Privately hosted by General Manager John Myers, we spent a day inside The Club at Pier Sixty-Six, the newly revealed membership concept anchoring Tavistock’s $1 billion reimagining of the historic marina property. The verdict: what surprised us most wasn’t the luxury. It was the warmth.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
In a flock of options, Pier Sixty Six is a rare bird.
A lifelong Fort Lauderdale local, visiting Pier Sixty-Six feels a bit like coming home. As a child, I was mesmerized by the magic rotating rooftop floor, glamorous clientele, tableside service and endless flamingo-pink Shirley Temples. Going to Pier Sixty-Six was an occasion and reason enough to celebrate.
Privately hosted by John Myers, General Manager of The Club at Pier Sixty-Six, I spent a day exploring what may be one of the most interesting hospitality and private membership concepts available in North America today.
Originally opened in 1965, Pier Sixty-Six quickly became one of the defining landmarks of Fort Lauderdale. Its iconic mid-century tower, crowned by the instantly recognizable rotating rooftop lounge, welcomed generations of visitors. Positioned at the entrance to Port Everglades, it became synonymous with boating culture, waterfront hospitality and professional marina, cementing Fort Lauderdale’s international identity as the Yachting Capital of the World.
After an extensive $1 billion investment by Tavistock Development Company — the organization behind the ultra-exclusive Albany in The Bahamas and Lake Nona in Orlando — the historic property reopened in 2025.
Today, Pier Sixty-Six is built around the globally recognized superyacht marina and village, seamlessly connecting a renovated 325-room luxury resort, two new private residence towers (Indigo and Azul), a European-style Spa and Wellness Center, and twelve specialty chef-driven dining, café, bar and entertainment options. Future expansion across the 32-acre property includes additional residential towers, a grocery store and commercial spaces for elite marina services.
Yet it is The Club, the newly revealed, invitation-only member’s community, that may ultimately become the property’s most significant addition.
Across South Florida, branded residences and developers are introducing residents to select private clubs and hospitality in premier locations, traditionally focused on exclusivity or recreation. Others provide all-access experiences connecting a passion for design, fashion, art, racecars or celebrity.
The Club at Pier Sixty-Six goes beyond the obvious draw for boaters and sun seekers. Instead, The Club offers a space where Fort Lauderdale’s famous motto of “work, live and play” actually feels attainable.
Unlike formal member clubs limited by their traditions, The Club at Pier Sixty-Six is fluid, instinctively refining its bespoke programming to mirror each member’s individual preferences and personality — offering everything one could need to feel genuinely at home, including a circle of invitation-only neighbors and friends. Members include entrepreneurs, professional athletes, investors, seasonal residents and local families. The average age is approximately 53. Many split time between multiple homes. Some arrive by yacht and want a land-based nest to call their own. Others are year-round South Florida residents looking for a place that feels convivial, social and restorative. The atmosphere is intentionally residential and intimate.
Designers Jeffrey Beers International, reimagined the interiors with a warm palette of wine red, dusty rose, peacock green, and subtle gold accents that complement exposed concrete and retro geometry. The result is a design conversation across eras, in which an iconic form meets a hospitality experience calibrated for today’s traveler. Guests sip avant-garde cocktails as the room slowly revolves, just as visitors did nearly six decades ago, yet the atmosphere feels distinctly modern.
Walking through the double doors and dimmed arched hallway that opens into The Club experience, I drifted away from the soft seaside neutrals of the public spaces into the more colorful, cheeky and very Old Florida vibe of The Club’s private interiors. Every corner rewarded a second look — mosaic tile art, gold-feathered chandeliers, thoughtful moments of texture and whimsy filling every space in the room. Every room features floor to ceiling curved pane glass and exclusive, waterfront views.
“I want our members to feel like this is their home,” Myers told me. “Unlike a 100-year-old golf club or yacht club, our members directly influence how we shape experiences and services. We’re creating a community around what makes them feel most comfortable, connected and cared for.”
That philosophy is evident throughout the property. Members enjoy access to a range of personalized club spaces designed to suit every lifestyle need.
Starting with the fabulous Orchid Room lounge — a delightfully madcap cocktail bar inspired by a flamboyance of flamingos — this centerpiece private cocktail lounge sets the tone for the wow factor of The Club at Pier Sixty Six.
Private dining rooms include the exquisite Garden Room restaurant, with deep jade velvet chairs, incredible lighting and fine art accents creating comfortable nooks for a quiet drink or an over-the-top entertaining experience, both with complete privacy and personalized attention.
Exclusive smaller indoor and outdoor lounges overlook the pristine white yachts of the marina or the quiet green canals of neighboring Harbor Beach Isles. A dedicated Club Concierge attends to member needs, including rare spirits, custom orders and personalized service.
Flexible workspaces accommodate the solo remote professional or large corporate teams, with discounts and perks for member-hosted hotel guests, receptions and retreats. There is a room for every interest, including a large-screen media room for viewing major sports events and private screenings, among them.
Guests can connect or disconnect, The Club provides opportunity for both.
The outdoors offers a private resort-style pool surrounded by shaded cabanas and daybeds, with a members-exclusive bar and dedicated dining service. The 13,000-square-foot Zenova Spa and Wellness Center introduces an entirely different dimension to the membership experience — encompassing recovery-focused wellness programming, an Aufguss-inspired social sauna and South Florida’s first snow room.
The result is a carefully curated environment designed to support how members actually live, work and play. What surprised me most was not the luxury, but the warmth. The Club at Pier Sixty-Six is comfortable, special and genuinely worth your attention. The first thing I wanted to do was invite my friends.
Of course, none of this would work without the setting.
Pier Sixty-Six occupies one of the most strategically important waterfront positions in Florida. Its marina remains among the most significant superyacht destinations in the world, welcoming vessels throughout the year and serving as a centerpiece of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Because Pier Sixty-Six sits adjacent to Port Everglades with direct Atlantic Ocean access, residents, members and yacht owners are uniquely positioned for international cruising — through The Bahamas, along the North Atlantic coastline, to the islands of the Caribbean and beyond.
In a region leading the global trend for branded residences and the UHNW lifestyle, Fort Lauderdale is increasingly defining itself through the Blue Economy — positioned at the intersection of maritime commerce, luxury tourism, waterfront living and global mobility. The residences, hotel and marina provide the infrastructure. The Club provides the soul.
How do you become a member? Visit Pier Sixty-Six and make friends. It’s invitation-only, referral-based, expensive and worth every penny.
