I Love This Bar!
What—and where—are you drinking tonight?
If there is one thing Southwest Floridians love to do, it is patronize their local bars, whether dressed up for a special occasion, a quick round after work or relaxing in shorts. No matter what your mood, these bars will satisfy your desires and needs this season.
RUM BARS
Aged and on ice DOC FORD'S Sanibel/Captiva/Fort Myers Beach
The Vibe This is an upscale sports bar where the sport is fishing. The Fort Myers Beach location is waterfront, with a view of Estero Bay, while the Sanibel and Captiva locations are spacious and full of light.
The Drink Rum cocktails rule: mojitos, mai tais, daiquiris and more. The bar brags some 50 rums from all over the world, many reserved for sipping rather than mixing.
The Fare The menu is Caribbean-based, and local fish is served with exotic flavors and spices.
KANE TIKI BAR & GRILL
Marco Island
The Vibe Part of the Marriott Beach Resort on the pristine white sand of Marco Island, the Kane often features Polynesian fire dancers at sunset, along with special rum and cigar pairings.
The Drink The rum flights are quite impressive, with hard-to-find selections, ranging in price from $32 to $75 for three pours.
The Fare The menu is inspired by Indonesian street food. Try the pupu platter, which includes chicken yakatori, shrimp skewers, spring rolls and wings that patrons swoon over.
BEACH BARS
No shoes, no problem DOC'S BEACH HOUSE Bonita Springs
The Vibe Laid-back and friendly, Doc's Beach House has two bars, one directly on the beach and one upstairs where Chicago Bears fans gather during football season.
The Drink A great place to get your craft beer fix, the bar is stocked with selections from breweries around the state and across the country in cans, bottles and on tap.
The Crowd At the only true beach bar in Bonita Springs, you'll find a happy mix of retirees, college kids and families.
The Fare Serving casual fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Doc's is famous for its Chicago-style pizza.
THE COTTAGE BAR
Fort Myers Beach
The Vibe Found upstairs at the historic Gulfshore Restaurants (Shucker's FMB is the main restaurant), the Cottage Bar is befitting its name: small, casual, beachy and friendly with live music. There is also a bar underneath the stilted restaurant, right in the sand.
The Drink Try one of the sweet and irreverent shots such as Tie-Me-to-thePiling or a frozen combo of piña colada and rumrunner lovingly referred to as the Pain in the Ass.
The Fare The gooey, cheesy Original Beach Bread is a staple. The Cottage has a wide selection of seafood and items with a Southwestern flair.
DIVE BARS
Come as you are BUDDHA BAR Fort Myers
The Vibe It's a rock-n-roll club—loud and smoky with a small dance floor that's almost always packed. Add pool tables, darts and a large double-sided bar with an open view and you have a party.
The Drink Things are simple and affordable here. Get a cold beer or basic mixed drink.
The Crowd It's not unusual to see someone in a T-shirt sitting next to someone in a suit. The Buddha is known for late-night fun regardless of where you started.
MERMAID LOUNGE AND LIQUORS
Fort Myers Beach
The Vibe This decades-old beach bar is gritty with smoking inside and picnictable seating outside.
The Drink The Mermaid is infamous for its “Sunday Church” special. Until noon on Sunday, Bloody Marys ($1) and mimosas ($4) line the bar, and the crowd is three deep to get them.
The Crowd This bar is popular with both bikers and spring breakers, and a smattering of everyone in between. You never know what you'll find, and that's part of the fun.
WINE BARS
Swirl, sniff and sip C LEVEL Bonita Springs
The Vibe With soft blue lighting and a bigscreen TV playing concert videos, it's a chic and romantic spot to spend an evening.
The Drink Find nearly 50 wines by the glass, including some premium selections, thanks to a high-end Coravin system that extracts the fermented juice without exposing it to air.
The Fare The menu is sophisticated with beautiful charcuterie boards, thick sea bass and a full rack of New Zealand lamb that carnivores adore.
EMBER KOREAN STEAKHOUSE
Fort Myers The Vibe Modern and comfortable, it's popular with the “in” crowd.
The Drink There are dozens of wines by the glass, and they are not from the more prolific producers or most popular
regions. This is a great place for exploring new varietals.
The Crowd Folks in the hospitality industry are often seen at this bar on their nights off—always an indicator of top service and quality.
The Fare The menu is worldly with a Korean edge. Take, for example, the savory kimchi pancakes. Sushi is Edo-style, and it's fantastic.
CRAFT COCKTAIL BARS
Muddle, shake and stir BAR TULIA Naples
The Vibe Small and cozy, this bar feels big city, and the clientele dresses to impress.
The Drink Looking at the myriad of fresh herbs and tinctures lining the bar, it's hard to pick just one craft cocktail. The Sabal Sunset is called a local's cocktail: Milagro reposado, amontillado, lemon and toasted anise for layers of flavor.
The Fare This gastropub has delicious small plates, but the pizza Modena has been popular since day one: pancetta, house-made ricotta, Brussels sprout leaves and garlic chips.
GATHER Cape Coral
The Vibe Not your typical marina bar, this one is more upscale and foodie oriented.
The Drink The drink menu reads like an alchemist guide with Blood, Sugar, Sex and Magic being one of the most impressive. Consisting of black rum, house-made falernum, pineapple-infused pisco, citrus juices and more, it's set ablaze when served.
The Crowd The clientele is a mixed bag of foodies, young professionals and locals from the neighboring luxury high-rises.
The Fare The eclectic menu features items such as luscious Corn Meal and Mascarpone Dip, Crispy Duck Wings, Roasted Curry Cauliflower and Homemade Chorizo Deviled Eggs, to name a few.
