Night Life for the Young and the Young at Heart

From outside perception, Southwest Florida is often miscalculated as a tropical paradise with an ideal lifestyle for a second home, retirement, or vacation. In fact, the greater Naples area has undergone vast changes in the past decade that have transformed it into an exciting place for young adults wishing to live in a city with a small town feel, but the lifestyle of a chic metro area. Whether you love sports, the beach, boating, or other outdoor activities, the climate offers great opportunities to enjoy the sunshine, but the area also has wonderful nightlife.

 

Clubs

  • Sway Lounge – a hot South Beach style club, upscale and top notch, celebrity DJs, located on the north side of U.S. 41 East, approximately 1 mile from where U.S. 41 turns east toward Miami. Has music outside and a different music venue inside. VIP balcony section overlooking the dance floor.
    www.SwayNaples.com
    (239) 417-6688, 2059 East Tamiami Trail, Naples

  • Ultra – room for 700, open until 4AM; another Miami style club and bar, located between Naples and Bonita.
    www.UltraNaples.com
    465-8477, 15495 Tamiami Trail N. (2 miles south of Bonita Beach Rd. on the west side of U.S. 41)

  • Privilege – Next door to Ultra and same ownership. (239) 465-8477, 15495 Tamiami Trail N., Naples

  • Vision Nightclub/V Lounge – located on the west side of U.S. 41 in north Naples, dancing with DJ or live music, 3 rooms for 3 different club experiences;
    www.VisionNightClub.com
    (239) 591-8383, 11901 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (1/2 mile north of Immokalee Rd.)

 

Third Street South Area, Naples

If you head to “Old Naples”, than you will certainly want to traverse Third Street, with a sophisticated but casual selection of restaurants. Several musical groups are usually playing on the sidewalk at different locations, offering various musical styles. With the music, the quaint shops, and the array of statues and art galleries, Third Street is a fun place to have dinner and then stroll---one of the nicest strolls in southwest Florida. A few sample restaurants:

  • Sea Salt – very chic and very popular with the locals and visitors.
    www.SeaSaltNaples.com
    (239) 434-7258, 1186 Third St. S., Naples

  • Campiello – a popular Italian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.
    www.Campiello.damico.com
    (239) 435-1166, 1177 Third St. S., Naples

  • Ridgway Bar and Grill – Well known local restaurateurs Tony Ridgway and Sukie Honeycutt provide great food and an extensive wine list.
    www.RidgwayBarAndGrill.com
    (239) 262-5500, Third St. and 13th Ave. S., Naples

Photos and additional information:
www.ThirdStreetSouth.com

 

Fifth Avenue South Area, Naples

The true and original “downtown Naples” is the famous Fifth Avenue South. Here you will find bustling crowds at night, as they frequent the many restaurants, then head over to Sugden Theater for a play, stroll on the Avenue, or hang out at some of the restaurant bars. Fifth Avenue remains the all-time favorite spot for Naples at night. A few samples:

 

  • Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub – has the quaint but boisterous feel of a traditional Irish Pub inside, but is paired with a great front patio if you’d rather enjoy the beautiful Naples nights and Fifth Avenue scenery.
    www.PaddyMurphys.com
    (239) 649-5140, 457 5th Ave. S., Naples

  • Café & Bar Lurcat – A quieter spot for sophisticated dining and relaxing.
    www.CafeLurcat.com
    (239) 213-3357, 494 5th Ave. S., Naples

  • Yabba Island Grill – dine Caribbean style, then hang around for when they clear out the tables and bring in a DJ, and dance your heart out.
    www.YabbaIslandGrill.com
    (239) 262-5787, 711 5th Ave. S.

  • Chops City Grill – good steaks and seafood, and a popular happy hour bar.
    www.ChopsCityGrill.com
    (239) 262-4767, 837 5th Ave. S.

  • Vergina – Italian sophistication in the center of the Avenue; great place to dine outside.
    www.VerginaRestaurant.com
    (239) 659-7008, 700 5th Ave. S., Naples

  • Truluck’s Seafood Steak and Crab House – behind the Irish Pub, great seafood and a nice piano bar.
    www.Trulucks.com/pages/naples-florida
    (239) 530-3131, 698 5th Ave. S., Naples

  • The Pickled Parrot - tropical restaurant and bar with live music several nights a week.
    (239) 435-7900,    1100 6th Ave. S. (on the boardwalk)

Photos and additional information:
www.FifthAvenueSouth.com

 

Mercato Area, Naples

This mixed use center is just off the corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road offers multiple dining and hot spots, such as the samples below. Once a month, they also have a party on the lawn with live music.

