If there’s one thing Broward County is doing right now, it’s opening restaurants (check out this list of new Fort Lauderdale restaurants to try this January). From Las Olas to Weston, Sawgrass to Hallandale Beach, the dining scene in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area is in the middle of a full-blown glow-up, with Miami heavyweights moving north, splashy new restaurants debuting, and beloved local names getting second acts. What used to feel like a trickle of openings has turned into a steady, buzzy stream, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious years yet for new restaurants across Fort Lauderdale and beyond.
At the center of it all are names diners already know and love, including Coconut Grove hotspot Amal, now poised to bring its see-and-be-seen Lebanese energy to Las Olas, alongside a range of offerings that include French brunch cafés, luxe steakhouses, smash burgers, waterfront dining, and London-born Italian glamour. Whether you’re chasing croissants and pistachio lattes, truffle-heavy pastas, ceviche crowned best in Miami, or martinis after midnight, these upcoming openings signal a bigger shift: Broward is no longer playing catch-up; it’s building its own dining identity, one headline-making restaurant at a time.
Amal Miami is a hotspot in Coconut Grove
Amal, Las Olas Boulevard (Opening Soon)
Miami favorite Amal is officially heading north, with a Fort Lauderdale outpost set to open on Las Olas Boulevard in 2026. The stylish Lebanese restaurant from Ink Entertainment Group, the team behind Byblos, will bring its signature shareable plates, bright herbs, and coastal Mediterranean energy to Broward. Expect the same bohemian, see-and-be-seen vibe that Coconut Grove fell for, now landing squarely in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. 500 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; amalmiami.com.
Café Bastille is opening in Weston on Friday, January 9, 2026
Café Bastille, Weston (Opening Friday, January 9)
French-inspired brunch favorite Café Bastille is officially headed to Weston, opening its first location in the city at Weston Town Center on January 9. Known for its croissants, stuffed Nutella French toast, pistachio pancakes, and ultra-Instagrammable lattes, the all-day café is expanding its Broward footprint after major buzz in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Expect Parisian brunch vibes, great coffee, and a new go-to spot for locals who appreciate their mornings as chic and carb-heavy as they come. 1660 Market St., Weston; cafebastilledowntown.com.
Caviar Club is coming to Downtown Fort Lauderdale in 2026
Falsetto Hospitality photo
Caviar Club, Las Olas Boulevard (Coming Soon)
Las Olas is undergoing a significant transformation with the opening of Caviar Club, a high-end, 1980s-inspired luxury restaurant and steakhouse slated to open in fall 2026. The new concept from Falsetto Hospitality combines maximalist ’80s glamour with the exclusivity of a London or New York members’ club, featuring a late-night, high-energy cocktail lounge designed for after-dark indulgence. File this one under dress-up dinners, martinis that hit, and a very chic reason to stay out past midnight on Las Olas. 833 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; instagram.com/caviarclub.
The interior dining room of Cvi.che 105 in Coral Gables
CVI.CHE 105, Sawgrass Mills (TBD)
Award-winning Nikkei favorite Cvi.Che 105 is expanding again, with a new location set to open soon at Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise. Led by chef-owner Juan Chipoco, the cult-loved concept blends Japanese precision with bold Peruvian flavors in a gold-luxury, ocean-inspired space that’s as immersive as the cuisine. Already crowned Best Ceviche by New Times editors in 2024, this Sawgrass outpost is poised to become a must-visit destination for ceviche lovers and South Florida diners alike. 12801 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise, at Sawgrass Mills; ceviche105.squarespace.com.
Ember & Vine is one of the hottest Coral Springs openings of 2026
Ember & Vine, Coral Springs (Opening Summer 2026)
From the group behind Eddie & Vinny’s and Dear Olivia, the team is bringing a new concept to Coral Springs with Ember & Vine, a Napa Valley-inspired, hearth-driven restaurant rooted in wine country rituals. Slated to take over the former Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar & Tapas space, Ember & Vine leans into fire-kissed cooking, thoughtful pours, and that cozy yet polished neighborhood energy. Expect crackling flames, curated wine lists, and a California-cool sensibility landing squarely in Broward. 5920 Coral Ridge Dr., Coral Springs; emberandvinefl.com.
