Friends and neighbors,

This week, we’re talking about what’s being rebuilt and what’s being reimagined. The Naples Pier—our collective front‑row seat to sunset—is officially in reconstruction mode, with crews on site, a clear timeline, and a promise that the new version will feel familiar while fixing almost everything underneath. 

At the same time, Omasava is rewriting what “special occasion dinner” means in Naples, with an omakase menu that could hold its own in the biggest dining cities in the world.

Thanks for being here,

An exclusive new omakase experience has arrived in Naples, and it doesn’t tiptoe into town—it walks in with a 20‑plus‑course menu, ultra‑limited seating, and a price tag that sits comfortably next to omakase counters in New York, Miami, and Tokyo. Omasava is a hidden omakase room off Fifth Avenue South, run by the team behind Sails, and it’s the newest name drop when talking to locals about the “top 3 meals I’ve ever had.”

If you’ve never described raw fish as sublime, this probably isn’t your spot. The space itself is small and intentionally dramatic: a long, narrow room with low counter seating, a ceiling and walls lined in vintage champagne bottles, and a maximum of 16 seats per seating, which already feels snug. Tuesday through Sunday, they offer seatings at 5:30 and 8:00 PM. You’re not just at dinner; you’re at a two and a half hour choreography, with chefs working a few feet in front of you, a dedicated host guiding the experience, and staff moving seamlessly in and out with pairings and explanations.

The format is classic omakase: you hand over all decisions to the chef and settle in for somewhere around 25 courses, depending on the night. The fish is sourced both locally and from Japan’s major markets, arriving at a level of freshness that rivals the big‑city counters. Expect a progression of sashimi, nigiri, and composed bites that highlight pristine ingredients with minimal but precise touches like a specific citrus, a whisper of wasabi, or a brush of soy. Standouts include mackerel, trout, and multiple cuts of tuna, plus extras like lobster miso and delicate tempura.

Service is part of why people walk away saying this might be the best dining experience they’ve had anywhere. The team balances warmth, professionalism, and deep knowledge of the menu and pairings. A dedicated sommelier curates both wine and sake, and there’s equal attention paid to non‑alcoholic pairings for those who want the full experience without the buzz. Guests are walked through each course—what fish is being used, why the cut matters, how the temperature of the rice or the seasoning supports the flavor—without the explanation feeling like a lecture.

The cost sits firmly in “special occasion” territory at $298 per person before drinks, tax, and a service charge, in line with top‑tier omakase counters in major cities. If that feels like too much, Naples does have high-end options that are slightly more affordable: places like Namba Ramen & Sushi offer excellent sushi and Japanese dishes in a more relaxed, izakaya‑style setting. And if you're looking for sushi at other price points, check out our latest top 5 list of the best sushi in Naples. 

Still, every friend group here has at least one serious sushi person who would light up at the idea of 25 courses and a seat at a counter made from ancient wood, watching a chef assemble each bite inches away. For that person—and for anyone who has ever wished Naples had a truly world‑class omakase room—Omasava feels like a line in the sand. It signals that our dining scene isn’t just catching up to larger cities; in at least one small, champagne‑bottle‑lined room, it’s competing for its own spot. 

Omasava | 301–321 5th Ave S, Naples | omakase by reservation only | Tuesday–Sunday, two nightly seatings (5:30 PM & 8:00 PM) | omasava.com | 239‑359‑2000

With very little competition, the most beloved sunset spot among readers of The Naples Florida Review has always been the Naples Pier—“when it still stood.” For more than a century, the pier has been rebuilt and repaired after storms and fires, serving as a kind of living room over the Gulf where generations of locals and visitors watched dolphins, pelicans, and the last strip of light drop behind the water.

Hurricane Ian in September 2022 caused catastrophic damage, taking out more than 30 pilings and leaving roughly half of the structure either gone or unusable. The city reopened only a small land‑side portion that engineers deemed safe, while the rest sat in limbo pending federal reviews, environmental permits, and long discussions about what a new pier should be. Over 2023 and 2024, Naples moved through design work, public meetings, and bids, eventually awarding a roughly 23.5 million dollar construction contract to Shoreline Foundation, a marine builder brought in specifically to handle the complexities of working over water.

Those years of paperwork finally turned into action this winter. Funding from FEMA was formally obligated in late 2025, and in early January 2026, the city held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official start of reconstruction. Demolition of the remaining damaged sections followed, and as of this month, crews are steadily removing old pilings and decking while staging materials for the new build. Access to the pier and the surrounding structures at the end of 12th Avenue South is closed for the duration of the work, which is expected to take about 18 months from the formal start date.

The new design keeps the pier’s recognizable, straight‑out‑into‑the‑Gulf profile but updates almost everything that made maintenance a constant headache. It will stand higher and stronger than before, built to modern engineering standards with improved foundations, more resilient materials, and better protection against storm surge and wave forces. City planners have emphasized that the rebuilt structure should “feel” like the Naples Pier people remember, while quietly meeting stricter federal, state, and local requirements behind the scenes.

On the social side, the pier is being planned as more than just a long walkway. The city has talked about better integrating the entrance area with surrounding amenities, including improved circulation, upgraded railings and lighting, and a layout that reduces friction between anglers, sunset‑watchers, and people out for a stroll. Think clearly defined fishing zones, viewing spots, and accessibility features that make the pier easier to enjoy for everyone. If the current schedule holds, the reconstruction should wrap around July 2027, bringing back that familiar silhouette at the end of 12th Avenue South, and once again letting those who cherish the pier as their sunset spot watch the sun sink over the water.

Last week, we asked: Have you been to Naples Fashion Week events before?

Here’s where you landed: 

Nearly 28% of you have attended Naples Fashion Week events, while a solid 40% haven’t. The week has steadily grown from its inception, and the word seems to be getting out now! 

Naples keeps finding ways to surprise you. One part of town is preserving a landmark we all miss, while another is quietly raising the bar on what a night out can look like. That mix of memory and momentum is part of what makes this place feel so alive right now.

Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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