​Where to Eat and Drink in and around Cape Coral, Sanibel, Pine Island and Matlacha

If you’re planning a Florida vacation to the Cape Coral area, chances are good you’ll also spend a fair amount of time around Sanibel, Pine Island and Matlacha as well. This entire region, with all its beaches and waterways, makes for an outdoor adventurer’s and sun lover’s paradise.

But after you’ve done all your exploring, swimming, kayaking and shelling, where do you fuel up? Here are six of our favorite spots to eat and drink in the area.

1. Head over to St James City for a taste of old Florida at Low Key Tiki on the Water!

This is your place under the tiki hut for great food, great views, live music regularly and your favorite beer & wine. Come by boat or car and watch the pelicans on Monroe Canal while enjoying delicious food.

Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=736091894428008&set=pb.100040816126969.-2207520000..

2. Don’t miss Fins Seafood and Dive Bar

If you can never pass up a good dive bar when traveling, head to Fins for a laid-back atmosphere, large menu filled with rib-sticking goodness, live music and open-air seating around the bar. The menu features lots of Florida favorites, such as coconut Gulf shrimp, fried flounder sandwiches and crab cakes. Save room for dessert; you’ll definitely want to try the signature key lime pops.

Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/FINSSeafoodDiveBar/photos/2202850739917117

3. Local’s love Annie’s Restaurant

This local-loved eatery serves breakfast and lunch until early afternoon and is the perfect place to chow down before you start adventuring around the area. Choose from menu options such as breakfast tacos and homemade crepes, burgers and dogs.

Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/anniesrestaurantcc/photos...

4. Get your tiki drinks at Jungle Bird

Another tiki-style bar, Jungle Bird will quench your thirst with cocktails like the Fighter Pilot, with four rums, passionfruit, spiced honey and citrus, or the Mezcalhuna, with mezcal, rum, aperol, bruleed bananas and cinnamon. A menu of small plates will soak everything up with offerings like steamed bao buns or glazed sticky ribs. Don’t miss the Sunday brunch, either.

Photo courtesy of https://www.junglebirdtiki.com/private-events#&gid...

5. Enjoy sports events and live music at The Nauti Mermaid

For a dockside setting that allows you to watch the waves and boats go by, try The Nauti Mermaid, with its live music, all-day dining and sports events. On colder evenings, grab a seat by the fire pit and try one of the local rums or microbrews. Since the eatery is set within the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, it’s a little more upscale than some of the outdoor dive bars you might find in the area.

Photo courtesy of https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/rswwi-the-we...

Need More?

Need more advice on what to do, see and explore in this large area? You can find more advice on what to do, where to stay, where to shop and where to find travel-related services during your trip, in the Discovery Map guide to Cape Coral, Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island and Matlacha, Florida.