Dining for Every Desire
Pull up a chair for one-of-a-kind dining and drink experiences that are sure to excite your palate with creative flavors.
Olde Florida Chop House, Bonita Springs
If delicious dining ranks high on your vacation wish list, Fort Myers delivers in so many ways. From waterfront seafood spots to elegant dining rooms and breezy island cafés, the area serves up flavors for every mood. Whether you’re craving casual bites or a special night out, you’ll find plenty of tempting choices. Here’s a sampling.
When Food is Your Love Language
Romance begins with a leisurely meal, where great food, fine wine and good conversation linger long after the last bite. If modern Italian makes you swoon, reserve a table at Angelina’s Ristorante in Bonita Springs. The local favorite earned a spot on OpenTable’s Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. in 2025 and 2026. For dinner with a view, head to The Crow’s Nest Steakhouse at ‘Tween Waters Resort on Captiva Island, where you can watch the sun slide into the Gulf while choosing between prime steaks and fresh seafood. On Sanibel Island, settle in at the beachfront Thistle Restaurant at Casa Ybel Resort, where elegant surroundings and beautifully prepared dishes set the mood for a memorable evening.
Yucatan Waterfront Tiki Bar & Grill, Matlacha
Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina, Fort Myers Beach
Spectacular Sunsets, Served Up Nightly
Could anything be more perfect than dinner with a sunset view? At Doc’s on the Beach in Bonita Springs, kick off your shoes, settle in with deep-dish pizza and enjoy the breezy beachside vibe. Head upstairs for sweeping shoreline views while you sip a piña colada. For an unforgettable evening, reserve “Dinner on the Beach” at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach, where you can savor a four-course meal at a private table in the sand – complete with personal butler service – as the waves provide the soundtrack.
When You Want Someone to Cook Your Catch
In Fort Myers, there’s a good chance your fishing story might end with dinner on the plate. If you’d prefer not to be your own chef, many local restaurants will cook your catch just the way you like it. Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island is known for its charming setting inside a historic inn, turning your fresh catch into a memorable meal. On Fort Myers Beach, Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant pairs open-air dining and bay views with expertly prepared seafood (note that you'll have to bring your fish already filleted, but they're happy to cook it).
Tip: Check the fishing page for the best local fishing spots – then reserve ahead to have your fresh catch prepared.
Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood, Cape Coral
Rise, Shine, Dine!
Skip the ordinary breakfast routine and start your day in downtown Fort Myers at bullig. Here, family-friendly crafting and a playful vibe add a touch of whimsy, alongside creative coffee drinks with clever twists and waffle creations that steal the spotlight. On Sanibel Island, pull up a chair at Lighthouse Café, a breakfast institution since 1987 that proudly claims it serves “the world’s best breakfast.” Inside, you’ll spot framed photos and paintings of lighthouses from around the world, including the iconic Sanibel Lighthouse just down the road. Or take your house mimosa and homestyle hot cakes outside and enjoy them in the island air.
Encore-Worthy Evenings
Your dinner and a show just got easier. Broadway Palm in Fort Myers serves up professional musicals along with a great meal. Fort Myers’ Murder Mystery Dinner Train takes theater on the rails: In fact, you become part of the plot as you help solve a murder while the train chugs across the river and through the countryside.
When You Want Waterside and Wonderful
Pull up a chair by the water and let the scenery set the mood. At High Tide Social House in Cape Coral, you can sit outside and watch boats in the harbor while enjoying gourmet pizzas, craft cocktails and live music. On Fort Myers Beach, stop in at Dixie Fish Company for fresh seafood in a breezy restaurant (inside a circa-1937 fish house, no less) with views of a working shrimp fleet. On Captiva Island, grab a dockside seat at The Green Flash Waterfront Restaurant and enjoy the show – mangroves, shorebirds and passing boats included.
Here's Where to Tie Up and Dig In
Arrive by boat and the adventure becomes part of the meal. At The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill in North Fort Myers, tie up and step into what feels like a mini vacation, complete with riverfront views, a swimming pool and live entertainment. Order a bucket of tiki drinks and dig into a menu of casual coastal favorites. Over in Boca Grande, longtime landmark Miller’s Dockside welcomes boaters with easygoing island vibes. Seafood leads the lunch and dinner menus, and you can watch the game or the yachts in the harbor while swapping fishing tales with the locals.
The Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill, Fort Myers
Picnic Society Co.
Beach Picnics Perfected
With sunshine almost every day and miles of sandy shoreline, Fort Myers is made for beach picnics. Whether you’re planning something romantic for two or a laid-back gathering with friends, local picnic pros make it easy – you just show up and enjoy. Picnics by the Sun SWFL sets the scene with custom beach picnics, from cozy setups to luxury-style celebrations on the sand. Picnic Society Co. also creates picture-perfect spreads with themed décor, great food and chilled bubbly.
