Downtown

The Riverfront area is adjacent to downtown Fort Lauderdale. It is a popular collection of restaurants, bars and shops, some of which are located across the river and connected by a water taxi that also links the Riverfront with nearby hotels and restaurants . In my opinion, Riverfront has an active nightlife scene.

As far as restaurants go, there is a Dan Marino's Town Tavern, which serves more casual food and is a popular place for watching sports on television, the Ugly Tuna Saloon, an outdoor bar and grill, Max's Grill, which is a tad more upscale and Mezzanotte, a decent Italian restaurant which is probably the most upscale place you'll find on the Riverfront. The Martini Bar is popular in the evenings, for its great drinks and live music. Baja's Beach Club has more of a younger crowd, with cheap drinks and loud music.

Another popular activity at the Riverfront is the boat excursions which tour the New River. These short cruises take you past homes located on the waterfront. Riverfront also hosts numerous events, including fireworks on Fourth of July and New Years Eve. The are several large parking garages in the area, so finding a spot is relatively easy if you arrive early.

Most Riverfront places close early, but the Martini Bar and Baja's stay open until about 3 a.m. on the weekends.