Welcome to Galt Mile
Galt Mile is “beautiful from the ground up”
True to its name, Galt Mile is roughly one mile of luxury high-rises along Fort Lauderdale’s glittering coast. The neighborhood comprises 39 condominium buildings connected by the Galt Mile Community Association. Each building has an individual association as well. “People live here, dine here, shop here and party here,” says Fred Nesbitt, president of the Galt Mile Community Association. “We have everything — nightlife, entertainment, restaurants, grocery stores, drugs stores, doctors’ offices. And you don’t have to worry about parking. You can walk everywhere. Las Olas? No, come here instead.” Located 6 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 4 miles north of Las Olas Beach, Galt Mile is a hair quieter than its southern counterparts but just as much of a destination. “People say every day is a vacation when you live in Florida, but that’s not 100 percent true,” says Sherri Pfefer, a local real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty. “It became true when I moved to Galt Mile, right on the sand. You walk the shore, and there’s the intoxicating aroma of saltwater and suntan lotion. Even when it’s dreary out, you just have to look up, and there are palm trees. It’s beautiful from the ground up.”
Beachfront condos on Galt Ocean Drive
The bulk of Galt Mile was developed between the 1960s and late 1990s along Galt Ocean Drive. One-bedroom condos start in the low $300,000s. Two-bedroom units list between $500,000 and $1.5 million. Units with three or more bedrooms range from around $800,000 to $4 million. These large ranges are due to various factors, including the age of the building, the date of the condo’s last remodel, square footage, window views and more. “Only one or two buildings allow seasonal rentals, so there’s not as much turnover,” Nesbitt says. “It helps build community.” Despite most residents owning, roughly half live in the community year-round. “We have snowbirds, but we also have what I call snowflakes, someone who owns a second home here and comes down for maybe a week every so often,” Pfefer says. “Like how a snowflake lands on the ground, and you see it for a little before it's gone.”
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park and other green spaces
While most condos in Galt Mile come with beachfront access, there are some public access points and neighborhood green spaces farther down the shore, like Earl Lifshey Park or Vista Park. Both spots are ideal for a shaded picnic or a day in the waves. Known as the “Central Park” of Fort Lauderdale, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is just 3 miles south of Galt Mile, making it an ideal destination for an afternoon of exploration or a break from the beach. This 180-acre state park offers a glimpse at Florida’s unmarred natural beauty, with kayaks or paddleboards available to explore the waterways and mangroves, along with paved and natural walking trails for a chance to spot native wildlife like gopher tortoises and corn snakes.
Restaurants on Ocean Boulevard
Ocean Boulevard, also known as Florida State Road A1A, is the island’s main road. Along this strip, there’s a Winn-Dixie for grocery shopping, drug stores, banks and other convenient businesses. There are also plenty of places to eat. The most popular restaurant in the community is Greek Islands Taverna, Pfefer says. “They don’t take reservations. People line up for dinner. In season, the line’s like an hour long, but no one complains. It’s just part of it. They have that reputation.” Martorano’s is another wildly popular Galt Mile spot, opened by Steve Martorano, a famous self-taught cook from South Philadelphia. On weekends after 10:00 p.m., the restaurant’s low lights dim some more, and it transforms from an upscale Italian-American eatery to a thrumming nightclub with the help of a live DJ.
Magnet programs at Broward County Public Schools
Broward County Public Schools serves Fort Lauderdale. Galt Mile students can embark on their K-12 education close to home at Bayview Elementary, rated A-minus on Niche, before going to Sunrise Middle, rated B, and graduating from the A-rated Fort Lauderdale High. The high school offers two magnet programs, Cambridge International, through which students graduate with an international diploma, and Pre-Law and Public Affairs, a program for those interested in getting ahead on the pre-law track.
Across the Intracoastal Waterway
Circuit, an all-electric shuttle service, serves Galt Mile and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Residents can download the app for free rides around the community. As for farther travel, Oakland Park Boulevard and Commercial Boulevard are the main ways to access the mainland. It’s about a 5-mile drive from the heart of Galt Mile to Interstate 95.
