If you're looking for a fun afternoon of drinking and live music with a mix of people and a short walk to Fort Lauderdale Beach This is a fun spot The music is very loud but lots of dancing and lots of great people we were so glad that we were able to find this hidden gem of a place It made you feel like you could just forget your worries and the staff made us feel like we have been there for years highly recommended on any vacation trip bring a flip flops and enjoy an afternoon of fun The opening up bars with the views of the beach with live music and lots of drinking involved right at the major intersection and highlight of Fort Lauderdale.

As a Canadian, who is from Calgary, is a Calgary Flames fan, I can see why Matthew Tkachuk left Calgary for Fort Lauderdale and the Elbo Room. We were down and had an amazing time on a Friday night in January 2026, place has an awesome vibe, cold beer.

Great place to enjoy with friends. Music was great and atmosphere was fun. It's right in front of the beach if you want to take a stroll at midnight.

Such a cool vibe at this retro-70s dive bar. Self serve, bartenders are friendly and efficient, and the best prices for drinks we found on the beach. Loved it.

Elbo Room is fantastic spot right on beach. Tons of action, people and music. Easy to see why it’s so popular with the local celebrities and athletes.

Always a fun and lively place. Last there in 1968, probably has changed some since then. Only 20 at the time but served anyway.

Great dive bar on the strip. We spent a windy, rainy Saturday afternoon here. They had a guy playing guitar who was great. The bartenders were really good at there jobs keeping up with a pretty big crowd. And the ocean views from across the street were awesome. Cant wait to go back.

Staff and music are great! Get the real feeling of Fort Lauderdale here. Plus you may even see a Florida Panther

Love my favorite place in Ft Lauderdale

An obvious MUST VISIT while in Fort Lauderdale! One of THE oldest bars in Fort Lauderdale. Just check out all the old photos on the walls inside! From decades ago. Old cars out on the beach. (Back when the crowds of visitors were more respectful of others). There is always live music on the little stage indoors. Varying from an acoustic guitar player/singer. To some classic rock from the 70's and 80's. To current hits. For a little more bass. Head upstairs, where you can FEEL the rhythm of mostly current dance hits. And enjoy the dance floor. Or stand/sit along the outside rails where you can enjoy the tunes, while still conversing. Do NOT skip Elbo Room. You can eat at nearby establishments outside. And please note: It's a cash-only bar. So make sure you bring cash. Or you'll have to pay the high ATM fee after you arrive. Enjoy!😎

What a place to be on fort lauderdale beach side area, its an amazing experience and bar!! All cash bar but we'll worth going when your in the area!

What a great fun place to visit while in the Fort Lauderdale area. Live music outdoor seating rooftop access and beach watching. Super lively place and we stopped in @ 1pm in the afternoon and it was happening! Right across from the beach makes this an easy spot to stop and have a few drinks and enjoy watching the waves or people watching. Both are fun to do especially at Spring Break time! Beers were cold and that is what really matters on a hot day!!

Fun bar and enjoyed my time here , for any British students this feels dirty like Liverpool's the razz but has the flare of the K . Worth a visit for any avid party goer.

Absolutely a classic and always a good time. Cash only, upstairs is more house music

Great local spot and live music to boot Don’t miss it

This place was going wild at 830pm on a Wednesday! I'm talking beautiful women everywhere! I'm takiing chicks tweaking! And not gonna lie, super nice guy bartenders who are extremely attentive! The music UPSTAIRS was bumping! THEY ARE CASH ONLY! So you're warned! Come here if you wanna dance and get lit! Drinks are reasonably priced! I paid $11 for 2 Coronas.🍻

We had such a fun time in here. Great singer and entertainer. We danced and sang along and seriously had a good time. Lovely staff, smiley and friendly. You can take your drinks on to the beach too. Fun place to enjoy yourselves. Totally recommend this place if you are in Fort Lauderdale.

What a FUN popular dive bar to sit at and enjoy drinks. No fancy drinks here; drinks are reasonably priced and served in plastic cups. The barmaid was quick to take our order and to bring our drinks, and would always check up on us. It was crowded and it had a friendly crowd. It was a fun place with an open bar and a great view of the beach if you are lucky enough to sit outside, which we were. This place is cash only and has live music but does not offer food. The afternoon we were here had mostly an older crowd. Great experience! And I would do it again if I am ever in this area.

