photo mosaic of Naples, Florida pier, Bayfront, Bayside, dolphin jumping, magenta orchid, water birds silhouetted against the sunset
Wait, let me take a selfie: 12 restaurants across Southwest Florida perfect for photos

Wait, let me take a selfie: 12 restaurants across Southwest Florida perfect for photos

Kendall Little and Robyn George | Naples Daily News

In Southwest Florida, restaurants don’t just come with fabulous food. You’ll find vibrant vibes and gorgeous views that make for spectacular photos, too.

Whether you’re going out with your friends, partner, or just yourself, here are 12 restaurants from Cape Coral to Naples that have picture-perfect backdrops for selfies to level up your social media.

Backyard Social, Fort Myers
This nearly 2-year-old hotspot has something for everyone, with drinks, food trucks, TVs, and games all under one roof. Backyard Social hosts events often too, ranging from game nights to watch parties to exercise classes.

There’s plenty of seating in the casual, spacious area, perfect for hanging out and chilling with friends and family. The decor is bright and colorful — a cheery modern backdrop for candid or posed photos.

With several food trucks rolling in, your visit can taste different every time.

Get the full list with photos on naplesnews.com.

Dreaming of life in vibrant, sunny Southwest Florida? Searching for your perfect home in the Naples area? Contact David today at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Two old Florida restaurants in Naples, Fort Myers area make statewide best of list

Two old Florida restaurants in Naples, Fort Myers area make statewide best of list

Robyn George and Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News

Hit the road in Florida and you’re bound to run into salty oyster bars, historic waterfront wonders, quirky roadside diners and a fabulous fish camp or two.

Welcome to the Sunshine State, where tastes of old Florida can be found here, there, and everywhere.

The USA TODAY Network Florida Dining & Entertainment team recently compiled a list of charmingly historic, road-trip worthy restaurants you’ll want to jump in your car, boat or golf cart to find.

Of the 16 old Florida finds from Perdido Key to Mayport to West Palm, these two were in our little nook of Southwest Florida:

The Snook Inn, Marco Island
There are waterfront restaurants in Florida, and then there are those that are hurricane-tested. Make that hurricanes.

The Snook Inn endured Hurricanes Wilma (2005), Irma (2017) and Ian (2022), not to mention others that have passed nearby. Yet this cool spot that’s more than 30 years old still stands.

And customers continue to be lured to the island south of Naples by enchanting Gulf breezes and stunning sunsets. They can sip a special drink like the Snook Inn Loaded Bloody Mary and order up a variety of seafood choices, from oysters and grouper to fried calamari to clams, red snapper, shrimp and much more. Find it at 1215 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island; 239-394-3313; snookinn.com

Cabbage Key Bar and Restaurant, off of Pine Island
This boat-access-only gem of an island restaurant and bar is awash in Old Florida history and charm. Dating back to 1944, food and drinks were served in what was then an exclusive island resort in Pine Island Sound. Fast forward to the 1970s and the original home of the island’s owners was converted into an open-air restaurant, while their library became the bar. Today, the latter is known as the Dollar Bill Bar with more than 65,000 customer-signed bills blanketing the walls and ceilings. Famous visitors range from Ernest Hemingway to Julia Roberts.

Besides fresh seafood, this island paradise serves a char-grilled cheeseburger that Jimmy Buffett, who was a frequent guest, may or may not have sung about. And before you get back on the boat, finish your visit to this slice of old Florida with a homemade slice of frozen(!!!) Key lime pie. Accessible only by boat, Cabbage Key is located at Channel Marker 60 in Pine Island Sound, 4.5 miles west of Pineland; 239-283-2278; cabbagekey.com

Still hungry for more? Read on naplesnews.com.

Best places to retire in Florida? Of course there is a SWFL location on this list

Best places to retire in Florida? Of course there is a SWFL location on this list

Mark H. Bickel | Naples Daily News

Not that we didn’t know this already, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded: Naples is a great place to retire in Florida.

Kiplinger agrees, picking Naples as one of its six ‘best places’ to retire in Florida for 2025.

What Kiplinger said about retiring to Naples
If you want to show off your Ferrari, hit the links, and retire in style on Florida’s west coast

For those drawn to Florida’s Gulf Coast, Naples is synonymous with wealth and the good life, and with an ample population of retirees. Parks, golf courses, and pickleball courts abound, not to mention the enduring attraction of its beaches, with their soft sands, calm waters, and spectacular sunsets.

Read on for Naples by the Numbers on naplesnews.com.

Planning to retire in Naples? Contact David to find a home in the Naples area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Winner crowned: Collier County has a new pizza champion

Winner crowned: Collier County has a new pizza champion

Kendall Little | Naples Daily News

It’s official. Naples Daily News has crowned the winner of the BEST pizza in Collier County.

After weeks of voting, one pizza joint is victorious.

Drum roll please!

With 64.64% of the votes, the winner is… LowBrow!

“This win shines a really valuable light on the work our staff does,” said owner Antonio Longobardo. “It’s a proud moment for our staff to receive the community recognition for their hard work.”

What are some favorites to try at LowBrow? Find out on naplesnews.com.

There’s so much to enjoy in southwest Florida. Contact David to find a home in the Naples area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Naples chef and ‘Chopped’ champ announces new restaurant, Heyday Cookshop

Naples chef and ‘Chopped’ champ announces new restaurant, Heyday Cookshop

Kendall Little | Naples Daily News

Naples chef Kayla Pfeiffer is on fire.

She opened the Bicyclette Cookshop with Louis Mele in November 2023, offering dishes inspired by creativity rather than conventions. The restaurant was nationally recognized on USA Today’s Restaurants of the Year 2025 list.

Pfeiffer also became a 2024 champion of The Food Network’s “Chopped,” worked as an executive chef at acclaimed Naples restaurants The French Brasserie on Fifth Avenue South and Bar Tulia in Mercato, and created a menu and helped open the kitchen at PJK Neighborhood Chinese ― all before she has turned 30.

This year, she was named a semi-finalist in the prestigious culinary James Beard Awards. Pfeiffer was nominated in the Emerging Chef category of the awards.

Heyday Cookshop will be at U.S. 41 and Neapolitan, offering a New American menu that is distinct from Bicyclette, yet on-theme with the mission to bring something fresh and new to Naples.

Read more on naplesnews.com.

Do you love to dine out? Contact David to find a home in the Naples area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

5 oldest restaurants from Naples to Fort Myers include waterfront gems, old Florida flavor

5 oldest restaurants from Naples to Fort Myers include waterfront gems, old Florida flavor

Robyn George | Fort Myers News-Press

Looking for a taste of Southwest Florida’s past?

Here are five of the oldest restaurants around.

  • Cabbage Key Bar – 1944
  • Farmers Market Restaurant – 1952
  • Kelly’s Fish House Dining Room – 1953
  • Skip One – late 1960s
  • Stan’s Super Subs – 1972

Find out what what to eat, from seafood to burgers, subs and fresh produce, and the address of each one on naplesnews.com.

Do you want to own a home in Southwest Florida? Contact David to find a home in the area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.