20 years ago we visited Bonita Springs, FL and fell in love with it’s tropical weather and small town charm. My husband and I decided to move our family to Bonita Springs, partly so he could finish flight school but more importantly for the lifestyle. We left the cold and gloomy weather of Pennsylvania for the sunshine state.
Most full-time Bonita Springs residents live east of US 41, closer to the historic section of Bonita Springs. We consider February-April tourist season or just “season”, when there is an influx of visitors from northern states. While there are many excellent restaurants near the beach, most locals stay away from this area during season because traffic is bad and restaurants are crowded. But that’s ok, there are so many amazing options in “old” Bonita that are just a little less crowded and a lot more charming. If you want to eat like a local, try any of these restaurants.
Downtown Coffee & Wine
Right in the heart of the historic downtown old 41 corridor, Downtown Coffee & Wine perfectly combines a laid back vibe with and upscale menu. It’s the perfect spot to meet a friend for coffee, stop in for a quick bite for lunch, or enjoy a glass of wine. The majority of the seating is outside which gives it the perfect street café atmosphere. We go here often and I can honestly say that everything on the menu is delicious . Some of my favorites are the Chia Pudding Bowl, Heirloom Tomato Burrata, Whipped Ricotta Toast and the charcuterie. The drinks are just as unique and flavorful as the food and range from fresh roasted coffee to specialty lemonades. There coffee is the best in town. But if I’m not in the mood for coffee, I especially like the chai latte and the lavender lemonade. Downtown Coffee & Wine is a must visit in Bonita Springs. **Rumor has it that the owner’s of Downtown Coffee will be opening a restaurant just down the street soon. Looking forward to this.
Dolly’s
Dolly’s is truly a reminder of the Bonita Springs of yester-year. And has been a staple in Bonita Springs for more than 25 years. If you’re in the mood for a big hearty breakfast or lunch Dolly’s is the place. It’s a down-home comfort food cooking kind of restaurant with the charm of stepping into your grandmother’s kitchen. Go hungry because the portions are large. If you are really hungry try the Hungry Man Special for breakfast or the Dolly’s Sandwich for lunch. And make sure to save room the baked goods or take some home. Dolly is known for her amazing pies! But order your pies early for the holidays, or you won’t get one.
Seaside Grille
Seaside is a newcomer on the Bonita Springs restaurant scene, but has quickly become a locals favorite. The outdoor seating, that includes an indoor/outdoor bar, is perfect for the mild Florida weather. They offer a full lunch and dinner menu, as well as, a full bar with tasty cocktails. I like to go for the appetizers, especially the garlic parmesan wings, buffalo cauliflower, roasted prosciutto flatbread and the best guacamole in town. But the dinners are good too! They offer music almost every day of the week. Go for the food and stay for the fun!
Survey Cafe
Nestled right in the heart of the oldest part of Bonita Springs in a historic house is the aptly named Survey Cafe. When the town of Bonita Springs was first recorded on a map by the Army Corps of Engineers is was named “Survey”. About 50 years later the community was renamed to Bonita Springs because it had more appeal to visitors. The Survey Cafe is a nod to the history of the town, but the name and the building is where the nostalgia ends. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu is eclectic comfort foods for breakfast and lunch and French for happy hour and dinner. The French chef/owner trained at Michelin star restaurants and pays an extraordinary attention to fresh made from scratch food. The melt in your mouth escargot is a family recipe. Paired with house made pate, and a fine French wine sitting under the lights on their outdoor patio it’s the perfect date night!
RipTide Brewing Company
Ok, so RipTide is not a restaurant but with it’s great beer and friendly environment, a blog post about Bonita would not be complete without mentioning it. It has become the locals gathering place. It’s large tables, wide open space and family friendly atmosphere make RipTide ideal for meeting a large group of friends or family. In fact, I had my birthday party there this year. But don’t worry if you’re hungry, they have food trucks every night of the week and an awesome selection of their own craft beer. I hope to see you there!!
Maria’s Restaurant & El Loco Tacos
Maria’s Restaurant has authentic Mexican food and AMAZING street tacos. Maria’s has been in Bonita Springs since 1992. They have seating inside with a full menu and an outside walk up street taco shop. Both are fantastic! The full service menu offers all the best of authentic Mexican cuisine, from traditional Pozole to Fajitas and everything in between. But the highlight for me in the Enchilada Mole. Two chicken filled tortillas topped with a rich Mexican chocolate and chili sauce then baked to perfection. The street tacos are a must when you are in town. They are simple fresh and authentic. Don’t expect a bunch of “toppings”. That’s not a street taco. But you can get Al Pastor right off the spit. A little word of warning. During “season”, January to April they can get very busy and the service isn’t always as good. So eat like a local and go in June or July. You’ll have the whole place to yourself and great service!
And even more
I hate to leave out any of the restaurants in Bonita, because they are really all great. Buffalo Chips is a long time staple of Bonita Springs that is well known for it’s wings, fried green tomatoes and cold beer. And Grandpa’s Pizza for northeast style take-out pizza. I’m looking forward to updating this list soon because there are multiple new places to visit opening in the next year or two, including a food truck park, craft cocktail lounge, and a new tap room. I hope you get a chance to visit one of these amazing places. If you do, share your experience in the comments. Thanks for reading!