Florida’s Paradise Coast is known for its white sand beaches but it’s also gaining a reputation as a foodie destination. With a wide variety of cuisines represented, it’s worth visiting the area for the food alone. We’re sharing some of the best places to eat and drink around Naples and would love to hear your tips too.
Adelheidi’s for gelato
Currently located on 5th Avenue but soon moving to a new location downtown, Adelheidi’s is one place that we couldn’t miss. The reason is that we visited Naples on our honeymoon and tried their artisanal gelato then. They use the best natural ingredients and everything is organic with no additives or toxins. I particularly like the strawberry and basil flavour but they’re all delicious.
BALEEN at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort for toes in the sand dining
For one of the best views in town, BALEEN Restaurant at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort is hard to beat. There are even a few tables on the beach for toes in the sand dining. We enjoyed a heavenly lobster bisque cappuccino followed by a pan seared corvina fish with fingerling potatoes and a chocolate kahlua cake dessert. For a special occasion and an additional charge, they can also arrange private beach dining with a fire pit- what a treat!
Bleu Provence for award-winning French cuisine
Whilst it may look photogenic, Bleu Provence is more than just a pretty face. Located close to Naples Pier, it specializes in French cuisine and is the brainchild of Jacques and Lysielle Cariot who are originally from Provence. Their wine cellar boasts over 30,000 bottles and 3,000 different wines so you will not go thirsty. As for the food, you can enjoy delicacies such as Provencal fish soup, moules frites, duck leg confit, crème brûlée and more.
Camellia Street Grill for stone crab in the Everglades
If you’re visiting Florida, don’t miss the Everglades. The area is totally unique, being the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist. After a morning spotting wildlife or kayaking, head to Everglades City for lunch. Camellia Street Grill is a quirky restaurant that serves stone crabs, a local sustainable specialty as you only eat the claws and the crabs themselves are thrown back into the water.
D’Amico’s The Continental for steaks and live music
With a fantastic location on upmarket 3rd Street, D’Amico’s The Continental wows before you even enter. There’s a large outdoor terrace that really comes alive in the evening. There are often live bands, adding to the ambiance. What about the food? Well, the steak specialties are and craft cocktails are very tasty. We particularly enjoyed our main courses of grass-fed fillet and rib eye steak as well as the sweet treats for dessert. Service can be a bit leisurely though extremely friendly, so settle back and enjoy your cocktails whilst enjoying the music.
Kane Tiki Bar for rum cocktails at sunset
With a fantastic location in the JW Marriott Marco Island, Kane Tiki Bar has unparalleled views of the beach. It takes its name from Kane, the Polynesian God of Creation, and the thatched roof beachfront bar certainly lends an exotic vibe. Sample one or two of their signature rum-based cocktails and Indonesian street foods whilst watching the sun go down – you won’t want to leave!
Masa for modern Mexican
Whether you’re young or simply young at heart, Masa Naples is sure to hit the spot. Located in the Mercato Naples outdoor shopping mall, it’s a vibrant place that specializes in contemporary Mexican fare. The chefs spent a year visiting Mexico to fully understand the local cooking techniques and the result is an authentic restaurant with some delightful dishes like this Mayan chocolate torte with coffee caramel ice cream and smoked almond toffee. The decor is very stylish and there’s also a large outdoor terrace where you can savour a cold beverage.
Osteria Tulia and bar for rustic Italian cooking
We loved this Italian restaurant so much that after dining there, we returned the next day for lunch. Osteria Tulia has a Chef Owner, Vincenzo Betulia, and it shows. Born in Sicily and brought up in Wisconsin, Vincenzo and his team have a real passion for Italian home cooking. Not only are the dishes truly delicious but the service is as good. Try the garganelli – slow-braised lamb sumo & pecorino romano and the lemon cheesecake if you go. In the evening, Osteria’s adjacent bar is a favourite with locals.
Sea Salt for fish dishes
We were recommended this restaurant by Jay from Marissa Collections, and it didn’t disappoint. Sea Salt has a charming terrace overlooking 3rd street. The menu changes daily and Chef Owner Fabrizio Aielli seeks out the best organic and sustainable ingredients. Known for their fish dishes such as this lovely shrimp tempura with coconut mayonnaise and green papaya seaweed salad, they also do excellent hamburgers.
The Local for farm-to-table eats
If you’re looking for healthy eats, The Local is a great choice. It’s close to many of the malls and a handy dining option if you’re visiting Artis-Naples. Considered to be the first farm-to-table and sea-to-table restaurant in Naples, The Local is the brainchild of Chef Owner Jeff Mitchell. It has quite a few gluten free choices and a wide range of craft beers too. We enjoyed a shrimp, mango, avocado, cilantro, carrot, cabbage and spinach salad with ginger lime vinaigrette.
21 Spices by Chef Asif for innovative Indian dining
The chef owner of 21 Spices is well known as a contestant on Food Network’s cooking competition, Guy’s Grocery Games. His stylish restaurant located on the Tamiami Trail in Naples specializes in contemporary Indian cuisine. I liked the fact that staff of all ages were employed and they were all equally charming and knowledgeable. I teased one of our waitresses by challenging her to name the 21 spices used in some of the dishes and she got most of them! Try the 21 Spices lamb chops or a chicken biryani with 21 spices for the full experience.
Getting Around
We were lent a hire car from Hertz to get out and about around Naples – it was really quick and easy picking it up at the airport and just as simple to return it, directly to the car park with no need to queue, thanks to the Hertz Gold card. It’s free to apply for and pretty handy if you’re in a rush as we always seem to be!
I hope that you enjoyed our round up of some of the best places to eat and drink around Naples – it really is a great foodie destination. The only danger would be to our waistlines but thankfully most places offer doggy bags if you can’t finish it all in one go ;-).
Have you been to Naples, Florida and do you have any restaurant recommendations in the area?
*I was in Florida as a guest of VISIT FLORIDA and Florida’s Paradise Coast, with car hire provided by Hertz.co.uk. See loveflorida.co.uk for more on Florida.
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