Toes in the Sand is Hard to Find🍹 | Swamp Walks, Beatles & Everything You’ll Want to Do 🎶 | Brutal Poll Comments 😬 | You In or Out on Nautical Decor?

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Friends & Neighbors,

Greetings from Puerto Rico! We’re here for spring break, visiting the beachside community where my husband grew up. Two kids covered in sand. Sun blazing. And there’s an abundance of places — fancy and casual — where you can sit with your feet in the sand and enjoy a spectacularly cold beer or mojito.

Every time I’m here, I think about how different it is in Naples.

We have the shoreline. We have the sunsets. But when it comes to actually dining with your toes in the sand? Like the actual sand…not “bay view” or “gulf view”? That list is shockingly short.

So this week, I pulled together the six places in and around Naples where you still can. The Turtle Club (piña coladas forever) made the list, along with a few casual, dog-friendly, just-stroll-up gems.

Also in this issue:
🎭 Top 6 Events This Week — opera night at Barbatella, Beatles at Artis, a family swamp tour, and the first-ever Easter brunch at Sugarshack.
🗳️ Last Week’s Poll Results — We asked how you feel about Naples’ new wave of private dining clubs. The most popular answer? “I have absolutely no interest.” Some readers agreed. Some… did not. I responded to every single one.

And this week’s poll?
👉 Which Naples restaurant vibe are you secretly sick of?
Let it rip — or hit “Naples forever ✨” if you’re still loving the scene.

Thanks for reading. Whether you’re a diehard local or just newsletter-curious, I’m glad you’re here.

📩 carolyncervoni@gmail.com

Link to our archive HERE

P.S. Guess what? I’ve upgraded to a new logo! I want to give a huge shout-out to Elizabeth Bellotti. If you’re looking for a digital design, reach out to her on instagram @embstudiosny or at elizabeth@bellotti.com

Table of Contents

• 🍹 Toes in the Sand: 6 Rare Spots for Beachside Bi …

• 📆 Top 6 Events This Week (April 15–21, 2025)

• 🗳️ Last Week’s Poll: What’s Your Take on Naples’ …

🍹 Toes in the Sand: 6 Rare Spots for Beachside Bites

Naples has the weather, the shoreline, and the sunsets — but because of our zoning laws, and the sheer cost of beachfront commercial property, places where you can dine right on the sand are few and far between. 

When I say “dine on the sand” that’s what I mean. In this article, I’m leaving out “bay view” and “ocean view,” because – while I absolutely love so many of those places – there’s nothing that can really replace the feeling of the sand cooling under your feet after sunset. 

If you’re like me, you crave that barefoot magic — the warm sand under your feet, a salty breeze, and a real piña colada in hand (a standout for piña coladas on the beach is The Turtle Club). It’s a feeling I’ve been chasing ever since my first newsletter almost a year ago, which included the reopening of the Turtle Club.

👉 Throwback to that first issue

👉 Throwback to my subsequent (notably sappy) Turtle Club profile. 

So this week, I’ve rounded up six places in and around Naples where you can still kick off your shoes and dig your toes into the sand while enjoying a drink or a bite. There aren’t many — and they’re not all fancy — but they are 100% beach legit.

🐢 1. The Turtle Club (Naples)

📍 Google Maps | Website
Yes, it’s fancy. Yes, it books up weeks in advance. And yes, it’s still magical. The Turtle Club has tables directly on the beach — no platform, no patio. Just real sand, and arguably the best piña colada in town. Great for a special occasion.
👉 Read my full Turtle Club review here

🐚 2. Baleen at LaPlaya (Naples)

📍 Google Maps | Website. Call ahead and request a table on the sand. Otherwise, you’ll be in a hotel restaurant inside (*sad*). It’s a pretty easy place to visit — you’ll valet, you’ll spend a bit, and you’ll get to experience beautiful views.

🌅 3. Gumbo Limbo at The Ritz (Naples)

📍 Google Maps | Website
This spot was out of commission after Hurricane Ian, but it’s thankfully back. I have a favorite photo of myself pregnant here, which may be why I’m so sentimental. But sunset cocktails and the ring of the bell make it truly special.

🍹 4. Quinn’s on the Beach (Marco Island)

📍 Google Maps | Website
Right on the sand at the JW Marriott Marco Island. More resorty and packed with guests — but it’s hard to beat the view, the vibe, and the very well-made tropical drinks. Go early to get a good spot. It is truly worth the drive. 

🐾 5. Capri Fish House (Isles of Capri)

📍 Google Maps | Website
Pull up by boat or drive in — either way, you’ll be greeted with picnic tables in the sand, super-friendly staff, and some of the best conch fritters around. They love dogs here, too. They’ll bring out fresh water bowls for your pup without you even asking.

🍔 6. Doc’s Beach House (Bonita Springs)

📍 Google Maps | Website
A local classic that refuses to quit. Hurricane after hurricane, this spot just keeps going. It’s cash only (last I checked), the pours are generous, and the vibe is pure Old Florida. Think plastic chairs, real old Florida vibe, and killer beach views.

