Casablanca Cafe

Overview

Casablanca Cafe occupies a historic former residence on Alhambra Street, directly across A1A from Fort Lauderdale Beach, where the ocean view alone justifies pulling up a chair on the outdoor patio. The Mediterranean-American menu runs from an 11 AM open through dinner, covering ground from spiced-batter pancakes and avocado toast to braised short ribs and fresh grouper. The indoor space holds a full bar where cocktails and mimosas – available with several juice options – flow steadily, and live piano music fills the room on select evenings. The crowd skews toward visitors staying at nearby beachfront hotels and locals who keep coming back; repeat visits within the same trip are a running theme in guest feedback. Service is a genuine standout. Servers like Patrick and Ryan earn name-drops for being attentive without hovering, and manager Derek Fogelstrom has built a reputation for old-school hospitality, the kind where a minor hiccup gets resolved with a personal visit to your table and a round on the house. The kitchen holds up under that return-visit test too – guests note consistency across breakfast, lunch, and dinner on consecutive days. For groups or private events, Casablanca can arrange dedicated room setups for celebrations. A few things to know before you go: the restaurant does not accept reservations, so arriving at open avoids a wait. Prime dinner hours bring higher noise levels and steeper competition for patio seats with the best sightlines. Pricing is moderate for a beachfront spot, though some seafood dishes lean premium. The vibe is relaxed, LGBTQ-welcoming, and built for lingering over drinks with the Atlantic as your backdrop.

Good to know

• Rating: 4.5/5 (via Google)
• Best for: ocean-view drinks, date night dinner, beachfront brunch, group celebrations, repeat-visit dining, live piano evenings
• Features: Happy Hour, Beach, LGBTQ+

Hours