The Friday Scoop
One more thing you should know before the weekend: if you're already planning a few dinners at Mercato this month, there's now a reason to order the burger.
For the month of August, six restaurants have each created a specialty burger, and diners get to decide which one comes out on top. Vote after each burger and you'll be entered to win a $250 Mercato Experience package.
The burgers run $17 to $20, and they each take their own approach. The Pub is topping its burger with smoked gouda, fried pickle chips, cherry pepper relish, and garlic aioli. The 239 piles bacon jam and crispy onion strings onto two grass-fed patties, while Hampton Social opts for Cooper Sharp cheddar, house-made pickles, and arugula. If smash burgers are more your thing, both Tap 42 and Taberna Burntwood (pictured above) are in the competition too.
By the end of the month, one spot will earn bragging rights and a lucky diner will earn $250 in gift cards to Mercato merchants. If you're eating at Mercato this month anyway, you might as well settle a burger debate while you're there.
Mercato Burger Battle
9110 Strada Place, Naples
August 1–31
Find event details here.
PRESENTED BY Naples Florida Rentals
The Naples Rental That Keeps Stealing the Itinerary 🌴
You book the trip for the beach, Fifth Avenue South, and afternoons on the Gordon River.
Then everyone sees the backyard.
The private heated pool has a waterfall. The covered lanai is ready for long lunches. The BBQ grill is close enough to turn “one quick swim” into dinner outside.
The Naples You Planned
🏖️ Start the morning at the beach
🍽️ Have lunch near Fifth Avenue South
🛍️ Browse the shops downtown
🛶 Paddle along the Gordon River
The Naples That Takes Over
💦 Everyone gets back in the pool
🥭 Someone spots the seasonal mango trees
🔥 Dinner moves to the grill
🥂 Nobody feels like leaving
The backyard is made for slow afternoons, with tropical landscaping, outdoor dining, a huge private yard, and enough room for the whole group to settle in.
Inside, the home keeps everyone comfortable without feeling crowded:
4 bedrooms · 2 bathrooms · Sleeps 5–8
Two king beds · One queen · Two twins
Pet-friendly too 🐾
The beach, downtown Naples, restaurants, shopping, and paddle access are all nearby.
But the part everyone may remember most is the evening when the original plans quietly disappeared.
Poll Results: The Perfect Naples Afternoon? 🌴
Last week we asked: What does your ideal Naples afternoon look like?
Here’s where you landed:
A long waterfront lunch took the top spot with 21.7% of the vote. Relaxing by a private pool followed closely behind at 20.8%.
Wandering around Fifth Avenue South earned 16%, just ahead of kayaking or paddleboarding at 15.6%. Other ideas received 13.2%, while a few extra hours at the beach brought in 12.7%.
I cannot argue with the winner. A waterfront table, a long lunch, and nowhere else you need to be sounds like a pretty good Naples plan.
This Week’s Poll:
What makes a waterfront meal in Naples feel complete? 🌊
Why It Matters
Choose one thing worth lingering over.
A burger you can vote on. A waterfront lunch with no rush. An afternoon by the pool that quietly becomes dinner.
Naples usually gets better when the schedule loosens a little, so leave one part of the weekend open and see where it takes you.
Enjoy the weekend,
Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review
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