Rocco Smith
Marco Island is known all over the world for having some of the clearest waters and the most beautiful beaches in the entire world.
The sugar sand shores of the Gulf of Mexico where the city is nestled are immaculate and you can see all the way to the bottom of the water while you swim, but what makes this place a true paradise is the restaurant scene.
Whether you’re visiting Marco Island or you live here year-round, it’s always in your best interest to find out where the best places to eat are, and that’s something I think I can help you with.
As a Florida local, I’ve spent a lot of time in Marco Island and the surrounding area, and I’ve made it my mission to find and rank all the top-rated restaurants the city has to offer.
Right down below, you’ll find the fruits of my labor in the form of a list ranking all the best restaurants Marco Island has to offer in one convenient place.
Best Restaurants in Marco Island
- Fin Bistro
- Sale e Pepe
- Da Vinci Ristorante Italiano
- CJ’s on the Bay
- Marco Prime Steak & Seafood Restaurant
- Doreen’s Cup of Joe
- Leebe Fish Inc
- Bistro Soleil at the Olde Marco Inn
- The Oyster Society
- Mango’s Dockside Bistro
- La Tavola Restaurant and Bar
- Verdi’s American Bistro
- Red Rooster
- Ciao Bella Ristorante Italiano
- Little Bar Restaurant
- Arturo’s Bistro
- STONEWALLS
All you have to do is scroll until you find one that looks good and make your reservation for an unforgettable dining experience.
Fin Bistro
657 S Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-970-6064
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Coming away with the first-place spot is none other than Fin Bistro. This should come as no surprise to anyone that has had the pleasure of dining here before, but if you haven’t, then you are in for a treat.
I love coming here to Fin Bistro because they have some of the most delectable fresh-caught seafood in the whole city, but that’s only one part of their glorious menu. There’s also sections for pasta and land-based dishes as well.
Check out Fin Bistro off of South Collier boulevard, across the street from Marriott’s Crystal Shores and the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa.
Sale e Pepe
480 S Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-393-1600
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Sale e Pepe is the next place I want to mention on my list of amazing Marco Island restaurants because there are few other places in the area that serve up such incredible Italian cuisine.
Seriously, I thought my Italian grandmother was back there in the kitchen cooking because the food was so good.
You’ll find all sorts of authentic and traditional Italian recipes on the menu here at Sale e Pepe.
Some of my favorites include their porcini and the arrabiata when it comes to pasta, but for your secondi, I always recommend the vitello alla Milanese.
Da Vinci Ristorante Italiano
599 S Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-389-1888
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Right around the corner from the beautiful Marco Island Center for the Arts, inside the Marco Walk Plaza, is another incredible Italian restaurant called Da Vinci Ristorante Italiano.
This place is unbeatable when it comes to atmosphere and the variety of menu items they offer.
When you get to Da Vinci Ristorante Italiano, I think you should consider trying whatever the soup of the day is to get you started, but then I suggest going for a wood-fired pizza.
I absolutely love their pizza here at Da Vinci because you can build your own or try one of their creations.
CJ’s on the Bay
740 N Collier Blvd #105, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-389-4511
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Next up is an American restaurant called CJ’s on the Bay. This place is a lively, open-air restaurant with absolutely picturesque views of the Smokehouse Bay in all its beauty where you can pass the time enjoying a cocktail and a meal while watching the marine traffic pass by.
Of course, being a waterfront restaurant, I recommend some sort of seafood from CJ’s on the Bay, but, honestly, everything on their menu that I’ve tried has been delicious so far.
Check out CJ’s on the Bay off of North Collier Boulevard in the Esplanade Shoppes at Marco Island.
Marco Prime Steak & Seafood Restaurant
599 S Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-389-2333
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This next place is called Marco Prime Steak & Seafood Restaurant and I hope this one blows away all of your expectations the same way it did mine.
This place is located inside the Marco Walk Plaza off of South Collier Boulevard, so if you’re in the area, be sure to stop by.
It’s hard to think of a better place to eat a delicious steak or some fresh seafood in such a classy atmosphere when you’re in Marco Island.
Marco Prime just really checks all the boxes when it comes to incredible fine dining. Come and see for yourself!
Doreen’s Cup of Joe
267 N Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-394-2600
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When you want to start your day off right before heading down to the beach or off to do some fishing, make sure you stop on by Doreen’s Cup of Joe for a breakfast that will brighten your morning up quickly.
Doreen’s is a delightful little counter-serve restaurant that has my all-time favorite breakfast foods here in Marco Island. Not to mention, they’re open at 7:30 am, perfect for all you early birds out there.
I recommend the fried chicken and waffles, but you simply must try the fresh-squeezed orange juice or a cup of coffee with it.
Leebe Fish Inc
350 Royal Palm Dr, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-389-0580
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Up next, let me introduce you to Leebe Fish Inc, one of my favorite places to go for fresh seafood and a couple of cold beers on a hot day when I’m in Marco Island. This place is located off of Royal Palm Drive near the Dolphin Cove Marina.
When you get here, grab yourself a drink to sip on while you look over the menu because it’s going to be hard to choose between all these phenomenal options.
Whenever I have the pleasure of visiting LeebeFish Inc, I usually opt for the catch of the day, either as a sandwich or one of their Marco Island Platters.
Bistro Soleil at the Olde Marco Inn
100 Palm St, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-389-0981
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Bistro Soleil is up next and boy is this place a treat. The restaurant is located inside of the Olde Marco Island Inn & Suites, one of the popular places to stay here in Marco Island, so if you’re staying in the hotel, you don’t have to go very far for an incredible meal. How convenient!
Even if you’re not staying at the inn, this place is always worth visiting simply for the atmosphere and the refined French cuisine.
