Update: Anti-Gay Governor of Florida quietly removed the LGBTQ+ page from its tourism website as the state seeks to limit LGBTQ+ visibility and remove related material from its schools and government policies.
Key West, Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors are among several Florida cities that have long been top U.S. destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists and continue to thrive.
Just a train-ride (yes, Florida has passenger trains) or 30 minute drive from Miami, you’ll find one of Florida’s top gay destinations. While South Beach is trendy, hip and fashionable there is Fort Lauderdale that we have always loved even more with similar attractions with a more casual feel. They also offer a gay scene with an actual gayborhood that Sobe doesn’t.
Fort Lauderdale has 23 miles of beaches, at least 50 LGBT popular establishments and the highest concentration of LGBT couples in the US, this city has something far different to offer. You not only get beaches in Ft. Lauderdale but you get the gaycation of the Wilton Manors strip with shopping at locally owned stores such as Tropix underwear and amazing food.
General Tips
It should come as no surprise that Fort Lauderdale boasts a lively gay neighborhood given its large population of LGBT residents. Wilton Manors is an area just northwest of downtown and it’s here you’ll find most of the LGBT-specific venues in town.
Fort Lauderdale has also come out in front purposefully welcoming trans travelers, setting them apart from most LGBT-friendly destinations. The local authorities and tourism bureau have worked tirelessly over the past few years to better understand the specific needs of the trans community and ensure that their city has what it takes to provide for the community.
Fort Lauderdale long had a reputation of being a place where only the older generation of LGBT people came to live and visit. While there is still a thriving community of mid-age and retirees, the demographic of its residents and visitors has drastically shifted downward. These days there are plenty of 20 and 30-something year-olds that call Fort Lauderdale home or come to visit each year.
Transportation & Airport Transfer
Fort Lauderdale has its own international airport, just a 15-20-minute drive to most parts of the city. Many hotels also have free shuttle service form the airport, so check before you arrive. If you fly into Miami, you can actually take the Tri-Rail from the airport to Fort Lauderdale. An Uber or Lyft ride from Miami airport to Fort Lauderdale will cost around $25 – $35 and takes 30-60 minutes depending on traffic.
It’s worth noting that Fort Lauderdale isn’t particularly walkable, so you’ll likely need transportation to get around. The city recently installed a bike-share program, which allows visitors to easily rent a bike to get around the city. There are numerous stations located along the beachfront area of the city, and it’s a great alternative to traveling by car. Visitors can skip the rental and between biking around or getting an Uber or Lyft, you can experience all the city has to offer without the burden of a rental and parking.
Fort Lauderdale Gay Hotels & Resorts
You’ll find more gay hotels and resorts in Fort Lauderdale than just about any place on the planet. Second perhaps to Palm Springs on the West Coast, Fort Lauderdale boasts roughly 15 gay-specific guest houses, hotels and resorts. Accommodations are offered for a variety of budgets.
The W Hotel Fort Lauderdale – located right on the beach and offers excellent views from the outdoor terrace overlooking the beachfront. The rooftop pool offers panoramic views of the city as well as intracoastal views of the waterway, while the spa provides massages, manicures, and a number of other services. Las Olas Boulevard’s unique shops and restaurants are 15-minute drive.
Clothing-Optional Hotels
Cheston House – a clothing optional guesthouse set in the Fort Lauderdale Beach district. A balcony or patio are featured in certain rooms. The hotel also offers bike hire.
Alcazar Resort – Rooms have modern furnishings and room-darkening curtains. Some rooms include a fully equipped kitchenette and views of the pool. Alcazar guests can relax on a sun lounger poolside or visit the 12-man hot tub. The resort is a 5-minute walk from high-end shopping, restaurants and lively Sebastian Street.
The Grand Resort – 10 minutes’ walk from Sebastian Street Gay Beach. Relax at the on-site spa, which offers massage services, hair studio, and nail care services. An on-site pool and hot tub are also featured. Wilton Manors is nearby, which offers numerous gay restaurants, attractions and clubs.
