Best for: Solo travelers; cruise goers to and from Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades; beach loversLocation: Framed by the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean, Perroquet Hotel sits along residential Harbor Drive, one block from the oceanCan’t-miss feature: The outdoor pool area that’s cocooned by leafy foliage like elephant ears, ylang-ylang and palm treesIn a nutshell: A three-story, U-shaped coastal motel that dates back to the 1950s finds a sophisticated second act as Perroquet, refitted by Belgian architect Bernard Dubois with a romantic European lens. The result feels more like a well-kept secret than a hotel: design-forward, quietly residential, and pared down to the essential (albeit luxurious ones), with the languid spirit of old Florida still intact.
Rooms
One of the hotel’s light and airy guest spaces
Nila Do Simon
Guests have the option of nine room categories, each outfitted with custom furnishings by Bernard Dubois, an architect and designer known for his work in luxury retail, like Bloomingdale’s flagship 59th Street boutique in New York City and the Mugler showroom in Paris. I stayed in a medium double bed guest room, which overlooked the well-shaded central courtyard and pool. Dubois marries midcentury Florida design with modern aesthetics, mixing lacquered wood and leather with glossy chrome that has long been associated with Miami Art Deco. High-end amenities include Sferra linens milled from Italy and Byredo toiletries, and a curated selection of original works assembled by the likes of Jeff Koons, Jean Cocteau, and Lucio Fontana that give weight to an otherwise simple space. There’s a kitchenette with a microwave and mini fridge, which comes in handy as there is no on-site restaurant.
Food and drink
There’s no restaurant or bar here, but each morning brings a simple breakfast spread of fresh pastries from Archibald’s Village Bakery and coffee from Wells Coffee Company, two beloved local independents. Perroquet can also stock guest room mini fridges with its signature Rhubarb Whitney, a refreshing mix of vodka, rhubarb and agave nectar, along with instructions for putting the finishing touches on the cocktail.
The pool courtyard
Nila Do Simon
A shaded, leafy corner
Nila Do Simon
Amenities and experiences
The main draw of this side of town sits just steps from Perroquet’s front doors: the beach. Fort Lauderlale’s popular south side beach area, where volleyball nets, grills and the annual Tortuga Music Festival usher in a steady mix of locals and visitors. Perroquet offers complimentary chairs that guests can grab from the lobby on their way out to the beach. If you’re like me and the beach and sand aren’t your preference, the hotel’s pool offers a quiet, well-shielded respite from the bustle of Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront.
What to do nearby
Aside from the nearby ocean, you’ll find yourself fully immersed in Fort Lauderdale’s thriving day-to-night scene. A 10-minute walk north on A1A is Marina Village, an outdoor food hall anchored by The Shorely bar and overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. For those with a hankering for fine dining, head a few blocks north to MAASS and splurge on an intimate meal at its 14-seat Chef’s Counter. Art and history lovers will have plenty to explore, from the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, with its exhibits on contemporary and Latin American art, to Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, a historic 35-acre estate filled with Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works.
The backstory
Hotelier and Fort Lauderdale resident Matthew Lane was driving through the city when an aging, beach-adjacent motel caught his eye: faded aqua-blue exteriors, a glowing neon “No Vacancy” sign, and the distinct bones of another era. He saw potential and tapped Belgium-based architect Bernard Dubois, who approached the property through a romantic European lens, to reimagine Perroquet as a nostalgic ode to midcentury American motel life filtered through the cinematic gaze of an outsider. Landscape architect Nathan Browning completed the picture, enveloping the property in a canopy of palms and shaping its garden and pool into a lush, secluded retreat.
Insider tip
Be sure to grab a seat by the pool or in one of the outdoor sitting areas in the late afternoon to hear parrots whistling and squawking. Fort Lauderdale has been home to wild flocks of parrots since the 1960s, and toward the day’s end, you can hear a group of them settling in near Perroquet. Makes sense because, after all, “perroquet” is French for parrot.
Final considerations:
Family friendly: YesAccessibility: There is an elevator and one ADA-compliant room on the first floor. The pool also has a chairlift. (More information available here.)Wellness: Nothing on-site, but Perroquet partners with nearby fitness studio ProPilates to offer guests complimentary passes