Naples, Florida has long been known for its sugar-white beaches and elegant coastal lifestyle, and now its culinary scene is rising to match. In 2025, a wave of exciting new restaurants is energizing this Gulf Coast seaside town from a Four Seasons showpiece by a James Beard Award–winning chef to global cuisine hotspots. Here’s a tour of five standout newcomers, each offering distinctive flavors, ambiance, and memorable dining experiences.
Photo Credit: Blackbird Modern Asian
Estia
Walking into Estia, you’re greeted by an ambiance that feels like a sun-soaked Cycladic island taverna with a peaceful indoor fig tree and a breezy color palette with soft blues and whites that evoke coastal villages. Outside, a spacious patio with a fountain beckons for al fresco dining, while inside an open kitchen and even a private dining room ensure there’s a spot for every occasion.
Photo Credit: Estia
Estia’s menu reads like a greatest hits of Greek cuisine, executed with top-quality ingredients and an eye for presentation. For starters, try the Estia Chips featuring a towering stack of paper-thin fried eggplant and zucchini served with tzatziki yogurt dip. Shareable classics include fluffy spanakopita (spinach pie), golden saganaki cheese, chargrilled octopus, and dolmades. For mains, Estia’s pride is whole fish, simply grilled. The restaurant flies in Mediterranean sea bass (lavraki) and other fresh catches from overseas, storing them on ice in view of diners. Guests can choose their fish from the ice display, which the chefs then charcoal-grill with a drizzle of lemony ladolemono sauce, capers, and oregano. Other popular plates include tender lamb chops, classic souvlaki skewers, moussaka, and bright Horiatiki salad tossed with creamy feta. To end on a sweet note, traditional baklava pair perfectly with a Greek coffee.
Photo Credit: Estia
8990 Fontana Del Sol Way, Naples, FL 34109
Blackbird Modern Asian
The moment you step into Blackbird Modern Asian you’re transported a theatrical, high-energy culinary experience greeted by a 6-foot tall bronze Buddha head, a vibrant mural by Miami artist Amanda Valdes wraps one exterior wall in colorful florals and butterflies, and creative lighting uplighting a faux cherry blossom tree. Step into the buzzing bar and lounge for cocktails, a cozy banquette for date night, a private “keyhole” dining room for intimate gatherings, and outside, tables along the marina’s covered boardwalk let you pull up with your yacht to dine with waterfront views along Naples Bay.
For cocktails, sip on the ‘Cobra Kai’ delivers a kick with Szechuan-infused gin, lychee liqueur, mango, and boba pearls or the ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ for those craving heat blending chili pepper–infused Espolon tequila with St. George spiced pear liqueur, pear elixir, and fresh citrus. For a caffeinated cocktail, order the ‘One Night in Bangkok’ with espresso, tequila, miso-caramel foam, and Licor 43 for a jolt of creamy indulgence. Other cleverly named favorites include the subtle and sweet ‘Gangnam Style’ with pandan syrup and cantaloupe, and ‘Kill Bill,’ a mezcal-forward drink balanced with passion fruit and vanilla.
Photo Credit: Blackbird Modern Asian
The food menu is just as thrilling. Small plates range from Wok-Charred Edamame spiked with garlic and chili to Orange Chili Calamari with Korean chili threads and macadamia nuts. Dim sum lovers will find inventive interpretations like the Truffle Mushroom Bao Bun with teriyaki, shiso, and kewpie mayo or Spicy Pork Wontons laced with Sichuan chili sauce. The Mongolian Brisket Bao Bun adds crunch with pickled fresno and green apple. When it comes to entrées, Blackbird turns up the drama. The Peking Duck, featuring whole Jurgielewicz Farms duck and Beijing garnishes, serves as a rich, tableside spectacle. Meanwhile, the Wagyu Tomahawk featuring a 32-ounce Australian ribeye with truffle soy butter is a showstopper designed for indulgent group dining. More casual favorites include Steak Lo Mein with skirt steak and kimchi hoisin sauce, and various fresh crudo-style dishes like Hamachi Jalapeño or Tuna Poke Crispy Rice.
