In an area where water is the main attraction, you don’t need to look hard to find fantastic restaurants with a view.
1. Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill
Boaters love The Boathouse’s riverside locations at Yacht Club Park in Cape Coral and up the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, where a whale of a bar and tables under a chickee set the scene. Expect casual eats like burgers, seafood baskets, and shrimp and grits on the all-day menu. The Cape Coral location also serves breakfast (go for the southern chicken biscuit), and the Fort Myers outpost has lunch specials like mahi-mahi po’boy sandwiches.
2. Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill
Anchored in Cape Coral, the laid-back Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill announces its priorities straight away with a sizable U-shaped raw bar taking up nearly all of the dining space, aside from a few tables inside and outside. Order oysters on the half shell, baked with seared bacon, grilled Louisiana style or freshly fried. The all-day menu includes specialty martinis and oyster shooters, plus parm-crusted fish of the day and staples like burgers and pork tenderloin sandwiches.
3. Deep Lagoon Seafood and Oyster House
The Phelan family behind Pinchers opted for a newly constructed, marina-facing 275-seater for their big kahuna, Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House, in MarineMax. The upmarket venture has a night-on-the-town vibe that is still relaxed enough for everyday dining. It also has a fish market, which is a solid indication that what you find on your plate—including specialties like hogfish with tomato and basil and chili-rub tripletail—are fresh from the sea.
4. Fathoms Restaurant & Bar
Arrive by boat or car to Cape Harbour marina where Fathoms has become a local favorite for its handcrafted pizzas topped with everything from goat cheese to Maine lobster. Sitting at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River and Gulf of Mexico, the patio and contemporary, glass-encased dining room showcase photo-worthy views of the yachts. The all-day menu skips between a variety of cuisines, with dishes ranging from Bavarian-style soft pretzels to Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches.
5. Fresh Catch Bistro
Fort Myers Beach’s Fresh Catch Bistro offers diners gaze-worthy panoramic views and expertly prepared fish. You’ll love the grouper caprese drizzled with balsamic glaze over creamy risotto or the sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna with wasabi aioli. If you want one of the outdoor seats on the elevated deck—trust us, you do—call early.
5. Gather
Located in Cape Coral’s Marina Village at Tarpon Point Marina, Gather features outdoor dining along the harbor and dishes that lean on Mediterranean fare and craft cocktails. On the menu, running from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., are small plates like beef empanadas, mozzarella-stuffed Wagyu meatballs, housemade pasta and seafood paella. Favorites from the weekend brunch include Nutella waffles, huevos rancheros, lobster cake benedict and smoked salmon tartine.
6. Oxbow Fort Myers
One of five new, standout restaurants at the Luminary Hotel & Co., Oxbow’s two-story space offers picturesque views of the Caloosahatchee River. Housed steps from the main hotel, the restaurant stands as a glimmering example of Fort Myers retaking its waterfront for public enjoyment. Oxbow has seating inside and out, where guests can dine on everything from oysters to seared duck breast with blackberry-ginger sauce. The tableside make-your-own bloody Mary bar at Sunday brunch is also a hit.
7. Rumrunners
Rumrunners, on a palm-lined Cape Coral canal, is part of the vibrant scene at the Cape Harbour Marina. Overlooking the mangroves along the Caloosahatchee River backwaters, the eatery serves a mix of salads, soups and classic seafood. Think: peel-and-eat shrimp, Bahamian cracked conch fritters, shrimp- and scallop-filled pot pie, and bronzed Caribbean salmon. The extensive cocktail menu features a section dedicated to inventive frozen drinks like Key lime coladas and toasted coconut margaritas.