There are many sites for apartment rentals including Airbnb and Vrbo. Both companies have inclusive policies and support the LGBT community. Prices are generally comparable to budget hotels, especially if you’re willing to get a room in a shared apartment or home.
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Worthington Guest House – this all-male gay resort is 5 blocks from Fort Lauderdale’s Sebastian Beach. It offers a clothing optional courtyard with two 24-hour pools, a spacious hot tub and a modern gym. A continental breakfast is served daily at the hotel.
Fort Lauderdale Gay Bars
Many have attributed the growth of Fort Lauderdale’s gay community to the decline of Miami Beach’s popularity for LGBT residents. As changes in Miami have occurred over the decades, many residents have moved north to the less pretentious and more affordable neighborhoods of Fort Lauderdale, particularly Wilton Manors. It’s in this neighborhood where you’ll find the majority of the popular nightlife venues.
Matty’s – this is a popular video bar with a variety of special events and drink specials throughout the week. They occasionally host popular gay recording artists and DJ’s.
Lips – looking for a drag show? This is the place to go watch the show, see lip-syncing queens perform and hassle the crowd of locals looking for a fun and interactive night out.
Georgie’s Alibi – daily happy hour on food and drink including 2-for-1 specials with a variety of live performances and events.
Infinity Lounge – a mixed gay and straight crowd in a casual, lounge atmosphere with a wide range of tasty drinks and cocktails.
The Pub –a gay video bar and popular with all types. You’ll find a gay and lesbian mixed crowd and a packed dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights.
Fort Lauderdale Gay Clubs and Parties
The club scene in Fort Lauderdale is nothing like that of the upscale and perhaps pretentious vibe of Miami Beach. Fort Lauderdale is casual and so too are its dancing venues. The Manor is a must-visit place especially if you only choose one club to go. However, you can find dancing at a few other venues including Village Pub, Hunters and even Scandals – if country music is your thing.
The Manor – listed in our top 30 clubs in the world this is the largest and the most popular place to dance the night away on weekend nights. They have a huge main dance room plus a number of other small spaces, seating areas and terraces. Friday nights are Bubble Pop Fridays known for the twinkiest nights then Saturdays bring in the hottest international circuit DJs such as DJ Abel and Ana Paula from Brazil. They also have a VENUE next door (connected) that features EDM Festival chart-toppers. The only after-hours until 5 am that we know of besides Boardwalk on the weekend.
Hunters – a popular bar and club venue with karaoke, cabaret and country western dancing. They also host a packed Sunday tea dance. Two-level nightclub with a stage for dancing and events with a huge patio located on the strip open most nights of the week.
The Eagle – formerly Southern Nights this is the spot to be on Wednesdays for the 2-for-1 drink underwear nights and the jockstrap Mondays. They have a dark room for your most erotic experience.
Ramrod – the best cruise bar in Fort Lauderdale, particularly for guys into leather, uniform and Levi jeans. Every evening it hosts different themed parties such as the Cigar Social on Mondays, Rock Hard Undies on Tuesdays and Leather Night on both Fridays and Sundays. Note the first Monday of each month is Puppy Night – one of the biggest and best pup parties in all of South Florida, and the first Saturday of every month is the famous Pig Dance party.
The Pub – famous for hosting one of the best drag shows in Fort Lauderdale – the aptly named #DrinkNDrag every Saturday evening. Starting from 10pm, some of South Florida’s best drag acts perform back-to-back performances.
The Drynk – intimate lounge bar, more low-key than the other places in the Wilton Drive complex. It’s the sort of place Seby and I like to go for an evening cocktail together. We love the warm and romantic ambience that the dimly lit lights give off, add to that some of the quirky décor, such as the huge bull’s head with earrings!
Scandals – this is the go-to gay country western bar complete with cute cowboys, line dancing and cheap drinks.
