Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Sanibel Island

"Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is an award winning restaurant with locations on Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Ft. Myers Beach, & a 4th location opening in St. Pete Florida in 2019. Inspired by a character in a New York Times best-selling novel series by author Randy Wayne White, in turn inspired by Sanibel and Captiva Islands and days spent out on the water, Doc Ford’s is a perennial local favorite."

"This restaurant is a short bike ride from Mia's Beach Escape, so it tends to be our go-to for takeout when we don't feel like cooking or going out. The menu is extensive and offers a number of 'healthier' options. Our family also enjoys their outdoor dining area."

"Crisp white linens, gleaming crystal, polished silver, and soft jazz let you know you’ve stepped into one of the most refined Sanibel Island restaurants worthy of a special occasion or an unhurried meal. Located on the grounds of Casa Ybel Resort, Thistle Lodge Beachfront Restaurant offers brunch, lunch, dinner, an impressive wine list, and thoughtfully crafted holiday menus prepared by Chef Omar Clarke. American inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, who owned homes in nearby Fort Myers, Florida when they were alive, enjoyed boating to Thistle Lodge for dinner."

"A beautiful Victorian house with an even better view of the Gulf, theThistle Lodge is a lovely setting for a special occasion or date night. The lodge’s menu is a blend of Floridian, European, and Asian flavors, with fresh seafood and dry aged steaks. They also feature a great selection of wines and cocktails, and have both indoor and outdoor dining options."

"I was so excited to eat at the historic, oceanfront restaurant but since we at after dark it didn't seem that special once we got there. Luckily the food was really good though... which totally made up for it!"

"Hand-made ravioli stuffed with sweet lobster or local vegetables; Gulf grouper seared till the skin crisps and then set atop a polenta cake that's comforting and faintly sweet. The servers are equally excellent, well-versed on wine pairings and the ins and outs of this stellar, ever-changing menu. The dining room is dark, quiet and classy, with all the trimmings (white table cloths, linen napkins, a live pianist) you'd expect in fine dining."

"Cielo is a swanky restaurant and one of the more fine dining experiences on the island. We dined there in person last year and adored the ambiance inside with a live jazz piano player and gorgeous decor. This year we opted for takeout and it was also very tasty."

"Since opening in 2013, The Sandbar has become known for its incredibly fresh seafood and choice cuts of beef and pork. They take great pride in having the best service staff on the islands. Check out the reviews or go find out for yourself!"

"For a larger brewery experience, complete with guided tours, Fort Myers Brewing Company is an awesome option. You can book a tour for Wednesday or Saturday, or stop by the taproom to try one of their 25+ beers on tap!. We had found their High 5 IPA and American Wheat in stores before and were intrigued to try more."

"We have over 25 beers on tap plus at least one food truck onsite every day!. Our trucks rotate, so visit our website or give us call to find out who’s on-site. Want to bring your own food, that’s fine too!"

"Hirdie Girdie Gallery is a local artists' cooperative with a variety of styles and media including watercolor, oil, pastel and acrylic paintings, colored pencil and fiber, photography, Raku, pottery, basketry, sculptures, fused glass, turned wood, fiber and jewelry. All of the artwork displayed has been created by the members of their cooperative and our guest artists. You will always find a friendly and knowledgeable artist at the gallery."

"Hirdie-Girdie Gallery, located just minutes from our premier Sanibel Florida rentals, is another fantastic Sanibel art gallery. For over 20 years, Hirdie-Girdie has been supplying visitors and locals with visual stimulation and inspiration. Visit their website to learn more about the vast variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional offerings, as well as information on specific features artists."

"We love renting bikes and seeing cities through riding around so when we found out there was a bike path to Sanibel Lighthouse and Beach we knew that would be the way for us to get there. We drove over to Sanibel Island and rented bikes from Billy’s Rental. Billy’s rents a wide range of bikes including those with baby seats, single-speed, trailer attachments for kids and even the weehoo that we rented and used to have Jordyn ride with me. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen."

"Towering above a lush, green wildlife refuge, the Sanibel Island Lighthouse is the first sight you’ll see when you’ve reached the island. Built 120 years ago, it’s a symbol of Sanibel Island and is surrounded by greenery, as well as a shell filled beach. History, nature and old architecture come together to give visitors a multi-faceted treat."

"You can’t make a trip to Sanibel Island without visiting the Sanibel Fishing Pier and the Sanibel Lighthouse. At the fishing pier, you’ll get great shots of local fishermen reeling in their catches. While you’re there do some local fishing yourself and get tips from the locals."

"These beaches are your first impression of Sanibel Island and it’s not a bad one, if we do say so ourselves. The view from the causeway is amazing in its own right, but the Causeway Beaches are always teeming with happy beachgoers, parasailers, kiteboarders and boaters. It’s impossible not to feel relaxed as you drive by."

"Water lovers will appreciate kayak opportunities, and professional beach loungers will enjoy the sprawling picnic area, fishing spots, and sunbathing. There’s also plenty for water sports enthusiasts, including windsurfing and kiteboarding. Getting here can be a little challenging."