Top Beach Bars on Florida’s Paradise Coast

The beach bars are different on Florida’s Paradise Coast. Many of them live up to our destination’s reputation for luxury. Others lean more rustic. Either way, the food is terrific; the drinks are exquisite; the views are breathtaking; the sunsets, epic. They’re great places to unwind after a full day of activity.

Here’s an overview of just some of the beach bars you’ll find on Florida’s Paradise Coast — all of which are sure to add relaxation, good times, and memorable views to your stay.

Catch the Game at Sunset Grille

This casual hangout, located on the southern end of Marco Island, is best described as a beach sports bar, due to the dozens of TVs tuned to an array of games. The menu offerings — hearty fare with an emphasis on seafood — are affordable and delicious. Out on the covered deck, there are plenty of tables, as well as a row of Gulf-facing chairs along a wooden railing, ideal for enjoying a drink and a tasty basket of shrimp. Sunset Grille has an outdoor bamboo bar and an indoor bar that looks out over the beach.

Paddle Into Capri Fish House

What’s more “Florida” than a spacious, thatched-roof tiki bar just a few feet from the water? Capri Fish House is located just north of Marco Island on Johnson Bay, a couple hundred yards east of the Gulf. We’re pretty sure you can guess what kind of food Capri Fish House specializes in. (Top tip: you can’t go wrong with the grouper sandwich.) Capri also rents kayaks and paddleboards, if you get the urge to explore the calm waters that wind through the mangroves and up into Rookery Bay. With our vast network of waterways, Florida’s Paradise Coast offers visitors plenty of options for both kayaking and paddleboarding.

Island Vibes at Kane Tiki Bar & Grille and Quinn’s on the Beach

The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort has two beach bars for guests and visitors to enjoy. At the Balinese-inspired Kane Tiki Bar & Grill, a large thatched roof covers a giant rum bar — right on the beach. The place is fully open-air, lending an authentic ambiance. Guests can sit around the bar or on tables out in the sand. Kane’s menu is highlighted by Indonesian street foods. Quinn’s on the Beach, a couple hundred yards south, has indoor seating and outdoor seating that’s both covered and uncovered. The restaurant focuses on Caribbean cuisine (e.g. Key West Snapper Ceviche) and is prized for specialty drinks like the grapefruit-elderflower margarita. Quinn’s offers an enhanced sunset experience with live fire-dancer shows every night.

A TROPICAL HIDEAWAY AT RHODE’S END

A long boardwalk starts at Clam Pass Park and winds its way through mangroves to the beach. The half-mile walk (or shuttle or bike ride) toward the Gulf suggests you’re in for something special, and you are: Rhode’s End, part of the Naples Grande Beach Resort complex, is an unfussy, classic beach bar featuring a huge elevated deck outfitted with tables and chairs that offer terrific views of blue-green Gulf water. Rhodes End specializes in Greek and Mediterranean cuisine and tropical cocktails.

The Deck at 560: Surrounded by Natural Beauty

The open-air Deck at 560, located at the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, features 200 seats, all with panoramic views of the Gulf. You’ll first see a lush mangrove forest, then a white sand beach, then the vast expanse of the Gulf of Mexico. The Deck emphasizes locally sourced ingredients and has an in-house garden that grows organic herbs and fresh produce. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and serves lunch, dinner, and breakfast. (Speaking of breakfast: There are quite a few restaurants throughout Florida’s Paradise Coast that specialize in the day’s first meal, with options that range from basic to refined.)

RUB ELBOWS WITH THE LOCALS AT DOLPHIN TIKI BAR & GRILL

It’s a little tucked away but just look for the big thatched roof. The open-air Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill is located on the northern end of Marco Island, next to Rose Marina, overlooking Factory Bay. A substantial list of craft cocktails joins a menu that far transcends what you’d consider typical beach bar fare. Best of all, the vibe is terrific. Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill is the kind of place where locals welcome visitors with open arms.

UNWIND AT STILTS BEACHSIDE BAR & GRILL

Part of the Marriott’s Crystal Shores on Marco Island, Stilts Beachside offers a refined beach-bar experience, with a large open-air patio that looks out over the Gulf. The place is just a few feet from a boardwalk that takes you through a patch of green and onto the beach. The Stilts menu features mostly American classics, and fans of craft cocktails will be drawn to an extensive list that includes must-try entries, like the Raspberry Mudslide and 5 Diamond Daiquiri. 

ROCK OUT AT STAN’S IDLE HOUR

Stan’s is not just a beach bar, it’s a beach-bar complex. A combination of patchwork buildings, tiki bars, an outdoor stage, and other structures surround a large field of sand covered with colorful picnic tables. Live rock and country bands entertain on weekends and draw big crowds. The menu includes the beachy basics, and the beer leans more toward American classics than craft. Stan’s Idle Hour is located on an inland waterway in Goodland, a 15-minute drive west of the Marco Island resort strip.

DROP ANCHOR AT ISLAND GYPSY CAFE & MARINA BAR

Boaters love to dock and drop by this comfortable, family-friendly bar/restaurant at Isle of Capri Marina in southern Naples, just north of Marco Island. (No boat? No worries. The bar/restaurant is easily accessed by car, as well.) You’ll enjoy views of Tarpon Bay as you feast on items from the seafood-centric menu. The Island Gypsy Cafe is named after a 63-foot sport-fishing yacht owned and crewed by Isles of Capri residents. She was battered and sunk in October of 2005, the victim of Hurricane Wilma’s 125-mph winds. A 20-foot section of the craft’s stern is on display at the restaurant’s entrance.

This beach bar overview just scratches the surface of Paradise Coast restaurants with outdoor seating — not all of which overlook the water. It is, after all, Florida. And, yes, it is Paradise.