Manasota Key · Englewood, Florida
From beachside tiki bars to fine waterfront dining — all within minutes of Gecko House
Fine dining
Local tip: Southwest Florida restaurants are casual and beach-friendly. Most welcome guests in flip-flops and cover-ups. During peak season (December-April), expect waits at these restaurants; we recommend calling in advance to know how long the wait will be. To avoid the lines, please arrive early or late. During the low season, please call the restaurant to confirm the days that they are open - many restaurants have a reduced schedule.
Recognized as the best restaurant in Englewood, Farlow's has a unique Caribbean and Southern twist, featuring fresh Gulf seafood, creative preparations, and a beautiful waterfront setting on Lemon Bay. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, with the outdoor seating overlooking Lemon Bay. They are known for their black grouper, Caribbean seafood, and fresh daily catch. Leave room for the Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Englewood · ~10 min
This restaurant specializes in dry-aged steaks cooked over a custom wood-burning grill. Some entrees to recommend include the dry-aged ribeye, filet mignon, the fresh catch of the day, and their house-made pasta entrees. This restaurant is famous for its Bourbon Room where they feature creative spirits and the exclusive Hemingway Bourbon. The interior incorporates reclaimed bourbon-rickhouse wood in the bar's design. The owners of Farlow's developed Chophouse 285 to create the ultimate steak experience. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Historic Downtown Englewood · ~10 min
A top-rated local spot right on the Key. Breakfast burritos and fresh fare get raves from regulars. Consider getting a Latte and one of their famous apple fritters for breakfast. For lunch or dinner, please consider the blackened mahi sandwich, the peel and eat shrimp, Uncle Bill's Fish Dip, and the fresh catch special. There is indoor and outdoor seating with the outdoor seating overlooking Lemon Bay. A casual, welcoming spot that feels genuinely local — the kind of place you end up going back to every morning. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
Specializing in steaks, prime rib, and fresh seafood — a few steps from Englewood Beach with both indoor and outdoor dining areas. This restaurant is famous for its busy happy hours where people come by for drinks and a lively atmosphere. Great entrees to consider include grouper, fresh catch specials, prime rib, and coconut shrimp. A local staple that balances quality and value well. Good choice for families who want a proper sit-down meal. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
A local favorite on Lemon Bay — relaxed, friendly, and consistently well-reviewed. Good for lunch or dinner with waterfront views. Some of the best items include the roasted sea bass, Magnolia's grouper, seared sea scallops, seafood pappardelle, and the sixty south salmon. A solid choice for a group looking for something a notch above casual without a dress code. Open for dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
The quintessential Englewood Beach bar — cocktails, margaritas, sandbar buckets, cold beers, and that laid-back Gulf Coast energy that makes Florida vacations feel right. This tiki-bar has live music, indoor, outdoor, and covered outdoor seating (under the Hut, of course). They have a large selection of beers and a full service bar. However, I would not recommend the food here. Steps from the beach, great for a post-swim drink or a casual lunch. Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
They have an open area bar downstairs where you can wait for your table while enjoying the sun. When you take the elevator upstairs to the second floor, enjoy their focus on seafood, steaks, and pasta, with desserts including key lime pie and chocolate cake. This restaurant is known specifically for its sea bass, surf and turf, prime rib, and its catch of the day. Elevated food and drink with a front-row seat to Englewood Beach and Gulf sunsets. Open for dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
An Englewood landmark — an old-school Florida beach pub right across from the water. Casual, unpretentious, and beloved by locals and regulars. They have a full bar — try their famous signature drink, Captain Mango. This pub has covered outdoor seating as well as open-air seating. Outside of some of the appetizers, I would not recommend the food, but I would recommend their drinks. Karaoke is scheduled each Sunday and Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This pub is in a classic Old Florida structure that feels like it's been there forever. Because it has. Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
The Lighthouse Grill has a large outdoor patio that connects to its docks, where you can enjoy a cocktail or an appetizer while waiting for your table. This covered outdoor restaurant offers a stunning sunset view over Lemon Bay — one of the best spots on the Gulf Coast to watch the sun go down. You should go to the Lighthouse Grill about 60-90 minutes prior to sunset, grab a seat outside, order the smoked wings and a grouper entree, and stay for the live music. If you want to order some other entrees, please consider smokehouse salmon, seared ahi tuna, and smokehouse ribs. Open for dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Englewood · ~10 min
Mango Bistro features French-inspired dishes, smoothies, gluten-free options, and plant-based offerings. Located in historic Downtown Englewood, Mango Bistro specializes in grilled paninis, gourmet wraps, authentic French crêpes, heartwarming soups, garden fresh salads, and healthy breakfasts. Enjoy dining either outside in a covered area or inside. A lovely spot that feels like a welcome escape from the beach scene. Open for breakfast and lunch.
