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
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