The Wreck Bar

The service was poor both times we went there. The first time we attempted to go there we left since we could not get service after several minutes of sitting at the bar. Since it was in our hotel it was convenient, which is the only reason we gave it a second chance. The prices are very high and the drinks seemed to be under-​poured. The pool was closed but we were not really there to see the mermaid show anyway. The bartender was friendly, but unfortunately that did not make up for the rest of the problems. We did not eat (nor were we offered a menu), so I cannot comment on the quality of the food.

This is for the mermaid show! It’s such a fun thing to watch if you’re around for drinks! Would definitely come back!

Go for the mermaids, stay for the mermaids. We got there early to get a good seat. I felt a little bit bad, considering there would be younger kids in there wanting to see the mermaids. We were quickly assured this place is a BAR first, and the fact that some kids can catch a glimpse is just a bonus for them. With those worries put aside, we ordered a few drinks and some snacks while yucking’ it up with some of the pre-​show mermaids. The drinks were okay. I ordered a Grasshopper, only because it was on the menu. The bartender seemed surprised and asked me what was in it. Then he served it on the rocks, which was new to me as well. Who cares, we were there for the mermaids.
Now about this time, we start to see random props for the show dropping into the pool for the show. A little intro from the mermaids about the history of The Wreck Bar and mermaid shows was presented from within the bar, and encouragement to get loud and whoop it up during the show. The show was much more mesmerizing than I expected, and also a bit rowdier. The show was by no means raunchy, but there was a bar full of folks whistling and hollering at the mermaids. I turned around, to see how the youngin’s were taking it all in. About half of them seemed to still care about it a few songs in. Everyone at the bar was doing their best to encourage a little flirt n’ twirl from the underwater sirens, who blow bubbles, wink and pull other underwater shenanigans. It was somehow a family friendly burlesque show. Thats the best I can describe it. Afterwards, the mermaids came back down to the bar, took pictures and chatted it up again with patrons. I believe usually the meet-​n-​greet is done poolside, but renovations on the Cruise Ship shaped hotel were underway. It was a very memorable experience to say the least.

Two words, ‘Mermaid Show’. This is one of the few locations where you can go to watch their famous Friday Mermaid Show. Before you get any thoughts of Tijuana in your head … the ‘Mermaids’ are women who swim in the hotel pool wearing Mermaid costumes … there are large windows behind the bar which allow them to look into the bar and interact with the guests while fun and cheesy 1960s lounge music plays on the bar’s system.
One thing you need to know over any other, should you plan to attend the show … ARRIVE EARLY! There are very few seats at the bar (best spot to see the show) and you want to get there 30 minutes to an hour early to claim one. They set up a few rows of chairs behind the bar as well … and there are several small tables/​booths along the wall which make for a good spot to see the show as well. But, if you get there right before the show, The Wreck Bar is small and there is a good chance you will be relegated to standing outside the door with a crowd of people and craning your neck around them to try to catch a peek at the show.
The women are all pretty much beautiful (well … the ones swimming behind the glass). I am not sure how many real Mermaids would have the type and number of tattoos as the ones in the show … but it is Fort Lauderdale after all, so Mermaids lacking tramp stamps and tribal bands are probably not easy to come by. The Mermaids linger by the windows pointing to guests, making flirtatious faces and playfully teasing in pantomime those sitting at and behind the bar. They also will swim past the windows and occasionally do spins and flips in the water. Every now and again, a few of the Mermaids will give each other a playful kiss on the cheek or lips … but unfortunately that’s as close to a ‘Tijuana-​esque Mermaid Show’ as it will get.
I brought a few clients here and they said it was the coolest thing they did in Fort Lauderdale.
The Wreck Bar is open the rest of the week even when the Mermaids aren’t swimming. While not as cool of an experience, it is a legendary bar in Fort Lauderdale having been open throughout the years in the same form even as the hotel has switched hands a few times. The bar looks ‘old-​school’ … and is meant to resemble a ship with weathered wood, portholes, dim lighting and nautical type of décor. (including back lit stained glass windows as you would find in the Captain’s quarters at the stern of a ship.
The food is so-​so and pricey. Drinks are overpriced (it is a hotel bar after all) but they have a decent amount of tap beer available. But this is one of those places you really should see while you are in Fort Lauderdale. It is a throwback and a reminder to the cheesy but classic South Florida beach hangout spots of the 1950s and 1960s. If you are looking for modern, this isn’t the spot. It’s as old school and nostalgic as you’ll find without going to the Mai Kai about 3 miles away.