Must visit if in Ft luderdaleeee however you write it! Best dive bar in florida

Really cool staff! Stopped in for a couple drinks before a Panthers game, had great conversation with the bartenders working! 10/10 will be coming back!

I don’t know that it needs this rating but this place is a legend. Best music, best dive bar (and that’s not an insult) best beach bar. Bernadette is the best.

2 visits. 46 years between. You gotta go

Awesome bar great vibes and excellent entertainment.

+6

What a blast!! The music LIVE was fun engaging, familiar! The service was awesome!! They took orders quickly if they had a lull they cane to tables and cleaned !! Fun time fantastic spot across from beach

+3

Live music, incredible fun atmosphere, big crowd but sheriff's car parked in front. Feel safe and happy. Most popular place on the street.

Probably the one of the most famous bars in fort lauderdale definitely have to check it out.Great local bands.

Both nights we were there they had a band playing rock downstairs and top 40 hits playing upstairs with dancing. We enjoyed the downstairs, especially after some seating opened up. All the staff were very nice. Bar is cash only. Easy to see why this is a local favorite.

This is one of my favorite live webcam channels to watch on YouTube.

If you've never been to the Elbow Room, then you MUST go, and if you're someone like myself born and raised her in Ft. Lauderdale, you'll NEVER stop going!! It's a must!!

+6

Great local spot and across from beach. Live band was awesome good for any time of day or night

A staple if not THE staple of Ft. Lauderdale beach history. It's been around a very long time. Cool and chill place to go and have some drinks and people watch! Oh the things you'll see while hanging out here. It can definitely get rowdy, so sit back and enjoy the show. It has great views from the second floor terrace. It has a nice fun little dance floor. The drinks are well made and the bartenders are on it!

Always a fun time! The name says how popular & crowded it is. Cash only!! But live music every night and fun people to hang out with! Don't worry, there's also outside tables to enjoy the music without being "elbowed"!

A storied dive bar by the beach.

Historic ELBO ROOM with incredible bartenders and live music. Located on the beach on A1A & Los Olas Fort Lauderdale. Cash only.

+6

A great place for live music and good times!

This place is crazy!!! Be prepared for a a lotto body contact and squeezing through people. Go there with a few drinks in you to numb the touchiness

The last of a dying breed this place is incredible a kind of rock cafe cum surface hut combine cause hangout it's incredible and adult place but something for everyone the beers are fantastic and free flowing and the music is just brilliant it's spit abd sawdust but done the right way. Show expect any airs and graces this is simple straightforward drinking and music

Incredible experience, I had never been before, but I had a lot of fun.

Best place to grab a beer on the beach. The vibe is fantastic and the staff is friendly. Right on the ocean so beers with a view is always good! Our spot every time we are in town

I'm going to make a bold statement and say that if you go to the Elbo Room and don't have an amazing time, you just might not really enjoy fun? NO trip to Fort Liquordale is complete without a stop-in for at least a quick one at Elbo Room. The quintessential dive-bar, in the best way possible, it's the only spot where you see college kids, retirees, and everyone in between having the best time ever. Everyone is welcome, everyone is enjoying themselves, no one is taking themselves too seriously. The drinks are cold, the service is quick, the music is pumping - it's not the spot for a quiet one-on-one chat, but this place looks straight out of a party scene in a movie. Remember to bring cash, and don't hold your drinks over the railings!

Finally got to visit after many years reading about and recently watching the live cam from across the pond. Every bit as brilliant as I expected. The vibe was just like the picture painted in your imagination as you grew up in the north of Scotland listening to Steely Dan l. . . . And by you, I mean me. Thank you Ebo Room for making an old Scot happy.

Top place for Live music in Ft. Lauderdale. Small, packed, but his is the real fun. Often really good musicians No cards, just cash

Local dive bar on Fort Lauderdale beach, it’s been here forever. Cash Only bar with an ATM. Sometimes difficult to get drink due to the heavy crowds.Beer is relatively cheap and they always have a band. Two floors with slightly different vibes. It’s definitely worth a stop if you have never been.

