Sanibel Island Beach Resort Reopens Today

It's a major development in hurricane recovery on Southwest Florida's barrier islands. The Sanibel Island Beach Resort reopens today, welcoming overnight guests for the first time since Hurricane Ian hit a year ago. It's among the first resorts on Sanibel and Captiva to fully open. However,  there is still some construction and tidying up on site. Not all amenities have been restored. That includes the resort's Sandollar Restaurant or the pool bar. However, food trucks will be on site to fill in the gap.  The beach is open and island officials say it looks great.

Some ten feet of storm surge wrecked every part of the resort from the pool to the restaurant to the guest rooms. Before Hurricane Ian, Sanibel and Captiva Islands had about 3000 rooms for visitors. This beach resort on Middle Gulf Drive has about 100 rooms available and they are all fresh and new. It's not even close to filling the hotel gap but it is an important step to welcome visitors and tourists once again. Island officials say more businesses are on track to open in the coming months.

As a matter of fact, the owners of two popular restaurants on the island announced last week they are combing forces for new establishments. The Island Cow and The Mad Hatter  are taking over space that was once occupied by the Lighthouse Café on Periwinkle Drive and opening Wickie’s Lighthouse Restaurant and The Magic Bus Ice Cream & Caffeine. That story is here.

The Sanibel Island Beach Resort reopens today and reservation lines are ready to accept your calls. You can also book rooms on their website. A ribbon cutting and reopeing celebration is planned for Friday. Congratulations.

It's hard to believe Hurricane Ian hit almost a year and a half ago and while we still have a long way to go, more than 25 restaurants are now open on Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

I've been spending a lot time on our local beaches. I love that here in Southwest Florida, even when there's nothing to do, there's something to do. And that something for me, is always heading to the beach. I usually head to Sanibel to either Bowman's Beach or Tarpon Bay Beach. I love Gulfside City Park too, but rarely do I make it out early enough to get a parking spot. It's been SO nice seeing all the people out enjoying the beaches, it's been busy nearly every weekend.

There's also a lot of businesses reopening too. Between lodging, restaurants, shopping, and things to do like kayaking and fishing charters. I will say that driving around out there just breaks your heart. It's not so much that there's debris everywhere, it just looks very bare and to see huge homes and condo complexes just crumbling, is so sad. Slowly but surely though, things are reopening and the island is welcoming visitors back out to the islands to stay, play and dine. You can find a full list of open businesses here

They've been open, but now taking a break for summer. They'll reopen in October. Menu items include lamb chops, duck, steak and more.

Open Monday through Saturday, 10 am-2 pm at 2075 Periwinkle Way. Enjoy breakfast items and a variety of wraps and sandwiches.

Boops By The Bubble Room is a dessert shop serving cake, ice cream, pastries, and coffee. Open 8:30am-9pm daily at 15001 Captiva Drive.

The restaurant itself is still closed, but the food truck is set up in the parking lot at 14970 Captiva Dr.

Voted Best Pizza 2023 by Restaurant Guru. Open daily from 11am-7pm for take-out and offering free delivery Friday & Saturday nights.

Offering farm to table cuisine, craft cocktails and scratch-made desserts. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

Enjoy great views of the Gulf, delicious food and craft cocktails. Make sure to make a reservation as seating is limited to 60 guests.

With 2 dining rooms and an outdoor patio, they're open daily for lunch & dinner. Everything I've ever had has been delicious, Doc Ford's is a favorite of mine.

Gramma Dots is open daily from 11:30am-8pm serving lunch and dinner. Located at Sanibel Marina 634 N Yachtsman Drive

Open Monday-Friday 11-7. Enjoy gyros, burgers, wings, salads and more.

The deli and mini mart are open! Sandwiches, chips, beer, wine, drinks and salads available. Lots of grocery items as well.

Open 11am-close at 1619 Periwinkle Way. Sanibel's #1 ranked jumbo wings.

With meat, cheese, a bakery, produce, grocery and floral departments, they have everything you need. Great weekly specials too.

Featuring a variety of seafood, sandwiches, apps, soups and salads. Open 11:30-9 daily.

Located at 1473 Periwinkle Way with live music and happy hour daily. Offering cajun style food with an island twist. Enjoy oysters, fried green tomatoes, beignets and more.

Open for dinner only with reservations available from 5-9pm. Entrees include filet, duck, lobster & crab crusted scallops and more. Enjoy desserts too like banana bread pudding and crème brulee.

RC Otter's officially reopened last week on Captiva. With nearly 100 menu items, they're open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Rosalita's Cantina is a new restaurant located where 400 Rabbits was pre-Hurricane Ian. Enjoy signature table-side guacamole and a wide variety of Mexican dishes including their specialty Cadillac Fajitas.

Winner of Best Pizza from Taste of the Islands. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 2330 Palm Ridge Road

Open daily from 4-10pm. Serving oysters, scallops, lobster and grouper.

Located in the Chadwicks Square South plaza at 5400 Plantation Rd. Open 7am-2:30pm daily.

Located next to Old Captiva House at ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva. Open daily for breakfast and dinner.

Enjoy fresh frozen custard in flavors like key lime cheesecake, lemon raspberry, mint brownie, sea turtle and red velvet. Located on the East End of Sanibel Island, 1/4 mile up Periwinkle from the Sanibel Causeway.

Located at 1551 Periwinkle Way. Serving lunch and dinner daily from 11am-8pm.

Open daily for dinner. Serving a variety of Italian dishes including Ravioli alla Formaggio, Pollo alla Parmigiana, Insalata Caprese and Fettuccine Alfredo.

For even more restaurants open on Sanibel and Captiva islands click here