If you love waterfront dining, you’re certainly in the right place.
Southwest Florida is swimming with restaurants that fit the bill, from Mucky Duck on Captiva to Doc’s Beach House on Bonita Beach.
And in between those two gems are plenty of beachfront, Gulf-front, lakefront, canal-front, riverfront and (insert body of water here)-front options.
Cape Coral is no exception, with more than a dozen such restaurants calling the waterfront wonderland home.
Here’s a quick look at six of them (all accessible by boat) with great views and cool vibes to match …
Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails
Grant Phelan knows when he has a good thing. And at his new casual seafood restaurant, the view of Bimini Basin certainly qualifies.
“The whole restaurant, inside and out, is all open,” he said at the time of opening. “There’s not a bad seat in there. I like to say it’s an infinity-edge restaurant. You can see the basin from any seat.”
To accompany those lovely waterfront views, he took the best dishes from his other Phelan Family Brands restaurants, including the miso-glazed Chilean sea bass from Keewaydin’s, hogfish Bimini style from Hogfish Harry’s, Deep Lagoon’s popular chili rub tripletail and Pinchers’ hot crab & cheese dip that “everybody loves.”
Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails’ signature drinks are served with a waterfront view.
(And speaking of Pinchers, the one in Tarpon Point has wonderful waterfront views too).
Happy hour (Bimini Bites from 2-5 p.m. and Bimini Sips from 2-6:30 p.m. daily) at the welcoming bar or chill outdoor patio is our favorite time to go (we’re obsessed with those crabcakes!)
“Come sit and enjoy the breeze,” Phelan said.
We’ll see you there. 458 Tudor Drive, Cape Coral; free valet or garage parking; plenty of on-site boat slips available; (239) 347-7033; biminibasinrestaurant.com or follow on Facebook
Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill
Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill is located on the west end of Cape Harbour in Cape Coral.
We love the views at this fun, family-owned, no frills, Key West-flavored spot on the western end of Cape Harbour. To the right is the marina, buzzing with boats of all shapes and sizes. More boats come and go past the funky fish houses on the left.
Order oysters and that view is pretty cool too, as they’re shucked right in front of you. Gulf and Blue Points are always on the menu, with many more (nine available the last time we were there) rotating in and out. They come raw, lightly or fully steamed or baked.
Cape Harbour Oyster Bar & Grill is a laid-back, fun stop in Cape Coral.
Not an oyster fan? Other menu items include an award-winning Coney dog, a giant pork tenderloin sandwich, burgers, salads, ceviche and more seafood favorites.
A $7 happy hour runs 3-6 p.m. Sunday to Thursday. Weekly specials — from $2 Blue Points on Mondays to $2 off wings on Sunday — are posted on a chalkboard on the wall. Daily specials, oysters currently available, and the fresh fish of the day are displayed the same way. Turn your head left, then right, to see them. It’s all so easy peasy breezy, just like Cape Harbour Oyster Bar. 5785 Cape Harbour Drive, Unit 102, Cape Coral; a couple of boat slips available on site; (239) 599-2947; capeharbouroysterbar.com or on Facebook
Gather
Gather, one of our favorite restaurants around, overlooks Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral.
“If you come at night, everyone will sit outside,” said Ben Voisin, executive chef and partner of this waterfront Tarpon Point staple. “At night, the sunset is unbelievable.”
Daytime views of dolphins and marina boats bobbing in the breeze aren’t too shabby either.
Everything else is pretty spectacular, too.
Menus — whether it be weekend brunch or dinners after 5 p.m. — are carefully crafted, Mediterranean-flavored works of art.
Gather’s interior is just as lovely as its waterfront views.
We’ve loved everything we’ve had here — from the ahi tuna tataki and duck wings to the wagyu smash burger and any house-made pasta dish. (And speaking of outstanding house-made pasta, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Voisin and company’s equally glorious adjoining restaurant Next Door with the same waterfront view, just a smidge down).
And like those sunsets, Gather’s craft cocktail program is an experience you won’t want to miss either. Happy hour from 5-6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday is a great time to check it out.