My first time at the Wreck Bar was for a Halloween party thrown by Unilocal.«I love this place», I said to myself at least ten times while I was there. I knew I had to come back.
Initially what drew me in was the décor of the place. Wreck bar basically makes you feel like you’re inside of an old ship– lots of nautical decorations and wood which gives it a very pirate-​like feel.
And then I found out about the mermaid show. That sealed the deal.
Now I decided to come here on my own after the event to check out the mermaid show.
The bar is tiny. Think your friends’ living room in college small. The shows are not every night so you have to call to make sure they’re happening, and you need to arrive early to get a seat.
The show starts promptly at 6:00. The show ended promptly at 6:15. That’s it. Maybe I set myself up for failure but I’m not sure. 15 minutes of girls swimming back and forth waving to me in mermaid costumes. I kept thinking to myself after it ended, «I paid fifteen dollar (in parking) to watch girls swim for fifteen minutes. Something is wrong here.» I give props to the mermaids though. I don’t know how they hold their breath that long or swim with that tail– neither of these things I could do. They definitely have skills.
If you’re staying at the hotel this is a great place to go. I wouldn’t recommend it at all for anyone who would have to drive to get there. Parking is a hassle and its just not worth the time. It has an allure to it at first but it quickly fades.

As far as hotel bars goes, this was above your standard choices. The theme may be a tad kitschy but we had a great time and didn’t feel like we were sitting in a hotel lobby.

Love this place! Aside from being an iconic bar from the days of the Rat Pack and Marilyn Monroe… This bar offers a an inviting and kitschy atmosphere in which to enjoy tasty martinis and hand crafted cocktails by Mark the bartender and eat tasty food off the newly expanded and reinvented menu.
I was super happy with the avocado hummus, sliders, as well as the beautiful seafood salad. If you love burgers… Try them here!
Ringing in the New Year at the Wreck was the best way to start the new year! Can’t wait to go back!
Great crowd, great drinks, the kitchen and bar are open until 1:30AM! I highly recommend it!

Cool décor. Windows with a view under the pool for the mermaid show. Come see Mark. He makes a killer cocktail and is great to talk to.

Let me save you some time, in order to get anything out of this show you must possess atleast one of the following qualities;
*you think you’re a disney prince /​princess
*you are 13 or younger
*you enjoy doing things just so you can say you did them (as i do).
First and foremost, don’t come with an empty stomach because the best thing on the bar menu is grilled cheese. Come hungry and you’ll leave hangry. While we are covering things you ingest, don’t come looking for a drink either.
That bar is in a hotel, it is tiny — but the décor is pretty cool! Going with the mermaid theme it feels like you’re in the hull of one of dem old pirate ships. Seating can be uncomfortable when the show is about to start, they even put out a bunch of white lawn chairs to try to have a butt planting station for everyone. Be prepared to give your seat up to a chitlin… you wouldn’t deny a kid a good view would you?
The show had my attention for a whole 3 minutes but my partner and i stuck around until the end. My partner wasn’t the disney princess type. or 13, so i dont think she enjoyed it much more than i did. Maybe i was expecting something along the line of a seaquarium dolphin show, i’m not really sure. One thing that i thought was really cool was the mermaids ability to hold their breath — they must be olympic swim team rejects or something (i dont mean that in a bad way).
Another cool thing they do is allow children to hop in and be part of the show! Just talk to one of the mermaids before it starts and they’ll give your kid 5 minutes of fame.
Unless if you’re staying really close by or meet the criteria then don’t waste your time. I’m glad i saw it because i’m not sure where else to catch a mermaid show, but i would’ve been dissapointed if the Royal Pig pub wasn’t close by to make up for what the wreck lacked since i’m from Miami and drove what felt like 100,000 miles to get there.
Btw… after the show you should head to the Royal Pig pub for some drinks and eats!!!