Photo Credit: Blackbird Modern Asian
Savor decadent and dramatic desserts designed to WOW, including ‘The Year of the Snake’ featuring a maximalist creation of bananas foster, bread pudding, caramel gelato, and a literal milk chocolate dragon set aflame with a 151-proof rum ring of fire. For a creamy finale, try the Toasted Coconut Sundae with miso-caramel and candied peanuts or spike it with peanut butter whiskey pipette for extra fun. Prefer to drink your dessert? ‘The Blackbird’ cocktail features vodka, chai, activated charcoal, and a chocolate fortune cookie.
1500 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
Photo Credit: Seventh Social Waterfront
Seventh South Waterfront
Naples’ beloved Seventh Avenue Social has been reborn now known as Seventh South Waterfront, this restaurant and craft cocktail bar moved to a cozy, waterfront location nearby Naples Botanical Garden. Arrive by boat and enjoy lunch offerings including citrusy poke bowls, Moroccan-spiced grilled chicken, and/or duck carnitas tacos. For dinner, seafood lovers can try the miso-marinated Chilean sea bass (a house favorite) or the Chorizo-Encrusted Red Snapper served over a decadent lobster risotto with a tangy tomato relish and pomegranate reduction. For a rich entrée, delight in the Sticky Miso Short Ribs slow-braised to perfection. Pair with flavor-packed cocktails including ‘All Bark, No Bite’ with Truman Vodka, Rocky’s Botanical, Italicus liqueur, cherry bark and vanilla bitters and the ‘El Picante’ infused with Brugal 1888 rum, fresh pressed lime, lemon, passionfruit liqueur, habenero, and ghost pepper.
2891 Bayview Dr, Naples, FL 34112
Mimoto
Set in a quiet plaza just off Fifth Avenue, Mimoto has swiftly earned a reputation as Naples’ most authentic Japanese restaurant. The name “Mimoto” fittingly translates to “identity” in Japanese, reflecting the restaurant’s mission to honor the true essence of Japanese cuisine. Step inside this 10-seat intimate omakase-focused eatery where sushi is elevated to an art form. Enjoy culinary theater as you watch the master itamae carefully slice fish flown in fresh from Tokyo’s Toyosu market. Cuisine-wise, Mimoto offers both an omakase experience and an à la carte menu where you can enjoy seasonal nigiri, creative small plates such as the “Mimoto Subarashi” hand roll with fatty tuna, crispy shallots, and caviar, and izakaya-style hot dishes including chawanmushi (savory egg custard) or a grilled miso-marinated black cod. The fish selection is exceptional. Indulge in buttery Hokkaido uni, briny ikura (salmon roe), velvety toro tuna, and silvery Japanese mackerel. Sushi aficionados will revel in the pristine nigiri and sashimi selection from buttery bluefin tuna and sweet hamachi to creamy fresh uni. Pair these delectable dishes with Mimoto’s extensive sake list featuring crisp Junmai ginjos to rare aged sakes.
71 9th St S, Naples, FL 34102
Photo Credit: The Merchant RoomThe Merchant Room
Located within the highly anticipated Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, The Merchant Room is poised to become a cornerstone of Naples’ evolving dining scene. Two-time James Beard Award winner Chef Gavin Kaysen brings his renowned culinary expertise from Minneapolis, where he led the acclaimed Spoon and Stable and Mara, to this oceanfront venture. The cuisine, described as elevated New American, focuses on seasonal menus that celebrate the vibrant Gulf Coast ingredients. Expect dishes that give a contemporary twist to regional Southern classics and fresh seafood, including handmade pastas and dry-aged meats enhanced by local produce and innovative techniques. The artfully curated beverage program, featuring everything from craft cocktails to zero-proof pairings, perfectly complements the flavors on offer. However, what truly distinguishes The Merchant Room is its sophisticated yet inviting atmosphere, accented by Kaysen’s personal touch. The restaurant occupies a prime ocean-view location within the resort with an airy, upscale beach-house vibe. The dining room flows seamlessly onto an expansive terrace that overlooks the resort’s pool and the Gulf of Mexico, providing one of Naples’ most breathtaking waterfront vistas where you can savor a leisurely brunch on the terrace or sip sunset cocktails with the soothing sea breeze.
801 Gulf Shore Boulevard North, Naples, FL 34102
