Most Southwest Florida restaurants turn into pumpkins before the clock strikes 10 p.m., without even a glass slipper to leave behind. Where can night owls go to get their late-night fix?
There are a small handful of 24-hour chains, placessuch asIHOP, Waffle House and Denny's. But we dug a little deeper to find these locally owned restaurants that keep the lights on and grills going late into the night.
If like Cinderellayou are stayingout past curfew, here are 18 places where you can go for a local post-ball bite. Shoes, both of them, are required.
Fort Myers area
41 Diner
Even at 3 a.m., the glow of thisSan Carlos Park diner's dessert case is known to lure in customers. From towering wedges of cream pies to sizzling gyros, chicken Parm and gravy-soaked turkey sandwiches, if you can middle-of-the-night dream it, 41 Diner can make it real. Offering its full menu24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 41 Diner is a favorite of night-shift workers and college party-goers alike.
Hours: Open all day everyday
Address:19050 S. Tamiami Trail, San Carlos Park
Contact:239-208-4103;facebook.com/41diner
JLB REVIEW:41 Diner in San Carlos is quick, fresh and open 24/7
Liberty
Chef-owner Bob Boye, formerly of Cru at the nearby Bell Tower Shops, has worked as a bartender and cook long enough to appreciate a good, late-night restaurant. He knew the south Fort Myers area lacked such options, so he created one with Liberty. Located in the former Mad Fresh space behind Outback Steakhouse, Liberty is small with a succinct and ever-changing menu. The restaurant also offers wine tastings and craft beers.
Hours: 5 p.m.- late Tuesdayto Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday
Address:12995 S. Cleveland Ave. No. 112, south Fort Myers
Contact:239-689-5528;eatliberty.us
MORE:Liberty restaurant opens in former Mad Fresh space in Fort Myers
Chicago BoysBar & Grill
Chicago Boys is the product of two brothers, the sons of Italian immigrants, who grew up in Chicago. That explains the sausage-and-pepper hoagies and the Italian beef sandwiches soaked in au jus. The restaurant also has a second location, Chicago Boys 2, which opened in May in the former Caloosahatchee Jack's/Stevie Tomato's space on U.S. 41.
Hours:11 a.m.-midnight Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-midnight Sunday
Address:2245 Winkler Ave., Fort Myers and 11491 S. Cleveland Ave., south Fort Myers
Contact: 239-208-9533;chicagoboysfortmyers.com
MORE:Chicago Boys 2 opens in old Caloosahatchee Jack's in Fort Myers
Kabab Village
This scratch-cooked Middle Eastern restaurant serves falafel, kababs, tabbouleh, shawarma, hummus and almost any other Mediterranean classic you can think of. In February 2017, News-Press food critic Jean Le Boeufsaid therestaurant’s shawarma salad "renews your salad faith."
Hours:10 a.m.-midnight daily
Location:4805 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers
Contact: 239-335-2222;mykababvillage.com
MORE:6 seriously great salads in Fort Myers, Cape Coral — JLB Picks
Downtown House of Pizza
This always busy NYC-styleslice shopis the place to be come closing time in downtown Fort Myers. That's when bartenders and their customers line up side by side, for fold-in-half slices of cheese, and even vegan and gluten-free pies.In 2015, News-Press readers voted DHOP their favorite pizza place in the city.
Hours:10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday to Tuesday, 10 a.m.-3 a.m. Wednesday to Saturday
Address:1520 Hendry St., Fort Myers
Contact: 239-337-3467;downtownhouseofpizza.com
MORE:Downtown House of Pizza expands, addscraft beer bar
RonDao's Pizzeria
This massive sports bar and pizza place caters to just about everyone. Families have an arcade filled with games. Sports fans have dozens of TVs. Diners have hand-tossed pizzas, thick burgers and a full bar of co*cktails, wines and beers. And this goes until 2 a.m. each day of the week.
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday to Saturday, noon-2 a.m. Sunday
Address:15320 McGregor Blvd., south Fort Myers
Contact:239-481-1882;rondaos.com
Cape Coral
Nice Guys
This is a restaurant built for night owls. From its extensive menu of interesting pizzas to its equallyextensive co*cktails to sweet,crave-able favorites such as deep-fried Oreos and "Euro Trash Donuts"— Nice Guys covers all the bases. Dark and cozy with pinball machines anda punk-rock vibe, the restaurant is a magnet for live musicians of all stripes. Party all night.
Hours: 4 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday, noon-1:30 a.m. Sunday, closed Monday
Address:1334 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral
Contact:239-549-7542;niceguyspizza.com
MORE:Nice Guys Pizza gets weird with mural by artist Jake Kelly
Lobster Lady
With an interesting co*cktail list, a full sushi bar and fresh seafood galore, Lobster Lady has all the ingredients for a unique late-night feast. This isn't your usualburgers and pizza kind of late night, ratherit's lobster rolls, oystersand spindly crab legs dunked in drawn butter. Like we said, it's different, and different can be good.
