WaterfrontCape Coral$$$
Gather
Area: Tarpon Point Marina, Southwest Cape Coral
A marina-side restaurant for dinner, weekend brunch, happy hour and cocktails. Ask for a seat outside around sunset.
Last updated:
Hi, we're Jamal and Kellsey, the owners of Beachy Keen, a 3-bedroom pool home in Southwest Cape Coral. "Where should we eat?" is the question we get most from guests, so here's our list of the best restaurants in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, plus a few on Fort Myers Beach. It covers waterfront dining, seafood, brunch, date night, family spots and tiki bars.
How we built this list: every restaurant below had a working website and was operating when we checked in October 2026. Blurbs are our own short summaries. Photos come from each restaurant's own website (or the source credited under the photo). The $ to $$$$ price tiers are our rough estimate, and hours change, especially on Fort Myers Beach, so check the restaurant's site before you go.
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Waterfront dining in Cape Coral
Want dinner with a marina view? These spots sit right on the water at Tarpon Point and Cape Harbour, both in Southwest Cape Coral and a short drive from our house.
WaterfrontCape Coral$$$
Rumrunners
Area: Cape Harbour, Southwest Cape Coral
A long-time Cape Harbour favorite overlooking the marina. You can get there by car, or by boat if you are coming in on the water.
WaterfrontCape Coral$$
High Tide Social House
Area: Tarpon Point, Southwest Cape Coral
A casual marina hangout serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a drinks menu and events. It works for a relaxed group meal.
Seafood
Gulf seafood is the reason many people visit. These are local places where seafood is the main event.
SeafoodCape Coral$$
Lobster Lady Seafood Market & Bistro
Area: Cape Coral
A seafood bistro with its own market. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and posts daily specials, so you can eat in or take fish home to cook on the grill.
SeafoodCape Coral$$
Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill
Area: Cape Harbour, Southwest Cape Coral
An oyster bar and grill in the Cape Harbour marina district, close to Southwest Cape Coral, with posted specials and events.
SeafoodCape Coral$$
Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails
Area: Bimini Basin, South Cape
Seafood and cocktails on Bimini Basin in the South Cape. Boaters can tie up and eat, and it is a short walk to Four Freedoms Park.
Breakfast and brunch
Coffee at the house is fine on a weekday. On a lazy vacation morning, try one of these.
Breakfast & brunchCape Coral$$$
Sage on 47th
Area: SE 47th Terrace, South Cape
A chef-driven gastropub in the South Cape entertainment district, named in the News-Press's local roundups. It does brunch as well as dinner.
Breakfast & brunchCape Coral$$
The Brunch Factory
Area: Hancock Bridge Pkwy, North Cape
A spot that runs on the idea that brunch shouldn't end at noon. It is worth the drive to the north side of the Cape.
Breakfast & brunchCape Coral$$
10 Twenty Five
Area: Cape Coral
A neighborhood gastropub that is popular for weekend brunch.
Breakfast & brunchFort Myers Beach$
Heavenly Biscuit
Area: Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach
A breakfast food truck on Fort Myers Beach serving biscuit breakfasts, bagels and sandwiches. It is a good way to start a beach day.
Date night
Got a babysitter, or the grandparents are watching the kids at the pool? These places suit a special night out.
Date nightCape Coral$$$$
Next Door
Area: Tarpon Point, Southwest Cape Coral
A small, reservation-minded Italian spot at Tarpon Point built around fresh homemade pasta. It is open Tuesday to Saturday evenings, per its site, so book ahead.
Date nightFort Myers$$$$
The Veranda
Area: Downtown Fort Myers
A fine-dining tradition in historic downtown Fort Myers since 1978. Pair it with a walk around the River District.
Date nightFort Myers$$$$
Harold's
Area: South Tamiami Trail, south Fort Myers
A small farm-to-table restaurant in south Fort Myers that has a strong local following. It is open Tuesday to Saturday, per its site.
Date nightFort Myers$$$
Liberty
Area: S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers
A Fort Myers restaurant whose site notes options for vegan and dairy-free diners, which helps when your party eats differently.
Date nightFort Myers$$$
Silver King Coastal Kitchen
Area: Luminary Hotel, downtown Fort Myers
A coastal-style restaurant inside the Luminary Hotel on the downtown Fort Myers riverfront.
Family-friendly and casual
These places are easy with kids, groups and mixed appetites.
Family & casualCape Coral$$
Two Meatballs in the Kitchen
Area: Cape Coral Pkwy E, South Cape
A local Italian restaurant group with a Cape Coral location. Reservations are by phone, and the portions are made for sharing.
Family & casualCape Coral$$
Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery
Area: Cape Coral Pkwy E, South Cape
A South Cape bar and eatery that stays open late. It is fun for adults, so check whether it suits younger kids at night.
Family & casualCape Coral$$
Ford's Garage
Area: Cape Coral Pkwy, near the Cape Coral Bridge
Burgers and craft beer in a vintage-garage setting, just west of Del Prado Blvd. It is an easy crowd-pleaser.
Tiki bars
You're in Florida, so at least one evening should involve a tiki drink.
Tiki barsCape Coral$$
Jungle Bird Tiki
Area: Lafayette St, South Cape
An authentic-style tiki bar in the South Cape with cocktails, food specials and events.
