9 Fort Lauderdale Beachfront Hotels You Won't Soon Forget

The Hotel Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club is a 204-room, family-owned favorite that has been a Fort Lauderdale darling since opening in 1959. Kids keep busy climbing on the playground, playing the putting course, and splurging on ice-cream sundaes in the Soda Shop. Adults slip away to the full-service spa, spend date night in Acquario restaurant, and sip Coco Bay cocktails at the Promenade pool bar, which offers live evening entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays.

All ages come together in the lagoon-shaped pool and on the 500-foot private beach, featuring volleyball, lounge chairs, and hammocks swaying in the breeze. Plus, parents get privacy in Tommy Bahama-style Executive Suites, which comprise a separate bedroom and living room with a sleeper sofa. Even better: There’s no resort fee, so guests save $35 to $40 per night.

At the Pelican Grand Beach Resort, guests relax on white rocking chairs and gaze at the Atlantic from a wide veranda, Honey Bee bourbon cocktails in hand. No, this isn’t Georgia or Alabama—it’s Fort Lauderdale with an Old Florida, Southern twist. And while it sounds distinctly grown-up, family fun ranges from a lazy river and an old-fashioned ice-cream shop to the Funky Fish Ocean Camp (ages 4 to 17), offering tie-dying, snorkeling, pizza parties, crafts, boogie boarding and more.

All 156 guest rooms underwent a $7 million renovation in 2019 (think neutral, coastal-chic decor) and more than 100 are ocean-view suites with balconies. The beachfront property provides chairs and umbrellas as part of its $35 daily resort fee, but don’t miss the chance to get out on the water: The staff rents paddleboards onsite and can arrange a sunset cruise with Tropical Sailing Catamaran Charters.

The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort‘s 25-story tower may not be right on the sand (it’s just across A1A from the public beach), but the homey accommodations are hard to top. All 374 suites boast one to three bedrooms and a kitchen or kitchenette. Wake early to witness an epic sunrise from the sixth-floor pool deck or practice your sun salutations at an onsite morning yoga class. The two-mile Beachfront Promenade passes right in front of the resort between Las Olas and Sunrise boulevards: Enjoy it on foot or on wheels (bike rentals are covered in the $35 daily resort fee, as are beach loungers).

After all the activity, unwind in a hotel hot tub or with a massage in an outdoor cabana. For the little ones, the hotel partners with Funky Fish Ocean Camp (ages 4 to 17), which immerses kids in skimboarding, paddle boarding, ocean-themed art, marine science and more. Alternatively, a full calendar of free children’s activities features fun frills like crafts, games, puzzles and poolside smoothies, and kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree.

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa is a 16-acre resort where sun-worshipers find Zen on the largest private beach in South Florida, and Aloha Watersports rents out gear from kayaks and Wave Runners to floating trampolines. After a full afternoon of water play, Tipsy Turtle rum drinks at the thatch-roof beach bar are in order. At dusk, the Barefoot Dining experience consists of a wine-pairing dinner lit with Tiki torches or a wood-burning chimenea as your toes sink into the sand.

When the kids need a break from the lagoon pool, the resort’s Surf Club activity program (ages 5 to 12) offers arts and crafts, video games and a splash pad. It’s the perfect opportunity to take a fitness class (included in the $35 daily resort fee) or sneak off to the spa’s relaxation pool.

A five-minute walk away, B Ocean Resort’s storied Wreck Bar presents a weekend mermaid show, where fin-clad swimmers perform behind windows looking into the pool. The family-friendly version takes place at 6:30 p.m., while the adults-only burlesque performance happens at 9:30. Reservations book fast, so plan ahead.

Couples will love the sleek vibe at this 15-story Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach. An elevated pool deck looks out over the Atlantic Ocean, and from here, a glass Skywalk lends access to the sand without having to cross busy A1A. Hotel beach chairs (built into the $39 daily resort fee) await guests on the other side.

Get cleaned up for dinner at Chef Pablo Salas’ Lona Cocina Tequileria, featuring gourmet Mexican food washed down with sangria or top-shelf margaritas. On Thursday evenings, the hotel hosts a 3.5-mile Weekly Funky Fun Run, followed by a happy hour of local craft beer and sliced fresh fruit. After the exertion, the signature 10-layer Westin Heavenly Bed never felt so good.

The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is a nautical-themed stunner represents the height of Fort Lauderdale luxury. Outfitted in high-end materials like marble, leather, solid wood and Frette linen, all 192 rooms have a water-view balcony. But while you might feel inclined to stay in your suite, the seventh-floor, ocean-facing infinity pool is calling.

Splurge on a signature rum dinner at Burlock Coast, featuring local, seasonal fare paired with specialty rums. Afterward, toast to your trip with Hemingway Daiquiris at the speakeasy-style Apothecary 330 Cocktail Club. For even more indulgence, make the five-minute drive to Las Olas Boulevard, an upscale, palm-studded avenue lined with shops, galleries, bars, and cafes.

The headliner at the modern, LGBTQ-welcoming Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach is the brand-new Steelpan restaurant, opened spring 2019 with a bounty of Caribbean favorites like jerk chicken, crab chowder, coconut-shell ceviche, and callaloo artichoke dip, as well as a respectable list of Tiki drinks. Guests can also help themselves to “Daily Delights”—think wine and cheese, conch fritters or tropical ice cream—as part of the $35 daily resort fee (which also includes two lounge chairs at the public beach across the street).

If you don’t have enough Tiki in your life yet, head to the nearby Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show, a wonderfully kitschy, immersive spectacle that’s been transporting guests to the South Pacific since 1956. Back at the hotel, large picture windows in 240 yacht club–inspired guest rooms showcase the sea.

A welcome drink at check-in (part of the $35 daily resort fee) sets the tone for a stress-free stay at this all-suite, dog-friendly boutique. Also set on Florida State Road A1A right across from the beach, Atlantic Hotel & Spa features one of the area’s largest spas, where treatments incorporate ocean elements like seawater crystals and seaside plant oils (book the Firming Wrap treatment, which utilizes minerals derived from the sea, followed by a massage).

Fully relaxed, it’s time to hit the fifth-floor pool terrace and SKY Bar, or explore Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, located a half-mile from the hotel. The preserve offers canoe rentals and the chance to spot tortoises, butterflies and 200-plus species of birds.

When hunger strikes, eat out at the hotel’s Wild Thyme restaurant, serving fresh-caught seafood with a side of ocean views. Or stay in: Each suite comes with a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette, as well as a private balcony for savoring the view while you dine.

Families craving a little pampering can find VIP treatment at this full-service luxury resort. Send the kiddos off to GO H20!, Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach‘s exclusive Funky Fish Kids Camp (ages 4 to 17), for activities like scavenger hunts, treasure dives, beach cleanup, water relay races and more, led by instructors who hold a degree in marine studies. Meanwhile, you can take full advantage of bike rentals, sunrise yoga classes, and chairs and an umbrella at the beach across the street—all included in the $35 daily resort fee.

The sixth-floor pool deck has something for everyone: tasty cocktails (high-octane or virgin) for the grown-ups; games and dive-in movies for the junior set. Plus, each of the 290 rooms is a suite with a galley or full gourmet kitchen, offering plenty of room to spread out after a day in the sun. Come evening, tuck into a celebratory family-style dinner of roasted sea bass or whole broiled lobster at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Terre Mare. Later, if you find yourself hankering for a midnight snack, room service is available 24-7.