Weather 
Fort Lauderdale is in the midst of a $12 billion waterfront overhaul that will add 7,000 feet of dockage for megayachts. At the same time, this splashy city is also upgrading its dining offerings with fresh restaurants to compete with the finest chefs on the sea.
Drop anchor and dive in before the crowds sail in.
Mediterranean and Asian cuisines merge at Naia on Las Olas, where an open kitchen is surrounded by limestone and wood.
The menu leans heavily into coastal dishes, with an emphasis on healthy offerings. Live-fire robata is a draw, and some of the sushi is sourced from Tokyo.
The Levantine trend shows no sign of slowing down, and Amal, an outpost of the Toronto flagship with a popular Miami location, has also opened on Las Olas.
With a lounge-style dining room and expansive terrace, it brings a Lebanese menu to the area.
Vibrant mezze like mushroom hummus and fire-roasted red peppers with pomegranate molasses kick off meals that also include skewers of beef, chicken and tiger shrimp, as well as lamb shank, branzino or king salmon.
There is also a robust list of Lebanese wines.
Santorini by Georgios is a new celebration of the Greek islands, with many plates made for sharing.
You can find all the Hellenic favorites, including tzatziki, spanakopita, flaming saganaki, grilled octopus, moussaka and grilled branzino, as well as less familiar dishes such as astakomakaronada, made with pasta, lobster and shrimp.
Huizenga Park has also undergone a massive renovation, and it just debuted a waterfront seafood restaurant — always a favorite in Florida.
Sweetwaters opened in October from the team behind Miami’s Rusty Pelican, with nearly 300 indoor and outdoor seats overlooking the New River. Get there early, and you can attend a yoga class, visit the dog run or enjoy a music event.
James Beard Award-winning chef Allen Susser is the culinary director of Sunness Supper Club, which is launching a five-part dinner series on Nov. 19.
Among the celebratory meals are a Great Truffle Dinner; Champagne and Caviar; Florida Waters (yes, there will be stone crab and local lobster!); Chocolate & Rosé; and Fire, Steak & Bourbon.
The owners of the popular Italian spot Louie Bossi are planning a French bistro, Parisol, set to open January in the former Big City Tavern space. We can look forward to favorites like onion soup, duck confit, galettes, tartes and soufflés ranging from cheese to chocolate. But don’t expect burgundy leather: The decor will be tropically inspired, with bright orange, yellow and green.
There is a lot of action on the hotel dining scene.
Pier Sixty-Six, which opened in its new incarnation last season, is welcoming back Pelican Landing, a favorite that shuttered when the property closed for renovations in 2017 and is expected to return in late November. Along with a prime view of the marina and its massive boats, the casual, two-story, open-air spot offers fresh seafood, including a raw bar and local treats like spiny lobster, Key West shrimp and conch fritters. The hotel has also unveiled the largest sculpture collection at a US resort.
The Four Seasons Hotel Fort Lauderdale, which has some of the most elevated and expansive suites in Florida, opened ViceVersa, a jewel box of a bar overseen by lauded Miami bartender Valentino Longo. What was meant to be a three-month residency became so popular that the bar will now be a permanent fixture in the lobby.
The hotel’s Mediterranean signature restaurant, Evelyn’s, located on a sundeck overlooking the ocean, has just added brunch for the season, and it’s spectacular.
Options include pancakes with strawberry-rose compote and vanilla Chantilly and steak and eggs with shatta chimichurri.
Guests can also indulge in bottomless beverages and unlimited helpings at a premium seafood bar with fresh crudos, local oysters, Key West shrimp and smoked salmon. The hotel has also added private beach HIIT and Pilates reformer classes, along with group water aerobics classes, so you can work off those extra portions.
Vitolo, in the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, which has drawn such diners as Taylor Swift, Madonna, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Michelle Obama, is also launching brunch this season, with highlights including tiramisu French toast, brunch pizza and tagliatelle alla Bolognese.
Motek, one of Miami’s most popular restaurants, which has also expanded to New York, will be opening in the W Fort Lauderdale later this season.
The 315-seat restaurant will be dubbed Motek by the Sea and will serve all the restaurant’s signature dishes, including laffa with spreads, whole fish and crispy chicken schnitzel.
