The rooftop bars Fort Lauderdale locals actually use split into two camps: downtown towers above Las Olas and Flagler Village with skyline and river views, and beach hotels where the view runs out over the Atlantic or back across the Intracoastal. Fort Lauderdale proper has eight real rooftops worth the elevator ride, and we have added one more in Hollywood for nights when you want live music up top. Hours, happy hours and DJ nights below come from each bar’s own website.
Rooftop @1WLO
On the seventh floor of the One West Las Olas building, right where Las Olas Boulevard meets Andrews Avenue, Rooftop @1WLO is the easiest rooftop to reach from a downtown dinner. Fire pit high tops look out over the New River and the downtown skyline.
Its happy hour is one of the longest in town: Wednesday to Friday from 4pm to 7pm, Saturday from 2pm to 7pm, and all day Sunday from noon to 10pm. The bar is closed Monday and Tuesday and stays open until 2am on Friday and Saturday. (get directions).
Nubé Rooftop
Twenty six floors above the sand at the Hilton resort on Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard, Nubé is the only true rooftop lounge directly on the beach strip, with indoor and outdoor seating facing the ocean. It is 21 and over, and the dress code rules out activewear, beachwear and team jerseys.
Nubé books DJs every night it is open: from 6:30pm Tuesday to Thursday and from 6pm until close Friday to Sunday, with a higher energy DJ set after 9pm on Friday and Saturday. Happy hour runs Tuesday to Friday from 2pm to 6pm at the bar, walk in only. (get directions).
Sparrow
Sparrow sits on the 25th floor of The Dalmar hotel on Federal Highway, with a mid century inspired indoor lounge opening onto an outdoor terrace that looks east to the ocean and west over the city. The cocktail program was built with Proprietors LLC, the group behind Death and Co.
It keeps short hours: Thursday 5pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 5pm to 2am, and Sunday 4pm to 10pm. Happy hour from 5pm to 7pm discounts signature cocktails, wine and draft beer. Guests must be 21 or older (get directions).
Pier Top at Pier 66
The revolving lounge on the 17th floor of the Pier 66 tower first opened in 1965 and reopened after the resort’s long rebuild. It turns a full circle every 66 minutes, so one drink gets you the Intracoastal, Port Everglades, the ocean and the downtown skyline.
Pier Top is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 2am, and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Reservations are strongly recommended and the dress code is enforced (get directions).
Ibis Sky Lounge
The newest high rise option is on the 29th floor of the Omni Fort Lauderdale, next to the convention center on SE 17th Street. The indoor and outdoor lounge has a nearly 360 degree view of the Atlantic, the Intracoastal and the skyline.
Ibis is adults only and open Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm to 11pm. Cocktail attire is required. It pairs well with Pier Top, a few blocks east on 17th Street, for a two stop night (get directions).
Escape Rooftop Bar
On the eighth floor of the Kimpton Shorebreak, a block off the beach on Riomar Street, Escape faces west over the Intracoastal, which makes it one of the few spots on the beach where you actually watch the sun go down rather than come up. The bar runs a daily sunset special from 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes after.
It suits a sunset drink before dinner more than a late night; check the bar’s site for current hours (get directions).
The Easton Rooftop Pool and Lounge
The Easton is the rooftop pool deck and bar at the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Downtown on Federal Highway in Flagler Village, with cabanas, daybeds and city views. It is the daytime rooftop in this list: Saturday pool parties come with poolside DJ sets, Sunday starts with yoga followed by a poolside DJ, and Thursday is Ladies Night.
Hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to midnight, and Sunday 11am to 10pm; it is closed Monday and Tuesday. (get directions).
Pier 6 Rooftop
Up the coast in Pompano Beach, Pier 6 Rooftop tops the Tru by Hilton at the Pompano Beach Pier, looking straight down the pier and out to sea. It is more casual than the Fort Lauderdale hotel lounges.
Thursday is an all day happy hour, and Saturday is Tropic Nights with a live DJ from 7pm. The rooftop opens at 5pm Monday to Thursday, 3pm Friday and Saturday, and noon on Sunday (get directions).
Rooftop Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
If you want a band rather than a DJ, Rooftop Live sits on the top floor of the DAER nightclub complex at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, about 20 minutes southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is open Thursday to Sunday from 8pm to 1am, with local South Florida acts playing every Friday and Saturday. (get directions).
Planning a Rooftop Night in Fort Lauderdale
Most of these rooftops sit inside hotels, so plan on valet or a paid garage; downtown, the city garages around Las Olas and Andrews Avenue are the simplest option for Rooftop @1WLO, and rideshare is easier for Sparrow and The Easton on Federal Highway. On the beach, parking near Nubé and Escape fills up fast on weekends, so a rideshare drop at the hotel entrance saves time. Thursday through Saturday are the busiest nights everywhere, and several bars are closed Monday and Tuesday.
Good pairings: start at The Easton or Rooftop @1WLO for happy hour, then walk or ride up Federal Highway to Sparrow. On the beach, catch the sunset at Escape and finish at Nubé for the DJ. In the 17th Street area, Pier Top and Ibis are a few blocks apart. Bring ID: most hotel lounges are 21 and over.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooftop bars in Fort Lauderdale?
For views and cocktails, Nubé on the beach, Sparrow at The Dalmar and Pier Top at Pier 66 lead the list. For happy hour downtown, Rooftop @1WLO is the easiest pick, and The Easton is the best daytime pool rooftop.
Is there a rooftop bar on Las Olas?
Yes. Rooftop @1WLO is on the seventh floor of One West Las Olas at the west end of the boulevard, with views over the New River.
Which rooftop bars are on Fort Lauderdale Beach?
Nubé is 26 floors up at the Hilton resort facing the ocean, and Escape Rooftop Bar is on the eighth floor of the Kimpton Shorebreak facing west over the Intracoastal for sunset.
Where is the best rooftop happy hour in Fort Lauderdale?
Rooftop @1WLO runs happy hour Wednesday to Friday 4pm to 7pm, Saturday 2pm to 7pm and all day Sunday. Nubé has happy hour Tuesday to Friday 2pm to 6pm at the bar, Sparrow from 5pm to 7pm, and Pier 6 Rooftop in Pompano all day Thursday.
Do any Fort Lauderdale area rooftops have live music or DJs?
Nubé has DJs every open night, The Easton has poolside DJs on Saturday and Sunday, Pier 6 Rooftop has a DJ on Saturday from 7pm, and Rooftop Live at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood has local bands every Friday and Saturday.
Header photo: Tamanoeconomico, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
