Fort Myers Beach is not a big island, but it packs in enough good food that picking where to eat can eat up more planning time than it should. Here is our shortlist, built from what guests keep mentioning and what the locals actually recommend when you ask them off the record.
For breakfast, look for the small counter-service spots away from the main strip. They tend to be run by people who have been on the island for years, serve strong coffee, and will not rush you out the door if you want to linger over the paper. It is a good way to start a beach day before the sun gets serious.
Lunch is where the island’s seafood really shows up. Grouper sandwiches are close to a local institution here, and you will find a version of one at nearly every casual spot near the water. Order it blackened if you want some heat, or fried if you are not in a hurry to be virtuous. Pair it with a water view if you can; several docks along the bay side turn lunch into an event.
Dinner is where Fort Myers Beach lets you choose your pace. Times Square has the highest concentration of restaurants within walking distance of each other, from casual raw bars to sit-down spots with a proper wine list. If you would rather stay in for the evening, the island has good options for fresh catch you can pick up and cook yourself, which pairs well with a home that actually has a real kitchen.
Sunset dinners are worth planning around rather than leaving to chance. The Gulf side of the island faces open water, and restaurants with west-facing decks fill up fast in the final hour before sundown, especially in high season. If there is one reservation worth making ahead of time, it is that one.
Do not skip the smaller, less obvious places either. Some of the best food on the island comes from spots that have no view at all and do not need one. Ask a local, or ask us; we live here, and we are always glad to point guests toward what we would actually order ourselves.
Staying with Anchor & Isle means you have a full kitchen waiting between meals out, so you can eat the island your way. Check availability and we will send over our current favorites when you book.
