Courtesy of Cabbage Key Restaurant
COURTYARD QUEENS: A t Veranda E in Naples and The Veranda in Fort Myers, time seems to stand still on expansive green-ringed patios that are respites from the bustle of downtown. hotelescalante.com, verandarestaurant.com
PERSONALITY PLUS: These places have the distinction of immersive, quirky calling cards: Every square inch of the accessible-only-by-boat Cabbage Key Restaurant and Bar is covered in signed dollar bills, and the Camellia Street Grill in Everglades City (known for its unexpectedly refined fish dishes) features a gnome-inhabited garden, rainbow-hued terrace and buoy garlands. cabbagekey.com, facebook.com/camelliastreetgrill
PEOPLE-WATCHING APLENTY: Two restaurants from the same owner on the same street vie for this honor in Naples—the swanky Italian Campiello and The Continental steakhouse, where there’s just as much activity in the patio as out. In Lee County, Cape Coral gastropub 10 Twenty Five has opened a second location in the Fort Myers River District’s prime real estate, Patio de Leon. campiellonaples.com, damicoscontinental.com, cape10twentyfive.com
GREENS, NO TEE TIME NEEDED: Because Sydney’s Pub overlooks Tiburón’s serene Audubon-sanctioned golf course, most diners are surprised that a membership isn’t required to eat there. It’s a beacon for locals searching for comfort foods made from scratch, down to flatbread dough and hand-cut fries. tiburonnaples.com
SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY (OR GULF): Of our select few beach eateries, Naples’ Baleen has unequivocally the best expanse on the Gulf. The new Tesoro holds promise for the over-21 crowd, as it is helmed by a past Top Chef contestant and is five floors above the sand. Inland, three classics offer unbeatable views: Miramare Ristorante at The Village Shops on Venetian Bay; Rumrunners on a palm-lined Cape Coral canal; and Naples’ stately mangrove-nestled The Bay House. laplayaresort.com, jwmarriottmarcoisland.com, miramarenaples.com, rumrunnersrestaurant.com, bayhousenaples.com