FORT MYERS, FL
Sunny Fort Myers, FL, sits on the gorgeous Gulf Coast. The city and the surrounding areas offer expansive beaches, breweries galore, farmland attractions and the laid-back Florida lifestyle. My friend Nate lived in Fort Myers for a few years and shared his favorite spots. He’s a foodie, so his picks are the best of the best.
Travel Tip:
- You need a car here to get around and be prepared to sit at the lights for a while. Things move a bit more slowly in the south! There are a few bridges that connect the neighboring areas like North Fort Myers, Cape Coral (toll bridge) and Sanibel Island. Get out and explore the area!
One fun thing:
- There are monthly art and music walks downtown where they’ll block off a few blocks and people can walk around, listen to some music and look at the exhibits. On New Year’s Eve, they block off the same streets and have a mini ball drop. It’s a good time!
- Hotels on the beach: for your beach vacation. If you’re looking to be on the beach for the majority of your trip, these hotels are your best bet. However, they are a bit far from downtown and most other things.
- AirBnB: find an Airbnb either downtown or in the middle of Fort Myers towards Estero to be in a central location.
- Hotel Indigo: a nice hotel downtown. It’s a chain, but it’s in a good location.
- Breweries galore!: there’s a diverse beer scene in Fort Myers and it’s fun to explore all the spots. Three favorite spots include Fort Myers Brewing Company, Crazy Dingo Brewery and Millennial. Nate’s vote for best beer is Fort Myers Brewing. It’s won tons of competitions and makes good beer. They always have live music and food trucks. Crazy Dingo Brewery is a newer and smaller brewery located on a farm. They grow their own hops! It’s low-key; you can grab a beer and walk around the farm, see the animals, and buy some farm produce. They have an axe-throwing section set up for even more entertainment. Millennial is one of the only crowd-funded spots in the area, so they emphasize the community. It’s closest to downtown and has fun activities like game nights, trivia and food-focused events. The beer itself is okay, but not spectacular. They do, however, serve funky flavors like pickled sours.
- Sanibel Farmers Market: a huge farmer’s market with produce vendors, artisans and food stands. It’s a huge attraction and busy in-season, but worth checking out.
- Beach: a must in Fort Myers. The Gulf Coast is astounding. The sand and water are warm. Fort Myers Beach is loads of fun. The beach itself is expansive – move quickly or you’ll burn the bottoms of your feet! There are a bunch of beach bars like the Sun Deck for when you want a break from the sun. Outside of Ft. Myers, check out the beaches on Sanibel Island, they are some of the best in the country. If you’re looking for a quieter spot, make the hour drive out to Captiva.
- Golf: one of Florida’s biggest pastimes. There’s no shortage of courses nearby. Check out Eastwood, a public course where you can find inexpensive prices and a well-maintained course. While the spring and winter are much more enjoyable times to play, if you’re visiting in the summer a lot of the private courses are open to the public. If you’re more of a mini-golf player, check out PopStroke, a mini-golf course designed by Tiger Woods. It’s essentially Top Golf in mini-golf form complete with drinks and food delivered to you on the course.
- Games: check out a Florida Everblades game or Red Sox spring training game. The Florida Everblades is a local ECHL hockey team that plays in Hertz Arena in Ft. Myers. The games are a blast and they have a decent sized following. The Boston Red Sox have their spring training at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. The tickets are cheaper than your normal Red Sox tickets and it’s always a good time.
- Fancy’s Southern Café: a great spot for a southern breakfast or brunch. Grits, biscuits and gravy are staples, however their chicken and waffles and homemade donuts are on a whole other level. Their donuts are served with a dipping sauce that tastes slightly like caramel. When you walk in, you’ll find a smaller casual bar area that opens up into a larger room. It’s great for a sit-down meal with a few friends or a large group or larger group of friends.
- Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm: a unique farm-to-table spot on an actual farm. Rosy’s is located in a secluded part of North Fort Myers, about 15-20 minutes away from downtown. When you pull into the farm on a dirt road you’ll spot horses, chickens waddling around, cows you can feed and other farm animals wandering about. While the menu changes seasonally, you can always count on all of the items being fresh and delicious. They can handle bigger groups. Also open for lunch and dinner.
