This is a 5-star dive bar that's maybe too noisy after a bit. We come here before theater or Imax to grab a bite and get a beer. It doesn't break the bank and the bartenders are always friendly. Try the grilled cheese and tots. We put brisket or bacon on it. They have a nice selection of beer and some fun skateboards to look at. read more

As Dive bars go, this place checks all the boxes! Dark and dank atmosphere, sticky floor, hard metal barstools, one lone video golf game that no one plays, bumper stickers on random hard surfaces, ice cold beer on tap, and a surly bartender who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else but somehow manages to see when you need a new beer. I loved it everything about this place. Although known for their cheesesteaks, I couldn't pass up the grilled PB & J. It came with sweet potato waffle fries and was as good as I hoped for. Plus... the sign says "Live Music Daily" ! read more

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The best cheesesteak in South Florida! I wasn't sure about trying this because it seemed like a dive bar but someone told me they have the best cheesesteaks. So i tried it through Uber Eats and OMG! I even regretted not taking a photo the first time so I reordered it a week later and made sure to snap a pic. Crazy part is I had only eaten half and my bf ate the other half the next day and the bread was not soggy at all and he raved about how good it was. Says a lot! read more

Original Fat Cat's - Cheesesteak - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Ok so it's an old school no apologies dive bar.... Great live music (usually after 11pm) and some great events like the album release party last night. The kitchen puts out one of the best and most original Philly cheese sandwiches in town. Good burgers as well. Bartenders run around as fast as they can when busy and get a lot of drinks out in a hurry. Prices compared to the area are very reasonable. Worth a try and don't be put off by the looks!! It's a lot of fun!! read more

Original Fat Cat's - Evan Rising album release party. - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

If you like dive bars with live music then this is the place to be. I have visited this place over the years and it is still one of my favorites in Fort Lauderdale! read more

Original Fat Cat's - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

This place kinda smells like throw up. The band was great but the entire sidewalk area just reeks of puke and their doors are open so it seeps into the space. I was pretty disappointed by that because I love live music and couldn't enjoy it. This was the only spot on the trip we walked in and immediately walked out. read more

Very disappointing experience at Fat Cats. My father and I sat at the bar for lunch, and the bartender walked right past us multiple times without ever acknowledging us or even saying he'd be with us in a minute. After waiting with no service or communication, we decided to leave. Customer service needs a lot of improvement. read more

Fat cats did not approve how I ordered a drink and they immediately kicked me out no questions asked. No problem. I sat outside drank my drink and reviewed the worst place Ive ever been. If I could rate zero stars I would. read more

Best little dive bar in the area! Perfect spot to grab a drink after a great concert at the Performing Arts Center. Drinks were decent & service was prompt & welcoming. Make sure you go all the way to the back to grab a drink vs waiting by the front bar! read more

Original Fat Cat's - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

One of the oldest bars on Himmarshee Street which I have never been to until today. During our beer crawl we hesitantly stepped inside the rock and roll themed dimly lit bar with skateboard decks lining the walls with cryptic cartoon stickers throughout with an oddly familiar stench of bad decisions from the 80's. An empty raised live music stage at the front waiting for talent to erupt at 630pm tonight. We sat at the bar with a very few scattered customers and met with the bartender Josh. The first cold tap beer was flat and informed the bar back guy who agreed and notified Josh who said he thought I would not notice (this was a first). After spilling out the flat beer, Josh gave me another cold tap beer called Southern Tier Pum King Ale which was excellent. We spent about a half an hour here and went out to grab food. At 7pm we returned for the live music from Justin Enco who killed it singing classic rock covers while strumming his guitar and the bar was now packed. The wife absolutlely loved the tunes and even danced. This easily made up for the stale beer. The euro-punk themed bathroom was fully covered in colorful graffiti with a door that did not auto close or lock. One of my top three original bathrooms and is an easy conversation piece and great addition for the bar. read more

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If you're a rock fan, this is definitely one of the best options. Both the music and the decor will get you in the mood. The drinks are reasonably priced and not too expensive. The bathrooms could have been cleaned better, but overall the place is great. The night we went, even though it was spring break, the service was quick. read more

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Fire burger and fries. Great live music and drinks. Good prices and service. Local favorite. read more

Original Fat Cat's - Smash Burger - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

This is one of those dive bars I almost dance my way into! (But I don't) I always kind of groove my way in. Because every time I come. There's some great live music! My go to on the menu is a Philly cheese steak. Consistently good. And always goes well with my beer. Great bartenders. Great crowds. Great atmosphere. Definitely recommend! read more

