Thousands of captains, crew, and yachts visit Fort Lauderdale, Florida, each year for charters, refits, or because of its location. Its year-round tropical weather, abundant marine businesses, and central location for excursions to the Caribbean and up the United States’ East Coast make Fort Lauderdale the yachting hub of the Americas. While many yachties call Fort Lauderdale home, there are still countless crewmembers who just visit the city for a few days at a time. As they eventually become familiar with the different marinas, waterways, and refit facilities the city offers, visiting yachties might not always have the time to see what Fort Lauderdale has for their time off. Triton collected some of the best clubs, bars, restaurants, and seasonal events Fort Lauderdale offers for captains and crew of all tastes. Bars and Clubs A bit more relaxed than Miami, Fort Lauderdale’s array of bars and clubs still offer a fun night out. Whether you prefer catching drinks with crewmates and old friends while watching a game, dancing in a club, or visiting an arcade bar, Fort Lauderdale’s assortment of night spots is fit for any night out. Rhythm + Vine An off-the-beaten-track bar, Rhythm + Vine offers yachties a memorable experience without the flashiness of a club. The indoor and outdoor venue was established in 2013 and pioneered the “chill” bar idea. Starting in the outdoor garden, you’ll find a rotating selection of food trucks while the bar is stationed in a retro trailer. Instead of the usual scene you might find on Las Olas Boulevard, Rhythm + Vine’s outside area makes guests feel they’re drinking in a friend’s backyard — and a cool backyard at that, with ample outdoor seating, lawn games, and craft drinks. Heading into the Den, the inside area of Rhythm + Vine, you’ll find funky artwork, retro furniture, and what some might be seeking most — air conditioning. While the garden offers a relaxed outdoor vibe, the Den’s dimly lit lounge area, paired with its DJs, offer yachties a completely different setting. The ability to switch between atmospheres and music makes Rhythm + Vine a unique experience in Fort Lauderdale’s bar scene. Rhythm + Vine is located at 401 NE 5th Terrace. Lauderale Tucked away in a marine-industrial warehouse district near Port Everglades, Lauderale is the go-to craft beer tasting location in Fort Lauderdale. Lauderale was founded by Joey Farrell III and Kyle Jones, two local drinking buddies who decided to turn their craft beer passion into a profession. With a consistent lineup of 30 house-made beers rotating on tap, Lauderale’s authentic ales are centered on local culture and influence. From lagers, cream ales, Belgians, and porters to IPAs, sours, and experimentals, Lauderale has been recognized with medals from the Great American Beer Festival, U.S. Open Beer Championship, Best of Craft Beer Awards, and the Best of Florida Beer Competition. If beer isn’t your style, the brewery also offers a selection of wines, sangria, Champagne, CBD drinks, non-alcoholic options, and craft sodas. While Lauderale’s drink options are unique, so are the brewery’s location and activities. Lauderale’s large taproom and garden are filled with murals, greenery, railroad ties, and shipping containers, making for an eclectic venue. The brewery also partners with local food trucks, offering a different truck every day alongside games like cornhole, ping pong, and dart boards. Activities such as Yoga Sundays, Trivia Wednesdays, full moon parties, live music nights, and even their own Renaissance Festival make for an unmatched brewery experience. Lauderale is located at 3305 SE 14th Ave. Club Euro Not interested in making the 30- to 45-minute drive to Miami? Club Euro in Himmarshee Village can help replace the vibes Miami nightlife offers with an energetic dance floor that’s in constant use. While Club Euro’s primary music format is hip-hop, dance, and reggaeton, DJs often mix in Caribbean music, too, creating a club that requires yachties to pull from a deep bag of dance moves. While Club Euro does institute a varying cover charge dependent on the day and a dress code rule — leave the shorts, sandals, and hats on board — the club’s energetic dance floor, plentiful seating options in its smoker’s lounge, and a separate, darker bar in the back make for a lively night out in Fort Lauderdale. Club Euro also hosts special nights every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Ladies get in and drink for free on Thursday, guests enjoy a relaxed environment on Friday, and Saturdays make for the club’s biggest and classiest weekend night. Celebrities and athletes often host events at the venue, with VIP packages offering tables and areas for private parties. Club Euro is located at 120 Nugent Ave. Glitch Bar Located in the Mass District and Flagler Village neighborhood of downtown Fort Lauderdale, Glitch Bar is a retro arcade bar that offers old school and new school games to enjoy while sipping on a stacked menu of domestic, international, and craft beers. Yachties can find classic arcade games like PacMan, Donkey Kong, and Pinball next to indie arcade games like Cosmotrons, DeathBall, and Jubeat. While indie and classic arcade games dominate the venue’s space, there are two Nintendo Switches in the back of the bar where Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart are often played, along with Skee-Ball machines for non-video game players. Glitch Bar offers bar bites and sandwiches alongside beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails options. Glitch Bar is located at 905 NE 5th Ave. Restaurants South Florida’s food is as diverse as its people, and Fort Lauderdale is no different. If the chef is off for the night — or if you are the chef off for the night — the yachting capital of the world is not short of choices to satisfy hungry captains and crew. While there are massive numbers of restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, these four have waterfront views. Coconuts With uninterrupted views of Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway, Coconuts