Here it is – all in one place! As much water as we have around here, the opportunities for waterfront dining are limited. There are just a few beachfront restaurants ranging from fancy to a swimsuit-attire-toes-in-the-sand beach bar place. The waterfront restaurants also cover a wide spectrum of cuisine, cost and ambiance. As you scroll down this page, you’ll find the restaurants first separated between the beachfront restaurants and the waterfront restaurants.
Keep scrolling and we’ve listed them geographically from north (starting with the top of Estero Boulevard) to south with the contact information and websites. This list of waterfront & beachfront restaurants is worth gold (or, at the very least, worth years of discovery, many vacations to Naples, or a determination to eat out at every restaurant in the Naples and Bonita Springs area).
BEACHFRONT RESTAURANTS:
- Doc’s Beach House (toes in the sand at Bonita Beach; burgers, fries, pizza & beach food; cash only)
- Baleen (beachfront at La Playa Beach & Golf Resort; Vanderbilt Beach)
- The Turtle Club (Vanderbilt Beach; outdoor dining as close to the water as you can get)
- Gumbo Limbo (beachfront, casual restaurant of the Ritz Carlton on Vanderbilt Beach)
WATERFRONT RESTAURANTS:
- The Bay House (scenic view on the Cocohatchee River; live entertainment in the separate raw bar & cocktail lounge; excellent food with TLC; this is our favorite restaurant in Naples
- MiraMare Ristorante (Italian Cuisine; plenty of patio space; Village on Venetian Bay)
- Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar (Village on Venetian Bay with “Upper Deck”)
- M Waterfront Grille (Village on Venetian Bay)
- T-Michaels Steak & Lobster House (Village on Venetian Bay)
- The Village Pub (Village on Venetian Bay)
- Coconut Jack’s Waterfront Grill (overlooking scenic bay backwaters; on the north side of Bonita Beach Road)
- The Fish House (on a canal on the south side of Bonita Beach Road)
- Big Hickory Grill (overlooking Broadway Channel; north end of Hickory Blvd.; limited outdoor seating)
- Kelly’s Fish House (unpretentious; across the river from Tin City in downtown Naples)
- The Dock Restaurant at Crayton Cove (next to City Dock in Naples)
- Riverwalk (same owner as Dockside; located at Tin City overlooking the Gordon River)
- The Boathouse on Naples Bay (behind The Cove Inn near City Dock overlooking Naples Bay)
- Pinchers Crab Shack (Tin City overlooking the Gordon River)
- Buzz’s Lighthouse Restaurant (informal; American Food; bayside on Vanderbilt Lagoon)
- Flippers on the Bay (casual; under cover but all outside dining on the bay)
Working from north to south, here are the restaurants (with body of water) listed above with addresses, phone numbers and any websites:
Flippers on the Bay (Big Carlos Pass at Estero Bay; sits behind Lovers Key Resort; boating access, too; awesome for Sunday brunch but use the phone number to call ahead for getting on the seating list)
8771 Estero Boulevard
Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931
(239) 765-1025
Website
Big Hickory Seafood Grille (Broadway Channel of Estero Bay; boat access, too)
26107 Hickory Blvd.
Bonita Springs, Florida 34134
(239) 992-0991
Website
Doc’s Beach House (smack on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico; burgers and beach food; cash only)
27908 Hickory Blvd.
Bonita Springs, Florida 34134
(239) 992-6444
Website
Coconut Jack’s Waterfront Grill (Back Bay Waters of Estero Bay; boat access, too)
5370 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs, Florida 34134
(239) 676-7777
Website
The Fish House (on a canal on the south side of Bonita Beach Road; boat access)
4685 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs, Florida 34134
(239) 495-5770
Website
The Bay House (our most favorite restaurant on or off the water; scenic view on a bend in the Cochatchee River; access from Route 41)
799 Walkerbilt Road
Naples, Florida 34110
(239) 591-3837
Website
Baleen at LaPlaya Beach Resort & Golf Club (Vanderbilt Beach on the Gulf of Mexico)
9891 Gulf Shore Drive
Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 598-5707
Website
The Turtle Club (on Vanderbilt Beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico; wonderful setting for sunset dining)
9225 Gulf Shore Drive
Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 592-6557
Website
Buzz’s Lighthouse Restaurant (on Vanderbilt Lagoon; boat access, too; go for the grouper Reuben sandwich)
9180 Gulf Shore Drive
Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 597-2551
Website
Gumbo Limbo at the Ritz Carlton Beach Hotel (on the Gulf of Mexico)
280 Vanderbilt Beach Road
Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 598-3300
Website
MiraMare Ristorante (Village at Venetian Bay; go here for the holiday boat parade )
4236 Gulfshore Blvd., N.
Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 430-6273
Website
Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar (Village at Venetian Bay)
4270 Gulfshore Blvd., N.
Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 262-2707
Website
Fish Restaurant (Village at Venetian Bay)
4330 Gulfshore Blvd., N.
Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 263-3474
Website
T-Michaels Steak & Lobster House (Village at Venetian Bay)
4250 Gulfshore Blvd., N.
Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 261-0622
Website
M Waterfront Grille (Village at Venetian Bay)
4300 Gulfshore Blvd., N.
Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 263-1662
Website
The Village Pub (Village at Venetian Bay)
4360 Gulfshore Blvd., N.
Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 262-2707
Website
The Dock Restaurant at Crayton Cove (overlooking water & boats at City Dock marina; boat access, too)
845 12th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 263-9940
Website
The Boathouse on Naples Bay (behind the Cove Inn next to City Dock; boat access, too)
990 Broad Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 643-2235
Website
Riverwalk (located in Tin City; boat access, too)
1200 5th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 261-4191
Website
Pinchers Crab Shack (located in Tin City; boat access, too)
1200 5th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 434-6616
Website
Kelly’s Fish House (located opposite from Tin City on the other side of the Gordon River)
1302 5th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 774-0494
Website
As part-time “foodies,” we have been to all of these restaurants and we’re happy to share our thoughts and critiques. As full-time real estate professionals, we represent both buyers and sellers in Naples. If you are a seller, we market your home to local, national and international buyers for the best results. If you are a buyer, we listen well and will find your own “Piece of Paradise” at the best negotiated price and terms.
Tim Cranch at 239-272-4848 Ellie Penaranda at 239-776-5077
