6 Best Cape Coral Restaurants on the Water to Get to By Boat

Written by Boatsetter Team
February 28, 2022

Last Updated on March 9, 2022 by Boatsetter Team

Cape Coral, Florida is home to many waterfront restaurants popular among boaters who like to dock-and-dine with their boats and enjoy the fresh local cuisine. From Cape Coral to Sanibel Island, you’ll find a variety of locations to explore.

Restaurants in the area offer diners everything from quiet and romantic to wild and rowdy. There is something for everyone to enjoy when looking for a waterfront restaurant that’s accessible by boat.

Check out some of the most popular boat-accessible restaurants in the Cape Coral area.

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1. Gather

Gather Steak and Eggs

Gather provides those looking for a restaurant with a relaxed vibe to enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. The lounge area is the centerpiece of this location, offering a unique place to gather with friends while lounging on couches and throw pillows. 

In addition, the creatively crafted menu adds to the uniqueness of this restaurant, offering everything from seafood to chicken and soups to desserts. Finally, make time to dock your boat at Gather for an evening around the fire pits while enjoying the breathtaking water view.

Menus at Gather include a mix of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts. Popular menu items include:

  • Lobster cake benedict
  • Smoked salmon tartine
  • Steak and eggs
  • BBQ shrimp and grits
  • Chicken and waffles

Other popular menu items include avocado hummus and warm chocolate brownie.

Please note: This location is closed on Mondays.

2. Rum Runners

shrimp scampi

Rum Runner is nestled along the Caloosahatchee River in Cape Coral, where diners can dock their boats and enjoy a meal or beverage on the outside deck. The restaurant views the scenic canal with direct access to the river. Rum Runners is the perfect place to kick back and relax during a long day of boating on local waters. This location offers a dining experience in the Southwest Florida area like no other.

The menu includes seafood to pasta and steaks to salads, including several chef-inspired daily specials. The Bistro Salad is one of the best salads and a popular menu item at Rum Runners. Other popular menu items include:

  • Bahamian cracked conch fritters
  • Oysters on the half shell
  • Tuna “poke” 
  • Crispy Thai chicken
  • Shrimp scampi

3. Boathouse Tiki Bar and Grill

New England clam chowder

The Boathouse Tiki Bar and Grill is one of the most fun bar and gill experiences in Southwest Florida. This restaurant provides breathtaking views of the surrounding waterways and a unique dining setting for boaters to enjoy. This location offers an all-day menu, breakfast, and a happy hour menu, all with delicious options and something for everyone. 

The best thing about this location is you can dock, dine, and get back out on the water for a day of fun and excitement. Menu items are also available to take out on the water with you.

The Boathouse Tiki Bar and Grill menus include a mix of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and entrees. Popular menu items include:

  • Grouper bites.
  • New England clam chowder
  • The Boathouse garden salad
  • The California turkey club
  • The pan-seared snapper
  • Pineapple rum mahi-mahi
  • Jalapeno bacon cheeseburger
  • Baja tacos

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4. Fathoms Restaurant and Bar

Firecracker calamari 

Fathoms Restaurant and Bar is an elevated eatery providing boaters a world-class dining destination providing views of Florida’s pristine southern Gulf Coast. This restaurant offers diners everything they look for when eating out in a location nestled along the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf of Mexico.

Fathoms is located near the Marina at Cape Harbour, the only waterfront shopping destination in the Southwest Florida area. Additionally, Fathoms Restaurant and Bar hosts special events and live music several nights a week.

Fathoms menu has everything, including appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, fresh seafood, steaks, and entrees.

 Popular menu items include: 

  • Chicken liver mousse pate
  • Tuna poke tostada
  • Tsunami roll
  • Bavarian-style soft pretzel 
  • Espresso seared beef carpaccio
  • Firecracker calamari 
  • Crispy crab egg rolls 
  • Tropical ahi tuna

5. Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar and Grill

king crab legs 

Located in the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village is the Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar and Grill, where boaters can grab a bite to eat and enjoy beverages with friends. This restaurant serves a unique blend of American cuisine and seafood options, including lunch, dinner, and happy hour menus. The Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar and Grill is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed meal while spending the day out on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Menus at the Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar and Grill include a mix of appetizers, sandwiches, seafood, salads, pizza, flatbread, entrees, and a raw bar. Popular menu items include

  • king crab legs 
  • chicken wings 
  • rich tomato soup 
  • flatbread pizza 
  • grilled quesadilla with shrimp
  • mini burgers

6. Pincher’s Crab Shack

crab rangoon

Pincher’s Crab Shack is a popular restaurant among locals and visitors boating in the Cape Coral area. This restaurant provides a beautiful location to enjoy a meal and a break from boating. Pincher’s Crab Shack menu items include appetizers, salads, soups, fresh seafood, sandwiches, entrees, and desserts.

 Popular menu items include:

  • hot crab and cheese dip
  • crab rangoon
  • ahi tuna
  • grouper nuggets
  • fried calamari. 

Other popular menu items include smoked grouper fish dip, oysters, chicken wings, and Pincher’s crab cakes.

 With Boatsetter, you can rent a wide variety of boats in Cape Coral to visit waterfront restaurants and explore the local waterways. 


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