321 Slammer – an unapologetically male-only in-your-face playtime club! The name made us giggle, playing on the slang word for prison. Inside it’s more a gay boy’s playground, with dark spaces, slings, private cabins, labyrinths and lots of different sized holes in the wall to search out!
Gay Strip Clubs
Ft. Lauderdale is known for its male stripper clubs where you will find huge muscle-buff men, bears, cubs, trans, and twinks.
LeBoy – The Twink spot to get a lap dance is LeBoy. Located next to the Pride Warehouse it offers DJ’s and an outside patio. You will see top DJ’s from NYC and Orlando frequent this joint even though they do not offer a dance floor for us that love to dance ourselves. Some of the hottest twink porn stars, instagram models, and boys from around the U.S. dance here. Expect some really talented dancers here and drag and even karaoke now and then. UPDATE: It seems they have new management again and they are more trying to bring in porn stars on the buff side then the hot twinks of the past. Sadly, Wilton Manors no longer has a twink dancer bar. The bartender is VERY aggressive and will assume you are buying a drink for someone else when you are not. You have to wonder if the place is on the verge of bankruptcy due to the patio hangover they lost, remodeling expenses, and new management changing over each week. It does seem they may have finally got things together on the management front as of last week.
Johnsons – here you will find buffer guys and it is the most convenient because it is off of the drive on Wilton Manors. They normally charge an admission when LeBoy is free.
Boardwalk – muscle gods dancing until 4 or 5 am. They have the only after-hours that we know of on the weekdays.
Gay Beaches in Fort Lauderdale
Sebastian Street Beach – this is the main and most popular gay beach of Fort Lauderdale. The beach is located off Sebastian street, near the Ritz Carlton. It’s near many of the gay hotels and resorts so attracts a large crowd of LGBT visitors.
Northeast 18th Street Beach – another gay beach smaller than Sebastian Street Beach and more typically visited by locals.
Haulover Nude Beach – this beach is located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami and is one of Florida’s most famous nude beaches. It’s family friendly so you’ll find a mix of people, LGBT and straight. Most go nude but it’s not required.
Gay Events in Fort Lauderdale
Probably the most popular event of the year is the annual Halloween celebration that takes place in Wilton Manors. This outdoor event includes parades, concerts and lots of parties to round up a celebration that draws crowds including local residents, regional dwellers and even travelers coming from afar to partake in the celebration. Pride Fort Lauderdale is another popular event which typically takes place in the Spring.
Stonewall Wilton Manors is one of the events that feature dance parties in the street and a parade. Definitely an event you do not want to miss. Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride happens annually in June. Festival opens 3 PM, Parade 7 PM, event ends 11 PM. Located in Wilton Manors, the heart of gay Ft. Lauderdale.
Sightseeing & Activities in Fort Lauderdale
Buy a day pass – many of the gay-specific hotels and resorts offer day passes to visit their property and use their facilities. Just about every property comes equipped with a private pool (typically clothing optional) and you’ll find a variety of additional facilities like spas, fitness centers, restaurants and more. If sleeping at a gay property isn’t your style but you still want to socialize with the likes of those that do, then this is your ticket to get the best of both worlds. Day passes typically range in price from $10 to $35 per day.
Mansions and Water Taxis – Fort Lauderdale is home to plenty of rich and famous residents, and many of their elegant mansions can be seen from the deck of the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi (watertaxi.com). Spend an afternoon taking a quick ride along the banks of some of the most opulent homes around. After all, Fort Lauderdale is considered one of the yacht capitals of the world and many yacht owners call this city home.
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park – This park located just north of the beachfront area is a great place to escape the city and enjoy the outdoors. The park occupies 180 acres and is a favorite of locals to enjoy the outdoors and a perfect option if you’ve already had enough beach time. Go for a stroll through the preserved wildness or even rent a bike.
