Naples Dining

The greater Naples area provides many outstanding restaurants for every taste and budget. From the very finest restaurants in the four and five star hotels, which showcase the local seafood freshly harvested from the Gulf or Bay, to the most casual, laid-back examples of old Florida dining preferred by the natives, Southwest Florida will satisfy any appetite with an abundance of choices, from Venetian Bay to the Naples Historic District to Marco Island.

We have presented below a small selection of restaurants which are especially representative either of their cuisine type or theme. By no means are these the best restaurants which you may find on your own. Regard our selections as starting points, if you are looking for something in particular, where you may be assured of experiencing exactly what you are seeking, and from where you can branch off in search of your own discoveries that may even exceed the standards we have identified below.

Fine Dining

The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton at 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road (239) 598-3300 is well worth the half-hour drive north of town. Here you can enjoy locally caught seafood, and a full menu of other entrees, prepared in the best French and continental tradition, which varies according to season and availability. The award winning chef has attained international recognition in the art of pastry and chocolate, which certainly should be sampled while you are here, along with a selection from an excellent collection of wines and spirits.

Lafite Restaurant at the Registry Resort at 475 Seagate Drive (239) 597-3232 provides the ultimate experience in French fine dining, from the iced caviar to the pomegranate-glazed filet mignon, the award-winning chef also does wonders with side dishes and desserts which highlight Florida’s citrus, produce and locally caught seafood.

Tony’s Off Third at 1300 Third Street South (239) 262-7999 provides outdoor seating, a coffee bar and fine wine shop. If the opulence of a full-course dinner is more than you had in mind, spend some casual time at this remarkable little sidewalk café in the Naples Historic District, where you can sample freshly baked breads, gourmet pastries and sandwiches, and a wonderful selection of specialty coffees.

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Seafood

Baleen Restaurant at LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort, 9891 Gulf Shore Drive (239) 597-3123 is an outstanding seafood restaurant right on the Gulf of Mexico where you can enjoy a spectacular sunset along with a perfectly prepared, locally caught seafood entrée in a friendly and casual environment. Both indoor and outdoor seating are offered.

The Boathouse Restaurant at the Cove Inn, 990 Broad Avenue South (239) 643-2235 is on quiet Naples Bay, for a more intimate waterfront dining experience. In addition to their coconut beer-batter shrimp, oysters on the half-shell and freshly caught entrees, the steaks, burgers and ribs also are outstanding.

Maxwell’s on the Bay at The Village on Venetian Bay, 4300 Gulf Shore Boulevard North (239) 263-1662 has a complete American menu of fine steaks, salads and seafood, but the Maine Lobster is particularly good here, and dining on quiet Venetia Bay adds a special intimacy to an already elegant experience.

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Steak

The Bonita Rib Room at 24080 South Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs (239) 947-3333 is the place to go in Southwest Florida for prime aged beef. Standing rib roast is the specialty of the house, and the seafood entrees also are outstanding. Enjoy a top quality steak dinner accompanied by a selection from one of the best wine cellars in Florida, and follow it with a flambé dessert for a truly elegant dining experience.

The Watermark Grille at 11280 North Tamiami Trail, Vanderbilt Beach (239) 596-1400 provides a casual but beautiful tropical environment in which to enjoy a full menu of beef, poultry, seafood, or pasta. Steaks are top quality, cut and prepared to order, and the service is excellent.

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Barbecue

Michelbob’s Championship Ribs at 371 Airport Road (239) 643-7427 has served more than 10 million pounds of baby back ribs imported from Denmark since it opened, and is still a favorite among the residents. A full bar is available, and all of the recipes are original. The atmosphere is very casual, old Florida, and accommodating for families with young children.

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Caribbean

Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café at 1220 Third Street South (239) 643-6889 has the perfect atmosphere for the tropical environment of Naples, and the island-style thatched décor will be hard to miss amongst the preserved and restored architecture of the Historic Dictrict which surrounds it. Enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine with a full bar in this casual and fun oasis, accompanied by live music.

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