If you’re looking for a romantic dining destination, this is it. Bistro Soleil has a resplendent Chateaubriand steak for two that clocks in at an astonishing 18 ounces!
The Oyster Society
599 S Collier Blvd #218, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-394-3474
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Marco Walk Plaza is really a culinary hotspot here in Marco Island, as you can see. Yet another fantastic restaurant located here is The Oyster Society, and you do not want to miss this one, I promise.
If you love oysters, then this is going to be like heaven for you. I have never seen such a variety of oysters to choose from in my life.
They must offer close to 50 different varieties of oysters from all over the East Coast, but that’s just the beginning.
The Oyster Society has some absolutely amazing entrees to choose from, as well, if oysters aren’t your thing.
Mango’s Dockside Bistro
760 N Collier Blvd # 109, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-393-2433
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Heading back to the Esplanade Shoppes at Marco Island, I’d like to point out Mango’s Dockside Bistro as another restaurant that I highly recommend to anyone visiting or living in Marco Island. I try to come here as often as possible.
The selection of cuisine here is vast and there’s bound to be something for everyone. They serve fresh sushi, burgers, seafood, steaks, and so much more here at Mango’s Dockside Bistro.
What I recommend for you to try is the fresh black grouper or the macadamia nut-crusted cobia. Either one of these is sure to satisfy you.
La Tavola Restaurant and Bar
961 Winterberry Dr, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-393-4960
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Right across the street from the Winterberry Public Beach Access on Winterberry Drive is a delightful restaurant called La Tavola Restaurant and Bar.
La Tavola serves up some of my all-time favorite Italian dishes, as well as some other delectable entrees like a lamb burger and bison burger.
When you come to La Tavola, I recommend you try the lobster and crab mac and cheese. It’s simply to-die-for.
If you want something more fitting to the Italian influence of the establishment, I suggest going for the fra diavolo or the classic chicken parmesan that can’t be beat.
Verdi’s American Bistro
241 N Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-394-5533
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Up next, I think you should check out Verdi’s American Bistro the next time you’re looking for a swanky dinner out.
This restaurant is one of those places that never fails to make a great destination for a romantic dinner.
If you decide to come to Verdi’s, be sure to check their catch-of-the-day specials, as well as whatever the soup special is. Both of these things change all the time so it’s worth coming back frequently to see what’s new.
For food, I recommend the rack of lamb the most, just don’t fill up too much on dinner because they have unbelievably tasty, homemade desserts too.
Red Rooster
1821 San Marco Rd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-394-3100
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Breakfast is supposedly the most important meal of the day, so it’s important not to overlook any great breakfast spots around town like Red Rooster.
If you’re looking for a great way to start your day, you can find it here. They also do lunch as well, but the breakfast is what really shines, in my opinion.
I highly recommend one of the specialty omelettes when you come to Red rooster. I am a huge fan of the Rooster omelette that comes with shrimp, scallions, cream cheese, and cheddar.
If you like your breakfast foods a bit sweeter, though, you’re going to want to get a Belgian waffle.
Ciao Bella Ristorante Italiano
1000 N Collier Blvd #6, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-970-0505
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Ciao Bella Ristorante Italiano is another amazing Italian restaurant that I think anyone in the area should stop in and try.
You can find this place off of North Collier Boulevard in the Heritage Square shopping mall, right across from Marco Town Center.
Dining at Ciao Bella is like taking a trip to Italy without ever leaving Florida. I like to start with the beef carpaccio or fried calamari, but then I go for an order of either the chicken piccata or the veal saltimbocca a la Romana.
Those are just a few delicious options, though, and there are plenty more to pick so make sure to read them all!
Little Bar Restaurant
205 Harbor Pl N, Goodland, FL 34140
Phone: 239-394-5663
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This next place, Little Bar Restaurant, is a tucked-of location that, if you can find it, you definitely should stop in and check out for a meal.
I really love coming here to grab a drink and some food because of the casual vibe of the place and the beautiful views of the water from their waterfront patio.
If you’re looking for food recommendations, I say try some of their fresh fish like the grouper or mahi-mahi because it’s just so fresh and tasty. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, you can always try the BBQ pork ribs.
Arturo’s Bistro
918 N Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-394-7578
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Arturo’s Bistro is a refined, upscale French bistro that you are really not going to want to miss out on if you happen to be in Marco Island or somewhere nearby.
This wonderful restaurant doesn’t quite get the praise or popularity it deserves, but sometimes that can be a positive attribute on its own if you like low-key spots like this.
Definitely consider starting your experience with the escargot bourguignon as an appetizer. After that, and maybe a glass of wine, you should get the roasted duck a l’orange or the veal parmigiana to really send it home.
STONEWALLS
551 S Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL 34145
Phone: 239-389-1995
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Last, but surely not least, is STONEWALLS. This family restaurant is unique and offers some quality food at reasonable prices in a fun, counter-serve setting that the entire family will enjoy.
STONEWALLS has a menu that features everything from tasty breakfast foods to gourmet flatbreads and Cuban sandwiches, so no matter what you’re in the mood for, it’s a safe bet that you’ll find something to satisfy you here.
Check out STONEWALLS off of South Collier Boulevard near some truly luxurious hotels, just north of the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa and just before the Marco Beach Ocean Resort.
Final Thoughts
Most people see the beaches and beautiful water as the main attractions to Marco Island, but for me it’s the food.
As you can see here, the restaurants in Marco Island are simply top-tier, giving you just one more reason to visit this little slice of tropical paradise hidden away in Southwest Florida.
If you’re going north to explore Naples a bit, check out some great spots for brunch when you get there!
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
