I recently visited this place with some friends, and had a great time! It's been at least 18 years since I've been to the Bonnet House, so it was a real treat to be able to go again. There's a huge parking lot available, but it is grass, and the roads are crushed gravel. Parking is FREE! The Welcome Center is easy to find, and the gentleman working the register was very friendly. I even received a $3.00 discount ($17.00 admission) on the self-guided tour for being a Broward County resident (you will need to show ID as proof to get the discount). All other visitors pay $20 for admission on the self-guided tour. There are very friendly docents all over the property, so if you do have questions, there are plenty of experts around to ask! Currently, the second floor is not open to the public, so that was a bit of a bummer; however, there was still plenty to see on the first floor, gardens, and out-buildings. If you walk to the edge of the property, you can even see A1A and the Atlantic Ocean! Be sure to check out the video in the Art Gallery ...it gives a great history on the house as well as the family and staff who lived there. We spent about an hour there, and viewed everything at our own pace. Overall, this is a great piece of South Florida history, and a nice place for tourists and locals to visit.

Interesting story of this family's history. Not a swanky residence, it wasn't intended to be. A winter home designed for these creative souls. Nice walk of the grounds. A beautiful setting for events. Recommended if you're in the area. See what 19th, early 20th century life was like. Built based on the owners concept by the owner and helpers.

$20 each for the house & grounds. I wouldn't call them gardens, just ponds & trees. The house is nice. I love architecture, especially old ones but you can't go upstairs so there's not that much to see.

I visited on a sunny weekday in mid May. The place was not crowded. The staff members were friendly and helpful. I enjoyed visiting each room, seeing the artwork, fountain and grounds. The orchids were lovely. I also enjoyed cooling off with an ice cream treat at the end of the tour.

Great visit to the Bonnet House. 25 bucks for a house and grounds ticket and it's worth it. The house isn't as big as you think of some of these old historic mansions, it was a cool summer home for some rich people who loved art. Grounds are preserved well with varied plants and ponds and place does host events such as weddings! Kids were taking field trips and learning about the plants and ecosystem. Volunteers are very nice and knowledgeable and has free wifi so that you can take the virtual self guided tour. About a two hour visit if you take your time.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Bonnet House in Florida, and it was a truly delightful experience. The location, nestled right at the beach, is not only beautiful but also incredibly inspiring. The house, once owned by an American artist who studied in Munich and had a deep love for nature, art, and music, radiates creativity and history. What made the visit even more enjoyable was the warm welcome from Aretha, a multi-lingual lady who was not only friendly and kind but also exceptionally knowledgeable about the entire history of the house. Her enthusiasm and expertise added immense value to the visit, and I believe she deserves recognition, perhaps even a pay raise, for the outstanding job she does. Bennet House is definitely a must-visit for those seeking a blend of art, history, and the soothing ambiance of the beach."

Came here on Jan, there was no flowers at all. The garden looked extremely plain, the house had spider map on the windows. It doesn't worth $20 per person. On the bright side, I managed to take some nice pictures.

The Bonnet House Museum and Gardens is a treasure. I was blown away visiting this lush and beautiful 35 - acre subtropical estate. The tour was educational, informative and historical. I am eager to learn more by reading Bonnet House: a Legacy of Artistry and Elegance because I found the owner's history fascinating. The House has delightful decorative elements in each room and the courtyard is serene and stunning. It was not crowded on a Sunday in September. They have it lit up for Christmas for several nights in December, and they hold concerts outside Jan - March. I can't wait to go back !

Must go! A jewel of the 1920’s in the heart of ft lauderdale. You can feel that the family lived and breathed art, and it is beautiful that we get to enjoy it nowadays. The staff was super knowledgeable and they definitely enjoy working there.

This place is a true gem in the middle of the busy Fort Lauderdale beachfront area. It’s great for an afternoon visit as there’s plenty to see. There’s a unique blend of history, art, and nature available here. As you wander the grounds, you can also see the juxtaposition between old Florida and present day Florida with the high rises surrounding the property. I took a self guided tour and learned so much. There were friendly guides through the property to help explain the spaces along with opportunities for using my phone’s qr reader to load information about a particular room or painting. It’s not as opulent as other historic homes in South Florida, but that’s part of what they were aiming for when building the home 100 years ago. The Bonnet House is a great spot to visit for history, art, and nature!

