Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Sanibel Island

"Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is an award winning restaurant with locations on Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Ft. Myers Beach, & a 4th location opening in St. Pete Florida in 2019. Inspired by a character in a New York Times best-selling novel series by author Randy Wayne White, in turn inspired by Sanibel and Captiva Islands and days spent out on the water, Doc Ford’s is a perennial local favorite."

"This restaurant is a short bike ride from Mia's Beach Escape, so it tends to be our go-to for takeout when we don't feel like cooking or going out. The menu is extensive and offers a number of 'healthier' options. Our family also enjoys their outdoor dining area."

"2163 Periwinkle Way Sanibel | (239) 472-0606 Offering take out 8a,-8pmA trip to Sanibel isn’t complete without a stop at The Island Cow. They will continue serving our delicious breakfast, lunch & dinner, Starbucks drinks, plus your 6-pack of beer, packaged liquor, wine bottles, and moo-merch now TO GO!. https://www.facebook.com/TheIslandCow/"

"When you’re discovering the best places to eat in Sanibel, be sure to stop by The Island Cow. They’ve been voted “Best Lunch” and “Best Family Dining” by Best of the Islands, so you know this is the real deal. You can come to grab any meal of the day, but their dinner menu is where you’ll find all the fresh seafood."

" waitress Melissa was super nice and even gave us some pointers for our little day trip to Sanibel!. Island Cow is udderly delicious and totally worth a visit!"

"Photos of lighthouses line the walls at Lighthouse Café, not just Sanibel’s lighthouse, but lighthouses from around the country. This is a place that is obviously a favorite of the locals, but they are friendly and welcoming to vacationers, too. If you must wait for a table, there are shops on both sides of the café with fun items to browse."

"The Lighthouse Restaurant offers wonderful sunset views as well as a delicious fresh seafood menu. Try the Crispy Calimari or Grilled Octopus for some different seafood appetizers. Signature entrée offerings patrons love include the Atlantic Salmon, Stuffed Flounder and Atlantic Salmon."

"362 Periwinkle Way Sanibel | (239) 472-0303 Open for Breakfast & Lunch An Island Favorite for both visitors and locals. They also claim to have the worlds best breakfast. They’re posting their specials and updates on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lighthousecafeofsanibel/"

"That is how Truly Scrumptious runs its cafe and ice cream shop. Here they serve up home-style meals, ranging from sweet to savory. This cozy shop is rather large and is known to host a variety of fun events, where the crew at Truly Scrumptious serves up anything from cupcakes to an actual meal."

"South Beach Grille specializes in traditional, American cuisine with a creative flair. Fine, yet casual dining, exceptional food and high-quality service is you can expect when you dine at South Beach Grille. You’ll enjoy our warm, colorful decor, delicious food with exquisite presentation, mouthwatering desserts, specialty cocktails, coffee drinks and more."

"Tucked into a strip mall on the southern end of Estero Island, South Beach's plain-Jane exterior doesn't say much. Head indoors and the dining room is surprisingly chic, set with crisp white tablecloths and wine glasses with delicate stems. The menu is filled with seafood, as well as heritage-breed pork chops and chicken dishes."

"From Business: We are located on the back bay of Fort Myers Beach next to the bridge and behind Marina Village Resort. We offer fresh seafood right off our boats."

"Since Lovers Key State Park is a state park, its lands get a little bit more care and protection than other beaches. For that reason and the unique amenities here, Lovers Key State Park is one of the best beaches in Fort Myers Beach. It’s open 365 days a year, and therefore the perfect fix for even the most spontaneous beach day!"

"​Day Four: Lovers Key State Park, Love Boat Ice Cream, Pool, and Fine Folk Pizza There are so many outdoor and water activities in Ft. Myers so on this day we tried our hand at canoeing at Lovers Key State Park. We were able to rent a canoe for half the day for $48 (they only charged us the 1-2 person rate due to the kids ages)."

"Like the Cypress Slough Preserve, the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve in Cape Coral has a wonderful boardwalk through the Florida wetlands with plenty of photo ops. Plus, this preserve is attached to the Veterans Memorial Park, which features many impressive war monuments. The Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve is open between 8 AM till dusk on most days."

"For a larger brewery experience, complete with guided tours, Fort Myers Brewing Company is an awesome option. You can book a tour for Wednesday or Saturday, or stop by the taproom to try one of their 25+ beers on tap!. We had found their High 5 IPA and American Wheat in stores before and were intrigued to try more."

"We have over 25 beers on tap plus at least one food truck onsite every day!. Our trucks rotate, so visit our website or give us call to find out who’s on-site. Want to bring your own food, that’s fine too!"

"Crazy Dingo Brewing Companyis a fitting name for this next Fort Myers brewery, as it is definitely a quirky spot. This brewery is located on Southern Fresh Farms and is outdoors, with a nearby petting zoo. However, its completely covered from the rain and hot sun, with a large, spread out seating area."

"Old Soul Brewing is a family owned craft beer brewery in Fort Myers, Florida. Come check out our relaxing atmosphere and handcrafted ales!"

"The Clam Shack is an uncompromising celebration of all things seafood. You get a lovely and quaint environment to dine on seafood of every shape and size. There’s a wide selection of seafood sandwiches, including lobster, clams, tuna, haddock, and more."

" restaurant going down the tubes I gave them a couple of stars because my son enjoyed his hotdog and fries.”more. Indoor & Outdoor dining"

"The hostess was great and worked with us to seat our part of 9... even texted to give us updates. The fish & chips were light..."

"At First Watch, we begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. Everything is made to order, and freshness is never compromised. We don’t use heat lamps or deep fryers — we use only the finest ingredients possible for the freshest taste around."