Tiki barsCape Coral$$
Tiki Hut Bar & Grill at Dolphin Key Resort
Area: Dolphin Key Resort, South Cape
An open-air tiki bar and grill at a small resort in the South Cape.
Tiki barsCape Coral$$
Wicked Dolphin (Wicked Garden & Tiki)
Area: Cape Coral
A local rum distillery that offers tours and runs a garden and tiki area with events. Have a designated driver for the ride back.
Fort Myers Beach and San Carlos Island picks
Fort Myers Beach is still rebuilding after the 2022 and 2024 hurricanes, but plenty of places are serving again. See our Fort Myers Beach rebuild timeline for the latest.
Fort Myers BeachFort Myers Beach$$
Nervous Nellie's
Area: First St, Old San Carlos / Times Square area
A Fort Myers Beach classic on the bay side near Times Square, with an online menu and reservations.
Fort Myers BeachFort Myers Beach$$
Matanzas on the Bay
Area: Old San Carlos bayfront
A bayfront restaurant with Petey's Upper Deck upstairs and a webcam you can check before you go. Its site notes a limited menu, so check current hours.
Fort Myers BeachFort Myers Beach$$
Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille
Area: San Carlos Island
Named for the character in Randy Wayne White's novels. The Fort Myers Beach location serves lunch and dinner with live music, and there is another location on Sanibel.
Fort Myers BeachFort Myers Beach$$
Bonita Fish Company
Area: Fisherman's Wharf, San Carlos Island
The former Bonita Bill's, rebranded in 2025. It offers casual dining on the bay with live music, next to the shrimp-boat docks.
Fort Myers BeachFort Myers Beach$$
South Beach Grille
Area: Santini Marina Plaza, south end of Estero Blvd
A south-end favorite that reopened at Santini Marina Plaza in August 2026, according to the Fort Myers Beach Observer.
Fort Myers BeachFort Myers Beach$$
Lah De Dah Beach Bar & Grill
Area: Margaritaville Beach Resort, near Times Square
A beach bar and grill at Margaritaville Beach Resort, steps from Times Square. It is a good stop for a drink between beach sessions.
Eating in: the other great option
After a few nights out, a lot of our guests like a night in. Beachy Keen has a full kitchen, a grill and a heated private pool in a screened lanai, so you can pick up fresh fish at a seafood market, grill it at the house and eat outside by the fire pit. Our Cape Coral area guide has grocery stores, beaches and parks, too.
Planning a longer stay?
Winter is peak season, and popular restaurants fill up from January through March. If you're coming for a month or the whole season, see our snowbird winter rentals and monthly rentals pages. Coming for the holidays? Our 2026 holiday events guide lists the parades, lights and the Boat-a-Long. Heading to the island? Read our Fort Myers Beach rebuild news and timeline first. Or see the Beachy Keen home and photo gallery.
Cape Coral and Fort Myers restaurant FAQ
What are the best restaurants in Cape Coral for a special night out?
For date night in Cape Coral, try Next Door at Tarpon Point for homemade pasta, Gather for marina views, or Sage on 47th in the South Cape. Across the river in Fort Myers, The Veranda and Harold's are long-time special-occasion choices. Reservations are a good idea in winter.
Where can I eat on the water in Cape Coral?
Tarpon Point and Cape Harbour, both in Southwest Cape Coral, have several marina restaurants, including Gather, High Tide Social House, Rumrunners and Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill. Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails is on Bimini Basin in the South Cape.
Where is the best seafood in Cape Coral?
Our seafood picks are Lobster Lady Seafood Market & Bistro (which also has a market, so you can take fish home to grill), Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill, and Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails.
Where can I get brunch in Cape Coral?
Try Sage on 47th in the South Cape, The Brunch Factory on Hancock Bridge Parkway in the North Cape, or 10 Twenty Five. On Fort Myers Beach, Heavenly Biscuit is a breakfast food truck.
What are the best tiki bars in Cape Coral?
Jungle Bird Tiki on Lafayette Street, the Tiki Hut Bar & Grill at Dolphin Key Resort, and the garden and tiki area at Wicked Dolphin rum distillery are our picks.
Can you get to restaurants by boat in Cape Coral?
Yes, at some. Rumrunners at Cape Harbour can be reached by boat, and boaters can tie up at Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails. Check with the restaurant about dockage before you go.
Are Fort Myers Beach restaurants open after the hurricanes?
Many are. As of October 2026, places such as Nervous Nellie's, Matanzas on the Bay, Doc Ford's, Bonita Fish Company, Lah De Dah at Margaritaville and South Beach Grille are serving. Hours can change while the island rebuilds, so check each restaurant's website before you drive over.
Do I need reservations at Cape Coral restaurants?
In winter season (roughly January through March), popular restaurants fill up, so booking ahead is smart, especially for small places like Next Door. Some, like Two Meatballs in the Kitchen, take reservations by phone.
Is Beachy Keen close to these restaurants?
Beachy Keen is in Southwest Cape Coral. The Tarpon Point and Cape Harbour restaurants are a short drive away, the South Cape spots along Cape Coral Parkway are close by, and Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach are an easy drive across the bridges. Beachy Keen itself is not on the water.
Enjoy the food, and we hope to host you!
Jamal and Kellsey
Book Direct
Stay close to the best of Cape Coral
See live availability and book direct with Jamal and Kellsey, or message us about longer stays and monthly rates.