The Bonnet House is lovely, but the guides stationed in the adjourning areas throughout the house made the visit incredibly divine. I loved the historical touches they provided to the background of the premises, and the information was something that I would have missed, and I did not do my research! I was most fascinated with the bouquets being made of seashells and the mirrors weighing 700 pounds! I also loved the wild iguanas running all over the place. What a treat to have seen such a beautiful and fascinating place! Thank you, everyone, for your sweet hospitality today!!!

This estate is a time capsule. It’s nestled right in the heart of an ultra modern Fort Lauderdale seconds away from the beach but the minute you step inside the humongous gates, there are no two ways about it, you will be transported back in time. This place has been painstakingly and immaculately preserved by a very dedicated staff commemorating the sensibilities of an era bygone. Each room you visit is filled with memories of a time long forgotten time and is a shrine to the original owners. You can choose to sit through an introductory video of what this place is and after walk along the main courtyard and explore several rooms. Each section/place/room will have a person who would explain what the place is about and have a story to tell. It’s a must visit for any local or tourist, it does take us back to an era of a relatively virgin Fort Lauderdale unmarred by development, where times were a lot simpler, wholesome and where life was celebrated in a way that will we never see in this day and age.

What a wonderful place to visit. So well preserved and full of art. The courtyard is absolutely stunning. I love the story of the house and specially so many wonderful volunteers providing interesting facts in each room. I would definitely recommend this place for tourists and locals, worth every penny. If you come with kids they have a treasure hunt sheet with stickers, my daughters loved the activity.

The Bonnet House Museum is a truly wonderful piece/place of 1900's Ft. Lauderdale and expanded history. If you have a pleasant day, temperature wise, I highly recommend visiting this beautiful house and grounds. The house is breathtaking and the surrounding grounds are even more incredible! The staff are remarkably friendly and accommodating...and everywhere if you have a question. They are also very knowledgeable and if they don't know the answer to a history to a particular area/item they will find out for you. This is also a wonderful place for a wedding and after reception...not to mention you are close to the beach and many beautiful places to stay afterwards! They do offer rides around certain areas which is helpful if you have any walking issues...there is a lot of walking to do, so much to see! They have free parking on site so you don't have to pay for parking like outside the residence. And they do have closer handicapped parking towards the entrance to the visitor's/reception area...but it's still a bit of a walk. There's lots of shade but on a real warm humid day it could be rough...so dress lite and breezy. It costs $25 per adult...not sure if kids are less. It's so worth an afternoon, but just remember to check the website for hours of operation, Friday was 11am to 3pm. Be safe all.

The Bonnet house and museum is a great place to visit to get a feel for old time living of the affluent in South Florida. Beautiful grounds, fantastic house for viewing....my favorite was the shell house/orchid room. There was a wedding planned for late afternoon, this would be a great venue for that and the reception. Guided tours available with very informative and pleasant guides or walk thru at your own leisure. Our 2nd visit.

The Bonnet House Museum is a gem located near the beach in Fort Lauderdale that is not to be missed. The beautiful mansion and grounds are in the middle of a busy city but you would never know it while you were there. The grounds are exquisite with lots of palm trees, foliage, and animals. It is entirely worth it to pay extra to see the host. Designed and constructed by an artist using local materials, it is truly one of the most unique houses I have ever seen. It's beautiful and well worth the price. Do yourself a favor and check this place out! Bonus: It has free parking.

This place is exquisite. A travel back in time of a posh family from Chicago making their mark in time to a new part of the world that is now Fort Lauderdale. Such beautiful taste in style in their self built home and filled with luxuries from around the world as well as treasures from right there at their Fort Lauderdale home. A must see if you enjoy this type of thing. You will learn all about their incredible story as you go through the property. I was so pleasantly surprised and delighted to have experienced such a lovely place.

