Beyond the Drive: gay Fort Lauderdale

Wilton Manors is the village; greater Fort Lauderdale is the metropolis around it — the gay beach, the mega-resorts, the museums, and the rooms that don't fit on a small-town strip. Everything below sits within a short ride of the Drive, and everything was verified by us in August 2026. For the town itself, start withour full Wilton Manors directory.

The gay beaches

  • Sebastian Street BeachSebastian St & A1A, Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale's flagship gay beach — the stretch of sand at the foot of Sebastian Street, across from the gay resorts. The daytime half of the corridor's social life; rainbow flags mark the spot.
  • Stonewall BeachSouth of Pompano Beach Pier, Pompano BeachThe community-claimed gay beach just south of the Pompano pier, unofficially dedicated in 2020 in honor of the Stonewall Riots. Quieter than Sebastian — the locals' alternative.
  • Haulover Beach (nude section)10800 Collins Ave, Miami Beach — Towers 15–17The nationally famous clothing-optional beach, with its long-established gay section near lifeguard towers 15–17 (park in Lot 5). A ~40-minute drive south and a full day trip — worth it once.

Resorts & guesthouses

  • The Worthington Resorts539 N Birch Rd, Fort LauderdaleThe largest all-male, clothing-optional gay resort complex in the US — four interconnected buildings (The Worthington, Grand Resort & Spa, Alcazar, Villa Venice) one block from Sebastian Street Beach. If you want the beach-resort version of the gay stay, this is the flagship.
  • Pineapple Point Guest House315 NE 16th Terrace, Fort LauderdaleThe upscale one — an award-winning men's clothing-optional compound in Victoria Park, routinely ranked among North America's top gay resorts. Lush grounds, multiple pools, serious service.
  • Inn Leather610 SE 19th St, Fort LauderdaleServing the leather-Levi community since 1999 — twelve rooms, men-only, clothing-optional, and the natural bed for a Ramrod weekend.
  • The Big Coconut Guesthouse1021 NE 13th Ave, Fort LauderdaleSixteen-plus rooms across two pool areas, run by the team formerly behind the well-known Coconut Cove. Big enough to be social, close to the Drive.
  • Coral Reef Guesthouse2609 NE 13th Ct, Fort LauderdaleGay-owned since 2010: nine rooms around a pool in quiet, residential Coral Ridge — the low-key option between the Drive and the beach.
  • The Agustin Guesthouse1110 NW 7th Ave, Fort LauderdaleSeven pool-view rooms and a hot tub, five minutes by car from the Drive — men-only and clothing-optional.
  • The Peacock Residences1006 NE 12th St, Fort LauderdaleFurnished one- and two-bedroom apartments (2023 renovation) in Lake Ridge, gay- and pet-friendly, clothing-optional — built for longer stays.
  • Blue Lizard Guesthouse & Spa574 NE 33rd St, Oakland ParkMen-only guesthouse and spa on the Oakland Park side, with day passes that make it usable without a booking.
  • Casa Citron1671 NE 32nd St, Oakland ParkGay men's clothing-optional guesthouse ~1.5 miles from the Drive; note it goes seasonal and closes June–September.

Bars & clubs

  • LeBoy1243 NE 11th Ave, Fort LauderdaleHigh-energy gay bar just south of the Wilton Manors line — go-go dancers, nightly drag and strip shows, and a younger, heavily Latin crowd. The corridor’s party annex.
  • Mona's502 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort LauderdaleEclectic, dog-friendly gay dive open since 1997 — cheap drinks, karaoke and trivia, and the patio known as Lisa's Backyard. Zero pretense, maximum regulars.
  • 321 Slammer321 W Sunrise Blvd, Fort LauderdaleMembers-only, male-only cruise club — BYOB, play areas, lockers. Know what it is before you go; that is very much the point.

Culture & institutions

  • World AIDS Museum & Educational Center1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort LauderdaleThe world's only museum dedicated to the history of HIV/AIDS — moving, essential, and deeply tied to this community's story. Open weekdays.
  • Empire Stage1140 N Flagler Dr, Fort LauderdaleIntimate off-Broadway-style house founded by NYC transplants, with an explicit commitment to LGBT-focused work. The black-box companion to Island City Stage.
  • The Parker707 NE 8th St, Fort LauderdaleThe historic Parker Playhouse, now part of the Broward Center family — touring concerts, comedy, and the occasional legend.
  • Broward Center for the Performing Arts201 SW 5th Ave, Fort LauderdaleThe big room downtown: Broadway tours, opera, ballet. When the show is too large for the neighborhood, it lands here.
  • Club Fort Lauderdale110 NW 5th Ave, Fort LauderdaleGay men's bathhouse downtown — 24/7, with pool, steam, gym, and private rooms. ID required.
  • Clubhouse II2650 E Oakland Park Blvd, Fort LauderdaleThe other bathhouse, on Oakland Park Blvd — 24/7, cash-only membership model. Between the two, the tradition is covered around the clock.

Worth the drive: food

  • Peter Pan Diner1216 E Oakland Park Blvd, Oakland ParkThe 24-hour-style diner with a decades-long reputation as the gay late-night pit stop — 1.5 miles from the Drive and worth every one of them at 2am.
  • Bulegreen Cafe Yard3299 N Dixie Hwy, Oakland ParkAll-day brunch café with a Forbes Top-100 mention — the Oakland Park brunch that justifies leaving the Drive.

Already on Homotown

Three corridor institutions technically sit on the Fort Lauderdale side of the line and have full verified listings with us:Ramrod (the leather institution),Boardwalk (the strip club), and theMen Only Clothing Optional Guesthouse. And theStonewall National Museum & Archives — the community's library of record — anchors ourcommunity & culture pages.

Heading back to the village? Check what's open on the Drive right now.