All Aboard for Lunch
Lunch tastes even better when it comes with a breezy boat ride to an unbridged island. Captiva Cruises runs excursions to legendary Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant, where you can tack your signed dollar bill to the bar alongside thousands of others. Be sure to order a craft beer and a burger or fresh seafood and soak in the Old Florida island vibe. From Pineland, Island Girl Charters ferries you to nearby Mainstay North Captiva Restaurant & Bar for food and fun, whether you’re relaxing under the tiki or grabbing a drink at Barnacles Bar.
Shhh! Hidden Gems Here
Shhh! Here are a few dining spots locals would love to keep to themselves. In Fort Myers, Liberty feels like a delicious secret – an intimate corner where the chef changes the artful small-plates menu daily and prepares each dish right before your eyes. In the tiny fishing village of Matlacha, seafood reigns, and Blue Dog Bar & Grill is the place to be. Here, fresh-off-the-boat favorites include pink shrimp, grouper and smoked mullet. In Boca Grande, stop in at The Pink Elephant for inventive cocktails and a playful mix of scratch-made takes on pub classics.
Eclectic Eats Await You
Some local favorites are simply in a category all their own. Wisteria Tearoom & Café, for example, offers a delightful luncheon menu and teatime finger foods in the cheerful parlor of a historic home in Fort Myers. On Captiva Island, step into The Bubble Room and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a tribute to 1930s and ’40s kitsch, where vintage décor, twinkling lights and cheeky humor set the mood. Save room for the towering layer cakes – they’re part of the legend.
For the Perfect Pairing
At Jordan’s Wine Bar and Cellar in Fort Myers, settle into a sophisticated parlor and enjoy guided wine tastings and seminars. For a memorable dining experience, The Silver King Coastal Kitchen at the Luminary Hotel in downtown Fort Myers offers a chef-curated five-course tasting with wines expertly paired to each course.
Wisteria Tearoom & Café, Fort Myers
Harvest & Wisdom at Shangri-La Springs, Bonita Springs
Find a World of Flavor
Fort Myers serves up flavors that travel from the Deep South to kitchens around the world. In downtown Fort Myers, pull up a chair at Fancy’s Southern Cafe and dig into homestyle Southern cooking with a modern twist. In Estero, El Gaucho Inca invites you to explore two South American traditions at once – savor Argentina’s succulent grilled meats alongside the bold flavors of Peru, from bright ceviche to hearty pasta dishes. In Fort Myers, Bangkok Thai lets you sample both Thai and Japanese favorites in one stop, from classic Thai recipes to sushi, sashimi and inventive specialty rolls.
When the Farm Sits Right Outside the Kitchen
Farm-to-table cuisine means freshness is part of every bite. At Buckingham Farms, pull up a chair and enjoy dishes made with ingredients grown on its 85 acres of farmland. Dine near fields and farm animals at Blossom & Brie in North Fort Myers, where sustainable practices shape both the setting and the menu – the vibe may be “barnyard-casual,” but the food is deliciously gourmet. At Harvest & Wisdom at Shangri-La Springs in Bonita Springs, a four-acre organic garden supplies the greens, vegetables and tropical fruits that shine on the menu.
Literally Rolling in Good Taste
Food truck parks turn a meal into a party. At Backyard Social in Fort Myers, meander between trucks offering everything from arepas to pizza. In Bonita Springs, Rooftop at Riverside pairs a handful of food trucks with a lively indoor–outdoor bar. In Cape Coral, come by boat or car to Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina, where food truck fare comes with waterfront views and live entertainment.
Backyard Social, Fort Myers
Tiny Foodies Welcome
Picky eaters in the family? Head to The Original Cheeburger Cheeburger on Sanibel Island, where young diners can order burgers any way they like or choose from other kid-friendly favorites. Don’t miss the milkshakes – there are more than 100 flavors to choose from. If there’s still room for dessert, let the kids design their own ice cream creation at the sundae bar, built around a bright red 1959 Corvette centerpiece.
At the marina-side Lazy Flamingo in Bokeelia, your kids step into a colorful world of hanging Japanese fishing floats and other nautical décor that feels straight out of SpongeBob SquarePants. Flip over the kids’ menu and let them color a flamingo cartoon, then add their artwork to the restaurant’s walls.
The Original Cheeburger Cheeburger, Sanibel Island
Patio Pups Approved
Traveling with your four-legged friend? Many restaurants with outdoor seating happily welcome pets. At Cork Soakers Deck & Wine Bar in Cape Coral, you and your pup can stretch out on the spacious porch while you sample creative food and drink options.
Rusty's Raw Bar & Grill, Cape Coral, @lilydoodle
Savoring new flavors
just feels right.
The Waterfront Restaurant & Marina, St. James City
On Fort Myers Beach, kick back waterside with your furry companion at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, where live music gets tails wagging. In Boca Grande, grab a table outside at Keylime Bistro, where the staff happily brings your dog a bowl of water.
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