Situated on the beachfront, Fort Lauderdale, Florida boasts a wide variety of family-friendly restaurants that focus on fresh catches from the sea. Additionally, choose from burger joints, pizza parlors, and laid-back cultural eateries that welcome the entire family. Book a stay at one of many Fort Lauderdale vacation rentals today. Try the regional cuisines, enjoy fresh seafood, and take some time to relax with your family at these kid-friendly Fort Lauderdale restaurants.
1. Coconuts
Relax by the city marina and enjoy finger food fit for small hands and fresh catches from the sea at Coconuts. For the older children and adults, this restaurant features snow crab legs and roasted garlic butter that make you glad you chose to vacation on the beach. Few things are more relaxing than watching the boats go by while watching your children eat happily with their hands.
2. McCoy’s Oceanfront
McCoy’s offers a fine dining experience but with a speak-easy theme and laid-back atmosphere that makes it a great choice for vacationing families. Enjoy introducing your child to the delectable flavors of fresh seafood and locally-sourced produce, all while sitting just a few steps away from the sand.
3. Aruba Beach Cafe
When you want to kick back and enjoy a Caribbean-style experience, head over to the Aruba Beach Cafe. The menu at this casual restaurant has foods like fish sandwiches, french fries, and fried shrimp that are easy for kids to handle, and the dessert menu focuses on flavors inspired by the beachside setting. Gathering the family at the Aruba Beach Cafe is like visiting your own tropical island.
4. The Mason Jar Cafe
When you’re traveling with children, it’s hard to pass up a place that offers things like pigs in a blanket and several pasta dishes to dig into. This restaurant has a homey feel reminiscent of stopping at a friends house for dinner, and sometimes that’s exactly what travel-weary families need to rejuvenate for the rest of the trip.
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5. Mojo
If you’re looking for Italian favorites that the whole family can enjoy, stop by Mojo for a variety of appetizers, pizza, or chicken parmesan. This restaurant is a great choice when your family has varied tastes, as their menu also includes American homestyle dishes such as meatloaf. The family-friendly, casual atmosphere at Mojo is the perfect end to a long day of sightseeing.
6. Riverside Market
Head to Riverside Market with the family to enjoy good food in a casual atmosphere that encourages perfect strangers to get to know each other. The restaurant has toys for the kids to keep them occupied while the food is cooking, and couches and arm chairs to help the adults relax.
7. The Foxy Brown
With dishes like donuts holes, cereal milk, and s’mores waffles, it’s hard to imagine kids being unhappy with a meal at the Foxy Brown. The casual atmosphere of the restaurant matches the menu, and there is outdoor seating so you can enjoy the fantastic Fort Lauderdale weather while taking a food break with the family.
8. Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill
Please the entire family with the incredible array of toppings available for burgers at Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill. To make things even better for people traveling with children, the huge choice of desserts includes cookies so good that your family might demand you bake for them when you get home. For smaller children, this eatery offers macaroni and cheese and finger foods.
9. Red Cow Restaurant
When kids get cranky during travel, sometimes all you have to do to perk them up is tell them you’re headed to a place with a name like the Red Cow Restaurant. This restaurant makes their own BBQ sauces, so it’s easy to find spice levels that meet everyone’s tastes. They also have deviled eggs that remind you of backyard parties, and a large menu with a variety of dishes to enjoy your meal family-style.
10. Juana La Cubana Cafe
Introduce your kids to new flavors in an atmosphere that makes you feel like the owners personally invited your family over for dinner. If you’ve never had a Cuban sandwich, you’re in for a treat, as it’s the house favorite. Other Cuban dishes for your family to try include tostones and croquetas, and you can eat them on the outside patio or inside the cozy interior of the restaurant.
11. Shuck ‘N Dive
Head to Shuck ‘N Dive to enjoy southern delicacies such as fried pickles, chicken, and crawfish etouffee. The outside area at this restaurant is both kid and dog-friendly, making a fun atmosphere that helps melt away the stress of a long day in the sun. The indoor space is cozy, encouraging your children to get to know the other kids and providing an opportunity for parents to share Fort Lauderdale travel tips.
12. Jet Runway Cafe
While it may seem strange at first to eat a family meal at an executive airport, this Fort Lauderdale gem offers views of planes and helicopters on the runway that leaves kids in awe. Visit the Jet Runway Cafe for breakfast or lunch, and enjoy French toast, pancakes or a wide selection of sandwiches. It’s a great way to kick off a day of exploring all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer.
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