Such a must-see visit. What a nice expérience to see this property untouched - or almost - hidden among the middle of skyscrapers in Fort Lauderdale. Such an insight into the lives of the riches from the early 20th century and lovely pieces of art. The garden is incredible, and everyone working there is very passionate about the estate's history. This is often used for weddings and I can see why.

The house and garden are very beautiful! The staff was very kind and helpful. Tickets for adults are $20. The only thing that could be improved is I thought the video explaining the history of the house was a little too long.

Soooo many instagramable spots...I'm absolutely in love with this house. I wish I could stay there forever. Her presence is preserved in each and every detail of the house and the decor. Every room is beyond words with her for love handicrafts , architecture , paintings and more. This place is for art and architecture lovers.

I have wanted to go here for about 3 years, and I finally got to visit the Bonnet House & Museum. I visit Florida every year in November, and this visit was a great addition to my vacation. The museum was great and educational. In each room of the house, there was a person telling you about how the room was used, and in each room had artifacts from many years ago when the house was built. The house sits on a lot of property and has a lot of outside gardens, which are beautiful. I loved going to Bonnet House and Museum.

Loved this little oasis in downtown Fort Lauderdale. It was a 1920's estate owned by the Bonnet's as a winter respite from Chicago. The Bonnets were artists and both painted. Their home was fun and colorful with a beautiful center courtyard. Explore the mangrove and the desert garden. Don't forget to walk the pathway through the original coastal dune line leading to the beach and imagine what it looked like before the road and modern development.

Beautiful home and gardens. I thought the video story was a very neat touch. Really has a put a lot of things into perspective. But I guess my favorite part was to see the art room and in particular the Peruvian emperors replica was astonishing to me. I'm still mystified as to why he gas insisted on having that one in the home as his "muse" although his entire training was European based and lots of influence from the modernist and avant-garde painters are prevalent. In any case very beautiful. And the gazebo with the lake is mesmerizing. I can only imagine how it looked back in the days without the road systems and the many trees around. There's also a very nice shell collection that the lady of the house created. In addition they're plenty of wildlife around. It's a great visit overall only one major issue with it for me was that I had to walk around for over an hour to find the actual entrance as most of the entrances from the main road and gates are closed sue to construction 🤷‍♀️

Went as a chaperone for my sons school field trip but I ended up learning so much myself and enjoying the nature and the history. Great place to visit !

We did not get to see the whole "house" part. I understand that the docents are excited to impart their knowledge to the people visiting, but they should also read their customers better. I only wanted to look at the art. I don't need explanations and I really don't need someone following us into a room and then outside and down the walkway. It was really uncomfortable. How do you tell someone who works there to back off? Finally, it was 25 dollars per person, for a maybe 15 minute visit. We were there about an hour to "get our money's worth" but it was really over priced. The start the self.guided (supposedly) tour with a painfully boring video. We left before it was over. We just wanted to tour the house! Would not revisit.

My mother and I stopped here on a whim when we had an hour to kill before having to leave to catch a flight. It is truly a gem in the city and absolutely beautiful to see. We explained we were short on time and Andrea went above and beyond to give us best experience possible. She knew so much about the property and its history and had us both laughing the entire time. It was really a great way to end our trip to Florida and we will forever remember it!!! Thank you Andrea!!!

Great little tour! Amazing story- if you are from Chicago you must come here. We came around lunch time in August and not many people here. We purchased tickets on line but you can purchase when you arrive as well. There's plenty of parking and the tour guides take you on a golf cart to the main house. From there you watch a 10min intro video and then you are free to roam the house and take as many pictures as you like. There are guides in every room - they tell you information about that room and the family. There is also a small gift shop and public restrooms and you can also get drinks snacks and ice cream. Great place, great photos, worth a visit!

What a fascinating and wonderful place to kayak and tour the Bonnett House! Renee was just an awesome person in explaining where to take our kayaks and what our options were. We kayaked the intercoastal and then explored the Mangrove. We saw a manatee and many varieties of birds in the cove. On our tour of the property we saw a monkey, turtles, and so many varieties of birds. I would highly recommend booking this excursion!