Always busy if you like that. There is no elbow room. Jammed packed. Good times, drink prices normal. Bring cash, cash only.

This is the best bar in Fort Lauderdale Beach very cozy very friendly unique place from my eyes and it’s on the corner and there are many food around it. Very good price very fast service

I've made Elbo Room a "must stop" location every time I'm in Ft. Lauderdale (from Michigan). Been going since turning 21, in fact I celebrated my 21st at Elbo Room! I've rung in the new year there, hung out after weddings, I've taken friends and family, even took Uber there once after a flight got cancelled! Always a good time. Bar tenders are great, drinks are very reasonable (especially on the beach), they have great live music, and the second story, beach side balcony is a favorite! This is a small building, for a popular beach side location. On weekends, holidays, and Spring break, it's packed! But that's why they named the place Elbo Room... Cuz there ain't any! 😂🤣 But who cares? Located on one of the more famous intersections in the US, Los Olas and A-1-A, it's perfect spot to start your beach day, retrieve adult beverages during your beach day, and end your beach day! Then there's the night life on Ft. Lauderdale Beach... As long as there isn't a hurricane rolling ashore, the strip is alive with people until the bars close. Elbo Room is nothing fancy. Actually a bit in need of a face lift. And I can't speak on the food. I've never had anything more then apps there and they were just so-so. But I don't go there for food. I go for the atmosphere, the location, the bartenders, reasonably priced drinks, and that view from the second floor!

Very cool place, like music , and the drinks are good and very affordable. Its alweyse full, so thats mean the place is good :D Big shout out for bartenders from the second floor! I love the vivew by the day, its amazing! ps Dont fortget to bring a cash with you beacuse they dont accepct cards, with i pref more. I think you have ATM

What an awesome place! Just a simple, but enjoyable dive bar. I've been here many times over the years, but its been awhile. My wife and I stopped in for awhile tonight - what a great place. Great service, great live music. Love it!

First time visiting after hearing this place is a must . Recommend!

Went to the elbo room on Dec 27th and had such a fun time. Live music and singing and dancing. Historic place the elbo room was featured in "Where the boys are". Happy hour was so much fun. You can't tell from the photos as we were close to the stage but the bar was full and everyone was having a good time.

Always a great time at the Elbo Room. Perfect Local spot for outdoor drinks (to people watch on the street) and live music inside. warning....Cash only, so don't pull out your credit card.

+1

The greatest bar on the Planet Earth!! God bless The Elbo Room. The atmosphere is phenomenal. Be sure to check out my old Mississippi license plate (CAMBINO) on the wall. I think they moved it between the bathrooms. It's all about the nostalgia. There's lots of vintage photos of people at the bar over the years. The staff is really cool and laid back. It's a cash only bar, by the way. There's an upstairs bar, too. I prefer the downstairs bar because of the vibe and it seems to be the most fun. The bands that play daily always kick ass. Don't mess around with the security guys or they'll throw you out in a second. Just a heads up. It is the coolest beach bar ever and I miss it. It's right on the A1A and it's absolutely legendary. I look forward to returning very soon. Be sure to buy a t-shirt and bumper sticker. They have some cool merchandise. Overall, it's a bad ass bar and everyone has an awesome time. Go see it for yourself. Thanks a million to The Elbo Room for always taking care of Captain Cambino. Cheers!!

+6

Cash only bar with local vibes. Met a random dude there who bought us some shots and introduced me to his escort.

Always fun to visit the Elbow Room.. great music all the time. If you never been. Go and have a drink and listen to some amazing music.

I heard about this place when the Florida Panthers brought the Stanley cup there. Visited the bar on our last trip! So much fun ! Simple drinks and great views.

A South Florida institution. Can’t go wrong. I just wished they took credit cards as I would have bought at least 2 drinks if I could. But the Elbo room isn’t going anywhere so they have no incentive and it adds to the charm.

World Famous, Nostalgic, Home watering hole of the 2 time Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers!

+1

My boyfriend was dying to go here so we went and it was a good time! Very loud and busy but that’s the vibe they go for. The live music was fun and our bartender was crazy fast despite it being super busy. Not a lot of seating options because of the crowd but managed to get a spot at the bar! Would go again next time we’re there.

