Calaveras Cantina, the Mexican cantina chain operating in Jupiter and Boca Raton, is adding a Fort Lauderdale address at Las Olas Marina. Per the operator's Instagram, the restaurant will occupy a structure built specifically for the newly redeveloped marina site — not a conversion of an existing tenant space — with construction expected to run through 2027. No opening date has been set.
The Fort Lauderdale location will mark Calaveras' third Florida outpost and its first in Broward County. The operator describes a program built around Mexican cuisine, handcrafted margaritas, and a tequila-focused bar. No design team, square footage, or seat count has been disclosed in the announcement.
The custom-build element distinguishes this expansion from a typical chain move. Rather than inheriting a prior tenant's shell, Calaveras is constructing a purpose-designed structure at the marina — a commitment that typically signals a longer lease and a design program oriented toward a specific setting. Las Olas Marina sits at the eastern end of Las Olas Boulevard on the Intracoastal Waterway, positioning a future tenant to draw from both the marina's transient boating traffic and the boulevard's established evening pedestrian crowd.
With construction running through 2027, a realistic opening window falls no earlier than late 2027 and may extend into 2028. The Boca Raton and Jupiter locations remain the clearest reference points for the concept's format and scale, though a purpose-built structure typically allows for a footprint and waterfront orientation that a retrofitted space cannot. How the broader Las Olas Marina redevelopment paces will determine whether Calaveras debuts as part of a coordinated complex opening or arrives ahead of the surrounding buildout.
