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Las Olas Revisited: How New Restaurants Are Driving Visitation to Downtown Fort Lauderdale

July 16, 2025


Earlier this year, we shared how a wave of new restaurants was poised to elevate the Las Olas Boulevard experience. Now, as we move through the second half of 2025, it’s clear these additions like Earl’s, Sixty Vines, TIMBR, Catch & Cut, Elba, Howl at the Moon, and more are reshaping Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s most iconic street in real-time.


Interior view of Earls restaurant on Las Olas Boulevard featuring modern decor, warm lighting, and patrons dining in a lively, upscale setting.
Inside Earl’s on Las Olas, sleek interiors and elevated menus reflect the new energy transforming Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene.

New Flavors on Las Olas


Driven by demand for unique dining experiences, both Fort Lauderdale locals and visitors have enthusiastically embraced the Boulevard’s newest establishments. According to Placer.ai, foot traffic on Las Olas jumped 18% this spring compared to the same period last year—proof that these restaurants are more than just new; they’re impactful.


Pedestrians walk past the newly opened Sixty Vines on Las Olas Boulevard, with its signature wine-forward branding and inviting patio atmosphere.
People walk along Las Olas Boulevard past the freshly opened Sixty Vines, adding to the street’s growing lineup of dynamic dining destinations.

That momentum is holding strong into summer, underscoring Fort Lauderdale’s evolution into a true year-round destination. The Boulevard’s recent additions blend nationally recognized names with local, chef-driven concepts, offering everything from elevated rooftop dining and Napa Valley–inspired menus to energetic nightlife with dueling pianos.


Fort Lauderdale’s Restaurant Scene is Setting the Pace


According to OpenTable’s State of the Restaurant Industry dashboard, Fort Lauderdale is outpacing every other major South Florida market in seated diners from online reservations, demonstrating clear demand and visibility for the city’s dining sector.


Diners enjoy lunch at Moxies on Las Olas Boulevard, a stylish and well-established restaurant that continues to anchor the area’s vibrant culinary scene.
Locals and visitors unwind at Moxies on Las Olas, a mainstay in the Boulevard’s evolving mix of upscale dining and lively atmosphere.

Year-over-Year Growth in Restaurant Reservations (April–June):


  • Fort Lauderdale: +17%

  • Miami: +9%

  • Miami Beach: +8%

  • State of Florida average: +8%

  • Boca Raton: +5%


What’s Next for Las Olas and Downtown Dining


Thanks to a healthy mix of longtime favorites and buzzworthy newcomers, Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene is gaining national traction. The city’s recent inclusion in the Michelin Guide, with five restaurants featured, including Heritage and Daniel’s in DowntownFTL, is only adding fuel to the fire.


With foot traffic climbing, reservations surging, and even more openings on the horizon, Las Olas Boulevard is proving itself as not just a dining hotspot but a cornerstone of Fort Lauderdale’s broader cultural and economic growth.

 
 
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