📍 Historic Downtown Englewood · ~10 min
This restaurant is famous for breakfast and brunch, especially its made-from-scratch baked goods, house specialties, and creative egg dishes. Some of the best menu items are house-made corned beef hash, omelets, eggs benedict, and grilled chicken sandwiches. Try the homemade sourdough pancakes — they are amazing. The Word of Mouth markets itself as a local favorite focused on fresh breakfast and lunch fare. Open for breakfast and lunch.
📍 Historic Downtown Englewood · ~10 min
A beloved local spot just off the Key in Grove City. Consistently packed with regulars for a reason — generous portions, friendly staff, and the kind of home-cooked food that makes you forget you're on vacation. They are famous as a chef-driven neighborhood restaurant that blends seafood, comfort food, and elevated pub fare rather than focusing on a single cuisine. Specific recommendations include fish tacos, Cajun chicken alfredo, crab-stuffed flounder, Caribbean jerk swordfish, honey-glazed salmon, pot roast, and shepherd's pie. Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Grove City · ~15 min
A hidden gem for Thai food in Englewood. Located at the Lemon Bay Shopping Center, Thai 2 Go has an extensive menu of entrees and specializes in curry dishes. Specific recommendations include Pad Kra Pao, Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao), and Panang Curry. They have a very limited number of tables for patrons, so consider placing a To Go order. Save room for dessert — the Mango Sticky Rice is not to be missed. Available for lunch and dinner.
📍 Englewood · ~15 min
A casual waterfront spot where you can order sandwiches, dogs, burgers, baskets, and entrees. Part of the restaurant is outdoors and overlooks the marina, while other parts are either covered outdoors or indoors. The Famous Salty Dog is a quarter-pound hot dog dipped in beer batter and deep-fried. This item was featured on the television show Man v. Food, making it nationally known. Their Fish 'n' Chips and the Admiral's Platter are two other menu items not to be missed. Live tropical music plays in the covered outdoors dining area during dinner. There is covered outdoor seating and indoor seating. Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Venice · ~30 min
This restaurant is one of the most popular waterfront restaurants in the Venice area, located at historic Fisherman's Wharf Marina on the Intracoastal Waterway. It has a relaxed "Old Florida" atmosphere with a large tiki hut, marina views, outdoor seating, and excellent sunset views. For lunch, check out the Grouper Sandwich, the Fresh Catch Reuben, or the Lobster Lovers Combo. For an appetizer, try their famous Tuna Nachos with sesame-crusted, rare yellowfin tuna on crispy wontons, topped with wasabi cream and soy sauce. For dinner, don't miss their Tripletail with Citrus Cream Sauce (Tripletail is a mild, flaky white fish known for its slightly sweet flavor and firm texture. Many seafood lovers consider it one of the best-eating fish in Florida.) Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Venice · ~30 min
One of Venice's landmark waterfront restaurants has been operating since 1976. They sit directly on the Venice Inlet and Intracoastal Waterway, offering some of the best water views in the area. The restaurant has an upstairs dining room with panoramic waterfront views and a casual downstairs tavern. This restaurant is known for its Grouper Key Largo, its Fresh Seafood, its Hand-cut Steaks, and Seafood Bisque. When comparing the Dockside to The Crow's Nest, head to The Crow's Nest if you are looking for a special date-night dinner, while if you want a more casual feel, head to the Dockside. Both restaurants are excellent. Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Venice · ~30 min
Pop's Sunset Grill sits directly on the Intracoastal Waterway across from Nokomis Beach, with nearly 180-degree water views from its multi-level tiki structure. The atmosphere is classic Old Florida — fire pit tables, a lively tiki bar, live music, and dockside seating for boaters who pull right up to eat. The menu covers breakfast through dinner, with fresh local seafood, oysters, and a full bar. It's a favorite with both locals and visitors for watching the sun go down over the water. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
📍 Nokomis · ~35 min
This restaurant is one of the most famous waterfront restaurants on Florida's west coast. It has been a Venice landmark since 1987 and is known for seafood, frozen drinks, live music, and spectacular Gulf sunsets. This restaurant is known for casual Florida seafood, especially grouper, mahi-mahi, fish tacos, and shrimp dishes. Try the Lobster Stuffed Flounder, the Seafood Aruba, or Captain Sharky's Platter. You should go to Sharky's on the Pier about 60-90 minutes prior to sunset. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended.
