Decades in, these beloved restaurants still serve regulars, gather memories and shape the region’s food culture.
Southwest Florida’s legacy restaurants aren’t just places to eat—they’re the institutions that shaped our dining culture and continue to gather generations in shared tradition.
Along the Gulf Coast, a handful of such restaurants stand the test of time. These institutions hold fast to the lore of times when Naples was a sleepy fishing town and Cabbage Key was an artists’ retreat. Their enduring appeal relies on a potent blend of nostalgia, reverence for the past and an unfailing respect for the loyal clientele that returns time and time again.
The Veranda may be where locals celebrate big moments, but Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant is where they go to slip off the map. Only accessible by boat, the island has a rich history, populated by the Calusa, Cuban fishers, homesteaders, artists and even a Corning glass heiress throughout the centuries.
The Dollar Bill Bar at Cabbage Key. Photography by Brian Tietz
