Rocco Smith
People flock from all over the globe to visit Fort Myers or even move here. There are countless outdoor activities and fun destinations for the whole family.
One of the best things to do while you’re down here, though, is go out to eat.
That’s right, not only will you find pristine beaches and gorgeous parks, but also plenty of tantalizing places to eat.
This city is filled with everything from steakhouses to fine Italian bistros and, of course, seafood restaurants galore.
After 20+ years of living in Fort Myers, Florida, I feel comfortable saying I have narrowed down the best of the best when it comes to restaurants.
So, the next time you find yourself down here in Southwest Florida and you want to know where the locals go out to eat, just follow this guide below. It won’t let you down!
Best Restaurants in Fort Myers
- The Veranda
- Blanc
- Cibo
- Osteria Celli
- Cantina 109
- Connors Steak & Seafood
- Ember Korean Steakhouse
- Farmers Market Restaurant
- Prawnbroker Restaurant and Fish Market
- Ford’s Garage
- Izzy’s Fish & Oyster
- La Trattoria Café Napoli
- Firestone Skybar and Martini Bar
- Bimini Bait Shack
- The Lodge
- Sasse’s Restaurant
- Capone’s Coal Fired Pizza
The Veranda
2122 Second St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 332-2065
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The Veranda has been a famous dining destination and Fort Myers fixture since 1978 and the building it’s in dates back to 1902.
It’s an elegant combination of history and fine-dining that will leave you speechless.
They offer indoor and outdoor seating here at The Veranda by their relaxing piano bar or in their gorgeous garden courtyard. Some of my favorite dishes include their Mediterranean sea bass and the NY strip steak.
Take a look at how my dining experience went when I visited The Veranda!
You’ll find The Veranda in Downtown Fort Myers on the corner of Broadway and Second Street, right across from City Hall and Miller Griffin Memorial Kiwanis Park.
Blanc
13451 McGregor Blvd #10, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone: (239) 887-3139
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Blanc is located on the corner of Cypress Lake Drive and McGregor Boulevard in the Cypress Square shopping center, just down the street from Rutenberg Park.
This place is an intimate, sleek fusion of French, Asian, and Latin cuisines alongside creative cocktails.
Everything is hand-crafted with the utmost care here at Blanc, from the food to the drinks.
Delicious small plates like their petit filet mignon and their lamb lollipops provide the perfect accompaniment for whatever you’re drinking.
CIBO
12901 McGregor Blvd STE 16, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone: (239) 454-3700
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Their name means “food” in Italian, and boy do they know what they’re talking about.
CIBO is an upscale Italian restaurant that has a diverse menu with lots of different food and drink specials daily.
What I think CIBO does best is their penne alla vodka, but it’s always fun to try out whatever the ravioli of the day is.
Of course, there are also heavier options like milanese and marsala that can be ordered with chicken or veal.
Check out CIBO off of McGregor Boulevard inside the Bridge Plaza shopping mall, right across the street from the Landings Yacht Golf & Tennis sports club.
Osteria Celli
15880 Summerlin Rd #308, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: (239) 267-1310
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This next place is called Osteria Celli and you can find them off of Summerlin Road in the Summerlin Crossings plaza, right next to Publix Supermarket.
When you visit Osteria Celli, be sure to try their classic Italian branzino.
It has to be one of my favorite dishes of all time. Some other great menu items include the seared 10-ounce hangar steak and the roasted lamb chops.
Osteria Celli is also home to a fantastic dinner special where you can pay $35 and get 2 courses such as an appetizer and entree as well as a glass of wine to go with it. What a deal!
Cantina 109
9908 Gulf Coast Main St, Fort Myers, FL 33913
Phone: (239) 314-8226
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Next up, head over to the massive Gulf Coast Town Center shopping mall where you’ll find Cantina 109.
This place is a true, classic Mexican cantina with a long wooden bar complete with innumerable tequilas to try.
I love Cantina 109 because they have different happy hour specials depending on what day of the week it is.
One of my favorite slamming deals includes a traditional fajita for 2 with 2 margaritas on Mondays for only $34.99!
