Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront setting shapes its family dining scene — docks, canals, even a runway view make several of the best kid-friendly spots here about more than just the food.

15th Street Fisheries: Dinner With the Fish

This waterfront seafood spot has a genuine kid-magnet feature — giant tarpon gather at the dock, and kids can feed them right from the table area before or after the meal. It’s a built-in activity that makes the wait for food part of the fun rather than a source of restlessness.

Jet Runway Cafe: Breakfast With a View

Set at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, this breakfast-and-lunch spot lets kids watch small planes take off and land while eating pancakes, omelets, or a burger — a genuinely different setting for a family breakfast, and a hit with kids who are into planes.

Waterfront Casual: Coconuts and Shooters

Coconuts sits directly on the Intracoastal with outdoor seating and a menu of fresh seafood, burgers, and kid-approved classics. Shooters Waterfront takes it further with dockside, boat-accessible seating, its own kids’ menu, and a weekend brunch that draws a steady crowd — worth an earlier arrival if brunch is the plan.

Getting There by Water Taxi

Several of these waterfront restaurants, including Shooters Waterfront, can be reached directly by Fort Lauderdale’s Water Taxi — a way to turn the trip to dinner into part of the day’s activity rather than just a car ride.

Timing and Reservations

Waterfront restaurants with dock or boat access tend to fill up fastest around sunset, so an earlier reservation generally means both a shorter wait and better light for the view.

Handling Food Allergies

Most of the restaurants above are used to allergy requests, especially the more casual, kids’-menu spots — it’s still worth calling ahead for a busy weekend brunch at Shooters Waterfront.

Tipping Norms

A tip of roughly 18-20 percent is standard at Fort Lauderdale sit-down restaurants, and large parties may see gratuity added automatically to the bill.

Grocery Options for Condo Stays

Families staying in a condo or vacation rental rather than a hotel will find grocery stores throughout greater Fort Lauderdale well stocked for breakfast and snack basics.

Timing Meals Around Activities

Booking dinner at a waterfront spot like Coconuts or Shooters Waterfront around sunset means both good light and a livelier atmosphere, though it also tends to be the busiest window — an earlier reservation avoids the wait.

A Note on Portion Sizes

Many seafood-forward portions at these restaurants run generously sized, and splitting a dish between two younger kids is common practice and rarely questioned if you ask.

Water Safety at Mealtime

Tap water throughout greater Fort Lauderdale is safe to drink, and restaurants default to filtered or bottled water on request — no special precaution is needed here.

Reservations vs. Walk-In

Most of the spots above are casual and take walk-ins, though the most popular waterfront tables, especially around sunset, are worth reserving ahead during peak season.

Handling a Picky Eater

Casual, kids-menu-forward spots like Coconuts and Shooters Waterfront are generally used to simple requests — plain pasta, a burger without toppings — even when not explicitly listed on the menu.

A Quick Breakfast Alternative

Jet Runway Cafe works well as a change of pace from a standard hotel breakfast, especially for kids who are into planes or just want a different view to start the day.

A Note on Sharing

Portions at several of these restaurants run large enough that splitting an entree between two younger kids is common practice and rarely questioned if you ask.

Trying Flamingo Gardens as a Different Kind of Outing

For a change of pace from waterfront dining, Flamingo Gardens in nearby Davie combines a wildlife sanctuary with a cafe option, worth pairing with a visit to the gardens themselves.

Tipping Etiquette

A tip of roughly 18-20 percent is standard, and it is worth checking the bill before adding a second tip on top at restaurants that automatically include gratuity for larger groups.

Casual Alternatives Downtown

For a break from waterfront dining, downtown Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas Boulevard both offer plenty of casual, walk-in restaurant options within an easy walk of each other.

Quick Answers

What’s a unique kid-friendly restaurant in Fort Lauderdale?
15th Street Fisheries, where kids can feed giant tarpon fish right from the dock.

Is there a restaurant where kids can watch planes in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — Jet Runway Cafe, set at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.

Can I reach restaurants by Water Taxi in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes — several waterfront spots, including Shooters Waterfront, are directly accessible by Water Taxi.