Let’s be honest. Sometimes, we don’t want our desserts to have dress codes, our tables to have starched linens, or to indulge in finicky bite-sized dishes.
Sometimes, we need a relaxed and casual place to feel comfortable walking into and gathering with friends old and new. These 12 restaurants are local favorites and perfect for those looking for a good entree at any price point without the fine dining frills, from seafood favorites to romantic Italian spots.
Whether you’re a traveler passing through or staying at one of our lovely, and conveniently located vacation homes, Naples, Florida, will greet the most famished foodie with cuisine where the South meets the sea. Here are our 12 favorite places to enjoy truly good food in Naples, Florida.
1. The Local
- 5323 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples, FL
- thelocalnaples.com
- $$
- Farm-to-fork organic and locally sourced seafood with healthy options.
- Reservations Recommended
Casual doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice flavor. The Local is the first sea-to-table restaurant. With only the freshest locally sourced ingredients, vegan options, and fresh seafood, flavor doesn’t need to take a back seat at this unpretentious spot, where health and great food are the emphasis.
2. Bar Tulia 5th Ave
- 462 5th Ave S, Naples, FL
- bartulia.com
- $$-$$$
- Italian pizzas and pasta, craft cocktails
- Reservations not necessary
You may hear Italian cuisine and craft cocktails and immediately imagine an extravagant fine dining commitment. At Bar Tulia, you’d be mistaken. With a family-friendly atmosphere and helpful staff, you’ll feel like you’re visiting long-time friends rather than a locally beloved Italian restaurant. Perfect for happy hour, pizza cravings, or for groups!
3. La Trattoria
- 878 5th Ave S, Naples, FL
- latrattorianaples.com
- $$
- Red-checkered table clothed Neapolitan pizzas and pasta
- Reservations not necessary
With red checkered tablecloths, Italian decor, and a lively atmosphere, you’ll swear you were in a different, more European, Naples restaurant. Family-owned and operated, La Trattoria has outstanding pasta dishes and pizzas and a happy hour that won’t break the bank. Be sure to save room for tiramisu for dessert, where they grate chocolate on top by request.
4. Harold’s Place Chickee Bar and Grill
- 2555 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, FL
- naplesharoldsplace.com
- $$
- Tropical Poolside pub food with cheap prices and fun ambiance
- Reservations not necessary
No casual dining list can exist without mentioning Harold’s. Skip the overpriced bistro’s because Harold’s is known as the ‘Best burger in Naples’. Here, you combine award-winning BBQ and poolside service with very reasonable prices at this quirky thatched Naples favorite draped in tropical decor.
With karaoke nights, a full bar, and a pool, Harold’s can get pretty lively at times, but the food here speaks for itself. Try the grouper salad and kick back poolside in that famous Florida sun.
5. Osteria Tulia
- 466 5th Avenue S, Naples, FL
- osteriatulia.com
- $$$
- Seafood-inspired Italian classics in a rustic farmhouse
- Reservations Recommended
Nothing is more casual than classic Italian cuisine enjoyed under the roof of a farmhouse. Osteria elevates Italian staples to a whole new level with an extensive wine selection and a seafood-inspired menu; the patrons here rave about the grilled octopus and the lobster ravioli.
With the sea air on your skin, settle into Osteria and savor a truly satisfying Italian meal.
6. Lake Park Diner
- 944 7th Ave N, Naples, FL
- lakesidediner.com
- $$
- Local and organic brunch and breakfast
- Reservations not necessary
Local and organic goes far beyond your standard granola and yogurt at Lake Park Diner. They serve up breakfast classics alongside decadent treats like a cereal milkshake blended with extra-thick ice cream and topped with a doughnut.
Offering paninis, Cubanos, and sweet potato fries, this is the perfect diner to stop off on the Tamiami Trail for a quick lunch or breakfast. Brunch favorites include an Asian-influenced Korean short rib hash and smoked salmon scramble.
7. Simit Fresh Mediterranean
- 1230 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples, FL
- simitfresh.com
- $$-$$$
- Mediterranean-inspired cuisine
- Reservations Recommended
If Turkish food isn’t on your radar, it’s time to change that. Falafel, kebabs, and pan seared Grouper, Simit Fresh Mediterranean is more than just chicken shawarmas and hummus.
