breakfast
Here are some great affordable and casual ideas for Sundays with the family, Mother’s Day or any of the hot, lazy mornings ahead. Many of these cafes have limited hours so call ahead for hours and availability.
Gina’s Café in the Park 1100 Commercial Blvd, Suite 103, Naples 239-263-4566
One step inside this industrial park cafe and you’ll feel you’ve stumbled on a local secret hideaway. Decidedly casual with concrete floors and simple tables and chairs, this breakfast and lunch café seems to be the gathering spot for large family breakfasts every weekend. Gina’s offers all the typical hearty breakfast fare and a variety of sandwiches and salads. This is a place where the staff seems to know everyone and if you don’t know any of them, don’t worry, you will soon enough.
Survey Café 10530 Wilson Street, Bonita Springs 239-992-0133
Survey Café is an eco-friendly establishment that boasts organic coffees and fresh ingredients in Bonita Springs. Bike, boat or walk up (dogs are welcome!) to this neighborhood café to try their breakfast sandwiches, energy wheat bagels, salads, wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads and Grandpa’s gator cakes. To go orders are offered in eco-product containers but you’ll want to stay and enjoy the atmosphere in this historic, Old Florida-style house.
Poached 24600 S Tamiami Trail Bonita Springs 239-221-8256; 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 156, Naples 239-593-0770
People love the food and service at Poached, which has two locations in Southwest Florida. Specialties include blueberry lemon stuffed French toast, golden Benedicts, homemade banana bread, and light, fluffy pancakes.
Food and Thought Café 2132 Tamiami Trail North, Naples 239-213-2222
This counter service café is beloved to Neapolitans who prefer organic and GMO free food grown locally at Oakes Farms in Eastern Collier County. The limited menu always features a raw item plus eggs, muffins, oatmeal, salads, soups and fruit. Shop at the 100% organic market for specialty items in an atmosphere that owner Frank Oakes (now deceased ) once claimed “there are no strangers who enter here. Only friends we have yet to meet.” Also open for dinner.
Skillets 875 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples 239-330-2515; 5461 Airport Pulling Road North, Naples 239-566-1999; 4170 Tamiami Trail North, Naples 239-262-3788; 9174 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs 239-992-9333
You may still require a beeper and a wait off-season at any of these Skillets locations but it will be worth the wait. Service is quick, the food is generous and the prices are low. They must have the fluffiest egg white omelets on the planet and their hash brown casserole is a creamy delight. Sociable patrons can skip the wait if there is room at the long community table at each location.
First Watch 225 Banyan Blvd, Suite 100, Naples 239-434-0005; 1000 Immokalee Road, Naples 239-566-7395; 13030 Livingston Road, Naples 239-213-1709
The First Watch on Banyan Boulevard has a chic, downtown by the water feel while its North Naples counterparts have more of a strip mall diner vibe. The menu at all the locations offer a generous selection of traditional breakfast fare served with fresh squeezed orange juice and bottomless cup of coffee.
Blueberry’s Café 3350 Tamiami Trail North, Naples 239-430-0000
If you have jet lag or just a hankering for bacon and eggs at 3:00 PM, then Blueberry’s is your go to place for all-day breakfast in addition to lunch and dinners menus. Naturally, the blueberry pancakes are legendary as is the blueberry pie.
Cracker Barrel 3845 Tollgate Blvd, Naples 239-455-6588
Cracker Barrel is by far the largest establishment to make our list. Though their formula atmosphere is the same in Anywhere, USA, once you step beyond the kitschy general store into the dining room, you’re home. Kids love the table games and checkers out on the front porch by the rocking chairs.
Sunburst Café 2340 Pine Ridge Road, Naples 239-263-3123
The name Sunburst evokes images of a bright, cheerful way to start your day and that’s exactly what you will find in this small, comfy café with outdoor, pet-friendly seating. Try Jerome’s famous homemade muffins, scones and cookies with a hot cup of Costa Rican coffee or an egg white omelet full of fresh veggies.
Nana's Diner 5555 Golden Gate Parkway 239-352-1401. Nana's Diner boasts "Southern Food with an Attitude." Try the famous five egg omelets, homemade biscuits and gravy, or pancakes with your choice apples, berries, bananas, raisins, walnuts or pecans. Early birds are treated to free coffee before 8 am.
Three60 Market 2891 Bayview Avenue, Naples 239-732-7331
Nine docks are available outside if you’d like to boat to breakfast at this quaint market and café on the corner of Bayshore and Bayview Avenue. The brief breakfast menu serves up eggs, French toast, old fashioned oatmeal and Greek yogurt; pick up lunch and dinner for your boat or picnic all made fresh daily in the market.
Jane’s Garden Café 1209 3rd Street South, Naples 239-261-2253
Jane’s Garden Café is a sweet spot with garden dining by bubbling fountains in the 3rd Street shopping district to take Mom for her special day. A variety of breakfast and brunch entrees along with a delightful mimosa make for an elegant Mother’s Day celebration.
Dolly’s Produce Patch 9930 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs 239-992-8939
Dolly Scott is the spunky spitfire serving up homestyle breakfast and lunch at this Bonita Springs diner and produce market. Personal and collectible relics and mismatched seating add to the cozy charm. Order one of Dolly’s famous pies (the strawberry rhubarb is legendary) to take home and serve your friends. An award-winning amateur ballroom dancer in her spare time, Dolly will make you feel like family with food that’s, well, better than any your own family can make.
EJ’s Bayfront Café 469 Bayfront Place, Naples 239-353-4444
This close to the waterfront café at Bayfront serves up breakfast in true Neapolitan style. Choose from beautiful Belgian waffles, thick cut challah French toast, smoked salmon plate or several egg dishes in this casual and pet-friendly establishment.
Ne Ne's Kitchen 297 N. Collier Blvd, Marco Island 239-394-3854. NeNe’s kitchen has been a family owned and operated Marco Island mainstay for more than 10 years. Hailing from Chicago, the Natale family came to Marco to provide locals and visitors great food at affordable prices and have been favorited by both for exactly that. Ne Ne's recently opened a second location in Naples, so that Neapolitans wouldn't have to drive so far for yummy and affordable breakfast.
Baleen La Playa Beach & Golf Resort 9891 Gulf Shore Drive Naples 239-597-3123. You'll need to valet the car and make reservations for this breakfast, but this beachfront restaurant's wide view of the gulf makes it worth the trip. Try the crab Oscar Benedict or the brisket and eggs for a gourmet breakfast or stick to the basics like buttermilk pancakes and waffles.
Patric's 2091 Pine Ridge Road Naples 239-596-7708. Patric learned how to cook breakfast while growing up on a farm in Vermont. Patric and his partner Gary believe in simple, local food cooked well. There's plenty of choices for the paleo crowd as well and a Trucker's Plate complete with biscuits and gravy for old fashioned appetites.