I tried them for the first time at an event recently and the food was amazing! After a sample of their cheesesteak at the food and wine tasting, I decided to stop in. I ordered a Philly cheesesteak as well as lemon pepper wings with curly fries. I would not do the curly fries again just because they were a little bit oily but the cheesesteak was perfect!!!! The wings were cooked to perfection but if you order lemon pepper just know that the lemon may be really sour. I would definitely order the wings again but maybe in a different flavor. Overall the staff was kind, the food was hot and fresh, and the portions are pretty good. The theme of the bar is very dark and the bathroom is a little bit tight so keep that in mind and visiting. read more

Original Fat Cat's - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

A live rock and roll music bar with a full liquor bar and a huge variety of beers. The atmosphere reeked of the classic late night college age neon purple light bar. The guy playing music on the big stage mainly tunes from the 80's was excellent, although don't know if college kids knew the names of the songs. I had a cocktail during happy hour. Good time and interesting stickers and skateboard decor. read more

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It is the best dive bar food I've ever eaten. Staff is incredible and have never missed a beat on any food I've had.

Such great and helpful staff AND the food was so phenomenal. The Philly was the best I've ever had

your total local dive bar prices yet a mix of young and old folks in here. had a live dj playing which is always fun

Cool dive bar with a lively atmosphere and great playlist. Great music, chill crowd, and good vibes all night. Perfect spot to grab a drink, play some pool, and hang out with friends. read more

Really fun and funky dive bar. Staff were great and loved the food. Prices are right on and overall just a great spot to hang out. Their Philly cheesesteak was amazing! read more

Fat cats always a vibe. you can catch lots of local bands and cover bands play there every night. Each night has a different theme for their music. The drinks are plentiful and inexpensive. You can always get served no matter how busy it is though! They do make sure to check your ID when you walk in the door because in Florida we have a lot of underage kids who go out. Never have I had a bad time with fat cats! It's a true local bar. read more

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The Philly cheesesteak. My husband gets au jue sauce on the side. Guilty pleasure it's so disgustingly good. Oh, and their blue cheese sauce is freshly made and highly recommended. You wouldn't expect it, but the food is some of the best bar food ever. read more

This isn't your typical dive bar...the food is actually good! I ordered the French toast PB&J and I absolutely loved it! It was YUMMY. You can choose from strawberry or grape jelly. I went with strawberry jelly and omg I was in awe. It comes with a side of sweet potato waffle fries and marshmallow dipping sauce. I didn't get to try anything else because I was full from a late lunch but definitely coming back. They have multiple tv screens for sports events. They weren't playing the FSU game when we walked in but we asked the bartender and he was kind enough to play the game for us. They have some original cocktails, which are strong and delicious. They also have multiple craft beers available. The service was great! The kitchen is open until 3 AM!! So you can order food until late in the evening as well. They have a live band playing, which was pretty cool. I recommend you check this spot out if you're in the area. read more

I stopped in to pick up a Philly Cheesesteak with the Whiz of course and the Sweet Potato Fries. If you get takeout, you need to push your way in to get the bartender's attention. They have a busy happy hour and this is Friday. read more

Original Fat Cat's - Not a pretty picture, but a darn good Philly Cheesesteak. - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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First timer, before seeing a concert at the Broward Center. Total dive bar with good service, ice cold beer and the best Philly steak sandwich I've eaten. Good vibe read more

The food is surprisingly great there. The Philly cheese steak and the burgers were great. The place has an old school bar vibe the staff seem to have a great culture between them. Great drink selections read more

Unbelievably amazing find! Was in the area for a concert and lucked out by finding Fat Cats. Micah was one of the best bartenders we've ever encountered. Suggested the best food and drinks, which did not disappoint. The philly cheesesteak was one of the best I've ever had! The Cuban was delicious, as well as, the fried portobello slices. Very impressed, was inexpensive, and will be back when in the area! read more

A happy accident. Was looking for a place to grab a burger and a few beers before seeing Marshal Tucker at what we thought was Broward Center for Performing Arts. 4 Minutes away from the venue . Perfect we thought. Turns out Marshal Tucker was performing at Parker Playhouse. So glad we made a mistake, worked out great. We found a open spot in the middle of the bar. Started with a Nitro and wings. Both delicious. Only negative was only one bartender. Should definitely be 2 working on a Sat. night, even at 5pm. Once we got the bartender, he was great, letting us sample a couple of drafts. I then ordered a Blue Point lager draft, and my buddy and I split a Philly cheesesteak. Once again , delicious. Awesome music in the back round and tvs playing college football. Will definitely be going back next time I plan on going to Broward center, or Parker Playhouse, which is about 8 minutes away. read more

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Great local dive bar. Fabulous bartenders. Great service. Had the food last time which was awesome but just stopped in for a drink. Love the decor! read more

This is a dive bar. The bartenders are gruff but attentive. The Philly cheesesteaks are excellent.