is a staple on the Fort Lauderdale waterfront dining scene. Situated next to the International Swimming Hall of Fame and about a block from the Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Coconuts offers yachties stationed at Bahia Mar a nearby option for great eats. Open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays, Coconuts’ menu boasts a multitude of seafood options, including oysters from G&B Oyster Bar. Coconuts offers brunch on Sundays only, letting yachties refuel after a possible late night out. Coconuts is located at 429 Seabreeze Blvd. YOT Bar & Kitchen Another option on the doorstep for some captains and crew, YOT Bar & Kitchen is located within Lauderdale Marine Center. In fact, many yachties have likely walked through the restaurant and bar just to arrive at their vessel. It not only offers crewmembers a place for brunch, lunch, and dinner, YOT Bar & Kitchen also provides yacht provisioning and event production. With 360-degree waterway views and indoor and outdoor seating, YOT Bar & Kitchen makes a great environment for a meal with crewmates. YOT Bar & Kitchen is located at 2015 SW 20th St. Boatyard One of Fort Lauderdale’s premier waterfront dining destinations, Boatyard offers an upscale yet laid-back atmosphere that embraces the more sophisticated side of yachting. Perfect for a date night that doesn’t stray too far from the water, Boatyard’s menu offers daily catches from local fishermen, shellfish selections, and premium cuts of meat. The restaurant’s 80-seat dockside patio lounge lets guests take in some fresh air along with their meal while enjoying the views of the Intracoastal. Boatyard recently underwent a renovation, reopening in late September. While the restaurant considers beach attire and footwear too casual to dine in, it’s worth dressing up to experience Boatyard. Boatyard is located at 1555 SE 17th St. Olive & Sea Missing the Med? Olive & Sea brings Mediterranean cuisine to Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal in its rooftop waterfront restaurant. Locally sourced seafood specials, spices blended by the spice masters at La Boite in New York City, and a creatively crafted cocktail program are just some of the highlights of Olive & Sea. If your vessel is docked at 17th Street Yacht Basin, check out Olive & Sea on the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina hotel rooftop. Olive & Sea is located at 1881 SE 17th St. Annual Events While the bars, clubs, and restaurants stay open throughout the year, Fort Lauderdale hosts many festivals, concerts, parades, and the world’s largest in-water boat show. Depending when you arrive in the yachting capital of the world, you might have a chance to attend one of these classic Fort Lauderdale events. Tortuga Music Festival Fort Lauderdale Beach Park hosts Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival once a year. Featuring some of the biggest names in country, rock, and roots music, the three-day, multi-stage music festival brings like-minded fans to a concert and beach experience like no other. Next year’s festival, occurring on April 5–7, is headlined by Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, and Hardy. While the festival offers music fans a chance to see their favorite artists, Tortuga also works with Rock the Ocean Foundation to spread public awareness about the issues affecting the world’s oceans and supports scientific research, education, and ocean conservation initiatives. More than $4 million has been awarded to their Conservation Village from festival ticket sales and donations. Las Olas Food and Wine Festival The best of Fort Lauderdale and nationally recognized wineries and restaurants make their way to Las Olas Boulevard to let guests sip and sample their drinks and dishes while they mix and mingle with fellow foodies. Fort Lauderdale’s largest food and wine festival includes a four-block takeover of Las Olas Boulevard, including live music, DJs, dancing, and interactive experiences. Yachties can compare the dishes to their best travel eats, and can feel good while doing so, as all proceeds from the Las Olas Food and Wine Festival benefit the American Lung Association. The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade Spending the holiday season in Fort Lauderdale? The “Best Show on H2O” is the traditional kick-off to the South Florida holiday season, with decorated boats of all sizes becoming a spectacle for more than one million viewers. The 12-mile parade route begins along Fort Lauderdale’s New River, eventually traveling east to the Intracoastal Waterway and finally north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. A not-for-profit organization, Winterfest’s Boat Parade is the largest, one-day, live audience event in Florida. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show With a $1.79 billion economic impact, more than 100,000 attendees, 1,000 exhibiting brands, and more than 1,300 boats on display, The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) is the largest in-water boat show in the world. Owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets, FLIBS is the ultimate boat show experience for captains and crew. From working the show, making new connections, meeting up with old friends, and enjoying the many show perks for captains and crew, FLIBS is a must-attend attraction for all in the yachting industry. The show’s locations span from the Bahia Mar Yachting Center to the Broward County Convention Center and the Superyacht Village. Seminars and parties for captains and crew are often the headliners of yachties’ experience at the show, but The Oasis Lounge creates an exclusive hospitality lounge for boat show captains and crew to sit back and relax. Offering buffet-style meals, drinks, competitions, and networking, The Oasis Lounge’s co-hosts Global Marine Travel and Yacht Chandlers had more than 1,600 captains, crew, sponsors, and industry VIPs attend the lounge. Triton is a proud sponsor of The Oasis Lounge and will be at this year’s show!