Named for the sesame-loaded savory pastry, Simit Fresh is a sleek but homey space serving up mouth-watering mezze, a full wine list, and appetizer meat platters, making this the perfect place to go for groups, grazing, and everything Mediterranean!
8. Michelbobs Championship Ribs & Steak
- 371 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples, FL
- michelbobs.com
- $-$$
- BBQ Smokehouse
- Reservations not necessary
A Naples staple. There’s a reason Michelbobs Championship Ribs have been around as long as they have, 1979. And not much has changed since then. Why change a good thing? No trip to the South is complete without a meal at a true BBQ smokehouse, and this is the place to do it.
Fingerlickin, sauce-soaked, dry-rubbed plates piled high with meat and fixins’. For dessert, Michelbobs celebrates its Florida roots with key lime pie under banners of Coca-Cola memorabilia and Americana decor, like any true BBQ joint. You can’t beat their New York steakhouse-style steak for all the meat lovers out there!
9. Sea Monkey Tavern & Grill
- 1100 6th Ave S Suite 6&7, Naples, FL
- seamonkeytavern.com
- $-$$
- Casual seafood grill and bar with live music
- Reservations not required
Nothing says ‘Welcome to the Florida Gulf’ like a dockside Florida nostalgia-themed seafood restaurant serving up no-frills baskets of deliciousness like their hogfish sandwich. Or an entire seafood platter for the particularly famished. With a name like Sea Monkey, there’s no way it’s not a fun place. This quirky tiki-themed dockhouse hosts a lively patio with live music. Come as you are, flip-flops and all.
10. Campiello
- 1177 3rd St S, Naples, FL
- campiellonaples.com
- $$$
- Italian cuisine with a lively patio and live music
- Reservations Recommended
Campiello may have a reputation for its ritz and glitz with a beautifully decorated dining room, but don’t be fooled. This outdoor patio sits underneath the shade of a beautiful tree and remains firmly in the casual dining bracket, thanks to its lively ambiance. Chic decor aside, Campiello’s is a local landmark and a sincerely welcoming host to anyone ready for some classic Italian dishes with the special ingredient essential to Italian cooking—passion.
They also host live music events where you can be serenaded while you sip wine and forget you’re in Naples, Florida, and not Naples, Italy. Indulge in pasta and scallops, and let the night take you.
11. The Dock at Crayton Cove
- 845 12th Ave S, Naples, FL
- dockcraytoncove.com
- $-$$
- Casual waterfront seafood joint with a large selection of fish and shellfish
- Reservations not necessary
Tucked away in Crayton Cove is a best-kept local secret. The Dock boasts menu items that seafood lovers only dream of. Macadamia-crusted Snapper, Sea Bass, and, of course, in true Florida spirit, a Key Lime Grouper.
Try some Paella or oysters on the half shell and watch the boats come and go from the waterfront patio. You’re next door to the ocean, after all. This isn’t some fancy fish restaurant. The Dock is a nautical tiki-themed seaside spot with no fuss. The food speaks for itself.
12. Turco Taco
- 410 9th St N, Naples, FL
- theturcotaco.com
- $-$$
- Casual, organic taco and Mexican food with a lively atmosphere
- Reservations not necessary
Tacos that taste amazing and are made with health in mind. Turco Taco is an excellent Mexican dining option that accommodates all diets with its numerous dining options for Keto and Gluten-Free guests. They deliver street tacos and organic salads with a punch of Mexican flavor. While you won’t find any oversweetened margaritas here, you can enjoy a wide selection of beer on the patio.
Kids menus and takeaway options make it the go-to Mexican taqueria for families and friends alike. Save room for the churros!
Enjoy Naples Best Restaurants Dine In or Take Out!
Naples is known to be an upscale waterfront town with loads of fine-dining restaurants worthy of any date night. But there is no need to venture all the way to Bonita Springs, Orlando, or North Naples for a casual bite to eat.
You’ll notice no shortage of casual dining experiences for all appetites and budgets. Stay at our conveniently located vacation homes so you don’t miss out on Naples and its exquisite seafood and homestyle southern meals!
