Sanibel Island has some excellent restaurant choices from casual to fine dining. Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in September, 2022, some sites, restaurants and hotels might be closed. So please check before you travel. My top recommendations include:
Sea Breeze Cafe: This is a good restaurant at the Sundial Resort. The terrace is the perfect spot overlooking the resort’s pool and beach. I thought the service was excellent. They have a Japanese steakhouse and sushi restaurant as well. 1451 Middle Gulf Drive.
Lighthouse Cafe: This is a fun spot for breakfast, near the Lighthouse, at 362 Periwinkle Way. They have a menu featuring egg dishes, pancakes, omelets and frittatas. The decor, decorated with old lighthouse pictures, is charming.
Il Cielo, at 1244 Periwinkle Way, features local farms and locally grown and organic fruits and vegetables. This fine dining restaurant is more formal than most in town, but the food is very good. I enjoyed dinner with local friends and loved my flounder on top of a lobster and shrimp risotto.
Over Easy Cafe in Sanibel, at 630 Tarpon Bay Rd., is a casual colorful spot for breakfast and lunch.
My friends also love The Island Cow at 2163 Periwinkle Way, for casual dining, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner along with the casual Blue Giraffe for seafood, classic breakfasts and patio dining. It is located at 2075 Periwinkle Way #14.
Other friends recommend Gramma Dot’s Seaside Saloon located at the Sanibel Marina They are open for lunch and dinner on the water. I can’t wait to try it on my next trip.