Best Bets for Nightlife

Cold Beer, Cool Bars

A Room with a View

Two resorts feature lofty bars perched perfectly for a view of the western sky: JoJo’s on the Beach at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa on Fort Myers Beach and Charley’s Cabana Bar at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa.

On the Waterfront

Looking for a casual, laid-back place to have a beer? Try Gramma Dot’s on Sanibel, Cabbage Key Inn (don’t forget to stick your dollar to the wall), Flippers on Lovers Key, RumRunners in Cape Coral or Doc’s Beach House on Bonita Beach.

Local Favorites

Where do the locals go to unwind? Find them the first Wednesday of each month at Yacht Club Community Park’s “Sunset Celebration on the Pier," with food, fun and live performances. Funky Bert’s Bar & Grill on Matlacha melds low-key lifestyles with a view of enchanting Matlacha Pass.

Sunset View

Watch the sun set with your toes in the sand at the Outrigger Tiki Bar on Fort Myers Beach or The Mucky Duck on Captiva. Uninterrupted views abound from the Beached Whale near Times Square on Fort Myers Beach.

The Sound of Music

Piano & Jazz Bars

Southern gentility and old standards are on the menu Tuesday through Saturday at The Veranda’s piano bar, where diners can sing along with the pianist. On Sanibel, Ellington’s Jazz Bar and Restaurant features live jazz seven nights a week.

Dance the Night Away

Junkanoo on the Beach on Fort Myers Beach is a casual, open-air family restaurant with a tropical feel. Get in the groove to the reggae beat.

Musical Musings

Gotta love a bar called The Cottage. Tucked away off Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach, this local hangout has a deck overlooking the beach and features live music by local musicians.

For the Chic Crowd

Downtown Cool

World Famous Cigar Bar, in downtown Fort Myers, is a trendy spot for the hipper than hip. Long, sweeping, dynamically decorated bars take center stage at South Beach Grille on Fort Myers Beach and Cru and BluSushi in Fort Myers. Patrons are as sleekly dressed, martinis in hand, as these soigné lounges are designed.