Rocco Smith
Fort Myers is a beautiful and rapidly expanding city on Florida’s Gulf Coast that has become a hotspot for tourism and for those seeking to relocate full-time.
What attracts people to this little slice of paradise is mainly the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the soft sugar sand beaches, but what I love most about this town is the sheer quality of the restaurant scene, particularly where seafood is concerned.
As a Florida local and an avid fisherman, fresh fish and shellfish have always been some of the most delicious foods you can eat, in my opinion, so I always want to know where to get fresh seafood just in case I can’t catch it myself.
For that reason, I went around and ranked all the best seafood restaurants in the area to help out my fellow seafood lover out there who might be in the city.
Best Seafood in Fort Myers
- Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill
- Fish Tale Grill
- Prawnbroker Restaurant and Fish Market
- Shrimp Shack
- Skip One 41
- Izzy’s Fish & Oyster
- Pinchers
- Cape Cod Fish Co
- Dixie Fish Co
- Deep Lagoon Seafood and Oyster House
- Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar
- Salty Papa’s Shrimp House
- THE TIMBERS RESTAURANT & FISH MARKET
- Hook Fish & Chicken
- Three Fishermen Seafood Restaurant
Just check out my list down below of all the top places to get fresh seafood in Fort Myers. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill
13499 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Phone: 239-433-0924
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Coming in at the number-one spot is a place called Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill.
This place is located inside the Bell Tower shopping center so it’s perfect for stopping in and eating fresh seafood in the middle of a shopping spree or before seeing a movie nearby.
They specialize in New England-style seafood in addition to fresh oysters here at Blue Pointe.
MY favorite thing to order is something from the fresh catch menu like steamed Maine lobster or grouper, but the sea bass is always a delicious option as well if that’s more your style.
Fishtale Grill
1229 SE 47th Terrace B, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Phone: 239-257-3167
Right near Cape Cabaret off of Southeast 47th Terrace is the next place on my list of amazing seafood spots called Fishtale Grill.
Fishtail grill has all the fish and shellfish you could ever want and it’s so fresh you’ll be able to taste the open ocean with every bite.
I always start with some of the Pine Island middle-neck clams or the jumbo shrimp cocktail as an appetizer to go with a couple of cocktails.
After that, I recommend trying the sesame seared tuna or the ahi tuna trio for your entree. There are so many options to choose from here at Fishtale.
Prawnbroker Restaurant and Fish Market
13451-16 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone: 239-489-2226
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Prawnbroker has been around since 1982, so they are clearly doing something right to have been around that long.
As soon as you walk into the restaurant, you’re greeted with a display case of an insane assortment of fish so fresh they look as though they were caught that very morning.
You can also buy some fish or shellfish to take home and cook since this restaurant doubles as a fantastic fish market.
This place has one of the best surf and turf dishes I’ve ever had, so I highly recommend it to anyone in the area.
Shrimp Shack
13361 Metro Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33966
Phone: 239-561-6817
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This next place, Shrimp Shack, is a fixture of Fort Myers for quick, delicious fish that’s easy on your budget.
You’ll find Shrimp Shack off of Metro Parkway near Gulf Coast Medical Center, right by Linear Park.
When you get to Shrimp Shack, you have the option to get your food through the drive-thru, but they have dine-in options as well.
This is a casual stop on the list that shouldn’t be overlooked. I highly recommend the New England clam chowder or the Manhattan clam chowder, but it’s not a small menu, so there are tons of other choices.
Skip One 41
15820 S Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: 239-482-0433
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Skip One 41 is right off of South Tamiami Trail just past the BMW of Fort Myers and right before Sky King Fireworks.
I absolutely love Skip One and it’s always one of my first choices when I’m looking for some fresh seafood either to eat there or to take home and cook myself.
I recommend trying one of the combo platters or a specialty platter when you come to Skip One, that way you get a little bit of everything on one plate and you don’t miss out on something tasty.
They also have all sorts of sandwiches and steamed options as well. The shrimp are some of the absolute tastiest in town.
Izzy’s Fish & Oyster
2282 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: 239-337-4999
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This next place is one of my favorite places to eat when I’m in Downtown Fort Myers. Izzy’s Fish & Oyster is an amazing place to grab some fresh seafood that never disappoints.
You can find Izzy’s off of First Street by the Florida Repertory Theatre and the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
What I suggest you try from Izzy’s Fish & Oyster is a seafood tower, hands down. They have some of the most amazing seafood towers anywhere around.
Tower #1 comes with 6 oysters, 6 shrimp, ceviche, and fish dip. This is the tower I usually opt for.
Pinchers
Multiple locations
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Pinchers is up next and one of the nicest things about this place is that they have multiple locations around town, so you’re never too far away from a delicious meal of fresh fish and shellfish. Of course, the specialty is crab, but pretty much everything is good here.
Not only is Pinchers one of my favorite places to eat, but the drink deals here are unbeatable. They offer 2-for-1 drinks all day, every day. What could be better than that?
