My love of brunch started while living in Fort Lauderdale. I’d spend weekdays researching the best spot for brunch in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding areas from West Palm to Miami and weekends indulging in boozy brunches. While I know brunch is not a new concept, especially now in 2020, I was curious to find out a bit more about its origin.
(If you’re not at all interested in the history of brunch and are just here for the best brunch spots in Fort Lauderdale, keep scrolling 👇 )
What year do you think brunch was “invented”? (No peeping!) Leave your answer in the comments below!
I did a little research and here’s what I found…
Brunch was first pegged in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1895!!!
Take a moment to let that sink in.
It was brought to the US in the 1930s after Prohibition. More and more people started sleeping in (hangover) and relaxing on Sundays, not going to church and meandering into a restaurant establishment around 11 am.
It started to become trendy at the big hotels in Chicago and New York – Waldorf Astoria, The Hemisphere Club, and Fifth Avenue Hotel. It slowly trickled to California in the 1960s and could be found at posh establishments like the Beverly Hills Hotel Polo Lounge.
In the 1980s brunch trickled down to the middle class and could be found at nearly all restaurants coast to coast. Between the ’90s-’00s, it became part of our culture. A place for young adults to day-drink, gather and socialize with friends, beat the hangover with the hair of the dog drinks, or just try the latest trendy brunch spot.
What’s your favorite part about brunching? Honestly – I think all of the above for me. I appreciate the sweet and savory, the bottomless drinks, and the chill vibe of socializing with friends on the weekends.
So, now that you know incredibly way too much about brunch, here are hands-down THE BEST BRUNCH SPOTS IN FORT LAUDERDALE!
Big City Tavern
Brunch starting at 11am
609 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Big City Tavern provides the most affordable brunch in Fort Lauderdale. They offer unlimited Mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Marys, and Aperol Spritz for $15 with the purchase of an entrée. With an expansive brunch menu, entrées range from classic buttermilk pancakes to a more interesting approach with a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich.
Sit outside under the awning for part of the Las Olas action. Rather get a little cozy inside? There are plenty of private booths and dim lighting with the classic 1920s vibe.
🍟 A few of my favorites: Big City hand-cut truffle parmesan fries, challah french toast, and steak n eggs.
Tap 42
Brunch from 11am-3pm Saturdays & Sundays
1411 S Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tap 42 is the hippest gastropub in Fort Lauderdale. Pulling into their private parking lot, you can already feel the energy bursting out; loud music, laughter, and groups of people gathered around hightops or waiting to be seated. Known for their wide selection of alcoholic beverages, it’s no surprise that drinks are flowing with their bottomless selections for brunch; $25 Bottomless Mimosas, Bloody Marys, Funky Buddha Floridan & 42 Hazy Daze.
They offer the perfect bites to beat the hangover blues with burgers, sandwiches, and classic comfort foods like oven-baked mac n cheese and southern fried chicken and waffles.
🧀 A few of my favorites: the hangover sandwich, oven-baked mac n cheese, and old school banana french toast
Shooters Waterfront
Brunch from 10am-4pm Saturday & Sundays
3033 NE 32nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Shooters Waterfront offers a Brunch Buffet for $40 which consists of everything you could dream of for brunch! A waffle, crepe, egg station, carving station with your choice of meats (bacon, sausage, and smoked salmon), assorted fruits and veggies, breakfast danish, muffins, croissants, and bagels. Top it off for an additional $20 of bottomless Mimosas or Bloody Marys!
And because buffets aren’t for everyone, Shooters also has a FULL brunch menu. It includes Benedict’s, omelets, soups, salads, sandwiches, and their notable raw bar. The raw bar includes an assortment of sushi, oysters, shrimp, and mussels.
🦪 A few of my favorites: crab Benedict, fresh oysters, smoked fish dip, and Mahi Mahi Sandwich
Coconuts
Brunch from 10am-1pm on Sundays
429 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Complimentary valet parking
Coconuts exudes Fort Lauderdale living by offering an upscale but relaxed dining experience. It’s one of the best brunch spots in Fort Lauderdale for an outdoor chill brunch.
There is a patio overlooking the dockside patio as well as indoor seating. No matter where you are seated you’ll have the luxury of Intracoastal waterway views.
🥥 A few of my favorites: smoked Salmon Benedict and chicken n’ biscuit
Foxy Brown
Brunch from 9:30am-4pm on Saturdays & Sundays
723 E Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
The Foxy Brown is the epitome of comfort food for brunch in Fort Lauderdale.
There is free parking in the back, so most customers enter through their outdoor patio. Choose to sit outside to enjoy Ft. Lauderdale’s beautiful weather or get friendly inside. With a small indoor area, tables are close and mimosas are flowing, so it can get quite loud. The environment is fun and my favorite spot is sitting at one of the few seats at the bar.
Start at the beginning of the menu with doughnut holes! Pick your poison with one of the many drinks from the breakfast bar. Finish up with a savory and/or sweet breakfast entrée.
🍌 A few of my favorites: banana bread grilled cheese, hangar steak hash, and BLT Mary
Southport Raw Bar
1536 Cordova Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Southport Raw Bar is obviously known for its large assortment of raw seafood as they are the oldest raw bar in Fort Lauderdale. However, they do offer delicious brunch and dockside views! Pull up on your boat or walk in, either way, you’ll be met with stunning views.
🌶️ A few of my favorites: buddy’s Asian Fried Oyster Omelet with Spicy Sriracha Mayo
S3- Sun Surf Sand
Brunch starting at 10am Saturdays & Sundays
Hilton Hotel 505 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
S3 is located at the Hilton Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach with oceanfront views. With a fancy Bottomless Bubbles Bar (which consists of Veuve Clicquot, a selection of Moët, and Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut) it’s a bit more upscale than some of the other relaxed brunches.
🥯 A few of my favorites: lox Benedict, homemade doughnuts, and banana foster french toast
American Social
Brunch from 10:30am-3pm Sundays
721 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
It’s not called American Social for nothing; this is the most social brunch you’ll find in Fort Lauderdale.
Brunch plates are available Saturdays & Sundays but Sundays are when brunch turns a little bit boozier with AmSo’s bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys.
🍩 A few of my favorites: cinnamon French Toast Crunch, Froze, Donut Holes, and AmSo Brunch Burger
Sobe Vegan
Brunch starting at 8am
W Hotel 401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Sobe Vegan provides a healthy option for those brunch-goers in Fort Lauderdale who are looking for something after beach yoga. Located inside the W Hotel with indoor and outdoor seating, they offer healthy great-tasting food that, as the name suggests, is vegan. Check out their other locations in South Beach!
🥑 A few of my favorites: avocado toast, açaí bowl, and tater tots
The Royal Pig Pub (temporarily closed)
Brunch from 11am-3pm Saturdays & Sundays
350 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
The Royal Pig Pub is temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, I’m keeping them on the list for when they safely open again.
The Royal Pig has bottomless mimosas, Bloody Marys, Bellinis, and Blue Point Toasted Lager for $15. The Aperol Spritz is $19 for bottomless and Grey Goose is $27 for bottomless.
🥗 A few of my favorites: salmon sliders, egg white bowl, and power bowl
Happy brunching!
Did I miss one of your favorite brunch spots in Fort Lauderdale? Drop a comment below!
Check out more of my best brunch spots in Bellingham and Shanghai.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support to The JJ Adventures!
