Hot stuffed: Fort Lauderdales best new restaurants of 2026

Fort Lauderdale is in the midst of a $12 billion waterfront overhaul that will add 7,000 feet of dockage for megayachts.At the same time, this splashy city is also upgrading its dining offerings with fresh restaurants to compete with the finest chefs on the sea.Drop anchor and dive in before the crowds sail in.Mediterranean and Asian cuisines merge at Naia on Las Olas, where an open kitchen is surrounded by limestone and wood.

The menu leans heavily into coastal dishes, with an emphasis on healthy offerings.Live-fire robata is a draw, and some of the sushi is sourced from Tokyo.The Levantine trend shows no sign of slowing down, and Amal, an outpost of the Toronto flagship with a popular Miami location, has also opened on Las Olas.

With a lounge-style dining room and expansive terrace, it brings a Lebanese menu to the area.Vibrant mezze like mushroom hummus and fire-roasted red peppers with pomegranate molasses kick off meals that also include skewers of beef, chicken and tiger shrimp, as well as lamb shank, branzino or king salmon.

There is also a robust list of Lebanese wines.Santorini by Georgios is a new celebration of the Greek islands, with many plates made for sharing.You can find all the Hellenic favorites, including tzatziki, spanakopita, flaming saganaki, grilled octopus, moussaka and grilled branzino, as well as less familiar dishes such as astakomakaronada, made with pasta, lobster and shrimp.Huizenga Park has also undergone a massive renovation, and it just debuted a waterfront seafood restaurant — always a favorite in Florida.Sweetwaters opened in October from the team behind Miami’s Rusty Pelican, with nearly 300 indoor and outdoor seats overlooking the New River.

Get there early, and you can attend a yoga class, visit the dog run or enjoy a music event.James Beard Award-winning chef Allen Susser is the culinary director of Sunness Supper Club, which is launching a five-part dinner series on Nov.19.

Among the celebratory meals are a Great Truf...