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.

6 of the top restaurant gems in Naples. Have you tried them all?

6 of the top restaurant gems in Naples. Have you tried them all?

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

Restaurants are the gems that make up the crown of Naples, from old classics like Kelly’s Fish House to new trendsetters like Blackbird Modern Asian. Our city is lucky to have a community that really values going out to eat, not all markets can say the same.

But what makes a restaurant a gem? Is it good service? Is it a unique menu? Waterfront dining? You’ll have to be the judge of that. But in my eyes, these six dining spots are prime examples of Naples gems.

Read the full article on naplesnews.com

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

 

More to know about the private Paraiso Beach Club in North Naples

More to know about the private Paraiso Beach Club in North Naples

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Plans are advancing for a members-only beach club in North Naples.

Since Collier commissioners unanimously approved the plans in October, the club has attracted investors and signed up more than 150 members.

Construction is expected to start soon on the multimillion-dollar project, known as Paraiso Beach Club.

“We actually are close to being ready to break ground. We anticipate that will be somewhere in the first quarter of 2026, then we are looking at a 15- to 18-month build time,” said David Tingley, a local businessman and seasoned executive in the financial services industry, who is the driving force behind the project.

If all goes as planned, he said, construction should be completed by the third quarter of 2027 — allowing for a “soft opening” late in the year, inside of the busy season.

Meanwhile, the membership drive is underway, and it’s going better than expected, attracting 160 members already, Tingley said.

To start, the club’s membership will be capped at 650 to 700 —

Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Looking for a home close to the beautiful white sand beaches of Southwest Florida? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

In numbers: More to know about the Four Seasons Resort in Naples

In numbers: More to know about the Four Seasons Resort in Naples

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Years in the making, the Four Seasons Resort will soon debut in Naples.

It’s replacing the former Naples Beach Hotel, as part of a larger redevelopment project known as Naples Beach Club.

Plans for the new five-star resort, off Gulf Shore Boulevard North, were revealed by The Athens Group, the project’s developer, more than four years ago. It will officially open on Nov. 13, welcoming its first overnight guests.

Resort operations will ramp up from there.

Asked for some “fun facts” about the resort, public relations director Teresa Delaney provided a by-the-numbers look at the one-of-a-kind property, built on a chunk of a 125-acre site.

Here are some of the numbers:

  • 220 – Number of hotel rooms and suites
  • 8 – Number of dining options (when fully open)
  • 1,000-plus – Number of new hospitality jobs (when completed)
  • 30,000 – Number of square feet in the Sanctuary Spa
  • 13 – Number of spa treatment rooms
  • 4 – Number of bowling lanes at the Wager Pub (opening in 2026)

Read on for more fun facts by the numbers and check out the photos of this beautiful resort – naplesnews.com.