Cosmopolitan Naples

The city of Naples has wonderful restaurants! A trip to the shell-covered beaches Sanibel Island/Captiva is a must. Boating in the waterways around Naples is a real treat.

Quick Tips:

During the "season" (Christmas through Easter), reservations at just about any restuarant are a must. Make airline reservations as early as possible to ensure a seat during this time as well.

Best Way To Get Around:

Car traffic in Naples can be a pain during the tourist season, but public transporatation isn't readily available, so make sure you leave plenty of time to arrive at your destination. Naples is about a half hour (tops) from Ft. Meyers International Airport - cabs or private car services are readily available at the airport. If you plan to go to Captiva/Sanibel Island during the season - be prepared for traffic, as the route is almost entirely one-lane in each direction (although once you arrive at the beach, you will see it was worth it!).

Campiello's is a winner on all fronts - the Northern Italian food is outstanding, the service is excellent, and the restaurant itself is beautiful and inviting. It is just as appropriate for a dinner with 10 friends as it is for a romantic dinner for two.

The chefs create wonderful appetizers, pasta dishes (from scratch), poultry, pork, veal and steaks to perfection, and desserts are a very special treat. I am partial to the roasted chicken - it is terrific. In warm weather (which is during most of the year) be sure to try to get a table on the patio, which is graced with palm trees and trellises. The interior rooms of the restaurant are lined with French doors, which are thrown wide open in good weather. The atmosphere, the food - everything is just perfect. A great place for a celebration for two or 20. It's my favorite restaurant in Naples.

Roy's is part of a very upscale chain of restaurants serving Euro-Asian style food under the auspices of Hawaiian chef and owner Roy Yamaguchi. They have rstaurants in Hawaii, Tokyo, Washington DC, New York City and California, in addition to several others. The Bonita Springs Roy's is wildly popular with the wealthy vacation homeowners, and it can take over a week to get a reservation, so call well in advance of your visit. My family goes nuts for this place, but I have been disappointed the few times I have been. I once ordered a pork chop that was so thick that it had no flavor. I'm not a seafood eater - but my family raves about their butterfish and other seafood offerings. The ambience is elegant and the wine list is impeccable. The restaurant is located in a mall, but it's not as bad as it sounds because the mall is an elegant, upscale, outdoor affair with garden-like walkways and fountains. If you are into seafood and wine, and you can get a reservation, this is your place. I did enjoy the atmosphere of this pretty restaurant, but the food wasn't for me.

Check out Roy's for yourself at http://www.roysrestaurant.com

This busy family-run restaurant serves delicious Italian standards - just as good as we get in New York! Nonna Maria's is located in a strip mall, so it's not a beautiful place, but the food is good and it is a great place to go to with a large group of hungry friends.

This is a New York quality restaurant specializing in steaks and chops. The atmosphere is very cosmopolitan, the food is terrific, the wait staff is a lot of fun (they filled me in on where to party in Miami!) and the desserts are to die for! I have been there several times and am never disappointed. The steaks are cooked to perfection, side dishes are interesting, tasty, and inventive. The drinks are great! My favorite dessert is a rich chocolate cake served with a shooter of milk - it's amazing! Reservations are definitely required - especially during the tourist season (Christmas-Easter), when the waits can get long.

Another New York quality restaurant in Naples - and everyone always says that the only place to eat in Florida is the Waffle House! Pazzo is a fun, eclectic Italian eatery with great food, THE BEST Cosmopolitans, and long waits (so make sure you make a reservation, and then call about the wait before you leave for the restaurant). The wait is worth it - to begin with, they have wonderful Italian bread - something not so easy to come by in Southern Florida.

My favorite on the menu is their light cheese ravioli in a zesty tomato sauce with fresh basil. We go there often, and no-one I know has ever had a bad meal. We have never made it to dessert - once you have their entrees and appetizers, you will know why. I just can't eat that much. There have been times when our wait for our food has been very long - which can be annoying. The good thing is, everything is made fresh to order - you can see the kitchen and the chefs working frantically from you table - and as long as the company is good and they keep bringing that bread, it's a good experience and worth the wait.

Captiva/Sanibel Island is about a 45 minute drive from Naples (although it is only approximately 20 miles north of the city, traffic can be heavy. The only way on or off the island is a two-lane road over one causeway). It is worth it to brave the traffic, though, because once you get onto the island and make your way (slowly) to the beaches, you will find the lovliest stretches of sand. These beaches are perfect for seashell hunters, as they are absolutely covered with beautiful shells of every description. I take bags with me to bring my treasures home in. The beaches can get crowded during the tourist season (Christmas through Easter), although we have always been able to find a nice little spot to ourselves away from people. The water is wonderful - the waves in the Gulf of Mexico are warm and gentle. Bring swim shoes if you have them, sand rays can sting your toes if you don't shuffle your feet. We have also seen many dolphins swimming off-shore - they are so much fun to watch.

Sanibel/Captiva is a very serene place, great for long walks, reading, shell collecting and napping. It's not a happening place as far as nightlife or restaurants go - go there when you want a break from it all. Bring a picnic and RELAX! We often go for the day from Naples, it's an easy trip once you come to accept the fact that traffic is going to be slow due to the one-lane roads.