Monday, April 20, 2026

Fort Lauderdale area clubs and bars of the 1980s

 


By Jane Feehan

Clubs, bars and other nightlife venues went up all over Fort Lauderdale and Broward County in the 1980s.  A few places straddled several decades; nightlife expanded exponentially in the 80s with its growing population and elevated interest in South Florida tourism and other business.

Below sits a long, but not inclusive list, of clubs and bars in Fort Lauderdale and  surrounds of the 1980s.

Candy Store, A1A Fort Lauderdale

Club Atlantic at the Ocean Manor on Galt Ocean Drive in Fort Lauderdale (it’s been so many places)

City Limits, South Miami Road, Fort Lauderdale

Coconuts, Seabreeze (still there and good)

Confetti, E. Commercial, Fort Lauderdale

Crockett’s, N. Federal, Pompano

Durty Harry’s, North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Durty Nelly’s, NE 32nd Avenue on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale

Frankie and Johnny on SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale

Flanigan’s Excalibur, East Atlantic


Boulevard, Pompano

Frankie’s on the Intracoastal near the Oakland Park Bridge, Fort Lauderdale

Hemingway’s, Dixie Highway, Hollywood

Houlihan’s Old Place, W. Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

House of Rock, N. Federal Lighthouse Point

Ireland’s Edgewater Lounge on N. Atlantic Avenue

Mai Kai, N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale (still operating, new owners)

Mirage at the Holiday Inn on University in Plantation

Mr. Laff’s, N. Federal Highway in, Fort Lauderdale

One Up Lounge at Yesterday’s, Fort Lauderdale

Park Avenue East, N. Federal Highway, Pompano

Penrod’s Sheraton Yankee Trader Fort Lauderdale

Pickle’s Pub, N.  Federal Highway, Pompano

Pier Sixty-Six, Pier Top Lounge, Fort Lauderdale

Pierce Street Annex, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Play Pen, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Poet’s, Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Port Bar, Sheraton Yankee Clipper, Fort Lauderdale

Rathskeller, Best Western Inn, North Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Riverwatch Lounge, Marriott on 17th Street

Rosebud’s, East Oakland Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Sausalito Restaurant, Federal Highway, Pompano

Sea Garden Beach and Tennis Resort on A1A, Pompano

September on Federal near Oakland Park Boulevard, Pompano

Shaker’s, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Shirttail Charlie’s, SW 3rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale

Shooter’s, 32nd Avenue on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale

Siron’s II, West Sample Road, Pompano

Stained Glass Pub, N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale

Stan’s Lounge, off Commercial at the Intracoastal Fort Lauderdale

Sonny’s Stardust Lounge and Restaurant, Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale

Studebaker’s, W. Oakland Park Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Summers, So. Atlantic, Pompano

Tack Room, Diplomat East in Hollywood

The Button, A1A near Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale

The Best Seller, N. Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point

The Ramada Pastel’s Lounge, State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale

Tags:

 Fort Lauderdale nightspots, Fort Lauderdale in the 1980s, Fort Lauderdale clubs in the 1980s