The 13 best seafood restaurants in Fort Lauderdale are Coconuts, Southport, Ocean Prime, Catch & Cut, Boatyard, and 15th Street Fisheries.
Ocean Prime photo
Fort Lauderdale’s nickname, the “Venice of America,” isn’t just about canals and yachts gliding along the Intracoastal. With the Atlantic Ocean at its doorstep and fishing boats bringing in daily catches, the city has quietly become one of South Florida’s best destinations for seafood lovers. From dockside crab houses to breezy beachfront hangouts and polished waterfront dining rooms, Fort Lauderdale offers nearly every style of seafood experience imaginable.
Whether you’re craving buttery stone crab claws, a platter of fresh oysters, or a perfectly grilled catch of the day, these spots deliver the goods. From longtime favorites like Coconuts and Rustic Inn to newer standouts like Catch & Cut and Ocean Prime, these 13 restaurants prove that Fort Lauderdale’s seafood scene is as vibrant as the waterways that define the city.
The popular snow crab clusters from 15th Street Fisheries in Fort Lauderdale
15th Street Fisheries photo
15th Street Fisheries
15th Street Fisheries serves up seafood with an unbeatable view of the Intracoastal Waterway. Here, you can toss crumbs to the resident tarpon lurking below its docks or feast on its famous jumbo stone crabs. Like a few others, this place embodies South Florida dining. Upstairs, you’ll find a more refined atmosphere, whereas the dockside eatery below keeps things casual. Whatever you do, don’t skip the tomato-based Bahamian conch chowder. 1900 SE 15th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-763-2777; 15streetfisheries.com.
Billy’s Stone Crab is one of the best restaurants in Hollywood, Florida
Billy’s Stone Crab photo
Billy’s Stone Crab
Billy’s Stone Crab is a true South Florida institution where fresh seafood and waterfront views come together in classic Florida style. The Hollywood Beach restaurant sources its catch directly from its own Keys fisheries, meaning stone crabs, lobster, and snapper often travel from sea to plate in less than 24 hours. Guests can dine indoors or grab a breezy table overlooking the Intracoastal while digging into towering seafood platters stacked with lobster tails, oysters, and jumbo shrimp. End the meal the only proper way: with a slice of their famous homemade key lime pie and a sunset over the water. 400 N. Ocean Dr, Hollywood; 954-923-2300; crabs.com.
Boatyard is one of the best seafood restaurants in Fort Lauderdale
Boatyard
Boatyard is where chic waterfront dining meets seafood obsession. With its “Eat Local, Be Coastal” motto, this ever-stylish spot serves up fresh-off-the-boat catches in a truly modern waterside setting. Amid seafood spreads aplenty, its Florida Paella is a massive showstopper and is loaded with the freshest of locally caught finds. Try to snag a table on its breezy patio and watch the yachts glide by on the New River. 1555 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-525-7400; boatyard.restaurant.
Calypso is a hidden gem in Pompano Beach for outstanding seafood
Photo by Colleen Broomall
Calypso
Calypso is the kind of laid-back local gem seafood lovers dream about, serving some of the freshest catches around in a vibrant, welcoming setting. Favorites include blackened swordfish, buttery scallops, raw oysters, and whatever just came off the boat that day. With bold Caribbean flavors like curry and roti, plus a few vegetarian options, it’s the type of spot that turns first-time visitors into instant regulars. 460 S. Cypress Rd., Pompano Beach; 954-942-1633; calypsorestaurant.com.
Rolls include the “Hamachi Jalapeño Crudo,” tuna tataki, “Hamachi Truffle Crudo,” and rolls like the “Las Olas Roll,” “Sunset Roll,” “C&C Roll,” “Keto Roll,” “Hamachi Jalapeño Roll,” and more.
Catch & Cut
Las Olas’ newest seafood darling, Catch & Cut, brings an upscale yet approachable vibe to Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene. With seafood concoctions spanning the sushi, raw bar, and fresh-caught spectrums (and then some), this spot gives guests a front-row seat to some of the best seafood out there. Plus, its steak selection is killer, too. Andre Bienvenu, the former executive chef at Miami Beach icon Joe’s Stone Crab, is at its helm, so you know you’re in the best of hands. 1309 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-533-1838; catchandcut.com.