Alejandro Aguilar

Excelente ambiente en las Olas. Fuimos un domingo por la noche y mi esposa y yo la pasamos increíble. Volveremos pronto.

Nelson Álvarez Regueira

10/10 Ambiente 100% Americano. Para quienenes quieran disfrutar de un bar de playa de Good Vibes.

Great place, only accepts cash, place is small and can get very busy. A must to stop to say you enjoyed a cold beverage here.

Great local bar. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is they only take cash. Our waitress was fantastic. Very personable and she directed us to a great place for dinner.

Very interesting place, it crowded and but fun at the same time, usually it’s major Caucasian, and few mix, most of the music is from the 80’s and 90’s fun to be, just beer beer beer 🍻 It’s 18+ to be but not to drink alcohol beverages, you can chill there if you love some classic songs from the last century and early 2000’s The service is good even though it’s really crowded the bartenders are experienced and know how to handle pressure.

+1

We stumbled upon this place after just walking around after lunch. It looked like the perfect place to get a new walking beer. As I was walking up to the bar, someone yelled out “Cash Only”. Evidently, they shockingly do not accept credit cards here. I checked the beers on tap and they had a nice selection. I was happy to see the Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing. This is definitely a dive bar, but I think they wear that badge with pride. It is definitely in a great location . There are 2 levels which are perfect for people watching as they walk on by.

+1

Its a dive bar at its best - a FLL institution and if you don't like it rough round the edges don't come! 1 star taken off cause its STILL cash only come on EB get with the times. You would make more money with cards surely?!

Great atmosphere and a fun night, but watch out... it's cash only (atm available inside for a charge) and the service was really slow

Typical dive bar that has been around since 1938. There is music all day and reasonably priced drinks however no food served. The place gets slammed so get there early.

+3

Great location, live music, loud crowd but don't think the owners have ever reinvested one dime back in to the property which is disappointing. My first visit to the Elbo Room was in 1994.

Definitely very crowded. The night we went there was a really good band playing. They were out of all draft beer. The vodka well was Tito's, so that's was good

A good start for Las Olas always. Parking is real close, $20 for four hours. Wide open. Expensive drinks though for sure. Bartenders can pour a solid drink though!! Live music on a Thursday afternoon while we wait for the booze cruise to take off! This place gets slammed at night and is cash only, be advised to save that big ATM fee!

We didn't eat here, so we can not rank the food, we were there on a cloudy Monday It was a great dive bar with great people watching and a one man live band that was good. Bartenders were fast and polite. Although for the size beer you get it was expensive, 6 dollars for maybe a 10oz pour so that was a total rip off, but you are 8n a tourist spot, so kinda have to deal with it.

Nogmary Cordero

Bello sitio .precios accesibles.ambiente festivo.y muy agradable.baño limpios y bonito.acorde al lugar.musica agradable.

Elidio Marquina

El bar es muy grande y con excelente ubicación y vista al mar. La música Rock y el estilo de madera le dan el aspecto de lugar antiguo. Algo importante es que sólo aceptan efectivo. Es un buen lugar para conocer gente local.

WHAT/WHERE is the menu that is linked to this bar?!?!! I just learned the hard way that they dont serve food. Im dinnerless without the chimichurri steak tacos that I've been thinking about all day

When it’s the self proclaimed “world famous” Elbo Room you’ve got to visit at least once, right. Well once for me is good. Perpetually busy with a mix of the old white crowd, tourists and dive bar devotees, this place is loud noisy and difficult to get the attention of a bartender at the busy bars. People say the drinks are cheap but while $5.50 for a draft beer sounds good it comes in an 8 oz plastic cup meaning (if you do the math) it’s $11 a pint or basically what everyone else is charging. Another one and done place for me.

This is something of an American classic. A long time time ago, before most would remember, Fort Lauderdale was the place to go for students on their spring break. Elbo is an ode to these days and perhaps they should donate it to the Smithsonian. The dive bar aspects remain and its hard to rate a place on their beer alone. Nonetheless, it worth a visit provided you like the dive bar atmosphere as that certainly is offered here.