I always love coming here for the raw bar, mostly. I really enjoy the raw clams and oysters.
Cape Cod Fish Co
15501 Old McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: 239-313-6462
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Cape Cod Fish Co is an incredibly popular establishment for seafood here in Fort Myers and it’s easy to see why once you’ve had the pleasure of dining there. They’re located on Old Mcgregor Boulevard in the same plaza as Planet Fitness.
What I recommend from Cape Cod Fish Co is something from the signature seafood portion of the menu.
This includes absolute delicacies like their baked almond cod, seafood casserole, lobster pie, or the baked stuffed shrimp. Ordering any one of these unbelievable dishes is a surefire way to enjoy a great lunch or dinner.
Dixie Fish Co
714 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Phone: 239-233-8837
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Up next, Dixie Fish Co is a local favorite of mine because it’s right before the bridge to Fort Myers Beach, right next to Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille.
This waterfront restaurant has some incredible fish thanks to its location directly on the waterfront and close by to the fishing vessels.
If they are available, you simply must start with the grouper cheek bites, they are the most succulent and flavorful way to start off your dining experience.
After that, I recommend going for some seafood tacos. I usually just ask for the catch-of-the-day tacos because that’s always going to be the freshest.
Deep Lagoon Seafood and Oyster House
14040 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Phone: 239-689-5474
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Deep Lagoon is another amazing place to get seafood in Fort Myers, especially if you want a nice view of the marina while you eat. I really enjoy having a cocktail and a meal while watching the boats come and go.
You can come in and sit down at a table here at Deep Lagoon or you can sit at their beautiful bar and grab a drink, but my favorite part is being able to grab fresh seafood by the pound to take home with me if I don’t want to dine in. I definitely recommend the scallops from here.
Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar
14301 Port Comfort Rd, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: 239-489-0770
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This next place is called Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar and it’s an incredibly popular destination for fresh Fort Myers seafood.
This place is located off of Port Comfort Road on the way to the Sanibel Causeway, right inside of the Port Sanibel Marina.
Lighthouse Restaurant even offers its patrons free boat docking for any hungry mariners out there.
I recommend trying the Chilean sea bass or the Bahamian lobster tail, but pretty much everything on the menu here is mouth-wateringly tasty. They also do a fantastic fish fry with an IPA tempura that’s really out of this world.
Salty Papa’s Shrimp House
15271 McGregor Blvd #1, Fort Myers, FL 33908
Phone: 239-482-7272
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Salty Papas Shrimp House is a great place to come and grab seafood if you want to sit outside while you eat.
They have a spacious patio that’s perfect for enjoying some fresh air with some even fresher seafood.
The best part is that the patio is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your four-legged best friend!
Salty Papas is a shrimp house, so it only makes sense to go for a shrimp-based dish here. I really like the shrimp po’boy, but the menu is not small and everything is extremely tasty so don’t stress over it too much.
Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market
703 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957
Phone: 239-395-2722
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You just can’t visit Sanibel without going to Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market for one of the largest selections of fresh fish and shellfish to choose from.
You can sit down and have it prepared by the experts, or you can buy it by the pound to take home with you.
Check out Timbers off of Tarpon Bay Road, right around the corner from Bailey’s General Store.
When you get there, be sure to check out their awesome selection of oysters, but they also have some really delicious sushi as well, not so surprising considering all of the fresh fish they have.
Hook Fish & Chicken
3315 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33916
Phone: 239-332-4758
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Next up is Hook Fish & Chicken, another one of my favorite seafood places to hit while I’m in town.
Hook Fish & Chicken is a must-try spot while you’re in town, just ask any local and they’ll tell you to stop on by when you get hungry.
My favorite thing about Hook Fish & Chicken is that they have a speedy drive-thru in case you don’t feel like sitting down, but you can go inside and order at the counter as well.
My favorite things to order are the conch fritters, by far, but their menu is loaded with other great options to choose from.
Three Fishermen Seafood Restaurant
13021 N Cleveland Ave, North Fort Myers, FL 33903
Phone: 239-599-8568
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Last, but not least, is Three Fishermen Seafood Restaurant located in North Fort Myers off of North Cleveland Avenue, right next to North Shore Park.
This place is laid-back and casual, offering beautiful views of the Caloosahatchee River right from your table while you eat.
They have a big menu, so I’d recommend ordering a drink first while you peruse your options.
My go-to choices are usually the crabmeat salad sandwich, the snow crab legs, or a nice, big grouper filet that I prefer blackened. The broiled stuffed flounder is also one of their specialties that is hard to pass on.
Final Thoughts
As you might expect from a little coastal city like Fort Myers, there is seafood aplenty. The restaurants here take pride in obtaining the absolute freshest possible fish and shellfish to serve on their menu. Hopefully, now you’ll know exactly where to go the next time you want seafood in town.
If you’re not looking for seafood, check out some of my favorite places to eat in Fort Myers overall.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!
