Galt Oceanmarketing

north of the line Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is the town just north of the mile, and people on the mile call it LBTS. It has its own beach, its own reef, and its own nights out on Commercial Boulevard.

A colorful wayfinding sign pointing to shore diving, parking and the visitors center, under palm fronds.
A sign on North Ocean Drive in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, 2023. Photo: Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The town on the north end

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is a separate town on the same barrier island, between the Intracoastal and the Atlantic, and it starts right where the Galt Ocean Mile ends. Its main drag is Commercial Boulevard, where the restaurants are, and on the ocean side you have the beach and El Mar Drive.

A street corner in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea with low buildings, palms and a crosswalk.
North Ocean Drive at Flamingo Avenue in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, January 2023. Photo: Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Vintage color photo of a low shopping center with palm trees and 1950s cars near the beach.
A shopping center near the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, around 1960. Photo: Ethan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Beach, reef, and a closed pier

The beach runs about 2.5 miles, and a living coral reef sits within about 100 yards of the sand. There are three reef lines, with snorkel trails in about 10 feet of water. One trail is named for Anglin's Pier, but with the pier closed, you swim out to it rather than walk. Divers usually go in at the Datura Avenue beach portal, which the town marks with a wooden dive bench. There's also the Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, a shallow artificial reef dedicated in 2002, and the town publishes a map of it.

Beachgoers on the sand at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, with condominium towers along the shore in the distance.
The beach at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, a short walk north of the mile. Photo: Rob Olivera, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Anglin's Pier, at 2 Commercial Boulevard, has been closed to the public since Hurricane Nicole in November 2022, and the town has no reopening date, so don't walk out on it. The restaurant at its foot, Anglin's Beach Café, is open. There's more on what happened to Anglin's Pier and where a rebuild stands. If you want a pier you can actually walk out on, there's an open one north of here; it's on the beach strip, along with the boats at Hillsboro Inlet.

El Prado Park, in the 4500 block of El Mar Drive, is the oceanfront park, with shade, benches, a shower, and chairs. From winter into spring the town runs a Sunday farmers market there. The 2026–2027 season runs Sundays from 6 December 2026 through 2 May 2027, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but check the town calendar before you go.

Friedt Family Park, on Bougainvilla Drive behind town hall, is the one with the playground, plus bocce, shuffleboard, tennis, and basketball.

A few town rules to know: no spearfishing from the public beaches, and no surface diving, surf casting, or scuba within 300 feet of the pier.

Nights out

Aruba Beach Cafe is right on the beach at 1 Commercial Boulevard, and there's live music seven days a week. You can reach them at (954) 776-0001 or arubabeachcafe.com. They're open Monday and Tuesday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., with Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to noon.

Bands play Monday through Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Dancing by the sea runs Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Happy hour is Monday through Friday, 4 to 7, at the bars, with half off select drinks and appetizers from $4.95. Each weeknight has its own drink, too: Martini Monday ($6 well martinis all day), Tequila Tuesday ($5 well margaritas on the rocks), Wacky Wednesday ($5 Aruba rum punch), and Mojito Thursday ($7 mojitos all day). For the week of 10–16 October 2026 they also posted a Friday deal of half off drinks and small plates from 4 to 7 p.m., $5 house margaritas with Cabo fish tacos, and bottomless mimosas, but those were that week's specials, not a permanent menu. They post what's on at @arubabeachcafelbts on Instagram and @arubabeachcafe on X, and since hours can change, it's worth checking their site before you go.

The lit Aruba Beach Cafe sign and thatched roof at night, at the end of Commercial Boulevard.
Aruba Beach Cafe at night, 1 Commercial Boulevard. Photo: Rob Olivera, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Blue Moon Fish Company is on the Intracoastal side, at 4405 West Tradewinds Avenue by Commercial Boulevard, not on the sand. Dinner is Monday through Saturday 5 to 10 and Sunday 6 to 10, with lunch on Saturday from 11:30 to 3, brunch on Sunday from 11 to 3, and happy hour Monday through Saturday from 4 to 7. They ask for elegant dress, which means no beachwear, hats, flip-flops, or athletic wear, so if you've walked over from the beach, change first. They also ask you to book. There's valet, and metered city parking across the street.

A night out up here usually means Commercial Boulevard, or heading back down to the mile. For what's on this week, see this weekend; for March, see spring break on the mile; and for dinner on Galt Ocean Drive, see where to eat. The town's restaurants, dive shops, and hotels are all in the directory.

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