Beachfront Dining
Enjoy lunch or dinner at Thistle Lodge Beachfront Restaurant. A Sanibel Island tradition.
Must Do Recommends
Flavors from the Caribbean!
Good food and good conversation at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grill can stretch a meal out for an afternoon or an evening to

The Prawnbroker Restaurant Group
The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

Fort Myers top10 Dining

When it comes to dining in Southwest Florida, you can be sure of two things: You’ll get the freshest seafood possible and scenic outdoor seating year-round. From fine dining to affordable family-friendly, the Fort Myers region is all about good taste.


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Fabulous fresh seafood is the main staple at local Fort Myers area restaurants. The wonderful seafood in the Fort Myers area starts with some of the best shrimp in the United States. Gulf Pink Shrimp is unsurpassed in flavor and versatility. Pinks are tender and sweet. Watch the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Boat Fleet deliver their fresh daily catch and enjoy the day’s haul in many restaurants around the San Carlos Bridge. Other local seafood favorites such as grouper, snapper and mahi mahi, are prepared in a style that will have you savoring a return trip to Southwest Florida’s restaurants.

Southwest Florida’s shores skirt the Gulf of Mexico, and its dining tables reap the benefits. But the region’s food and dining offerings are not all about seafood. A long-standing history with cattle ranching and a burst of color each season from Florida’s abundant citrus crops and colorful agricultural fare mean the Fort Myers-Sanibel region is a food-lovers paradise. Floribbean cuisine is a part of the Floridian culture, heavily influenced by global immigrants, especially the Caribbean. Featuring fresh ingredients, complex medleys of spices and generous uses of fresh fruit, especially citrus and tropical, these exotic flavors create a taste specific to Florida.

You can’t leave Florida without having a slice of key lime pie. Made traditionally from key limes (naturalized in the Florida Keys), the pie has a tart kick and is a staple on most Florida restaurants menus.

You’ll find restaurants across the region featuring mouth-watering meals showcasing the diversity in cuisine. Spectacular meals are easy to find whether you choose white-linen fine dining, or a casual bistro setting.

Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream
A Sanibel tradition for more than 32 years and home of the world famous Sanibel Krunch and Dirty Sand Dollar ice creams. Pinocchio’s makes 24 of its 130-plus flavor repertoire daily, including signature ice creams, gelato, sorbets, ...read more

Nervous Nellie’s
Nervous Nellie’s has been voted “Best Waterfront Restaurant”, “Best Place for Lunch”, and “Best Casual Dining” by Island locals. This popular institution feature a sizable menu that offers items ...read more

Blue Giraffe Island Dining
Delicious Island Dining! This Sanibel Island restaurant features fresh local seafood, chowders, sensational salads and mouthwatering steaks. Cool down with Edy’s Grand ice cream, enjoy old-fashioned malts, hand-dipped milkshakes, ...read more

The Island Cow
True Island Charm, always fun. Best Tropical Dining; breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Incredible menu offers extensive food choices, including large kids’ menu. Great selection of beer and wine. Live local music. ...read more

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
This local Fort Myers Beach restaurant favorite combines fantastic food with a fun atmosphere inspired by best-selling author Randy Wayne White’s character, Marion “Doc” Ford, an adventurer, biologist and ex-government ...read more

Captiva Island Dining
Cantina Captiva Captiva's newest restaurant! Try the fajita salad, the tequila-lime shrimp or a refreshing margarita. Enjoy Mexican and Southwestern specialties in this beautiful tropical garden with a ...read more

The Prawnbroker Restaurant Group
The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel Island, 239.472.3128 Enjoy selections of grouper, snapper, tuna, mahi, swordfish, cobia, shrimp, scallops, lobster and more in ...read more

Pinchers Crab Shack
You can't fake fresh!® This is the standard that Southwest Florida's favorite seafood restaurant has operated by for over ten years. From blues to kings, to snows and stoneys, Pincher’s Crab Shack is all about crabs. ...read more

Thistle Lodge Beachfront Restaurant
You'll enjoy an award-winning menu in a romantic setting overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, with swaying palms and gently breaking waves at this Sanibel Island restuarant. Dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood hand-cut in the kitchen and ...read more