Very nice museum. Experience the Lifestyle of a 1930s Beach Front Estate…Paintings from Frederic Clay Bartlett and whatever he and his wifes have collected. Guided tour recommended.

The Bonnet House was surprisingly amazing!!! The History of the house combined with the vibrant colors of the house and artwork blew me away. All this along with the beautiful grounds makes this a must see!!

A place that shows what Florida was like when it was first being settled in the 1800's. It is impressive how well preserved it is! A gorgeous hammock forest and grounds to walk around in!! The builder was a talented artist and his art is all over! His wife was a painter and has her art as well. The combination is a dream! The place has a cute coffee shop and gift store to sit at!

Beyond excellent customer service, amazing architecture, beautiful gardens, so much nature, informative video, reasonable prices ($10 to walk around, $25 to see it all), and the art work.. you have to come see this huge hidden gem. So much history and elegance. I can not wait to come back and see more. With the little time I had it was hard to fully see and #enjoy it all but what I did see made me so grateful for the opportunity and happy to be an American. When you come you will see why. You’re welcome. PS: a huge shout out to Ron, Andrea, and the gulf cart driver (I hate it that I didn’t get his name 🥹) for their patience and willingness to share with us the back story to this jewel. We appreciate each of you and hope others will too.

Was good, but not great. I did like the artwork and walking the house. I wish I knew the second floor wasn't open on weekends as that would have been helpful. It's more a 3.5 out of 5 experience.

A hidden tropical sanctuary off of Fort Lauderdale beach. The grounds have stunning canopy walking trails that give you cool and refreshing forest feel. The museum home has unique art work and a beautiful court yard fountain. There are ponds to sit, meditate and soak up the view. The staff and volunteers are all very nice and purely love sharing the history of the property. While this might be known as a tourist attraction, it’s is 100% a place more locals should become members to enjoy the pure quiet and healing of nature. And are always looking for volunteers. There are not many places to get away from the busyness of a growing city, and feel like your in a magical place far away. While I teach the beach yoga directly east and on the beach of Bonnet house, this is a totally different vibe. I’m looking forward to also sharing yoga, walking and more at the bonnet house.

Historic video and tour the house and grounds. Quite interesting and informative. Nice gift store. Plenty of parking. Does not reciprocate with NARM and similar museums.

🏰🖼️ Bonnet House Museum & Gardens is an absolute treasure trove of history, art, and natural beauty that captivated our senses from the moment we stepped onto its grounds. This hidden gem in Ft. Lauderdale offers a rich glimpse into the lives of its former inhabitants, Frederic and Evelyn Bartlett, with their eclectic art collection, architectural marvels, and lush gardens. 🌺🏞️ Upon arrival, we were immediately drawn to the stunning main house, which boasts a unique blend of architectural styles, including Art Deco, Mediterranean Revival, and Bahamian influences. Inside, we found ourselves surrounded by an impressive array of art, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative elements, showcasing the couple's remarkable taste and passion for creativity. 🏛️🎨 As we ventured through the meticulously maintained gardens, we were entranced by the beauty of the landscape, featuring tropical plants, vibrant flowers, and serene water features. The scenic walking trails and peaceful lily pond offered a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 🌿🌷🏞️ One of the highlights of our visit was the interactive treasure hunt style map designed for kids. The little ones were handed a treasure map at the entrance, and the excitement in their eyes was evident. Throughout the tour, they eagerly searched for the hidden objects, making the experience not only educational but also incredibly fun for them. Completing the challenge was a real delight, and it kept them engaged and curious throughout our exploration. 🗺️🔍🧒👧 Moreover, the museum staff was exceptionally welcoming and knowledgeable, providing fascinating insights into the Bartletts' life and the historical significance of the property. Their passion for preserving this cultural landmark was evident in every detail they shared. 👩‍🏫🤩 In addition to its cultural and artistic wonders, Bonnet House also offers a glimpse into the region's diverse ecosystem. The Coastal Hammock Trail allowed us to spot various species of birds, butterflies, and even the occasional iguana or raccoon, all adding to the enchanting experience of being amidst nature's wonders. 🦋🐦🌳 In conclusion, Bonnet House Museum & Gardens proved to be an enthralling and educational destination suitable for all ages. Its unique blend of art, history, and nature, coupled with the engaging scavenger hunt for kids, made our visit truly unforgettable. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an art lover, or seeking a family-friendly outing, Bonnet House is a must-visit destination that will leave you with cherished memories for years to come. 🏰🎨🌿🧒👨‍👩‍👧‍👦📸 Follow our facebook group for all things fun in Floida with kids, by typing #thingstodoinFloridawithkids #bonnethouse #kidsinflorida #bonnethousemuseum&gardens

