty too. This was one of our most frequented spots during our month there.

The place is often packed because it's just that good

• Louie Bossi’s Ristorante: While it’s a high-energy Italian eatery, we went there specifically for drinks at the bar. The coccoli fritto is one of the best you’ll ever have, loaded with ricotta and prosciutto. It’s the rare place that caters to everyone, from business lunches to families and date nights. And like many Italian establishments, you can’t go wrong with their espresso martini.

Consider making a reservation if you want a table

• Voodoo Bayou: If you're craving Cajun flair, this place is hard to miss on Las Olas. We loved the Southern charm and their famous fried chicken, all accompanied by bluesy tunes. If you're feeling bold, try the "Pimp Chalice" cocktail.

Very cool voodoo decor inside

• Bandoleros Tacos & Tequila Bar: We hit this spot for another fantastic Mexican-inspired meal, enjoying the local atmosphere and their diverse menu. They’ve got great Margaritas and their Birria Short Rib tacos are incredible. There’s a lot of great nightlife right behind the railroad tracks in downtown Fort Lauderdale so be sure to check this area out.

Great tacos, margs, & vibes

• Lona Cocina Tequileria: For a meal with a direct beach view, we visited Lona. They have great outdoor heat lamps for cooler evenings and serve up some of the best Mexican cuisine on the Central Beach strip. The queso fundido with chorizo is a go-to appetizer and if you’re dining with a group you can even get a taco flight that comes with 15 or 20 tacos.

Views of the beach at Lona are unbeatable

🏖️ The Hollywood Beach Detour

One of the best ways to get around is the Water Taxi, which connects you to various destinations along the canals and is the most fun way to travel without a car. We took the taxi south to Hollywood Beach for a full day of research.

• 7 Tables On The Beach: This is a hidden gem for authentic Peruvian cuisine. Jacqui and I enjoyed people watching since we were sitting right on the Broadwalk (not a typo), surrounded by swaying palm trees and the ocean breeze. We got empenadas and the lomaso saltado and it was really filling with a generous portion size.

The Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is 2.5 miles of hotels, shops, & restaurants

• Nick's Bar & Grill: Another great meal on the Hollywood Broadwalk, where we enjoyed the casual atmosphere and fresh local flavors. It’s one of the few bars on the Broadwalk that’s open late at night with live music. We even saw some dude get up on stage and sing Dixieland Delight, and the crowd was into it.

Roll Tide

• Margaritaville Resort: While wandering the 2.5-mile beach we checked out the Margaritaville Resort that was there and caught photos of a live band playing outside the resort, which perfectly captured the laid-back Florida spirit.

Right outside the resort they have a nice theatre where bands play

🏒 The Riverwalk, the Rink, and the Bar Scene

You can't come to Broward County without leaning into the local sports culture and the social hubs along the New River.

• Florida Panthers Hockey: We caught two games at the Amerant Bank Arena - one against the Bruins and another against the Red Wings. We sat in the Corona Beach House section, which is a fantastic way to experience the high energy of a Panthers game while enjoying an all you can eat buffet with beer and wine included. With the price of drinks these days you probably come out to almost even buying these tickets and it’s a really cool club to hang out in.

View from Corona Beach House section

• The Shorely at Marina Village: Docked permanently at Bahia Mar, this 500-person reimagined ferry is a floating lounge dream. It’s a perfect daytime hangout where you can sip cocktails while watching the yachts go by. If you’re looking for a day-club where you can take in the sunshine while sipping on a great drink, this is your spot.

Expect a DJ, sunshine, and great cocktails at The Shorely

Burgers & Shakes: Located right within the same Marina Village footprint at Bahia Mar, it’s a perfect, no-frills spot to grab a reliable meal while you're out on the waterfront. We stopped by for a quick lunch and and the burger and fries hit the spot without the wait of a formal sit-down restaurant. There’s a lot of food options to choose from in the Marina Village though so take a taste of multiple cuisines if you have the chance.

Order on their website to skip the wait

• Bokamper's Sports Bar & Grill: For NFL playoff watching, we headed to Bokamper's on the Intracoastal. With 165+ HDTVs, it’s a sports haven with a great atmosphere and killer wings. Plus it’s got an outdoor bar and tables you can watch the games from if the weather’s nice.

Pull right up on your boat or get dropped off a few feet away on the water taxi

• McSorley’s Beach Pub: This is an authentic slice of Fort Lauderdale life. We sat outside to enjoy apps and catch the NFL playoffs while enjoying some potato skins and a flat bread. Their rooftop deck also offers stunning panoramic ocean views if you’re just grabbing a drink there one night.

You get a view of the beach from their patio seating too

• The Wharf & The Riverwalk: No trip is complete without a stroll down the historic Riverwalk. We spent time hanging out at The Wharf, an iconic open-air riverfront venue with food trucks and a buzzing social scene. They’ve got ping-pong, cornhole, lots of food and drink options, and a DJ so it’s a really fun party spot.

Not sure exactly what I was doing here...

• Elbo Room: A beachside landmark since 1938, this legendary dive bar is the ultimate place to let loose. We enjoyed their outdoor balcony, where you can watch live music on the first floor or catch a DJ set on the second. This is the place your dad went on spring break.

Band or DJ - the choice is yours

⭐️ Final Verdict: The Nomad’s Paradise

Fort Lauderdale in 2025 is a city that feels like being on vacation while you work. It offers the perfect blend of modern infrastructure and tropical escapism. Whether you’re grabbing a quick burger and fries at Burgers & Shakes in Marina Village or indulging in a high-end Mexican soul food feast at El Camino, the variety is unparalleled. For a digital nomad, the "Venice of America" isn't just a place to stay, it's a place to thrive.

If Miami is the high-decibel, neon-soaked nightclub of Florida, Fort Lauderdale is the stylish, sun-drenched rooftop lounge where you can actually hear the music and get some work done between sets.