And you may want to stay for a spectacular sunset, too. 5971 Silver King Blvd., Suite 116, Cape Coral; free garage parking; boat slips available in the marina; (239) 673-9939; gathercape.com or on Facebook
High Tide Social House
High Tide Social House has marvelous waterfront views of Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral.
Because this lovely open-air restaurant sits on the south end of the marina, it has a more secluded feel and unique view compared to other Tarpon Point eateries. And we love it. Views of the marina and Glover Bight can be seen from pretty much everywhere, including in the open dining room and lively bar area or on the expansive porch.
It’s an ideal setting for all your seafood favorites, which we expect from Chris and Mary Beth Keslinger, who also own Lobster Lady.
But this 3-year-old restaurant is much more than that. It’s also about fun and creative pizzas, like figs and pears, clams with white sauce, taco-topped with crushed Doritos (our favorite) and even a lobstah pie.
We love to settle in at High Tide Social House’s open-air bar and front porch area.
Not feeling like pizza or seafood? No problem.
There are beef (filet mignon, porterhouse, prime rib) and chicken dishes, plus a variety of salads, handhelds (cheesesteak, pulled pork, Cubano, hot Italian among them) and burgers. Look close enough and you’ll even find gator on the menu.
And did we mention there’s live music on the outdoor stage? And it’s pet-friendly? And how you’re gonna love it too? 6095 Silver King Blvd., Cape Coral; boat slips available in the marina; (239) 341-4441; hightidesocialhouse.com or on Facebook
Nauti Mermaid
You’ll find The Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill at The Westin Cape Coral Resort.
If you’re looking for a super casual waterfront bar & grill, this dockside stop fits the bill.
Since it’s located at The Westin at Marina Village, vacation vibes wash over you all around. Grab a seat under the roof-covered bar or ask for a table near the pool where service is fast and some of the friendliest around.
The seafood-leaning menu — appetizers, flatbreads, handhelds, burgers, salads and more — fits the vibe perfectly.
The Nauti Mermaid’s dockside bar offers an easy-breezy getaway.
We’ll go for the mahi tacos and catch-of-the-day Caesar and hang out for the live music, splashing dolphins and tarpon, and the aforementioned spectacular sunsets. Happy hour here runs from 3-6 p.m. daily.
Step inside and you’ll find Marker 92, which has a more upscale, yet still casual, feel and menu and a large indoor bar. Rest assured, though, wherever you sit, you’ll still feel those vacation vibes perfect for a quick weekday or weekend recharge. You’ll find it at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, 5951 Silver King Blvd.; free garage parking; boat slips available in the marina; (239) 541-5000; find on Facebook and Instagram
Slipaway
Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina has 30 boat slips ready and waiting in Cape Coral.
This 8-month-old food truck park, a first in Cape Coral, couldn’t be more waterfront. The 3.1-acre venue, complete with a marina and ship store, is on Mandolin Canal, off the Caloosahatchee River at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge.
Waterfront views and breezes dominate this popular stop, overflowing with variety. There’s a large pavilion — anchored by The Helm Bar — in the middle of Slipaway, surrounded by six smaller pavilions (from the Waterfront to Marina View) and food trucks scattered about in pairs.
The Helm Bar is situated in the middle of Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina in Cape Coral.
With seating for 300, there are tons of spaces to relax, from that covered main pavilion to picnic tables scattered about and cushioned lounge areas. It’s all extremely family and pet-friendly. Live music is featured twice daily.
When everyone’s hungry, there’s something for everyone. Order from a QR code at a table or drop by one of the trucks.
Street Wok and Taco Worx are the newest trucks to join the lineup, which also includes Smokestream BBQ (we love the pulled pork here), Lobster Chef, Yunta Cuban & Espresso, Gigi Gourmet, The Crooked Cow, Greek Spot and Philly Express.
Self and valet parking are free. Or, with 30 slips, come by boat. After all, this is a waterfront wonderland. 1811 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral; (239) 360-8883; slipawaycape.com or on Facebook.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 6 Cape Coral restaurants with wonderful waterfront views