The Double Rainbow Guide to Wilton Manors

Wilton Drive 101

Wilton Drive is the town's main street — roughly a mile of bars, restaurants, cafés and shops running through the Island City. It is one of the most walkable, welcoming LGBTQ+ strips in the country: rainbow flags overhead, sidewalk tables, and a crowd that mixes locals and visitors every night of the week.

The Drive is busiest Thursday through Sunday. Dinner runs 6–10pm, bars peak after 10pm, and Sunday belongs to brunch and a classic afternoon tea-dance at Hunters or Scandals. Nearly everything in this guide sits on or within a block of the Drive.

The best restaurants

For a town this small, the eating is exceptional. Rosie's Bar & Grill is the loud, joyful institution — burgers, sandwiches and a garden patio that's always a party. Ethos Greek Bistro does refined Greek plates, Tulio's Tacos & Tequila Bar is the go-to for Mexican and margaritas, and Union is the date-night pick.

Also on our list: Proof for tapas, shareable plates and a standout natural-wine list, Apt 9F for cocktails and elevated American plates, Tropics Grille for the classic supper-club evening, and Inika for vegetarian done properly.

The best gay bars & nightlife

Hunters Nightclub is the anchor — a big dance floor, nightly DJs and the see-and-be-seen video bar. Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar is the sprawling, friendly classic with a legendary happy hour. The Eagle brings the leather crowd, Gym Sports Bar covers game day, and The Pub keeps the karaoke and drag rolling.

For cocktails without the club volume, try Drynk or No Manors — stylish lounges a short stroll apart — and LIT Bar for a late one. Every one of these is on or just off Wilton Drive, and all are a short walk from our suites.

The best brunch

Brunch is a competitive sport in Wilton Manors. The weekend drag brunches are the headline — Rosie's and Georgie's Alibi both pack out for bottomless mimosas and show-stopping queens. Book ahead or arrive early; walk-ins after 11am will wait.

For a slower morning, Stork's Bakery & Café does excellent pastries, quiche and coffee on a sunny corner patio, and Ethos serves a lovely Greek-style weekend brunch.

The best coffee

Stork's Bakery & Café is the morning institution — proper espresso, fresh-baked everything, and a patio full of regulars walking their dogs. It's our first stop most days and an easy stroll from the suites.

For grab-and-go before the beach, the cafés along the Drive open early, and Jazzberry does a great iced coffee alongside its ice cream. Working remotely for the morning? Stork's patio is the unofficial town office.

Grocery stores & essentials

Publix sits right by Wilton Drive — you can walk your groceries home from our suites in minutes. CVS is equally close for pharmacy basics, and Walgreens is just up the road.

For a bigger shop, there's a larger Publix and a Target a short drive north in Oakland Park, and Total Wine on Federal Highway for stocking the fridge properly.

Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library

One of the largest LGBTQ+ archives and libraries in the United States sits right here. The Stonewall National Museum hosts thoughtful rotating exhibitions, talks and film screenings, and its archive holds decades of queer history.

It's free to visit (donations welcome), air-conditioned, and a genuinely moving hour — our favorite rainy-afternoon stop in town.

Wilton Manors Art Walk

Once a month, Wilton Drive turns into an open-air gallery night — local artists, pop-up stalls, live music and shops open late. It's free, friendly and very local: the evening when the whole town seems to be out strolling.

Dates move with the season, so check the calendar before you come — or just ask us, we keep it updated.

Pride in Wilton Manors

Stonewall Pride in June is the big one — the parade and street festival take over the Drive, and the nighttime GLOW Parade is unforgettable. Wicked Manors on Halloween is the year's second giant street party — the costumes alone are worth the trip.

But honestly, Pride is year-round here: flags on every storefront, welcoming crowds, and the friendliest nightlife in Florida.

Parking in Wilton Manors

Good news first: parking at every Double Rainbow Suites home is free and off-street. Around town, street parking on the Drive is metered (the PayByPhone app is easiest), and there are municipal lots on the side streets off NE 26th Street.

On festival weekends — Pride, Halloween, the art walks — the lots fill by mid-morning. Staying within walking distance removes the problem entirely.

Walking distances from our suites

Times below are from 1425 NE 24th St, where our Wilton Manors homes sit. The routes are flat, sidewalk-lined and feel safe day and night — comfortable shoes recommended, heels optional.

• •Wilton Drive (north end) — about 3 minutes on foot
• •Rosie's Bar & Grill — about 5 minutes
• •Stork's Bakery & Café — about 6 minutes
• •Hunters Nightclub — about 6 minutes
• •Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar — about 7 minutes
• •Publix & CVS — about 5 minutes
• •Stonewall National Museum — about 8 minutes

Bike routes

Every stay includes free beach-cruiser bikes, and Wilton Manors is made for them — flat, quiet, palm-shaded streets. The classic ride: east through the residential lanes to Fort Lauderdale Beach, about 2.5 miles of easy cruising.

Shorter loops we love: around the Middle River canals at golden hour, and down to Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve for a shaded waterfront wander. Bike racks sit outside most bars and cafés on the Drive.