3* Coral Reef Guesthouse

Alcazar is part of the large Worthington resort complex just behind Fort Lauderdale Beach, so staying here gives you much more than a standalone guesthouse. Garden walkways connect the different buildings, pools and courtyards, creating a sociable gay-men-only resort where it’s easy to meet people without feeling obliged to join in. Sebastian Street gay beach is only around a five-minute walk away, which is the big attraction of staying on this side of Fort Lauderdale. Wilton Manors and its bars are a rideshare away, so you can have the beach during the day and head to The Drive when you fancy a bigger night out. The resort is clothing optional and adults only, with a broad mix of couples and solo travellers. GayMapper tip: a great beach-side choice if you want the social atmosphere of a proper gay resort rather than a mainstream hotel.

Coral Reef is one of the quieter gay guesthouses in Fort Lauderdale, with just a handful of rooms wrapped around a tropical garden and pool. It sits in a residential pocket near Coral Ridge and Victoria Park, so this is more about relaxing than being in the middle of the party. The beach and Galleria area are close by, while Wilton Manors and its nightlife are an easy rideshare when you want a livelier evening. The small scale makes the atmosphere friendly and personal, and the large hot tub and pool stay central to the experience. GayMapper tip: particularly good for couples or anyone who wants a gay stay without necessarily wanting a party resort.

Fantasy Island Inn is tiny — just a few rooms — but that’s part of the appeal. You’re almost on Wilton Drive, yet once you’re back behind the gates the atmosphere is relaxed, private and tropical. It’s men only and clothing optional, with a heated pool and a friendly bed-and-breakfast feel rather than the busier atmosphere of a large resort. Then when you want dinner, cocktails or a proper night out, Wilton Manors is right outside and there’s no need to worry about transport home. The excellent location also makes it appealing if this is your first Fort Lauderdale trip and you want the gay scene to be ridiculously easy. GayMapper tip: particularly good for couples or solo travellers who want somewhere intimate but still want Wilton Drive almost outside the door.

If you’re coming to Fort Lauderdale primarily for Wilton Manors, the location doesn’t get much easier than this. Inn On The Drive is just off Wilton Drive, so bars, restaurants, cafés and LGBTQ+ businesses are only a few minutes away on foot. Back at the inn, things are considerably more relaxed. It’s adults only and clothing optional, with tropical gardens, several pools and a hot tub, so you can quite happily spend an afternoon doing very little before walking out for dinner and drinks. The small-resort atmosphere also makes this a sociable choice without the scale of some of Fort Lauderdale’s larger gay properties. GayMapper tip: one of the best choices if you want to walk to Wilton Manors nightlife and leave the Uber app alone for a few days.

Casa Hermès puts you right in Wilton Manors but takes a very different approach from the larger clothing-optional resorts. It’s an intimate, design-conscious gay guesthouse with just a few rooms and particularly hands-on hosts. Wilton Drive and its bars, restaurants and cafés are just steps away, so evenings couldn’t be easier. Back at the house there’s a clothing-optional saltwater pool, hot tub and peaceful garden, while the homemade Mediterranean-style breakfast gets plenty of attention from returning guests. The small scale makes it feel more like being welcomed into a very stylish private home than checking into a hotel. GayMapper tip: a great splurge for couples who want Wilton Drive on the doorstep but prefer personal service and a calmer atmosphere at home.

Worthington is one of Fort Lauderdale’s long-standing gay men’s resorts and now forms part of a large interconnected complex with The Grand, Alcazar and Villa Venice. That gives the place a genuinely sociable resort feel, with multiple clothing-optional pools, hot tubs and courtyards shared across the different buildings. It attracts plenty of repeat visitors and a good mix of couples and solo travellers, so meeting people tends to happen naturally around the pools. The Atlantic is only a few hundred feet away and Sebastian Street gay beach is around five minutes on foot. Wilton Manors is a short rideshare when you want the bigger bar scene. GayMapper tip: ideal if your perfect Fort Lauderdale day involves gay beach, pool, drinks and very little logistical planning.