Las Olas Boulevard at night. Photo courtesy of Jessica Festa.
While Fort Lauderdale is home to a large number of international chains, Las Olas Boulevard is where you can experience the city’s more local culture. Showcasing boutiques, art galleries, mom and pop restaurants, ambient wine bars and relaxing spas, it’s easy to wander the long stretch of road just hopping in and out of the different venues, having a number of experiences in one day. To help you plan your trip, here is a guide to Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.
Parking tip: All along Las Olas you’ll find metered parking as well as paid parking lots costing about $8 per day, or $3 for the first hour and $1.50 for every additional (varies by parking lot).
Gallery hop
For those wanting to experience Fort Lauderdale culture, Las Olas Boulevard is full of galleries showcasing all different kinds of art. While the Blue Gallery (713A East Las Olas Boulevard) features contemporary art and sculpture, Call of Africa (807 East Las Olas Boulevard) focuses on wildlife and landscape works. Another recommendation is Las Olas Fine Arts (701 East Las Olas Boulevard), original and thought-provoking pieces created by 45 different creative spirits are on display. Galleries are free to enter. In the evenings, it’s not uncommon to wander into a complimentary gallery event with wine and nibbles, perfect for those traveling around Fort Lauderdale and Miami on a budget.
Pamper yourself
Along with art, Las Olas Boulevard also offers the chance to pamper yourself. Planet Massage (320 SE 10th Court) right off of Las Olas is known for its great couples’ massages like an Organic Chocolate Candlelight Couples Massage — as well as massage and stretching classes and massage therapy. There’s also Radiance Day Spa (1217 East Las Olas Boulevard), offering budget-friendly treatments like a 90-minute Swedish Massage for $115 and a one-hour Aromatherapy Massage for $80.
Octopus salad from Sweet Nectar on Las Olas Boulevard. Photo courtesy of Jessica Festa.
Eat & Drink
From farm-to-table to ethnic cuisine to great happy hour deals Las Olas has everything you may want. One of the best restaurants in the area is Sweet Nectar Charcoal Grill & Spirits (1017 E Las Olas Boulevard), serving up charcoal-grilled meats and vegetables and craft cocktails. If you want an ambient wine bar, SoLita Las Olas (1032 East Las Olas Boulevard) is romantic with fine dining food and an impressive list of vinos. To eat on the water, head to Tuscan Grill (1105 East Las Olas Boulevard), which also hosts live music acts. Some ethnic eating recommendations include Sushi Rock for Japanese (1515 East Las Olas Boulevard), Chima Brazilian Steakhouse for Brazilian (2400 East Las Olas Boulevard), Rocco’s Tacos for Mexican (1313 East Las Olas Boulevard) and Gran Forno Pronto for Italian (704 East Las Olas Boulevard). Las Olas provides a great way to experience culinary culture near Miami.
Shops & Museums
Along with shops featuring local designs, a number of interesting museums are on Las Olas Boulevard. The Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale (1 East Las Olas Boulevard) features about 6,200 works of art, including Pablo Picasso ceramics and and impressive collection of South Florida and Caribbean cultural pieces. Another Las Olas museum highlight is the Museum of Discovery & Science (401 S.W. 2nd Street Fort), where visitors can pet alligators, pilot a cockpit simulator, see an IMAX movie on Florida’s largest big screen (80 feet x 60 feet), dig for fossils and have an Everglades Airboat Adventure. And at the Historic Stranahan House Museum (335 SE 6th Avenue) — constructed in 1901 — you’ll explore an important piece of heritage as the building was once the town hall and post office, among other things. Guided tours are available between 1-3pm.
Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale from Miami Things to Do