This place is teeny tiny. If you’re coming for the mermaid show-​get here EARLY. Parents that are going to get angry about the fact that people are drinking around your precious children, remember first-​YOU ARE BRINGING YOUR CHILDREN TO A BAR. If you really want a wholesome, family-​friendly mermaid experience, head over to Weeki Wachee in Tampa.
That being said. This is a hotel bar by nature, it’s just one of the cooler designed ones. That’s really it’s only pull. Otherwise there wouldn’t be any draw to it. Don’t expect to come here at 9 or 10 on a Saturday night and find bumpin beats or go home with a nice lady. What you might find is a drunk hotel patron who got kicked out of his room for reasons x, y, z. Drinks are moderately expensive for what they are (house wines and liquors) and keep in mind that this place closes before Cinderella turns into a pumpkin. Might not be a bad place to start off the night if you are staying in the hotel, but this is the beginning, not the destination.

While staying at the resort, we enjoyed a drink, appetizer and watched the Mermaid show. There was happy hour which included beer, wine and well liquor. We ordered the potato appetizer which I thought would be potato skins but it was small potatoes cut up with the sour cream, cheese and chives on top. They were delicious.
The Mermaid show was entertaining but I expected there to be a little more performing for the crowd. Overall though, it is definitely something you should see if you stay at B Ocean or nearby.
The bar menu had mostly burgers and other bar food on it. Not a bad price though for the meal. The décor was nice with the portholes into the pool and the shipwreck scenery. It was cool to see that a movie scene was filmed there.

So the drinks were pricey but tasty and the fancy fishtanks were pretty awesome, but I never did get to see the mermaid show. First I was there on a weeknight… no show and then I made it back just after last call (11 pm which is insanely early, c’mon).
Still it’s a fun place to start, or end an early evening. You’re paying for the décor… and those fancy fishies I guess.
It’s probably worth a wander over just to say you’ve had a cocktail in this old school spot.

It is a blast from the past on Fridays and Saturdays there is the mermaid show it’s not just the bar its an institution dating back from the sixties yes it’s dated but so is Williamsburg Virginia so is central Philadelphia just because it’s dated doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing try the canyon coladas which are very good and sit back and watch the mermaid show every Friday and Saturday starting at 630

Some friends were taking their daughter here and invited us along with our daughter. Friday and Saturday nights starting at 6:30 they have mermaids swimming in the pool, which viewers in the bar can see through four windows. They swim until 7:00 and then once they finish they allow photos with them pool side. My daughter absolutely loved the mermaids. I’m surprised they only do this two evenings per week, as this gets the bar completely packed well beyond capacity. For that reason you should get there no later than 5:15 to ensure you get a seat.
As soon as they open at 5:30 place your order. It took about 45 minutes after ordering to get our food.
I ordered the bacon cheeseburger. The burger was average, but the fries were cold upon arrival.
I would come back, but mostly for the show.

Love this place. Not saying that flippantly, I really LOVE this place! I would move in if they would let me. It has history-​mermaids, cocktails, fun, and did I mention mysterious mermaids? The mermaids of The Wreck Bar have been performing synchronized swimming shows since the late 1950’s to the 60’s at this hotel pool (formerly called The Yankee Clipper Hotel, now The Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Beach). That’s how cool this establishment is! The unique part is that the pool’s underwater area is viewable from big windows directly inside The Wreck Bar. Outside of the bar the design looks like the side of a ship, so you can’t miss it in the hotel lobby.
My advice for the MeduSirena & Aquiticats mermaid show is to get to the tiny bar early! Get there as soon as they open if you want a great seat at the bar or a good seat at a table. The Wreck Bar has a lot to enjoy before the show, there are real aquariums of brightly colored fish lining the interior walls, an amazing stained glass mermaid mural, lots of fancy tropical drinks and appetizer options to order. Take a look at the décor and art hanging up inside the bar too, all mermaid themed. Get the house drink, «The Mermaid» and enjoy their chips with three types of salsa.
Once the mermaid show starts you will be hypnotized the the aquatic performance! It’s amazing how graceful and controlled the mermaids are, you can tell they really enjoy the water and performing for an audience. Immediately following the show you can take an elevator up to the pool deck and take photos with the mermaids and chat. Bring some cash to tip the mermaids if you go up there. It’s not mandatory but it’s just a good thing to do because mermaids need shell funding too. Enjoy the magic!

