Season is well underway in Southwest Florida! It’s our time to shine (literally and figuratively) for our visitors, and here, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite restaurants, cafes, and bars to take visiting relatives and friends to when they’re in town!
For Fort Myers Brunch: Fancy’s Southern Cafe (Fort Myers)
If you ask anyone about brunch restaurants in Fort Myers, we’d be pretty confident that someone is bound to mention Fancy’s Southern Cafe. Fancy’s is known for its unique shabby-chic-farmhouse decor, but what really makes them stand out is their delectable food. Dinner and lunch are great, but their breakfast is a cross between hearty, savory, and sweet.
Fancy’s also makes delicious cocktails, if that’s your thing! The thing that comes to mind first when thinking about Fancy’s brunch is their homemade donuts. If you are going with a group, make sure you get their donuts!
Their pancakes are also among the best pancakes in Fort Myers. They’re less like traditional breakfast pancakes and more like dessert, but they are oh so delicious.
For Fort Myers Drinks: City Tavern (Downtown Fort Myers)
City Tavern holds a very, very special place in our hearts and is our favorite bar in Downtown Fort Myers. We were devastated about their closure after Hurricane Ian, but we were ecstatic to learn of their recent reopening!
By day, City Tavern offers a chill, laid back atmosphere. By night, City Tavern becomes a bustling nightclub. We love to go to City during the day because we’re a bit more on the relaxed side, but if you’re looking for a place for some drinks, definitely give City Tavern a try!
In addition to beer, liquor, and cocktails, City also has an awesome food menu. Their pretzels and cheese are to die for, and they’re a perfect snack for soaking up and imbibing you might be doing while you’re there. Celebrity Chef Brian Duffy helped curate the menu, so you know it’s good!
For Fort Myers Lowkey Breakfast/Coffee: Cafe Flore (Central Fort Myers)
We sometimes wonder if we focus a little too much on Cafe Flore because they’re the subject for many of our social media posts, and we tell everybody we know about Cafe Flore. But we do that because Cafe Flore is a hidden gem that we don’t think gets enough attention!
Nestled in the plaza near Kohl’s on 6 Mile and Colonial, Cafe Flore offers incredible coffee drinks (hello, salted caramel oat milk iced latte), breakfast items, and beignets. The inside seating area is rather small, but it’s very cozy if you get there early enough to snag a table. They also do to-go orders, and we highly recommend stopping in if you’re out and about!
For NY-Style Pizza in Fort Myers: Rico’s (Fort Myers/Close to Downtown Fort Myers)
Uncle Rico’s is a fabulous new NY pizza place close to Downtown Fort Myers. Imagine your favorite no-frills NY pizza, and that’s what you’re going to get with Uncle Rico’s. They’ve been around for about a year or a little over a year now, and what a name they’ve made for themselves in such a short time! Sean’s from New York, so you know his standards are high when it comes to NY-style pizza around here. Their slices are Sean-approved, and sure to please your New Yorker friends and family.
Note that Uncle Rico’s is temporarily closed as of March 3, 2023. We hope they reopen soon!