  • The Pub – authentic British pub, extensive beer selection, Friday night singer followed by a DJ.
    www.LuvThePub.com

  • Blue Martini – a chic martini lounge with an intimate atmosphere, great music, plenty of room to dance, and a thriving happy hour.
    www.BlueMartiniLounge.com
    591-BLUE

  • Silverspot Theater – Leather chairs, reserved seating, full restaurant and lounge; definitely a different way to see a movie. (11 theaters)
    www.SilverSpot.net
    (239) 592-0300

  • Absinthe – Miami style hotspot with the best lamb burgers in town; great lounge with South Beach flair; located approximately 2 miles east of Mercato at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road.
    www.Naples.DiningGuide.com/data/d100758.htm
    254-0050, 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., #200, Naples

  • Bha Bha – Great Persian food; then walk 100 yards to the multiplex theater; located in the Pavilion, just across from Mercato on the west side of U.S. 41.
    www.BhaBhaPersianBistro.com
    594-5557, 847 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples

 

Bonita Springs/Estero

The hot spots of this area are the two outdoor “malls”, Coconut Point and Gulf Coast Town Center. Both offer a variety of activities including restaurants, bars, and more. The Promenade Center is also interesting, with the very popular Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion restaurant and lots of good shopping. Nearby, in Sunshine Ace Plaza, there's a new restaurant called The Stage, featuring full dinner and live Motown, soul, jazz, blues, and country music.

 

Coconut Point Mall

On U.S. 41 adjacent to The Brooks, this open air mall has 26 restaurants and bars, some with both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a great place to have dinner, then do a little casual window shopping, or sit at one of the bars and have a nightcap. Below are a few samples:

 

Gulf Coast Town Center

Another open air mall, Gulf Coast has 4,598 parking spaces (estimated; they aren’t even sure) so you should have no problem finding a place to park. Combine this with the theater and a variety of stores, restaurants, and bars, and you will find more than enough to keep you busy for many days and nights. If you have never been to the Bass Sun Pro Shop, that can be an interesting event all by itself. A few sample restaurants and bars:

 

Other Music

  • Noodles Italian Cafe and Sushi Bar – after the dinner hour, this popular pasta and sushi restaurant turns into a full scale lounge with live music and dancing several nights a week. Also a good place to watch Monday night football.
    www.NoodlesCafe.com
    (239) 592-0050, Mission Square Plaza, 1585 Pine Ridge Rd.

  • The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club – the Sunset Bar and lawn is the best party around on Sunday evenings, with live music and a fun easy going crowd of all ages. During the summer months, the Beach Club also is host to Jazz on the Green, once a month on Saturday night, featuring live jazz and blues.
    www.NaplesBeachHotel.com
    (239) 261-2222, 851 Gulfshore Blvd. N., Naples

  • South Street City Oven and Grill (Corner of Pine Ridge Rd. and Goodlette Rd.) - great pizza and live music every night. Once the dinner crowd leaves it gets very popular late night.
    www.SouthStreetNaples.com
    (239) 435-9333, 1410 Pine Ridge Rd., Naples

  • Capri, A Taste of Italy - has jazz several nights a week
    594-3500,    11140  Tamiami Trail (Riverchase Plaza)

  • Naples Flatbread and Wine Bar - Blues and jazz several nights a week.
    598-9463,   6436 Naples Blvd. (near Regal Hollywood 20 Theater)

  • The Bay House - Jazz several nights a week plus great waterfront views for dining.
    591-3837,   799 Walkerbilt Road

  • Dinner and a show – An always popular evening is dinner at Brio or Brickop’s in the Waterside Shops, then head over to the adjacent Naples Philharmonic for a jazz concert or other performance.
    Brio, (239) 593-5319, www.BrioItalian.com

    Bricktop’s Restaurant, (239) 596-9112, www.WestEndRestaurants.com

    Naples Philharmonic
    www.ThePhil.org
    (239) 597-1900, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples

  • Bayshore Coffee Company – best live blues in town plus various other jam sessions, on Bayshore Drive in East Naples.
    www.BayShoreCoffee.com
    775-5676, 3570 Bayshore Drive #1, Naples

  

Other Things to Do

  • Young Professionals of Naples (YP of Naples) is a great resource for fun, community involvement, and local networking. Ages are generally from 21-45.
    www.YPNaples.com

  • Collier Adult Education Program – dozens of various subjects offered, including health items like yoga and pilates, art, computer, plus many traditional classroom subjects. For all ages over 18, classes are typically six weeks. www.CollierAdultEd.com

 There are dozens of additional things to do in the area; such as this events calendar of both day and night time activities:
www.ParadiseCoast.com/events/events.php

Also see our recreation page for some outdoor ideas: Recreation
and our culture page for plays, galleries, and more: Culture