THE BEVY
Naples
The Vibe This outdoor bar tucked back off of Third Street South is South Beach cool with bright green living plant walls contrasting with clean white tables and chairs.
The Drink Bartenders have almost every kind of herb, garnish and tincture you can imagine at their fingertips and are always coming up with something creative and new, including tiki drinks and smokeinfused cocktails.
The Crowd More often than not, hipsters and professionals are found here adding to the ambience. Oh, and there is a dining menu for dogs, too.
BARS BY BOAT
Dock space required CABBAGE KEY INN AND RESTAURANT Cabbage Key
The Vibe The bar in this historic island resort has thousands of dollar bills taped to the ceiling and walls, dangling like moss on the surrounding trees, for a quirky feel.
The Drink The menu is full of fruity concoctions, and the Cabbage Creeper is a signature. It's a cold blend of piña colada and rum topped with a coffee liqueur floater.
The Fare Though the restaurant serves superb shrimp and crab claws, many visitors go straight for the burger. According to folklore, Jimmy Buffett found inspiration on Cabbage Key for his hit, “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
BARNACLES
North Captiva
The Vibe Sitting at the end of a dock, Barnacles looks like an old fishing shack outside and kind of feels like one inside.
The Drink Order a bucket of longnecks—Corona or Bud Light.
The Crowd Boaters and fishermen stop here.
The Fare Nothing pairs better with beer than conch fritters and wings.
GREEN FLASH
Captiva
The Vibe While still casual, this bar is slightly more sophisticated for the boating crowd, with a clear view of Pine Island Sound.
The Drink Tropical creations hit the mark.
The Crowd Visitors from all over the world join locals at this bar. Old-timers will remember this was once the site of Timmy's Nook, the quintessential dockside watering hole.
The Fare Specializing in local fish, the kitchen turns out steamer pots and large seafood sampler plates great for sharing.
CROW'S NEST
Captiva
The Vibe The décor is nautical and fresh. Large windows provide a view of the Gulf of Mexico, allowing for lots of natural light and beautiful sunset views.
The Drink Blue Curaçao makes the High Tide Margarita a beautiful bright color. Garnished with Swedish fish, the drink is a perfect ode to the beach.
The Crowd Folks on the island come here looking for fun, from the famous hermit crab races to the live music and even karaoke.
CLASSIC BARS
Sophisticated service VERANDA Downtown Fort Myers
The Vibe Dating back to 1902, the Veranda's piano bar is adorned with dark, carved wood, contributing to the feeling of Southern elegance.
The Drink This is the place where the martinis are just dirty enough to raise an eyebrow.
The Crowd You'll often find the downtown legal crowd posted here, as well as diners who have come to celebrate a special occasion.
The Fare Classic appetizers go with the classic cocktails served here.
ANGELINA'S
Bonita Springs
The Vibe There's an old-world kind of feel in the bar. A baby grand piano sits in the middle.
The Drink While the bar is well stocked with top-shelf liquors, the wine tower holds a staggering 4,000 bottles, and during happy hour some are half priced.
The Fare Italian is the name of the game, and popular antipasti include the Arancini with porcini mushrooms and savory pizzettes.
IL CIELO
Sanibel
The Vibe This feels like a specialoccasion kind of place with perfectly set tables, a sizable bar and soft piano music in the background. The building has just undergone a summer-long renovation.
The Drink This is the bar to experiment with unique brands and small-batch spirits ranging from grappa to port and more. Allow the bartenders to get creative with them.
The Fare With a nod to seafood in both Mediterranean and Asian preparations, the black grouper is a signature, topped with jumbo lump crab in a sweet chili beurre blanc.
THISTLE LODGE
Sanibel
The Vibe Surrounded by a coastal chic motif, you just can't beat the view of the beach lined with swaying palms on the immaculate grounds of Casa Ybel Resort.
The Drink The bar menu puts twists on the classics, such as the Old New Fashioned, which involves torching an oak plank and trapping the smoke in an overturned rocks glass before adding Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Peychaud's Bitters and simple syrup.
The Fare Enjoy small plates at the bar, but drink your dessert. The Sake to Me uses coconut sake and coconut water vodka. Toasted coconut flakes on top make it festive.
RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE
Bonita Springs
The Vibe Recently updated, the décor is polished and comfortable, much like the staff; they make the bar fun, in a grown-up kind of way.
The Drink All the classics are served here, but many have twists such as raspberry in the Cosmo or ginger and coconut in the traditional Lemon Drop.
The Crowd Offering one of the best happy hours in the area, the bar gets packed early by a diverse crowd. Later, things filter to professional and discerning.
HIP AND TRENDY BARS
See and be seen SOCIETY Fort Myers
The Vibe One location boasting several personalities, Society's big draw is the Treehouse rooftop bar, with tiki drinks and entertainment. Downstairs becomes more club-like at night with two rooms featuring top DJs.
The Drink Try the Real Housewives of McGregor featuring Grey Goose la Poire Vodka, lychee, pear puree and lime. Add prosecco for a sparkling effect and jalapeno for a touch of spice.
The Crowd Young and fashionable. Many of the big-name DJs appearing on the weekends draw partygoers from the Miami area.
MANTRA BAR
Naples
The Vibe Found inside the Naples Grande Beach Resort, this is not your average Southwest Florida hotel bar. Its low lighting and blue tones give a feel of sophistication.
The Drink Most popular is the PerrierJouët Flutes & Frites Happy Hour on Friday. Flutes of the popular Champagne are only $7 and paired with decadent tapas such as French fries and gourmet dipping sauces.
The Crowd A popular place for the well-heeled to come after work, with the occasional flip-flop-wearing guest stopping by to observe the action.