Carr Workplaces
Concierge Guide: Las Olas

Take a stroll down Las Olas Boulevard and one can feel the stress from work and life recede like waves getting sucked back into the Atlantic. To say we are fortunate to have a Carr Workplaces just steps from an array of superb shopping and dining along one of America’s nicest palm tree-lined streets is, of course, an understatement. Whether you have the good fortune to live or be visiting here, we’ve compiled a list of our Las Olas favorites. Enjoy.  

While life in South Florida is often defined by sweaty traffic along 95, Las Olas provides a decent respite from cars, and the best way to experience lengthy stretches of Las Olas is on foot (or gondola, more on that later). An excellent place to start exploring is the charming Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale which has a pedestrian-friendly linear park that hugs the banks of the New River and takes you within arm’s reach of numerous galleries, museums and places to eat. By the way, if your high school Spanish class is a distant (read forgotten) memory, Las Olas means The Waves, and as you move eastward along the boulevard you shall eventually arrive at the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean.  

We’ve mentioned there’s plenty of eating to be found on and near Las Olas so let’s tick off two favorites that are right by our offices: YOLO (you’ll forgive that outdated acronym once you enjoy their food and buzzy vibe) which is among the most beautifully designed and popular spots along the strip. It features a menu with plenty of options for both the health-conscious and those truly embracing the only live once diet — we’ve been recommended their YOLO Burger which has gruyere, cheddar, bacon jam, and caramelized onion.  

Then there’s The Royal Pig and Pub, whose name might throw you, but trust us, the emphasis should be on royal as it offers both classy décor and a sophisticated menu, and a drink list as long as Las Olas Boulevard.    

Florida is often mischaracterized as both devoid of history and culture but we’re here to disprove that. It’s vital that you take a guided visit around the Stranahan House Museum, a 1901 trading post now nestled among high rises along Las Olas. Open 7 days a week from 1pm to 4pm, it provides a charming step back in time to when South Florida was truly a swamp.  

Another cultural must when in town is the jewel of Ft. Lauderdale’s arts district, the NSU Art Museum, just a two-minute drive east from Carr Workplaces. Inside a gorgeous 83,000 square-foot modernist building which calls to mind the Guggenheim in New York or the Hirshhorn in Washington, DC, the NSU boasts a massive collection with over 6,000 works including the nation’s largest collection by American painter William Glackens as well as a significant collection of works by leading Latin American artists. Adjacent to the museum is the 11,000 square-foot Academy of Art + Design.   

So far, we’ve looked at places to feast, imbibe, as well as stimulate your cultural senses, but have yet to discuss where to rest. When you come to Ft. Lauderdale you want to be by the ocean and these two hotels do an excellent job of incorporating the sand and surf into their respective properties. Plunge is a boutique ocean-front hotel that provides considerable pampering while not feeling at all corporate.   

 And in terms of luxury, it’s hard to top the Conrad Fort Lauderdale. 

Before we draw this guide to a close, we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t give a shout out to two Las Olas institutions, the Las Olas Gondola, and The Floridian. The Las Olas Gondola is…just that, a romantic gondola ride through the Las Olas waterways. Intimate and highly unique within the U.S. (or simply outside of Venice, Italy!) the Las Olas Gondola is great for a day or night time drift with a few friends and some bubbly or a truly romantic cuddle with someone special. Think we’re hyping it too much? The Broward New Times ranked it number one on its best places to make-out in all of Broward County. You’re welcome.  

Aside from its many octogenarian residents, there are few things in South Florida that are over 80 years old, but The Floridian Diner is, and once you settle in to the deep leather-padded booths and seemingly endless menu of this 24-hour establishment, you’ll understand the Floridian’s staying power. Yes, you can get your diner favorites like breakfast at any time of the day, as well as items only to be found this close to Caribbean waters like their Conch Chowder. But, really, you’re here for ambiance (and maybe a strong Bloody Mary with breakfast).  

Finally, we know that for so many, South Florida means one thing: golf. And while there are dozens of courses and clubs to pick from, The Club at Emerald Hills, despite being just a mile from the Ft. Lauderdale airport and 20 minutes from our office, makes you feel entirely removed from SoFla’s urban sprawl. Given the highest rating by the USGA for all clubs in South Florida and consistently listed among Gold Digest’s “Best Places to Play,” Emerald Hills boasts undulating greens in case you start to miss the gentle olas a few miles to the east. Open to the public, we hear their daily lunch buffet and Sunday brunch are worth a visit on their own.  

Whether you’re looking for a happening spot for a serviced office or seeking out a Fort Lauderdale virtual office address that evokes culture and class, our Carr Workplaces Las Olas location checks off all of the boxes.