3* Worthington Guesthouse

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.

Residence Inn Intracoastal works well if you want more of an apartment feel and don’t mind staying a little north of the busiest stretch of Fort Lauderdale Beach. The suites come with proper kitchens, balconies and even washer-dryers, making this particularly handy for longer trips. You’re beside the Intracoastal Waterway, with beach access and neighbourhood restaurants nearby, while Wilton Manors is also relatively easy to reach by car. It’s less useful if you want to walk to Sebastian Street gay beach or the main nightlife every day, but the quieter location has its advantages. GayMapper tip: a strong longer-stay option if you want space, water views and easy access to both the beach and Wilton Manors by rideshare.

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.

Inn Leather knows exactly who it’s for. This men-only, clothing-optional guesthouse has long been part of Fort Lauderdale’s leather and Levi scene, with a relaxed, sex-positive atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to socialise. The location south of Downtown is especially handy if you’re arriving for a cruise, with Port Everglades close by, while Las Olas, Sebastian Street beach and Wilton Manors are all straightforward rideshares. There are also everyday restaurants and shops within walking distance. Rooms range from studios to larger suites, and yes, the famous sling in every room remains very much part of the setup. GayMapper tip: choose it for the leather-community atmosphere and sociable, adults-only vibe rather than proximity to Wilton Drive.

BeachPlace Towers is a useful option if you want a mainstream beachfront stay but also want Sebastian Street gay beach close by. The location puts you right amongst the restaurants, bars and general holiday bustle of Fort Lauderdale Beach, with the sand directly across the road. One- and two-bedroom villas have proper kitchens, living space and laundry facilities, which can work especially well for friends travelling together or a longer beach stay. Wilton Manors is still a rideshare away, but you’ll have plenty within walking distance on beach days and quieter evenings. GayMapper tip: a practical choice for friends or longer stays when space and a great beach location matter more than having a dedicated gay-resort atmosphere.

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.