Fun, music, and great drinks. Nice bar in the strip mall area of bars and restaurants. Very packed, but a wonderful time was had. read more

Original Fat Cat's - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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We came on a warm Friday night. It was early as everyone needs to go out early these days as bars have to close at midnight- so start your nights earlier people! It was fairly empty. The live band was playing some great music while we found seats at the bar. As I took my mask off, and sipped my drink, I felt like life was almost back to "normal" as this place. Dylan, the bartender (owner?) was quick with the drinks and some light conversation. We had just eaten but he showed me a menu and the food looks good. I made a mental note to go back and check it out on another night. You can sit inside or out. And theres even a pool table for those of you who like things like that. But for now, I sipped my drink, sang along with the band, and had a flashback to how much fun going out was before Covid crippled the hospitality industry. Fat Cats is a nice little bit of normal, even during these difficult times (and they are following all the rules!) PS- Go early. The crowd just gets going around the time the bar has to close. If everyone just started an hour earlier, it may help these establishments get through the next few months! read more

Original Fat Cat's - Band in the corner by the open windows. Lots of room to dance! - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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This place is relatively small, it gets crowded but not overly packed, they featured a live band on the Friday night we were here, and once you find an open spot at the bar, getting served doesn't take long. Take a few steps back and look up, and you'll see an eclectic mix of "stuff" including a few small flying saucers that move up and down and a police car with flashing lights that "drove" around the full length above the bar constantly, all night long. The band on this night was great, the crowd were really into them, staff was friendly and imported bottled beer (Modelo) were $6 each. We'll be back. read more

I love that they have live music and an even livelier crowd, the food is always wayyy better than expected, service is always readily available theyll even charge your phone for you if you need. Ive had the sampler the jalepeno poppers the curly fries and about 3 philly steak sandwiches on many different occasions and i must say every time the food is the perfect bite. 10/10 to the philly, jalepeno poppers, fries, tots, chicken sandwich. Ive yet to try everything else but im sure it all great. Go see for yourself! read more

Original Fat Cat's - Philly cheesesteak 10/10 the perfect bite everytime! - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

AMAZING!!!!!! probably one of the coolest bars i've ever been to in ft lauderdale. I visited a lot of different places here and this by far had the best vibes. I felt like I could hangout for hours and felt like home. I got the philly cheesesteak egg rolls. TO DIE FOR. plus the guys here are from New Jersey so they know what's up when it comes to philly cheesesteak. My drink was the watermelon marg. so refreshing and crisp. I have never had a watermelon marg and now I feel like I can't go back to regular. the guys were so nice. the people that hang here are low key too. I think my most favorite part about the experience was the music. I love old school hip hop / rap NY music. they killed it and it was a whole vibe. i'm going to be sad when I leave cause this place is definitely one of a kind. GO HERE. NOW! read more

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Small spot with live music and affordable drinks. The space has tons of standing room and a few pub tables on the side all the way towards the back for seating. Unless I was seeing things, there's two bars inside! My friends and I has to wait a while and felt we were being ignored, but once we were served and approached the other Barr render that was there before the new guy, he assured us he was just overwhelmed with orders. The band was setting up when we got there (10pm) but we left to take a gander. Not sure if it's too loud once the music starts, but since we'll def be back, I'll find out next time. read more

Original Fat Cat's - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

This was my first time coming here. I got to the bar and saw what looked like a drink menu. So I naturally asked the server Brendo for a menu. He gave me a dirty look and flipped over the drink menu. I hadn't realized their food menu was so short as I never been here prior. So I asked him to add sub wiz to my Philly instead of provolone and once again he looked at me like I was crazy. I will admit the food was good although I feel it's a little overpriced for $13. It's not a very big Philly and you can get a Publix sandwich that's a little bigger and more filling for cheaper. However, I didn't take any stars for portion. For me it has to be a good experience and good food, not one or the other it has to be both. Although the food was good, I don't think I'd return given the experience I had. read more

This place is a hidden gem. Looks like a dive and probably is one. The beer selection is amazing the bartenders are great. The food is typically pub style but also tasty. The jalapeño poppers are not breaded but wrapped in bacon. The chicken parm sandwich is the best I've ever had just slightly spicy and really nicely breaded. It's a rough and tumble kinda place but I feel safe in there no matter what. Please don't feed the bums or give them beer or cigarettes. Live music almost every night .Anyway you gotta get in there to see it to believe. Yelp sucks but original fat cats definitely does not so get yourself downtown and to ofc. read more

Best bartenders in Fort Lauderdale work here! They have great food late at night. Great industry hang out too. Fernet is behind the bar. Jalapeño poppers are my fav and mozzarella wontons. read more

Original Fat Cat's - Ian - Bars Near Me - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Great atmosphere Good live music And food is amazing have to try the pbj it is a hidden gem read more