Not sure to comment on this place other than their main attraction is the Mermaid show which for tourist, is worth it. Just get there early for a good seat. Drinks are well made.
The best part was the service received from the bartender Angie. Her smile can put anyone having a bad day in a great mood. :-)
Will defiantly be back!

Unless the mermaid show is going on, weekends only, then there is really no point in going to the Wreck Bar. On weekdays you will see kids and parents swimming in the pool.
Happy Hour isn’t all that good and they do not have any food specials during happy hour. The bar itself does not open until 5:30pm daily.

Visited the Wreck Bar at the Sheraton to see the Mermaid show — a must see! The bar has dark, wood feel with lots of tables an big bar, but if you’re going for the show, prepare to stand — it gets very crowded! The whole bar entails the idea of a sunken gallion ship. Inside there are numerous aquariums with beautiful salt water exotic fish. The wide windows to the view if the pool gives it a legit feeling of being under water.
It’s a bar, but it did have options other than typical bar (fried) food. The mahi-​mahi sandwich, quesadilla, chips and salsa and guacamole were all delicious. The staff was very attentive and I really liked the aquariums. It was a little too dark and the AC was on a little too cold for me, but otherwise I really enjoyed it. The show id vertical entertaining. At the end of the show the mermaids come and talk to you and are real people like you and me ;) it was a good experience.

Whether you’re a tourist or full-​time Florida resident, you should add seeing the Wreck Bar’s MeduSirena Retro Mermaid Swim Show to your fun list.
If only I could go back in time and tell little 10-​year-​old Miranda «Yes! You CAN be a mermaid when you grow up!» Although with only two shows a week (Fri/​Sat 6:30) I’m sure these mer-​performers have to have at least one other job to supplement their income. I imagine custom shell-​bras can get expensive, not to mention other necessities like dinglehoppers and snarfblatts.
Anyways, the show was cute. I was expecting some kind of synchronized mer-​ballet but they just kind of take turns swimming around like they’re part of an aquarium exhibit. I’m sure its harder than it looks but still, where else are you gonna find live Mermaids in South Florida?
They offer a variety of drinks (but no drink menu), specializing in Rum. I asked for something sweet and was brought some kind of tropical concoction that tasted like mango & coconut. The boyfriend had a Hawaiian beer. They also have a small menu with your basic bar fare like burgers, wings, etc. My only non-​meat option was the chips with three dips & guacamole, which was good. The bill was around $ 20.
Bring a camera and get there early because the place will fill up fast! And here’s a fun fact: the bar and the mermaid shows originated in the 1950s.
BOTTOM LINE: Drink like a fish because the bar is underwater! (Get it?)
And did I mention… Mermaids!

I’ve been at the Wreck Bar a good number of times starting in the early sixties when phony altered birth dates on drives licenses or the borrowing of one from anyone slightly older (at that time there wasn’t any such thing as photo ID on anything) were the norm and fully accepted as proof of age at all of the Fort Lauderdale drinking establishments.
The bar itself is a nostalgic classic, thanks in part the watchful eyes of the local historical society, dating back into the fifties with some refurbishing but basically few changes. The theme, of course is nautical with a rope and seafaring décor enhanced by salt water aquariums along with the famous «portholes» giving a visual underwater show of a pool that on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 6:00PM, is used for the hotel’s well known signature MeduSirena (read mermaid) Show.
In its heyday it was known to have been frequented by the likes of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe who, along with many other the well-​known of the time, had carved their initial into the wooden bar rail.
It’s a great place to sit, have a drink, and look at the fish in the aquarium or to catch the mermaid show. The drinks are particularly good, especially the Margaritas, and the food offerings though very abbreviate and more on the order of snacks and sandwiches, not bad; with my favorite being the Crispy Calamari Steaks with a chipotle garlic and citrus based dipping sauce.