+6

Ok bar to grab a beer and listen to some rock, country music, located across from fort Lauderdale beach. Nice location an view. Cash only and not food available

+2

Stopped by to have a drink and revisit a place I haven't been to since I graduated in 1981! Hasn't changed... hahaha... Large outdoor seating area ample room inside. Live bands. Bathrooms could use a good scrubbing but it is a bar for the young folk! Brought back some good memories!

After I paid for my drinks the bartender told me she wouldn’t give me my drink until I tipped her😭😭 Afterwards she proceeded to take a shot with one of her coworkers and we had to keep asking in order to get the drink. It was mostly annoying because she was saying this after we already paid for the drink… idk if she was trying to be funny or something but it was really weird. it was super fun besides that and I would still recommend it. Everyone has bad days Also just wanted to add that the bouncers and everyone else working there were very nice especially considering the large crowds

If I can, I give the facility a zero. Discriminative policies, we were going to enjoy ourselves, and then told we could not reenter when entering from the sidewalk. Just stopped against on elbow from reentry

I’ve been coming to the Elbo Room since the 1980s—my first Spring Break—and I’ve never seen the place this bad. The service is absolutely horrendous. Trying to get a drink is like asking a blind and deaf bartender for help. The staff has zero awareness and even less interest in doing their job. The bartenders all have an attitude, especially the one with long brunette hair—she acts like she’s some kind of gift to the world, but she completely ruined our night just by being rude when we simply asked for a drink. She was a total disappointment. The bartenders need serious training—basic customer service is clearly beyond them. And let’s talk about the outdated payment system: this is the only bar in Fort Lauderdale still refusing to accept credit or debit cards. You force your patrons to pay cash, and conveniently, your ATM double charges fees when people withdraw money. It reeks of greed and disrespect toward loyal customers. On top of that, the bathrooms are a cesspool—filthy, smelly, and completely neglected. No air conditioning throughout the entire place just adds to the misery. Between the disgusting restrooms, awful service, rude staff, and backwards payment system, this place has become a shadow of what it once was. Elbo Room used to be a Fort Lauderdale staple. Now, it’s just an embarrassment.

Bouncers were extremely rude and couldn’t tell a real ID from a fake one.

They don’t know how to read ID’s. I’m out of state and came here with friends with specific interests in this bar. The bouncer rudely told us our licenses were fake which they definitely aren’t and told us to go somewhere else. We passed the bar the day before and heard a bouncer yelling at there guys just for looking into the bar checking it out. Honestly they seem very rude and incompetent. Another bouncer started telling us to get better at making fakes which was honestly just diabolical. Wouldn’t recommend to anyone looking for a fun environment but if you like getting treated like the scum on their show go for it.

Unfortunately I have to share my experience to warn other women about drinking at the Elbo Room. I was there with a group of women on Saturday night July 26th and at least 3 of us were drugged with spiked drinks (including myself). One ended up in the hospital after experiencing uncontrollable shaking and shortness of breath. We have (unconfirmed) suspicions of the bartenders. Women were served canned drinks with straws already in them. The one who ended up in the hospital later noticed a second folded up straw inside her can. Myself and another woman were not consuming alcohol (I had 2 drinks earlier in the night at other establishments, the other is sober). The sober woman ordered a juice mixer and thought it was strange when the bartender gave her two. She experienced vertigo-like symptoms while at the bar. I was served water and recall thinking it tasted a little strange when I was finishing the last of it. I was sick the entire night— sparing the details, it was a very outsized reaction for me compared to what I had consumed throughout the evening. I would be happy to speak with management. I have already spoken to authorities. This is just our experience, but ladies please be aware and use extra caution.

There is a blonde woman working there who deliberately dropped my money, and then I had to pay extra. She also had quite an attitude toward me

Security cams understand but Will not come to your bar because your filming and videoing of people without their permission and streaming it!!

Ive never in my life been kicked out/booted from a bar ever. My friend ordered drinks and went to the atm. The steroided up bartender with a bunch of tattoos roid raged becuause my friend didnt have cash on him. He said something to me not realizing he was asking if I had cash i was basically lip reading becuase it was so loud. I pointed to my friend at the atm and he immediately got roid rage and kicked me out because i didnt have instant cash on me to give to him. Never have I ever been kicked out in my life. Man they train their staff shitty. Never reccomending nor giving them business again and highly dont recommend going there. Wildly beat. I attached a picture of him. Prolly going to be a bartender for the rest of his life unfortunately. Never have I even seen service like that also. Straight up shocked

Horrible experience! Beware of bar tenders taking your money and then not providing drinks, arguing… that if you want the drinks or not, waiting for you to put more money down. Walked away losing $20 and no drinks. Terrible experience. Makes you feel like a fool. Never will go back there again with my visitors.