Excellent place to visit if you're in the area. Birch Park is right next door which is also very nice for a picnic. Lots of great history at the Bonnet House, and guides on hand everywhere to hit you with interesting facts. Great to do when it's not too hot out. Highly recommend

The place itself is beautiful and surrounded by lots of nature but it is small you pretty much can do it in 20 minutes. I paid $5 to visit the garden. If you wanted to visit the house, it was $15 more. Went on a saturday, and the place was empty. Ended up no visiting the house as it did not look attractive to me, they said they have all arranged like the way the family lived there before.

Wonderful experience visiting on a weekday. I did not expect that the property was this big and you can spend so much time here! Very pleasant surprise.

We really enjoyed our visit here. It's more for adults as the tour is of the house and artwork. The grounds are beautiful and well kept up.

Fascinating place! Fred, our informative guide, was knowledgeable and accommodating. (I took many pictures and some videos and did not feel rushed.) The grounds and gardens of Bonnet House are lush and peaceful. The house is unique; its rooms are scattered among several buildings. Each room, building and veranda are decorated inside and out by the world-traveling owner and his wife. Both loved shells. Their impressive Shell Museum holds shells from around the world. The caretaker"s house is a trip back in time, with its Singer foot-pedal sewing machine. galvanized tub with ringer washing "machine", and wooden ironing board. There is a well-done video of the house's history. The rooms are air-conditioned. The gift shop has a nice assortment of quality items, and the Café offers fresh sandwiches, drinks, and ice cream. The $25 self-guided QR codes tour admission fee sounded a bit steep at first. Then, the welcome center person showed a map of the estate. Seeing how vast the property was, I opted for the guided tour admission fee ($30) and was not disappointed. It was 2-3 hours well-spent!

Beautiful grounds and decor. So many great things to look at here including art & nature. The event staff is top notch & the event coordinator David is a pleasure to work with.

This place was very neat and the items have been so we'll taken care of. It felt like a very livable home and not stuffy like a museum. I loved that many of the people in the rooms were very knowledgeable about the items and where they came from. It is so hard to imagine that all of Florida used to be like this and now it is an island of serenity in the middle of a concrete jungle!! I was a little taken aback when we were told many times that this was a self guided tour but then we were told by 3 different people to go somewhere or step out of a room until they were done talking to the group that was already in a room...

Stunning historical house museum that feels secluded from the rest of Fort Lauderdale. Even on a cloudy winter day you feel you’re in a paradise and its so enjoyable to look at the Whimsical art in the house, enjoy the lush surroundings and peace and quiet. Would highly recommend to anyone. Don’t miss the orchid house!

Great tour of the house and grounds. Well maintained property. Well worth the stop in Fort Lauderdale. I love that the house will remain with the property untouched by real estate developers. Bonnet house is surrounded by skyscrapers and hustle and bustle of the city.

Amazing history and beautiful art. A hidden gem. The volunteers were knowledgeable about the owners, house, art and grounds.

Awesome historical site. Beautiful to walk around and see. This is an artists history of his individual family. Our problems that it was so expensive, yet most of it was closed down and for what it was, it wasn't worth it to pay to get into the house. Neat to see, worth it once, but probably won't return...

Absolutely perfect wedding venue!! Thank you David, Debbie and Susan for outstanding customer service. Their communication, attention to detail, and flawless execution made our event everything we dreamed it would be! Our guests were blown away by the unique space and gorgeous gardens. Thank you again to everyone at The Bonnet House!