Best Nightlife in Naples

Its smart lounge and food counter make it easy to do dinner and a movie. Order from a selection of gourmet to-go sandwiches such as flatbreads and hot sandwiches, grab a drink from the full bar and head into the theater with your meal. The top-of-the-line seats, with their soft leather upholstery and ample platform between them, handily accommodate drinks and food boxes. This experience is all about comfort and quality, the best digital projection and sound design plus ample seats and legroom. (Rows are set 60 inches apart rather than the traditional 45 inches.)

Chickee bars are a signature form of the Naples area party scene. Because of the destination's close proximity to Seminole and Miccosukee Indian tribes, many resorts and restaurants hire local tribesmen to construct the open-air thatched structures for the best local color. The chickee at Snook Inn overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and hosts live island music daily, what could be more purely Floridian? Whether a soloist or a small band, the music starts at 1:30 p.m. Lunchtime attracts an older crowd that comes for seafood with their rum punch and dancing. The music plays until 10 a.m., and the later crowd becomes younger and more local.

This longtime fixture of Marco Island moved to a larger facility in North Naples in 2015. It has built a reputation for bringing in A-list stand-up comedians with national and even international followings. Shows are typically scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with 10 p.m. shows happening on some Fridays and Saturdays. Part of the Row Seafood complex, Off the Hook offers the option of seafood dinner and belly laughs to follow in a table setting. Comedy club patrons must be at least age 18. Happy hour specials in the bar and lounge from 4 to 7 p.m. nightly take half off all well and call drinks.

Originally known as the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, it is dedicated to both visual and performing arts in one architecturally forward location. The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra still calls the center home as does the Miami Ballet. And most Neapolitans still refer to it as "The Phil." Its calendar of events cuts a wide swath of entertainment. A Broadway series runs during the winter season when the snowbirds flock in. The Artis hosts audiences of up to 1,425 throughout the year for touring orchestras, opera, comedians, modern dance and more than 400 events yearly. It also has a 200-seat black-box theater and an art museum on campus. An ongoing revitalization effort expands its outdoor garden spaces.

South Street's stage has something of an urban vibe with stylish graffiti sprayed on red brick walls. National recording artists and other musicians appear throughout the week. Guests can share their spotlight for karaoke or open music mic nights. The bar carries 51 craft beers on tap, many of them with over 8 percent alcohol content. It is also proud of its craft cocktails. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday 3 to 7 p.m. and also Monday through Thursday 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. with great discounts: $3 for select domestic drafts and bottles; $2 off craft beer drafts; $5 for house wine and well drinks; $6 for select call liquors. An $8 appetizer menu is available Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. South Street serves a full menu throughout the day.

One of a chain of upscale bars nationwide (but mostly in Florida), Naples' Blue Martini has bars both outside and inside that fill nearly every night. Happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m. discounts drinks and food. Live bands typically play from 7:30 to 11 p.m., at which time the house DJ takes over, spinning the hits until 2 a.m. The bar also offers weekly specials such as Wednesday Girls Night Out. The over-sized Blue Martini is the signature drink, made with blue curacao and Cointreau and served with a glow stick. It matches the flashy glow of the inside bar, where the dance floor fills with party people all night long. Food from light nibbles to full-blown dinners are available throughout open hours.

On the lobby floor at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in Bonita Springs, you will find one of the area's most upscale sports bars in a clubby, intimate setting that spills out onto two patios, one with a fire pit, overlooking the resort's stunning fountain feature. A handsome billiard table occupies one of the patios. Inside, a bank of 48-inch televisions surrounds the space above the circular bar. Highly suitable to the sports fan who wants to watch the game in relative quiet, martini in hand, Mangrove Bar scores a touchdown. Adjacent Belvedere Lounge hosts live music Saturday nights. The bar opens at 3 p.m. daily and serves a select menu of elevated pub munchies such as Thai pork wings or prime rib wrap until midnight.

An out-of-the-box steakhouse, its courtyard seating area turns into a hot music and dance arena as night falls. It also touts its reputation for craft cocktails, some of which fill glass orbs overhanging the outdoor bar. They include the Continental Innovation, blended with Death's Door gin, Cocchi Americano Bianco, Carpano Bianco and grapefruit bitters. Made to order craft cocktails include the signature Follow the White Rabbit stirred with citrus vodka, triple sec, raspberry-rosemary shrub, cranberry and pickled blackberry; and The Church Key blended with Four Roses small batch bourbon, blueberry-sage shrub and lemon. The Continental's savvy wine menu lists 22 by the glass, including sparkling. The bar menu serves out-of-the-ordinary bar food until close.

As downtown Bonita Springs reawakens into a hub of restaurants new and old, a couple of breweries and some solid nightlife options, Chartreuse brings a hip, bright new energy to the scene. Comfy clusters of sofas and stuffed chairs contrast with the sleek bar and modern lighting. It feels ultimately inviting, and the bar staff cinches the vibe with personalized service and crafty cocktails like Immunity Booster with tequila, carrot celery shrub and ginger; and Charmant, consisting of chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and prosecco. The color chartreuse and liqueur chartreuse play starring roles, while a dessert menu and occasional live music sweeten the deal.

Billing itself as an Italian gastropub, Bar Tulia grew up next to big brother Osteria Tulia as a noisier, younger version with a more active bar scene. Unlike typical British or Irish pubs, the focus here is more on craft cocktails and fine food than beer. It DOES have one "Birra" from Italy, the others from Florida and elsewhere. The craft cocktails run the gamut from twisted classics such as the rummy Mocking Bird to creative ventures with names such as Sexpert and Wonder Root. Some favorite noshes: Fried Pig Ears, Roman ramen, charred octopus, ceviche, mussels, mortadella corn dogs, pizza, and pasta. In 2021, Bar Tulia opened a successful spinoff at Mercato in North Naples.