Place is only good for the after 2 am drinks and staff will be incredibly rude and inappropriate. They kicked out 4 people as i was there for legit no reason other than power tripping. Never again would i support this place

A first stop for my daughter and her friends while on Spring Break their Senior year. Very disheartening experience. My daughter was attacked by a dog while in this establishment in Spring 2025. The owners allowed the dog on site though signs are posted not allowing them. As a result of her injuries she required hospitalization and rabies treatments. The owners of the bar have been negligent in taking responsibility for this incident.

Very rude guy on the door. Best avoided. Plenty of better places to grab a drink by the beach.

I went to the restroom right when I arrived because I’d been holding it, and the bald manager immediately questioned whether I was planning to buy a drink. It wasn’t a great first impression and honestly made me feel unwelcome from the start. I fully intended to order otherwise I wouldn’t have gone in. The live music was solid, but being spoken to like that made me feel more like a tourist than a local. I actually live here now and had planned on returning, but after that interaction and the way I was treated, I’m not sure I will.

This review is about an extremely disappointing and unprofessional interaction my family and I experienced at this bar during our annual Thanksgiving trip. I’ve visited this bar many times over the years. My family comes to Fort Lauderdale every Thanksgiving, and it’s always been one of our go-to stops. The music is great, and the beers are always cold — but today, the customer service was horrible. After spending time at the beach, my sister, a family friend, and I used the public restrooms in the park and then stopped by the bar to grab a drink. Because we had just come out of the water, I planned to put on my socks once I reached the bar area so my feet could dry. As I walked in and was in the process of putting them on, a bartender approached me with an unnecessarily rude tone and asked, “What are you doing? You’re not allowed in without shoes,” even though the socks were clearly in my hand. What made the situation even worse was that after the interaction, the bartender continued giving my family dirty looks almost as if he was trying to provoke a reaction or send a message. The hostility was completely unnecessary and unprofessional. As someone who owns multiple consumer and B2B food businesses in Georgia, I understand the importance of attitude, presentation, and customer service. The way we were treated today was disrespectful and far below industry standards. Instead of escalating the situation, I chose to leave immediately. I called an Uber and had my family leave with me. Every customer deserves to be treated with respect regardless of whether they’re a local, a tourist, or a loyal returning guest. You never know who is walking into your establishment, and first impressions matter. I am leaving this review so management is aware of what happened. I’m more than willing to remove it once a conversation has taken place, because I understand how important public perception and Google reviews are for any business.

Terrible experience at the door. A relative of mine was denied entry even after showing two valid IDs, simply because security claimed he “didn’t look like the photo” due to a weight difference. He even showed family photos and social media to confirm his identity, but was still dismissed. Being told you’re not yourself because your body changed is humiliating. Security can do their job without being disrespectful — this place clearly doesn’t know how.

Elieser Mir

Este lugar tiene una política de pedir ldntificacion qué es bastante ridícula . Llegan personas adultas de otros países a disfrutar y les piden el ID y cuando ven que no es de Estados Unidos simplemente no les dejan pasar y te pones a mirar y ves de inmediato como llegan adolescentes muy jóvenes que se vé que no tienen 18 y 21 años menos todavía y enseñan su ID de Estados Unidos y los dejan pasar y uno mirando y luego quise entrar a comprar una cerveza 🍺 yo que soy ciudadano americano y no le dió la gana de dejarme pasar a mi tampoco , un personaje bastante desagradable que según el , Si yo quería que me fuera para otro lugar por que yo tenía mala actitúd. Super desagradable y arrogante y adentro la gente fumando y a saber cuanto mas . Los dueños de negocios deberían de chequear a los personajes que ponen de seguridad a la entrada de sus negocios . Por que se ponen prepotentes y arrogantes . Nada adecuados para muchos negocios .