Friends and neighbors,

I hope the long weekend gave you a real chance to rest.

This week, I wanted to give you the full low‑down on The Merchant Room at Naples Beach Club that opened two months ago. You’ll also find four stylish cocktail bars worth adding to your rotation that are perfect for sinking into plush velvet and catching up with your favorite people. Plus, I have a poll question about one of Naples’ latest openings and I’m eager to see the results. 

A warm shout-out to our sponsor, Naples Florida Rentals, for making this newsletter possible. If you know anyone looking for a pet‑friendly place with a heated pool and beaches close by, feel free to pass this along to friends planning a Naples stay. Dana can help match dates and budgets at (239) 397‑0929.

Thank you, as always, for reaching out, sending events, and keeping me in the loop too!

Warmly,

When The Merchant Room first opened its doors at the newly launched Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort in December 2025, it brought with it a bit of buzz and curiosity. This isn’t just another hotel restaurant; it’s the first outpost outside Minneapolis for Chef Gavin Kaysen, a two‑time James Beard Award winner whose name is familiar to food lovers for restaurants like Spoon & Stable and Demi. In Naples, he’s taken his New American brasserie sensibilities and given them a “Gulf Coast spin,” if you will, that ends up with a menu full of familiar favorites, plus seafood. 

Stepping inside feels distinct from the typical resort dining room with hand‑painted murals, elegant curtains and stylish but casual seating. Tall windows frame views of The Merchant Room’s greatest selling point: the ocean-view terrace with outdoor seating. This spot joins HB and The Sunset Bar, the resort’s other dining options and reimagined favorites of the original beach club. 

Starters set the tone: crisp raw oysters with lemon and mignonette, prawns a la plancha with black garlic aioli, or tuna carpaccio that balances delicate flavors. Mains follow from dry‑aged steaks like a 32 oz Porterhouse to seafood like seared salmon with eggplant caponata or black bass in a coconut curry broth. Pasta options, like cacio e pepe with bucatini or spaghetti nero dotted with octopus and shellfish, show Kaysen’s commitment to house‑made dishes with a Gulf spin. Dessert is simple: finish off with a Basque-style cheesecake or the ever-classic chocolate lava cake with hazelnut ice cream. In essence, there’s a whole lot of crowd-pleasers and a handful of intriguing options to keep more seasoned diners curious. Comfort and creativity living side by side is exactly what you’d expect from Kaysen’s hand in the kitchen.

Because The Merchant Room sits just off the Four Seasons lobby, it’s livelier than traditional upscale dining, but with one of Naples’s best backdrops and a stylish, inviting room, it’s an easy place to settle in for drinks, soak up the atmosphere, and have a good time. If you’re coming straight off the beach, though, head to the more casual HB or Sunset Bar instead. And don’t forget to get your parking validated. 

The Merchant Room
Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort
475 Seagate Drive, Naples
Sunday–Thursday: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM 

Friday–Saturday: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
(239) 514-9200

Sometimes you don’t need a full dinner plan; you just need a new bar. A different backdrop. A place outside of the usual rotation. If you’ve been cycling through the same Naples spots, these cocktail lounges (both old and new) are worth adding to the mix.

Just steps from the longtime French staple in Park Shore, Escargot 41 Piano Bar feels like Naples’ newest best-kept secret. It’s an extension of the restaurant, but it stands on its own.  Alongside the strong wine program and signature escargot next door, the bar menu leans classic with subtle twists: a well-balanced Aviation, a refreshing Lavender Mojito, and the Japanese Affair — Toki Japanese whisky with ginger and blackberry. Start with oysters or a simple cheese plate and enjoy live jazz from the grand piano in the corner nightly 6:30 PM  - 9:30 PM. 

On 5th Avenue South, The Vine Room attempts a speakeasy vibe despite sitting on the busiest street downtown. A vine-covered façade hides the entrance, and inside it’s all warm lighting and close quarters. The bar anchors the room and the decor is half old-school posters, half faux vines. Their cocktail menu takes the “craft” part seriously, spanning from a bright but not-too-sweet Key Lime Martini to a Tequila Old Fashioned with some depth. Non-negotiable? Truffle chips for the table. The drinks can be theatrical, so it’s a fun place to head with some girlfriends and catch up on the latest. 

Up at Mercato, Beeline opened a little less than a year ago. A dramatic ceiling and a statement banyan tree make this Naples bar feel a lot more like Miami. This sleek, chic bar has friendly bartenders, contemporary music, and all the moody lighting you could want with fairly inventive drinks. The Smokestack (tequila, blood orange, agave) balances smoke and citrus while the Hot Shot balances blueberry-rosemary syrup with vodka and lavender. There’s no food or table service, so it’s a good spot during a quieter early evening sitting at the bar before heading to dinner close by. 

And if you’re willing for a short drive, Chartreuse Craft Cocktail Lounge in Bonita Springs is where technique takes center stage. This is a place for people who are deeply serious about their cocktails. Chartreuse takes pride in its fresh juices, house-made cordials, seasonal adjustments, and a high-quality well with brands you might not typically see. The menu covers both classics and contemporary riffs, but the real joy is to give the bartenders a direction and let them take it from there. That’s how good they are. With a no-standing room policy, they want to make sure the experience is as high quality as the drinks, so reservations are highly encouraged—their chartreuse-green bar seats are coveted. 

Each of these spots makes sitting down for a cocktail feel like enough. Good lighting, comfortable seats, drinks made with care (and occasionally a little flair). Try one. Try all. Or just figure out which one has your next favorite corner to settle in for the evening.

Escargot 41 Piano Bar
4351 Tamiami Trail N, Naples

The Vine Room Naples 
465 5th Ave S, Naples

Beeline
9115 Strada Pl #5155, Naples

Chartreuse Craft Cocktail Lounge
27313 Old 41 Rd Unit 1 & 2, Bonita Springs

Last week’s poll asked: When you’re enjoying nature, what animals are you most excited to see?

Here’s where you landed:

Dolphins took the top spot in this week’s poll with 25% of the votes, with sea turtles and manatees tied for second. My pick? Birds. I’m always delighted to spot a great blue heron. There’s something majestic in its solitary patience, standing deathly still, waiting to catch dinner. Here were some other favorites:

If you go this week, tell me what you order at The Merchant Room (and whether the terrace really lives up to the hype). And if you try one of the cocktail spots, I want the full report: best drink, best seat, and whether it’s a “bring visitors” place or a “keep this for ourselves” place.

Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll — I’ll share the results and a few reader notes in the next edition.

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

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