Hours: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
Address:1715 Cape Coral Parkway W., Cape Coral
Contact:239-471-0136;lobsterladyseafood.com
MORE:Lobster Lady still frantic, fresh after five years —JLB review
Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery
Nevermind's menu boasts innovative versions of American classics, such as triple-bacon cheeseburgers, truffle friesand pork wings. The late-night bar/restaurant also offers a full range of co*cktails and craft beers, with seating inside and out.
Hours:Noon-2 a.m. Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Saturday, noon-midnight Thursday and Sunday
Address:927 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral
Contact: 239-471-0285;nevermindcapecoral.com
More:Cheap eats: 7 Cape Coral restaurants where $10 gets you a feast — JLB Picks
Rusty's Raw Bar & Grill
This local chain has five restaurants from Cape Coral to Naples, all of which stay open well past midnight. Rusty's is known for its shucked-to-order oysters, grouper sandwiches, wings, burgers, salads, chowders and more.
Hours: 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. daily in Cape Coral, some stores open till 2 a.m.
Address:4631 SE 10th Place, Cape Coral; plus locations in Naples, Estero, Island Park andsouth Fort Myers
Contact:rustysraw.com
MORE:Rusty's Raw Bar Cape Coral, at its best, is a shucking good time — JLB review
Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach
Shucker's at the Gulfshore
This beachfront, open-air restaurant caters to late-night eaters with fat burgers, fruity co*cktails and tasting boards of craft beers. Oysters come stuffed and baked, or juicy and raw. You can hear the waves crashing and feel the Gulf breezes. That's our kind of late night.
Hours: 8 a.m.-midnight daily
Address:1250 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach
Contact:239-765-5440;shuckersfmb.com
More:Cheap eats Fort Myers Beach: 5 restaurants that go big for so very little
Yo! Taco
This colorful stand slings tacos and quesadillas into the wee hours of the morning. A favorite of the spring-break party crowd and of late-night hospitality workers, Yo's menu is inexpensive and quick.
Hours: 11 a.m.-3 a.m. daily
Address:1375 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach
Contact:239-463-9864;yotaco1.com
George & Wendy's Sanibel Seafood Grille
This tropical spot offers grouper bites, coconut shrimp, flatbreads, burgers, and even beef on weck late into the night. To wash it all down, find 20 craft beers on tap, as well as a full bar of co*cktails.
Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight daily
Address:2499 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
Contact:239-395-1263;sanibelseafoodgrille.com
Naples
The Pub Naples
In 2018, The Pub was namedthe best place to get fish and chips in the U.S. by Greene King Breweryand its famous ale, the Old Speckled Hen.The atmosphere is distinctly British with rich red fabrics and dark woods accenting a black-and-white tiled floor and the dining-table-sized Union Jack on the ceiling. The menu offers traditional British pub fare along withitems inspired by British figures, such as "The Queen's filet" and an egg-white omelet named for Winston Churchill.
Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Address:Mercato, 9118 Strada Place, Naples
Contact: 239-594-2748;experiencethepub.com/naples
Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar
Rocco's opened at Mercato in North Naplesin February. The upscale Mexican restaurant is known for its eccentricities, such as itswall of 300-plus tequilas, or the periodic blasting of The Champs' "Tequila" song which signals any 21-or-olderpatrons to come to the bar and have tequila poured into their mouths straight from the bottle.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-midnight Mondayto Thursday, 11:30a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday
Address:Mercato, 9123 Strada Place, North Naples
Contact: 239-500-8226;roccostacos.com
Boston Beer Garden
Bar food with a twist, this menu is divided into sections titled "starters," "on the green," "comfort," "south of the border," "grill," "pasta," "hand-helds" and "famous burgers." So, basically, anything you could possibly imagine, you can order from BBG late into the night.
Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.daily
Location:2396 Immokalee Road, North Naples
Contact: 239-596-2337;bostonbeergardennaples.com
La Trattoria
La Trattoria serves up Italian food on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples, an area of town known to close its doors relatively early. The restaurant has two happy hours, one from 4 to 6 p.m. for the early birds and another from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. for the night owls.
Hours:4p.m.-1a.m. Tuesday to Sunday
Address:878 Fifth Ave. S., Naples
Contact: 239-315-4571;latrattorianaples.com
7th Avenue Social
This seasonal restaurant switches up its offerings every few months. Its summer menu included items such as fried green tomatoes, yellowfin tuna tartare and Florida pink shrimp pasta. The restaurant has all the benefits of being in downtown Naples without the hustle, bustle and impossible parking of Fifth Avenue South. And it's open late.
Hours:4p.m.-midnight Tuesday to Sunday, closed Monday
Address:849 Seventh Ave. S.,Naples
Contact: 239-231-4553;7thavenuesocial.com
Know of more late-night eats? Send them to atometich@news-press.com.
