Things to do

Things to Do in Central Beach, Fort Lauderdale

By Glen Primak, GLEN PRIMAK GROUP · Updated October 24, 2026

Central Beach is the stretch of Fort Lauderdale Beach between Sunrise Boulevard and Bahia Mar, so most of what people come to Fort Lauderdale for is a walk from the front door. Distances vary by building, so check a map for your exact address.

Coming up

• Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: October 28 – November 1, 2026. The show’s venues include the Bahia Mar Yachting Center (801 Seabreeze Blvd), at the south end of the neighborhood. Expect road closures and heavy traffic on A1A and Seabreeze Blvd, plus temporary waterway restrictions announced in Coast Guard notices. Show details →

The beach and the promenade

• Fort Lauderdale Beach: the public beach runs the full length of the neighborhood, with the wave wall and promenade along A1A. Lifeguard towers, beach rules and flag warnings are set by the City; check its beach pages for current lifeguard hours.
• Las Olas Oceanside Park: the public plaza and park at the east end of Las Olas Boulevard, used for events; check the park’s calendar and parking before you go.
• Sea turtle season: turtles nest on this beach. Lighting rules for beachfront buildings apply during nesting season; check Broward County’s sea turtle program for the dates.

Dining & shopping

• Along A1A and Las Olas Blvd: beachfront restaurants, hotel dining and shops line A1A between Sunrise and Las Olas, and around the beach end of Las Olas.
• Las Olas Boulevard (downtown): the main shopping and dining corridor, west across the Las Olas bridge. lasolasboulevard.com

Glen’s local favorites

A few places Glen Primak returns to. These are personal picks, not paid placements; check each restaurant’s site for hours and reservations.

• Takato: a Japanese–Korean restaurant at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, 551 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, inside the neighborhood. takatorestaurant.com
• Chima Steakhouse: a Brazilian steakhouse at 2400 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, just west of the Las Olas bridge. chimasteakhouse.com
• Earls Kitchen + Bar (Las Olas): at 1002 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, on the Las Olas dining corridor. earls.ca

Parks, sports & culture

• Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center and the International Swimming Hall of Fame: on Seabreeze Boulevard, south of Las Olas. Check its current status and public swim hours before you go.
• Hugh Taylor Birch State Park: just north of Sunrise Boulevard (outside this guide’s boundary), at 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd. Hours, fees and closures change, so check floridastateparks.org before you go.
• Bonnet House Museum & Gardens: a historic estate and gardens just north of Sunrise Boulevard (also outside the boundary). bonnethouse.org

On the water

• Bahia Mar and Las Olas Marina: charters, fishing and dive boats leave from the marinas at the south end. See the boating guide →
• Water taxi: Water Taxi runs on the Intracoastal; check its current route map and fares for stops near the beach.

Nearby neighborhood guides

• Seven Isles Guide: the single-family isles across the Intracoastal, north of Las Olas.
• Idlewyld Guide: the 1920s neighborhood across the Intracoastal, south of Las Olas.