The best part is that when you’re done eating, you’re within walking distance to other fun places like Bass Pro Shops and the Regal Gulf Coast & IMAX movie theater.
Connors Steak & Seafood
10076 Gulf Center Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33913
Phone: (239) 267-2677
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Connors Steak & Seafood is a well-known name all over that rarely disappoints.
When you want a juicy, black angus steak that’s cooked to perfection, this is the place to go.
Look for Connors near the Gulf Coast Town Center shopping plaza off of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, right next to Costco Wholesale supermarket.
When you visit Connors Steak & Seafood, I recommend their espresso-rubbed, 14-ounce ribeye that comes topped with a red eye demi glace.
Ember Korean Steakhouse
7091 College Pkwy #9, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Phone: (239) 771-8818
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This next restaurant is also a steakhouse, but this time with a lively Korean flair.
Ember Korean Steakhouse is an absolute must-visit restaurant in Fort Myers for anyone that loves steak.
If you’ve never tried Japanese wagyu beef, then you simply must stop in at Ember.
You can order a wagyu ribeye that’s heavily marbled and juicy, or you can try an entire wagyu feast with samples of all different cuts.
Check out Ember Korean Steakhouse off of College Parkway and South Cleveland Avenue, right next to First Watch and across the street from Ada’s Natural Market.
Farmers Market Restaurant
2736 Edison Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Phone: (239) 334-1687
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Farmers Market Restaurant is located off of Edison Avenue and Palm Avenue next to the Stars Complex and Dunbar Park.
Here you can get incredible breakfast, sandwiches, and a whole host of different entrees daily.
This establishment is the longest-serving restaurant in all of Lee County, having opened their doors way back in 1952.
Their homestyle recipes have been passed down for generations and they’ve withstood the test of time.
I love coming to the Farmers Market Restaurant on Thursdays for their classic chicken and dumplings, but they have something delicious cooking every day.
Prawnbroker Restaurant and Fish Market
13451-16 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone: (239) 489-2226
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Prawnbroker Restaurant and Fish Market is a place that I’ve been going to since I was a little kid with my parents and it’s just as good as I remember.
Not only can you sit down and dine on fresh fish and steak, but you can also buy it from their market to take home and cook yourself!
If you decide to sit down and dine, which I recommend, then I would definitely order their surf n’ turf.
I mean, what’s better than a tender 6-ounce sirloin and a buttery lobster tail?
Check out Prawnbroker inside the Cypress Square shopping center off of Cypress Lake Drive and McGregor Boulevard.
Ford’s Garage
2207 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 332-3673
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Up next, Ford’s Garage is a renowned American restaurant that combines a love for classic cars and juicy cheeseburgers into one establishment along with tons of craft beer. What’s not to love?
Every one of the delicious burgers here is made by hand from Black Angus beef that’s never been frozen. You can really taste the difference.
I love to order The Model “A” burger that comes topped with bacon, pico de gallo, a sunnyside egg, and the standard fixings.
Look for Ford’s Garage in Downtown Fort Myers off of First Street near Centennial Park and the Hotel Indigo.
They also have other locations scattered around the city for your convenience!
Izzy’s Fish & Oyster
2282 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 337-4999
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Another downtown favorite of mine is Izzy’s Fish & Oyster.
This restaurant is so convenient because it’s right next to the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center as well as the Florida Repertory Theatre.
I love going out to dinner here before a show!
They serve both lunch and dinner here at Izzy’s with a happy hour every day from Monday through Friday.
Drink specials include $5 craft cocktails from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and BOGO cocktails, beer, and wine from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
As for food, well I’d recommend oysters, for sure. After all, it’s got it in the name!
You can also get other raw delicacies like ceviche and ahi tuna, as well.
La Trattoria Café Napoli
12377 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Phone: (239) 931-0050
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Up next, we have La Trattoria Café Napoli which is a splendid twist of Italian and Spanish fare.
They offer a lunch menu, dinner menu, and even a fantastic tapas menu, so you can eat here all day long!
