Friends and neighbors,

Hopefully, your holiday plans are coming together with ease, and you’re not feeling any stress from the winter season yet. Chill in the air, and dare I say the stores are already playing Christmas music? I shiver. 

I wanted to cover the opening of the latest Greek restaurant in Mercato, Violi, serving Greek hospitality with a side of tender lamb. They’ve made a splash and currently have a perfect rating. Time will tell, but for their opening, they’ve hit it out of the park. 

Also, I have a few ideas to start percolating your gifting lists for the holiday season. While we have a host of online shopping at our fingertips, I’m highlighting locally owned stores to support small businesses. 

Thank you for being here, and thanks to Naples Florida Rentals for supporting this newsletter. We couldn’t do it without you. 

As the Greeks say, Yamas, (to health!), 

With online shopping making everything just a click away, it’s easy to forget how many great gift options we have right here at home. Supporting local shops not only strengthens our community, but it’s also a more sustainable way to shop. Here are some of my favorite unique Naples spots for holiday gifting:

​​1. Naples Soap Company
614 5th Avenue South

What they sell: Natural, handcrafted body, face, and hair care. Think soaps, bath bombs, scrubs, body butters, etc.

Why it’s good: Very local brand, eco-friendly ingredients, and gifts you know will be used up. Great to pair with other gifts for a pampering theme. 

2. Monogram Goods
378 13th Ave South, Naples

What they offer: In addition to stylish clothing, they offer everything you could want with a custom monogram. Plush bathrobes and beach towels, napkins, and travel bags. 

Why it’s good: Perfect for something personal. A monogrammed towel, toiletry bag, or set of napkins, for example, make classy, thoughtful presents that have utility. 

On a budget? Gift a monogrammed passport cover. Splurging? Add the tickets to your next vacation.

3. Books on Third
1300 3rd St S, Suite 201

What they offer: Curated selection of books (fiction, nonfiction, local authors), plus stationery, journals, and giftable literary items. 

Why it’s good: Instead of reaching for a tried-and-true chain, head to the local bookstore that has everything you need, plus helpful staff to ask for recommendations.

4. Audrey’s of Naples
104 10th St N

What they sell: Designer clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and vintage items. 

Why it’s good: You can find luxury items for less, or vintage pieces with real character for that one-of-a-kind person in your life. Great for someone who appreciates style and sustainability. Beautiful jewelry pieces, designer belts and bags, in addition to clothing items. 

For me personally? You can never go wrong with a silk scarf. One of my most-worn gifts is one gifted to me by my brother. 

5. Bayshore Arts Market 
3200 Bayshore Drive

Sundays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

What they offer: A weekly open-air market in the heart of the Bayshore Arts District featuring local artisans (in addition to the food) where you can find handcrafted jewelry, leather goods, home goods and original artwork.
Why it’s good: Perfect for finding truly unique, locally made gifts on a budget. Supporting the vendors here directly supports Naples’ growing arts community, and the Sunday-morning atmosphere (with live music) makes it a fun place to browse for holiday presents (while snacking on goodies for yourself). 

6. Summerfields
953 Central Avenue

What they offer: A beautifully curated home boutique featuring high-quality home decor, ceramics, tableware, glassware, and other giftable pieces (jewelry, candles, etc).

Why it’s good: Perfect for elevated, design-forward gifts for that hostess in your life. Many items are unique or small-batch, and the shop is locally owned by the mother-daughter interior design team of Shari & Stacey Summers.

Mercato’s newest restaurant, Violi, might be bringing a touch of Mykonos to Naples, but the connection goes deeper than the décor. Both places share a strong love for good food and true hospitality. That’s really Violi’s whole pitch: a Greek taverna built on fresh seafood, bright flavors, open-air seating, and a “come as you are” atmosphere that feels genuine, not fussy.

At the heart of it all is the Greek tradition of philoxenia—literally “love of the stranger.” In ancient Greece, visitors were treated with the highest respect because you never knew when a god might show up in disguise. While Zeus isn’t dropping by for dinner at Mercato anytime soon, Violi leans into that same spirit of warmth and generosity.

The space itself is inviting: a 1,500-square-foot patio filled with pink flowers and an interior with (already coveted) cozy booths, a long bar, and warm, modern touches. It’s designed for a Greek (and Naples) tradition of lingering, sharing, and enjoying each other’s company.

Leading the kitchen is Athinagoras Kostakos, an award-winning Greek chef and winner of Greece’s version of Top Chef. He has cooked at some of the country’s top restaurants and now partners with DineAmic Hospitality’s David Rekhson and Luke Stoioff—known for Chicago’s LYRA and Violi’s first iteration in Oak Brook, IL. Their experience shows: for a brand-new restaurant, the service has been impressively smooth.

The menu leans heavily on fresh seafood, sustainable proteins, and local vegetables, all prepared simply and from scratch. Standouts include smoky baba ganoush, charred octopus, and tender souvlaki and the lamb chops. Their flaky spanakopita and pastitsio (Greek lasagna) with short-rib ragù are also earning rave reviews. For dessert, go for the sokolatopita (a dark chocolate cake with hazelnut praline and chocolate-coffee custard). 

A quick note: some happy hour cocktails are batched and can’t be modified, but at $9, they’re hard to complain about. Overall, pricing feels surprisingly reasonable for Naples. If you’re curious what all the buzz is about, Violi is absolutely worth a stop.

Violi 
9110 Strada Pl. #6145, Naples
Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 3 PM - 11:00 PM, Friday & Saturday: 3 PM - 1:00AM
Happy hour: 3:00 - 6:00 PM
Website 
(239) 427-1443

Last week’s poll asked: What are your plans for the holiday?

Here’s where you landed:

I love the variety of responses. I hope everyone has a lovely time over the holidays and eats well!

Does your Thanksgiving include going around the table and saying what you are thankful for? Mine does, so I’m giving you time to think now. 

We cover a new gift guide or an exciting restaurant opening because the true character of Naples is built on these choices. Every time you skip the chain store to support a local business, you are casting a vote for our unique community identity. Every time a new chef brings global talent and philoxenia to our dining scene, it raises the bar for everyone.

This is how we keep Naples vibrant, prosperous, and a place where both locals and visitors (like those staying in our sponsor's five-star homes) find something truly special.

See you in the next edition!

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

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