- Uhmazebowls: a fast-casual spot for tasty açaí bowls. They also offer other bowls, toasts and smoothies. It’s a super tasty and healthy spot that Nate would frequent on weekends. There’s a location in both Fort Myers and Cape Coral, one town over.
- Bennett’s Fresh Roast: the fun local spot to find incredible hand-cut homemade donuts and coffee. The flavors are innovative and exciting. Nate’s personal favorite is the Key Lime pie donut. It’s a very small store near downtown but not on main street. There’s some seating inside and outside, but it’s easy to grab a donut or two and go.
- Wally’s Deli: A vibrant sandwich spot that has a variety of classic deli subs and more unique picks. They cater to FGCU students and have a bit of a fun college vibe. The falafel is Nate’s lunch pick, but they also have tasty breakfast sandwiches as well!
- Taqueria San Julian: a great hole-in-the-wall taqueria that serves the most authentic Mexican food you can find in the area. It’s located in a strip mall near one of the main roads in the city and is cash only under $20. You may need to rely on any Spanish language skills you have or pointing when ordering. Try the flavorful al pastor tacos. It’s popular and gets crowded so might be best for a grab-and-go option.
- Smoke’n Pit BBQ: the best BBQ joint in the area. It’s in North Fort Myers over the bridge, but definitely worth the trip. The baked beans and pulled pork are mouthwatering, and the sweet tea is the size of your head! They offer a drive-through window for patrons on the go.
- Golden Rind Cheese and Wine: a wine, cheese and specialty grocery store. Their in-store charcuterie boards make for a fun lunch, and you can pair it with wine to have as well! They have Board of the Day offerings at different price levels made up of cheeses, honey, nuts, meats, fruit and more. It’s a casual spot but has upscale charcuterie offerings.
- PDQ: a good-quality fast-food spot mainly serving chicken. It started in SW Florida and there are two locations in Ft. Myers. PDQ stands for People Doing Quality, a motto they carry over to the food. While it may be fast food, the quality is much better than your average McDonalds or Burger King. Try the chicken strips!
- Divieto: a nice sit-down Italian restaurant. It’s a dimly lit, chic restaurant with a 1920s inspired interior. It’s a bit outside of Ft. Myers in Estero. Nate’s favorite dish is the Fiocchi do Pera, a pear stuffed pasta in a four-cheese sauce topped with arugula and cherry tomatoes.
- Fine Folk Pizza: Nate’s pick for the best pizza place in the area. They have a wood fire oven and have both basic and interesting specialty pizzas. The more popular shop is Nice Guys Pizza, but you’ll find better quality pizza at Fine Folk. Try the Yo Paulie pie, made up of garlic sauce, pepperoni, ricotta, drizzled with chili-infused honey, and topped with fresh basil. Pro-tip – the specialty pizzas tend to be cooked a bit better.
- 5th Ave in Naples: if you’re looking for a higher-end dinner, 5th Ave down in Naples is where you’ll find a plethora of fancy restaurants. Naples is a 45-minute drive south of Fort Myers. It’s a change of pace and a nice area to walk around in too. Nate’s favorite spot here is The French. He’s had everything from the truffle risotto to the burger to the tajin and all were delicious. Any of the seafood dishes are incredible. After dinner, go take a walk on the beach three blocks away.
- Norman Love: a local, hand-crafted artisan chocolatier that makes you appreciate the art behind the chocolate. The gorgeous designs will have you questioning if you should eat or admire the chocolates. There are a few spots in the area and they’re also sold in the local Whole Foods!
- Dixie Roadhouse: a typical country bar, but everyone in there knows how to line dance. Any song that comes on has its own unique dance, and it is fun to watch. The locals will teach you how to do it so you can jump in if you want. The bar is in Cape Coral in an area with a bunch of bars to explore. Bar hop and then grab some pizza at the nearby Nice Guys.
- SkyBar: an upscale club/bar with three floors. The first floor is an outdoor beer garden with a casual environment. The second floor is a dancing area and the top floor is a rooftop with a DJ and space to dance. You can rent out a bench and get bottle service on the roof for a decent price.
- Downtown Ft. Myers: a perfect place to bar hop. Walk the 2-3 blocks on First Street in the main downtown area and wander into a few spots. There are loads of bars, but in particular, check out The Lodge, a fun ski lodge-themed bar.