An Italian restaurant called La Felicità is opening on Las Olas in 2026.
La Felicità, Las Olas Boulevard (Coming Soon)
This new Italian spot is opening up at the former B Square Burger space in Downtown Fort Lauderdale on Las Olas. According to its official Instagram page, expect Italian spaghetti, flavors, and music in Fort Lauderdale very soon. 1021 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; instagram.com/lafelicita.us.
Lola’s on the Water has just opened in Pompano Beach
Lola’s on the Water photos
Lola’s On The Water, Pompano Beach (Now Open)
Pompano Beach’s newest indoor-outdoor waterfront dining destination has just opened at Sands Harbor Resort & Marina. According to Lola’s on the Water, it offers a “relaxed yet sophisticated ambiance, featuring waterfront patio seating, panoramic views of boats passing by, and a menu crafted for both local guests and travelers.” It’s already getting a few great reviews on Google. 125 N. Riverside Dr., Pompano Beach; lolasonthewater.com.
Mangos, Las Olas Boulevard (Opening Summer 2026)
A Las Olas classic is officially getting a second act, with Mangos set to reopen in late summer under the direction of Tim Petrillo of the Restaurant People. The longtime locals’ lounge is expected to keep its laid-back, music-forward spirit while introducing a more health-conscious, Mediterranean-Asian–leaning menu. Nostalgia is baked in, but this reboot is clearly aiming to feel current, not stuck in the past. 9 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
Milieu Cafe is coming to Downtown Hollywood
Milieu Cafe, Downtown Hollywood (Coming Soon)
A new brunch spot that’s decked out in orange and navy blue (a potential UF fan?) is popping up in Downtown Hollywood this year after months of anticipation. There’s no word yet on when it will open, but an opening is expected by Spring 2026. 2044 Harrison St., Hollywood; instagram.com/milieu.cafe.
A watercolor painting of the dining room at Signor Sassi, which is opening in Hallandale Beach this winter.
Fettle Design/Ian Garraway watercolor painting
Signor Sassi, Hallandale Beach (Opening Winter 2026)
The famously glitzy London Italian institution is opening its first U.S. location this winter at Atlantic Village in Hallandale Beach, even if the website insists on calling it “Miami.” While the menu hasn’t been released yet, expectations are sky-high for truffle-heavy dishes, luxurious pastas, ossobuco, and a dining room designed for both viewing and being seen. If it mirrors the 41-year-old flagship, expect celebrity sightings, polished excess, and a tiramisu worth dressing up for. 1006 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hallandale Beach; sancarlo.co.uk.
Smash burger spot Skinny Louie is opening all across South Florida
Skinny Louie, Las Olas Boulevard (Coming Soon)
Fort Lauderdale is officially getting a taste of one of Miami’s most viral burgers, with smash-burger sensation Skinny Louie setting its sights on Las Olas Boulevard. After blowing up in Wynwood and expanding across Miami-Dade, plus snagging Burger Bash bragging rights at South Beach Wine & Food Festival, the cult favorite is riding straight into Broward with fries, shakes, and serious hype. Consider this your warning now: Las Olas traffic is about to get a little beefier. Coming soon to Las Olas Boulevard; skinnylouie.com.
Sweetwaters is one of the most highly anticipated Fort Lauderdale restaurant openings of 2026
ICRAVE & Specialty Restaurants rendering
Sweetwaters, Las Olas Boulevard (Opening Fall 2026)
Sweetwaters is officially on the way, and when it opens in fall 2026, it’s set to become the beating heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale’s newly reimagined Huizenga Park. Developed by Specialty Restaurants Corporation, the powerhouse behind Miami’s iconic Rusty Pelican, the full-service restaurant will bring polished waterfront dining, sweeping New River views, and serious destination energy to the park’s long-awaited return. Consider this one less “coming soon” sign and one very real reason to get excited about Fort Lauderdale’s riverfront glow-up. Somewhere along 32 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.