📆 Top 6 Events This Week (April 15–21, 2025)

1. Opera Night at Barbatella
📅 Tuesday, April 15 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Barbatella, 1290 Third Street South, Naples
🎶 Opera on Third Street South? It exists (I guess). Enjoy a four-course Italian dinner while professional opera vocalists fill the courtyard with live performances. According to reviews, this event regularly sells out, so reserve your spot early.
👉 More info & reservations

2. Revolution: The Music of the Beatles – Naples Philharmonic Pops
📅 Tuesday–Saturday, April 15–19
📍 Hayes Hall, Artis—Naples
🎸 I’m a Reagan-era baby but I listened to a lot of Beatles music growing up, so this seems like a great chance to hear their music live! This multimedia Beatles experience pairs rare photos and video with the symphonic power of the Naples Philharmonic. Tickets are still available.
Showtimes:
• April 15 – 7:30 PM
• April 16 – 7:30 PM
• April 17 – 7:30 PM
• April 18 – 7:30 PM
• April 19 – 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM
👉 More info & tickets

3. Movies in Paradise: Wicked
📅 Thursday, April 17 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Paradise Coast Sports Complex, 3920 City Gate Blvd. N, Naples
🎥 Have you seen the new movie hit Wicked yet? I have to admit I haven’t, but this seems like a fabulous excuse. This free movie night series, presented by WM, features food trucks, drinks from The Cove, and a laid-back lawn vibe. Bring your chairs or blankets (and bug spray…).
👉 Event Info & Parking Map

4. Corkscrew Family Night Tour
📅 Thursday, April 17 | 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples
🌙 Ok, here’s something I never would have considered before kids…but I am now convinced it could be a fun experience. The “Family Night Tour” at the swamp is billed as a magical after-dark experience perfect for families with kids 5 and up. I couldn’t find any reviews where someone was eaten. Flashlights provided!
🎟 $35/adult (non-members), $15/youth ages 5–16. Space is limited to 12 people.
👉 More info & registration

5. Earth Day Birthday Celebration at Calusa Nature Center
📅 Friday, April 18 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers
🐢 Why not take a quick drive, and check out the family-friendly Earth Day celebration in Ft. Myers that’s packed with guided hikes, live animal shows, arts and crafts, local vendors, and educational programming—all in the heart of a 105-acre preserve? The weather has been great so pencil this in.
🎟 Tickets: $13 Adults | $7 Kids | Free for CNCP Members
👉 Event Info

6. Start a New Easter Tradition: Easter Brunch at Sugarshack
📅 Sunday, April 20 | Two Seatings Available
📍 Sugarshack Downtown, Naples
🍳 If you’re a regular reader you’ll know that I think Sugarshack is one of the greatest additions to our community! If you don’t have other plans, I suggest you check out Sugarshack Downtown’s very first Easter with a 4-course prix fixe brunch filled with seasonal favorites, live music, and bottomless drinks from the open bar. Nothing makes a holiday like live music and good company.
📞 Call to reserve: 239.529.4346
👉 View Details

🗳️ Last Week’s Poll: What’s Your Take on Naples’ Private Dining Clubs?

“I have absolutely no interest” was the most selected response, pulling in 28.95% of the vote.

We were curious to see how locals really feel about these exclusive new spots popping up around town — from high-end social clubs to members-only restaurants — and the feedback was honest, mixed, and pretty entertaining.

Here’s what some of you had to say (and how I responded):

🗣️ Craig

“There are enough great restaurants in Naples and the surrounding communities so I feel no need to pay for a private membership to eat and drink. Some of the best-kept secrets are hole-in-the-wall places where the food is much better.”

📝 Note from me: I completely agree. There’s an incredible treasure trove of small, under-the-radar spots using local ingredients that rarely get the spotlight. I’ll keep doing my best to shine a light on them.

🗣️ A.S.

“Naples is getting too big. Now you have to belong to a private club to get a reservation somewhere?! Of course, there is the ‘prestige’ and bragging rights I guess.”

📝 Note from me: I hear you. It’s a little confusing watching this unfold in a town that already has more golf and country clubs than we know what to do with. Whether these dining clubs are here to stay or just a trend — TBD.

🗣️ Joan S.

“That’s what private clubs are for. I do not need a private restaurant.”

📝 Note from me: Same. If I’m paying a premium, I’d at least like the option to play tennis or pickleball along with dinner. The cost of private golf clubs is already astronomical — I’m not sure a dinner-only model makes sense long-term.

🗣️ Maureen

“The private clubs article doesn't pertain to most of your readers’ interests. Most of the other topics we in this area know about overall. I don't see much that differentiates this newsletter from many others.”

📝 Note from me: Maureen, I appreciate the honesty. But I do want to gently push back. While so much of what we read today is generated by AI, this newsletter isn’t. You know where I’m vacationing, what my kids are up to, and even my husband’s name — because I write it. Every week.

And sure, private dining clubs might seem like just another offshoot of Naples' endless club culture — but I think there’s something different about this wave. It’s not just pricing anymore; it's exclusivity layered on exclusivity. Maybe it's a trend. Maybe it’s a red flag. But I think it’s worth watching either way.

Also, Maureen, thank you for reading. Feedback from readers is one of the main reasons I do this. Please feel free to keep corresponding by emailing carolyncervoni@gmail.com.

 🍸 This Week’s Poll: Which Naples restaurant vibe are you secretly sick of?

I want to hear from everyone (including you, Maureen!)! If your favorite option isn’t here, please (seriously) share your thoughts with me in the comments or by email at carolyncervoni@gmail.com. 

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Why It Matters

In a town where change is constant and exclusivity is rising, these spots remind us of what Naples has always done best—welcoming people with warmth, flavor, and coastal charm.

Whether you’re chasing quiet magic or loud laughter with friends, beachside bites are more than just a meal… they’re a reminder to slow down and savor what’s right in front of us.

Until next time,

Carolyn Cervoni
Editor-in-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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