photo mosaic of Naples, Florida pier, Bayfront, Bayside, dolphin jumping, magenta orchid, water birds silhouetted against the sunset
The $10 Billion Question: Is Naples Becoming Florida’s Next Palm Beach?

The $10 Billion Question: Is Naples Becoming Florida’s Next Palm Beach?

Naples News Now

For decades, Palm Beach held the crown as Florida’s ultimate destination for ultra-wealthy residents — a playground for hedge fund managers, financiers, and old-money estates. But lately, a new name keeps popping up in the same conversations: Naples. Naples real estate

And it’s not just anecdotal.

Behind the scenes, a quiet but massive migration of wealth is underway, and Naples is emerging as one of the biggest beneficiaries. Real estate agents, developers, private bankers, and business owners across Southwest Florida are all seeing the same trend: high-net-worth individuals are choosing Naples over traditional luxury hubs like Palm Beach, Miami, and even parts of New York.

The big question is why — and what it means for everyone already here.

Read the full article on naplesnewsnow.com.

Recipe for success: 9 Naples restaurants withstanding the test of time

Recipe for success: 9 Naples restaurants withstanding the test of time

Kendall Little | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

We’re nearly a month into the new year, but I’m here to reflect on the old.

The Naples restaurant scene is constantly evolving and growing, bringing new and unique spots to the area every season. But for every new restaurant that opens in Collier, two close. The restaurants that continue to endure deserve their flowers, and these nine spots have endured quite deliciously for decades.

So, what’s the recipe for success when it comes to maintaining a popular restaurant in Naples? These nine restaurants all have different owners, menus, and environments, but have a few things in common: great service, fresh local ingredients, and an authenticity you can’t buy.

While lots of new restaurants have chic modern interiors and flashy unique dishes, these Collier gems find the simplicity in good ingredients, classic dishes, and friendly service to be the pillars that keep them in business for decades.

Key points:

  • Several Naples-area restaurants have remained popular for decades by focusing on fresh local ingredients and friendly service.
  • Kelly’s Fish House Dining Room, founded in 1953, is the oldest restaurant highlighted and is known for its “Old Florida” feel.
  • Many of the enduring establishments, such as The Dock at Crayton Cove and Riverwalk at Tin City, specialize in fresh seafood.
  • Other long-standing favorites include The Pewter Mug steakhouse, Pastrami Dan’s sandwich shop, and the uniquely themed Spanky’s Speakeasy.

Read the full article with photos on naplesnews.com.

Be close to good food with a home in the area. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

 

New waterfront restaurant makes chic debut in Bonita Springs

New waterfront restaurant makes chic debut in Bonita Springs

Kendall Little, Robyn George | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

It’s not every day that a new waterfront restaurant opens in Southwest Florida.

And it’s even more rare when it’s helmed by a globally renowned chef.

You’ll get both with Acqua Bistecca, which opened Wednesday, Jan. 21, overlooking Estero Bay at Saltleaf Marina in Bonita Springs.

The chic waterfront restaurant is powered by James Beard Award-winning and Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina.

Read the full article with photos on naplesnews.com.

Shops. Entertainment. Schools. Hospitals. What’s new for SWFL in 2026?

Shops. Entertainment. Schools. Hospitals. What’s new for SWFL in 2026?

Phil Fernandez | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

  • Construction is starting on The Carnelian Hotel and Sterling’s Club in Naples, with a planned opening in early 2027.
  • The development is part of a larger transformation near Waterside Shops, which will also welcome an RH Gallery.
  • Nearby, the Eddie V’s restaurant is anticipated to open in Spring 2026.

Construction officially begins this week on the Sterling’s Club and The Carnelian Hotel as the Naples transformation at Pine Ridge Road and U.S. 41 continues.

The pair are on track to welcome guests in early 2027, just steps from the evolving Waterside Shops. That center has considerable ongoing redevelopment of its own with one Friday Jan. 23 arrival and the closing sale of a major store we’ll tell you more about in today’s In the Know. We’ll also be answering a related reader question.

Read on naplesnews.com to find out What’s to know.

Do you want a home to come to in southwest Florida on or near to Sanibel and Captiva? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Ultra-exclusive Naples, Florida home sale smashes records in 2025. It’s a teardown.

Ultra-exclusive Naples, Florida home sale smashes records in 2025. It’s a teardown.

Andrea Stetson | Special to The News-Press & Naples Daily News

The most expensive home sale in Collier County in 2025 didn’t just break the record, it shattered it.

When the family legacy compound of three adjacent properties at 2200, 2340 and 2170 Gordon Drive were sold in April for $225 million, it became the largest residential transaction in Florida’s history and one of the largest residential transactions ever in the U.S., just trailing the 2019, $238 million sale of a penthouse on Central Park South in Manhattan.

Up until this year the most expensive house in Collier County was sold in 2022 in Aqualine Shores for $62 million. The 2025 most expensive Collier sale is more than triple that amount.

Read the full article, see photos and video on naplesnews.com.

Ready to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Big boost for SWFL tourism courtesy of New York Times’ ‘places to go’ list

Big boost for SWFL tourism courtesy of New York Times’ ‘places to go’ list

Mark H. Bickel | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

If it’s possible to receive official validation for a comeback from a series of devastating hurricanes, then you could say The New York Times provided a big stamp of approval this week for Southwest Florida.

The Times published its annual “52 to places to go” for 2026, recommending to its audience locations around the world worth visiting this year.

Places like Sorola’s Spain, Winnie-the-Pooh’s England, Assisi, Italy, Dallas, Texas and yes, two islands off the coast of Southwest Florida that most people reading this are very familiar with.

Sanibel and Captiva.

“This recognition proves what we already knew, that Sanibel and Captiva are special, world class, beach destinations that offer unmatched eco-tourism, shelling, and hospitality,” said John Lai, the President and CEO of the Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce. “It’s rare to find destinations like ours that intentionally hold 70% in conservation and that in itself sets us apart from similar vacation options.”

Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Do you want a home to come to in southwest Florida on or near to Sanibel and Captiva? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.