My favorite time to come eat here at La Trattoria Café Napoli is during dinner. I have yet to find a better place to get delicious paella in Fort Myers.
You have the option of either a seafood or land-based paella and they are both to-die-for.
Check out La Trattoria off of South Cleveland Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard, right across the street from Mario’s Italian Meat Market. You won’t be disappointed!
Firestone Skybar and Martini Bar
2224 Bay St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 334-3473
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Firestone Skybar and Martini Bar is a must-visit restaurant in Fort Myers with the most beautiful rooftop view of the city. This place is a multi-level playground for gastronomy.
You’ve got the craft martini bar, the wood-fired, waterfront dining room serving up delicious food, and you can head all the way to the top floor and sit at the rooftop bar, all in one place!
This is the ultimate weekend destination for anyone looking for a fun night out in Fort Myers, Florida.
Happy hour is served every single day here from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM and it includes $6 premium spirits, $4 house wines and cocktails, and various food specials that you’ll love.
The Firestone Skybar and Martini Bar is located in Downtown Fort Myers off of Bay Street and Hendry Street, right across the street from The Luminary Hotel & Co., Autograph Collection.
Bimini Bait Shack
17501 Harbour Pointe Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: (239) 360-2248
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If you want to eat somewhere with that nautical, beachy theme that everyone loves about Florida, then head down to the Bimini Bait Shack located right before the Sanibel Causeway bridge and the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa.
This open-air restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor dining options as well as a massive fish tank bar full of live fish.
Being so close to the water, Bimini Bait Shack is home to some of the freshest seafood in Fort Myers.
One of my favorite things to order from the menu here at Bimini is a fried seafood basket with a choice of grouper, shrimp, scallops, oysters, or a combo of all 4 which is what I always get.
It’s all fresh, local seafood here and you can really taste it, especially when you try their catch of the day.
The Lodge
2278 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 433-2739
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This next place is called The Lodge and they are a Western-themed barbecue restaurant that’s built to resemble a log cabin.
I love this place mostly because of the delicious BBQ, but also because they offer the option to pour your own beer from the tap!
They have all the BBQ favorites here at The Lodge, including burnt ends, pulled pork, smoked brisket, smoked sausage, and so much more.
If you’re a barbecue sauce connoisseur, then The Lodge has what you’re craving.
They make their very own BBQ sauce that you can buy in bottles to take home with you. Try all 5 next time you go there!
Sasse’s Restaurant
3651 Evans Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: 239-278-5544
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Sasse’s Restaurant is a beautiful spot for Northern Italian cuisine in a cozy atmosphere.
They serve both lunch and dinner here, but dinner is reservation-only so be sure to make yours in advance!
I highly recommend the grilled swordfish from Sasse’s Restaurant, but they have plenty of other delicacies to try.
Some other favorites of mine include their chicken parmesan and their veal osso buco.
Look for Sasse’s off of Evans Avenue and Park Windsor Drive near the Breezewood neighborhood.
Capone’s Coal Fired Pizza
2225 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: (239) 337-2625
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Lastly, we return to Downtown Fort Myers and head to Capone’s Coal Fired Pizza for some authentic New York-style pizza and traditional Italian recipes made from scratch.
Besides delicious pizza, you can also get one of the best hot Italian panini sandwiches here at Capone’s.
The restaurant may be prohibition-themed, but they definitely do not slouch on the cocktails. I recommend their Italian Margarita cocktail or the Twisted Gin Mojito.
Capone’s is located off of First Street downtown, right around the corner from The Edison Theatre, an iconic Fort Myers fixture.
Final Thoughts
Fort Myers is a hotbed of fun and tasty activities, both indoors and outdoors.
All you have to do in order to get the most out of your experience when you’re in the city is follow this amazing guide to all of the best restaurants in Fort Myers.
I promise once you do this, you won’t want to leave!
Is there anything I missed? Please, comment below and let me know. I’ll get back to you right away!
Looking for a good restaurant that can accomodate a party of 14 for dinner over the Fourth of July weekend.
Our family is renting a home in Cape Coral for the weekend.