Saw Grass Mills Outlet – if you’re a fan of luxury brands, then Fort Lauderdale has what you need. Just outside the city limits about 20 miles away, you’ll find the outlet shopping center. The shopping mall is the largest luxury outlet center in the world, and you can find your favorite brands at reasonable prices, compared to normal stores. The center offers transportation from Fort Lauderdale via shuttle service, which you can catch at various Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotels.
Gay Tours in Fort Lauderdale
Gay Nightlife Tour in Wilton Manors – join this local tour guide who will take you out on a nightlife tour of Wilton Manors, the LGBT+ neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale. Enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing in one of the USA’s most LGBT+ friendly cities.
The World AIDS Museum – located in Wilton Manors, it’s dedicated to telling the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The museum opened in 2013 and is the only museum worldwide dedicated solely to telling its story. It’s funded entirely by donations and does an amazing job at telling the highly emotional history from the beginning until current times. The full tour takes a couple of hours to complete but it’s worth a quick stop if only to visit the highlights and see this remarkable feat in telling the story that has affected so many throughout the past few decades.
Restaurants and Cafes
Rosie’s Bar and Grill is located in the heart of Wilton Manors and is a staple in the LGBT community. It’s a place where people come together for Sunday brunch, evening dinner or weekend cocktails to enjoy a meal or a drink with like-minded residents and visitors looking to experience the best of the gayborhood. Rosie’s is a must-visit establishment with friendly service, good food and delicious cocktails – we promise it doesn’t disappoint!
Hamburger Mary’s – One of the newer spots across the street from their former location (Rosie’s) you will find the LGBT chain that offers drag and bar food.
The Yard – An urban oasis in Wilton Manors amid beautiful Rainbow Eucalyptus trees hosts a variety of cafes and restaurants all with great outdoor seating. Favorites include Voo La Voo, Seed of Life Vegan Restaurant, Chateau D’vine Wine, Beer & Tapas and more. Take in the beauty of The Yard’s murals while enjoying your time shopping, eating and relaxing.
Thai Me Up – One of our favorites when you need a “Hangover Soup” after a long night of drinking on the Wilton Manors Strip. The food is pricey but good.
Burgers and Beers – This place has a basic af sign outside but the hottest habanero inferno burger you’ll ever have. They offer the best burgers and fries on the gay strip.
Galanga Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar – Asian fusion, sushi and Thai restaurant on Wilton Drive. The atmosphere is romantic yet stylish and contemporary. The servers are friendly and often quite good looking.
J Mark’s – Informal restaurant with a diverse menu of American standards, a spacious patio and a buzzy bar.
Peter Pan Diner – family owned since 1979 with a unique menu inspired by the family’s Greek heritage. Chef-prepared specialties are also offered every day and the majority of the desserts and fresh baked goods are made in-house daily. Peter Pan Diner never disappoints.
Milk Money Bar & Kitchen – a local cocktail bar and full-service kitchen serving breakfast, weekend bottomless brunch, lunch and dinner.
Day Trips from Fort Lauderdale
Miami – the unofficial Latin capital of the US. Miami Beach itself is one of a kind – still a top destination famous for its beaches, architecture and the energy that pulses into the night. Downtown Miami is recently up and coming and is also worth visiting, about a 30-minute drive south without traffic. Add an extra 15 minutes if you’re going to Miami Beach. During peak travel times, it can easily take an hour or more. You can take a guided tour or even take the Tri-rail to avoid traffic.
The Everglades – Escape to the wilderness of Florida’s Everglades. Join a small-group tour, which includes an airboat ride through Everglades National Park, a drive through Big Cypress National Preserve, a nature walk through a cypress forest and a scenic boat ride through the 10,000 islands of Everglades National Park in search of a variety of wildlife.
Key West – though it’s a bit far, you can actually do Key West as a day trip. Drive across the famous 7 Mile Bridge straddling the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean on your ride into the Keys, and then explore the island on your own before your return transfer. Travel from Fort Lauderdale to Key West with ease on this full-day tour.
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