It may be set right on busy Federal Highway, but the outside world disappears as soon as you cross the wooden bridge leading into this landmark dining attraction that expertly re-creates a Polynesian village with tiki torches, thatched-roof South Seas accents throughout, and a menu of island specialties prepared in open pit grills, Chinese-style ovens, woks, and bamboo steamers. But the star of the show at Mai-Kai is the Polynesian Islanders Revue, a dazzling spectacle of dance, music, drums, and fire. The Mai-Kai offers private rooms for cocktail parties and other corporate functions. www.maikai.com.
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
Back in 1920 it was the only house around for miles, but today Bonnet House—built by South Florida pioneers Frederic Clay Bartlett and his wife Helen Birch—is a 35-acre oasis of green nestled within the expansive development of Fort Lauderdale Beach. Both the gardens and the house, with its loggias and verandas, are available for private events. www.bonnethouse.org.
Wannado City
Kids can do what they “wanna do” at this indoor theme park that allows them to try out tons of grown-up jobs—including chef, news reporter, firefighter, and paleontologist—but adults get to play, too, after-hours, when the park opens for evening events. With over 140,000 square feet of space, Wannado City can host up to 2,500 for banquets, parties and indoor street fairs. www.wannadocity.com.
Gulfstream Park
The “sport of kings” was joined recently by Vegas-style slots, video poker machines and a 20-table poker room at the newly renovated Gulfstream Park, home of the Florida Derby and other thoroughbred horse racing events. Dating back to 1939, this grand, lushly landscaped facility is also available for group rentals. Venues include a 350,000-square-foot clubhouse, multilevel outdoor terraces and an amphitheater with computerized lighting. www.gulfstreampark.com.
Pier Top Ballroom
Once among the hottest spots in town, the Pier Top Lounge at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort was famed for its spectacular, slowly revolving, 360-degree view of the Fort Lauderdale skyline. Now a private event facility, the Pier Top Ballroom boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, a newly upgraded sound system and refreshed interiors. www.pier66.hyatt.com.