Catfish Dewey’s is one of the best seafood spots in Fort Lauderdale
Catfish Dewey’s
If you love fried catfish, this is your holy grail. A Fort Lauderdale staple since 1984, Catfish Dewey’s is famous for its all-you-can-eat seafood feasts. Think literally endless mounds of fried catfish, jumbo shrimp, and even seasonal stone crab claws on select nights. The vibe? Old-school, unpretentious, and exactly what you want when digging into some seriously good Southern-style seafood. 4003 N. Andrews Ave., Oakland Park; 954-566-5333; catfishdeweys.com.
Coconuts is one of the best seafood restaurants in Fort Lauderdale
Coconuts
Few spots in Fort Lauderdale nail the “vacation state of mind” like good ole Coconuts. Overlooking the Intracoastal near Fort Lauderdale Beach, this approachable spot is known for its killer vistas and must-order “Scoobies” – garlicky, buttery blue crabs you’ll basically want to inhale. Add in an ice-cold beer and a side of lobster mac and cheese, and you’ve got a waterfront feast. 429 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-525-2421; coconutsfortlauderdale.com.
Kelly’s Landing is one of the best seafood restaurants in Fort Lauderdale
Kelly’s Landing
New England transplants, rejoice! Kelly’s Landing has perfected Boston-style seafood in Fort Lauderdale with chowder, lobster rolls, and Ipswich clams so authentic you’d swear you were right on the Cape. Its “Surf and Turf Burgah” (yes, a burger topped with lobster and hollandaise sauce) is a fan favorite, but don’t sleep on its ultra-creamy and clam-loaded clam chowder. 1305 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale; 954-760-7009; kellyslanding.com.
Lucky Fish is one of the best seafood restaurants in Fort Lauderdale
Lucky Fish
If dining with your toes in the sand is your vibe, Lucky Fish is such a special spot. This open-air, beachfront eatery, literally on the sands of Pompano Beach, is all about tropical cocktails, fresh seafood, and good times. From peel-and-eat shrimp to tuna poke nachos, everything here screams coastal cool. And with a second location opening in Dania Beach, there’s even more to love. 222 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach; 954-247-9967; luckyfishbeachbar.com.
Ocean Prime has opened in Fort Lauderdale recently
Ocean Prime Fort Lauderdale
Ocean Prime opened at Las Olas Marina in Fort Lauderdale last year, bringing its upscale surf-and-turf menu to one of the city’s most coveted waterfront locations. The two-story restaurant overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and serves signature dishes like a dramatic smoking shellfish tower, bone-in filet mignon, and Chilean sea bass. With sleek nautical design, wraparound terraces, and views of docked yachts, the polished spot has quickly become a go-to for steak, seafood, and waterfront dining along Las Olas. 171 Las Olas Cir., Fort Lauderdale; 954; 302-3838; ocean-prime.com.
Rustic Inn is one of the best seafood spots in Fort Lauderdale
Rustic Inn
Have you truly experienced Fort Lauderdale seafood until you’ve cracked a few crabs at Rustic Inn? The answer is no. This legendary crab house, nestled just west of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, has been dishing out its famous Garlic Crabs since 1955, and the secret sauce keeps people coming back. Expect a fun, messy, and delicious time-just don’t wear white. 4331 Anglers Ave., Fort Lauderdale; 954-584-1637; rusticinn.com.
Fresh oysters are a must at Southport Raw Bar.
Southport Raw Bar
Southport is proof that sometimes, simple is best. A true locals’ spot for half a century, this no-frills raw bar serves fresh oysters, clams, and peel-and-eat shrimp at unbeatable prices. Plus, they make the best cocktail sauce in the area. And with cold beer, dockside views with a steady flow of boats rolling in, and seafood that’s as fresh as it gets? It’s a winning formula that hasn’t changed in decades. Please never change, Southport. 1536 Cordova Rd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-525-2526; southportrawbar.com.
The chef’s sashimi platter at Takato.
Takato
If you like your seafood with a Japanese-Korean twist, Takato is the place to be. Situated inside Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, this sleek spot serves up everything from seared scallops with a spicy lobster bisque to miso black cod, all in an elegant oceanfront setting. Pair it all with a lychee martini and soak in the beach views for peak South Florida indulgence. 551 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-414-5160; takatorestaurant.com.