📍 Venice · ~45 min
Fins offers a "polished casual" atmosphere with an elevated dining room and outdoor terrace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. It is much more creative and upscale than a typical seafood restaurant, featuring fresh Gulf seafood, sushi and sashimi, prime steaks, small plates designed for sharing, and seasonal chef-driven specials that change frequently. The most popular dishes include Lobster Potato Nachos, the Seafood Tower, the Maryland Style Crab Cakes, the Caribbean Cobia, and Fresh Florida Stone Crabs. For the best views, make a reservation about 90 minutes before sunset, request outdoor seating, and stay through sunset over the Gulf. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended.
📍 Venice · ~45 min
This restaurant is a family-owned local favorite with fresh seafood and daily catches in downtown Arcadia. They are known for their shrimp boils, fish specials, and hush puppies. Save room for their famous homemade cheesecake, key lime pie, and daily pie specials. They are closed Sunday through Tuesday. Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Arcadia · ~55 min
A fun, no-frills dive bar open until 2am — pool tables, games, cheap drinks, and a mix of locals and visitors. Live music most weekends. Not fancy, but exactly the kind of place that makes a beach vacation feel real. A local institution.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
Sunset dining
Local tip: To fully enjoy the beauty of a Gulf Coast sunset, please call to make reservations and ask for a front-row table. Make the reservation for one hour before sunset - this way, by dessert, you can see the beauty of this event for yourself.
The Waverly has an open area bar downstairs where you can wait for your table while enjoying the sun. When you take the elevator upstairs to the second floor, enjoy their focus on seafood, steaks, and pasta, with desserts including key lime pie and chocolate cake. This restaurant is known specifically for its sea bass, surf and turf, prime rib, and its catch of the day. Elevated food and drink with a front-row seat to Englewood Beach and Gulf sunsets. Open for dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Englewood Beach · ~5 min
The Lighthouse Grill has a large outdoor patio that connects to its docks, where you can enjoy a cocktail or an appetizer while waiting for your table. This covered outdoor restaurant offers a stunning sunset view over Lemon Bay — one of the best spots on the Gulf Coast to watch the sun go down. You should go to the Lighthouse Grill about 60-90 minutes prior to sunset, grab a seat outside, order the smoked wings and a grouper entree, and stay for the live music. If you want to order some other entrees, please consider smokehouse salmon, seared ahi tuna, and smokehouse ribs. Open for dinner. Reservations recommended.
📍 Englewood · ~10 min
The Crow's Nest provides you with an amazing panoramic view of the Gulf of Mexico and the Marina from both the inside restaurant and the outdoor patio. They specialize in fresh local seafood, hand-cut steaks, and an extensive wine list. Open for lunch and dinner.
📍 Venice · ~30 min
Pop's Sunset Grill sits directly on the Intracoastal Waterway across from Nokomis Beach, with nearly 180-degree water views from its multi-level tiki structure. The atmosphere is classic Old Florida — fire pit tables, a lively tiki bar, live music, and dockside seating for boaters who pull right up to eat. The menu covers breakfast through dinner, with fresh local seafood, oysters, and a full bar. It's a favorite with both locals and visitors for watching the sun go down over the water. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
📍 Nokomis · ~35 min
Fins has one of the best sunset views on Florida's Gulf Coast. It is one of the few restaurants in Venice with a true elevated Gulf panorama and overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and the Venice Fishing Pier. Make sure to try the lobster nachos, chilled lobster claws, and Oyster Rockefeller. If you are interested in steak, the filet mignon and Kansas City strip are seared in a Josper high-temperature oven. This upscale restaurant provides a sunset view that is difficult to beat between Sarasota and Naples. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended.
📍 Venice · ~45 min
This restaurant is one of the most famous waterfront restaurants on Florida's west coast. It has been a Venice landmark since 1987 and is known for seafood, frozen drinks, live music, and spectacular Gulf sunsets. This restaurant is known for casual Florida seafood, especially grouper, mahi-mahi, fish tacos, and shrimp dishes. Try the Lobster Stuffed Flounder, the Seafood Aruba, or Captain Sharky's Platter. You should go to Sharky's on the Pier about 60-90 minutes prior to sunset. Open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are recommended.
📍 Venice · ~45 min
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