Friends and neighbors,

What was formerly The Cave and Naples Wine Collection now has new life, and it’s a good one. A favorite Italian market of mine has taken over the space, and it’s worth a stop, especially if you like tasting before committing to a bottle or stocking up for a better weeknight pantry.

We’re also at that point in the season where where you sit matters just as much as what you order. I pulled a few patio spots that stay a little quieter and better suited for an actual conversation, best for lounging and catching up well into the afternoon (or evening!). 

Thanks for being here. I hope you find inspiration to indulge and slow down this week!

Cheers,

A familiar Naples name in imported Italian specialties is settling into a new home, and with it comes a fresh stop for wine tasting, pantry shopping and gift-giving on Vanderbilt Beach Road. Ambrosi & Sons has moved into the former Naples Wine Collection space at Shoppes at Vanderbilt, bringing its selection of Italian foods, specialty wines and sample-friendly wine bar to the neighborhood.

The shop is rooted in family tradition. Founded by Rudy, Michael and Alex Ambrosi, the business draws on the family’s Italian heritage and years spent around the tables of relatives in Carisolo in Trentino and Calasetta in Sardinia, where food and wine were part of everyday life. That background shows up in the store’s tightly curated mix of olive oils, balsamic vinegars, pasta, sauces, sweets, cured meats and gift baskets designed for everything from birthdays to real estate closings.

For shoppers, the appeal is as much about discovery as convenience. Ambrosi & Sons sources many of its products from small, family-owned producers in Italy, and the store encourages customers to taste before they buy, especially with its rotating wine selections. One highlight is a limited-production Sardinian wine, Pumèlu Carignano del Sulcis, offered as an example of the kind of small-batch, boutique bottles the shop wants guests to explore.

They’ve also taken over the space formerly known as The Cave. According to The Naples Press, it will now be called The Grotto, and plans to be used for wine tastings and private events without becoming a full restaurant (at least, not yet). Right now, the setup is a tasting room and speciality market rather than a dining destination. They’ve kept the wine bar dispensing system though, so you can move at your own pace tasting multiple regions, varieties and producers. 

Stop in for an elevated Italian dinner without much effort: grab semolina pasta, crushed tomatoes or pesto for a weeknight meal, take a package of ravioli, tortellini, or even escargot into the freezer for another night, or choose a bottle of wine you can sample first before bringing it home for a hostess gift or dinner party. 

Ambrosi & Sons knows Naples has a deep love for Italian food, and the area has no shortage of places to prove it. What sets this shop apart is its carefully selected ingredients and wines, chosen through personal relationships and a refined eye for quality.

Now open at 2343 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Suite 602–604 | ambrosiandsons.com | Mon–Fri: 9am–4:30pm | Sat: 10am–2pm | 239-304-9782

Naples has no shortage of outdoor dining, but the familiar stops can start to blur together after a while. The patios that hold up over time tend to share a few traits: they’re off the downtown circuit, they have dependable kitchens, and they allow friends to catch up without yelling at each other. 

These are those places.

Yes, I couldn’t make this list without The Patio Cafe. This longtime diner is one of those places that runs on repetition. The seating sits just off Tamiami, shaded enough to make lunch service comfortable, with large fans to keep the air flowing. Locals come back for familiar diner meals—big breakfast plates, a killer Turkey Club, and whatever the daily specials happen to be. Only open for breakfast and lunch.  

The Patio Cafe | 10711 Tamiami Trl N | Mon–Sat 7am–8:30pm, Sun 7am–3pm | 239-260-1075

Alexander’s opens into a garden patio that feels slightly removed from everything around it. Lit palms frame the space that is particularly inviting in the evening, and dinner is deliberate without being stiff.

Menu favorites include the macadamia-crusted grouper and beef tenderloin, along with seasonal menu changes. It’s more of a sit-and-stay kind of place than a quick stop.

Alexander’s Restaurant | 4077 Tamiami Trl N #D101 | Lunch 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM Mon–Sat, dinner 4:30 - 9:00 PM Mon–Sat, closed Sunday | alexandersnaples.com  | 239-262-4999

The MED sits in the middle of Bayshore, though the courtyard does a decent job separating it from everything around it. The space is simple: string lights, open tables, and a layout that makes it easy to stay longer than planned without noticing.

Ordering here usually turns into sharing. Recent reviews consistently point to mussels, calamari, lamb ragu, eggplant, and flatbreads, which tend to cover most of the table. Music shows up on some nights, but it stays secondary to conversation.

The MED | 3929 Bayshore Dr | Mon–Thu 5–9pm, Fri–Sat 5–10pm, Sun 5–9pm | 239-307-4755

Inside Island Walk, Casa Cotzelli opens onto a lakeside patio where the water becomes a welcome backdrop amid the palm fronds. Evenings build slowly here, especially once live music starts and tables fill in.

The kitchen runs heavily on pasta. Regular orders lean toward pappardelle with lamb ragu, cavatelli with wild boar bolognese, arancini, calamari, and tiramisu, which show up often across the room.

Casa Cotzelli | 6175 Towncenter Cir | Mon 4–9pm, Tue–Sun 11:30am–9pm | casacotzelli.com | 239-592-5055

Seventh South sits along the canal in Bayshore, where boats pass and the patio fills as the sun drops. The space works just as well for dinner as it does for staying longer than intended afterward.

Seafood is the move here: sea bass, oysters, and octopus are on the order rotation, but their short ribs are also a standout. The best part? The bar that keeps things going well into the evening if you want to stay up talking; they’re open until 1 AM most nights and have a late-night bites menu too. 

Seventh South Waterfront | 2891 Bayview Dr | Mon 4:30–9pm, Tue–Sat 11:30am–1am, Sun 11:30am–9pm | seventhsouth.com | 239-231-455

Naples has plenty of patio dining, especially downtown, but these are the places where you can lounge into the evening (and maybe not run into half the town). They’re not the most obvious, but they’re the ones people actually end up going back to when they want an evening of ambiance, without being rushed. 

Last week we asked: What’s your preferred style of lobster roll?

Here’s where you landed:

Cold with mayo took the top spot with 35.83% of the vote! Hot and Buttery took a quarter of the vote in second place, while 20% would do without. Clearly, our readers have a favorite - here’s what you had to say. 

“Yacht Club Subs has the very best cold Lobster Roll in town!! It is packed full of huge hunks lightly dressed in mayo and herbs and served perfectly on a buttery croissant. Cutest lunch place ever and Frank is a GEM!” - J. 

“Cold w/ lotsa Mayo...Celery salt an added bonus to a real mainer” - R. 

Cold with mayo - “If you are from Rhode Island, it's the only way!” -B. 

Some places in Naples are good once. Others become part of the week you actually want to have.

That is the difference here. A better market stop, a patio where you can stay longer, a place that feels worth returning to. Those are the spots that give everyday Naples a little more texture and make the week feel a little better.

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

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