Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. Now Open in Downtown Fort Lauderdale

When the hankering for an iced coffee or New York-style bagel hits this summer, Broward County residents will be able to quell the craving with a new Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. location. The Florida-based fast-casual chain has opened the doors to its 15th South Florida restaurant, a new state-of-the-art establishment located in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The 4,800-square-foot, two-story facility is located at 601 SE Third Ave., across from the new Broward County Courthouse, and is made complete with an outdoor patio that seats up to 50 people, a 20-foot "break" bar with stools, a 40-foot rooftop water tower, and a series of new service amenities.

Launched in 2009 in Delray Beach, the Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. began from an initial concept of replicating the characteristics of Brooklyn water for making bagels anywhere in the world. The national franchise has expanded rapidly, with more than 20 locations nationwide including in states like Maryland, Massachusetts, California, and Georgia.

The downtown Fort Lauderdale location represents the chain's latest upgrades, including extended hours — from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily — and expanded menu featuring more than just basic breakfast options. That includes a number of grab-and-go snack and lunch items: bagelwiches, muffins, egg sandwiches, lunch salads, fruit salads, hot and cold deli sandwiches, and the innovative "banini" — the union of a bagel and a panini.

Other new features include an office catering menu with sandwiches and wraps made with fresh smoked fish, deli meats, salads, and the restaurant's signature fresh-baked bagels and muffins. A new online ordering system with a built-in timer makes it easy to know when your order is ready, the company states, with a separate "pick-up" entrance and private parking.

The restaurant will also have Brooklyn Water Bagel's trademarked Cubsta coffee bar, where patrons can fill their own drinks served "on tap" with an array of hot and cold coffees that are fresh-roasted daily (including the restaurant's own frozen Cubsta coffee ice cubes) at the chain's Delray Beach facility. 

For those looking for some added bagel-related luxury, the Fort Lauderdale restaurant will launch an exclusive concierge delivery service, coming later this summer. The luxury order and delivery service will be offered on the weekend for nearby condominium complexes and hotels.

The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. is located at 601 SE Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-965-5920, or visit brooklynwaterbagels.com.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.