Englewood and surrounding areas Guidebook
Food scene
I love eating out and learning off the beaten track gems of a town. Englewood has SO MANY. I hope you take the time to read about all of them so that you can prioritize what seems attractive to you. I share well-known places and others that I've found that only a few of us explorers have noticed "along our way". Enjoy reading. I enjoyed sharing.
Great pub on Manasota Key. Wednesday and Sunday nights are karaoke. Everybody there is super nice, so don't be shy and show 'em your stuff! My "Heart of Gold" and "Take It Easy" performances have been known to bring the house down! You...can...do....it!
58 locals recommend
White Elephant Pub
1855 Gulf BlvdGreat pub on Manasota Key. Wednesday and Sunday nights are karaoke. Everybody there is super nice, so don't be shy and show 'em your stuff! My "Heart of Gold" and "Take It Easy" performances have been known to bring the house down! You...can...do....it!
Fantastic seafood and American fare. Outdoor seating by the bay. Live music periodically. My favorite you ask? Crab-stuffed Flounder. Que Magnifique!!
22 locals recommend
Landy's Restaurant
1400 Aqua View LnFantastic seafood and American fare. Outdoor seating by the bay. Live music periodically. My favorite you ask? Crab-stuffed Flounder. Que Magnifique!!
Most people I know in Englewood consider Farlows to be among the very best seafood fare in town. I would have to agree, but there are so many to choose from!
135 locals recommend
Farlows on the Water
2080 S McCall RdMost people I know in Englewood consider Farlows to be among the very best seafood fare in town. I would have to agree, but there are so many to choose from!
The first breakfast place I ate at after I moved to beautiful Englewood. This bfast place is owned and managed by a Swiss Family. They are so nice and really know how to make a perfect breakfast. Sparkling clean. Some of the best coffee I've ever tasted. And that's no jive.
Coffee & Friends Breakfast Restaurant
2551 Placida RoadThe first breakfast place I ate at after I moved to beautiful Englewood. This bfast place is owned and managed by a Swiss Family. They are so nice and really know how to make a perfect breakfast. Sparkling clean. Some of the best coffee I've ever tasted. And that's no jive.
Amazing location directly on South Venice Beach. Outdoor bar, indoor and outdoor restaurant - Sharky's has a formal sit down restaurant that overlooks the Venice Beach from above, and also a more casual restaurant directly on the beach with a small outdoor bar. Great fish and chips, shrimp scampi, fresh grouper sandwich, burgers and more.
252 locals recommend
Sharky’s On The Pier
1600 Harbor Dr SAmazing location directly on South Venice Beach. Outdoor bar, indoor and outdoor restaurant - Sharky's has a formal sit down restaurant that overlooks the Venice Beach from above, and also a more casual restaurant directly on the beach with a small outdoor bar. Great fish and chips, shrimp scampi, fresh grouper sandwich, burgers and more.
A cool, casual hangout with excellent bar food. Its right on the bay in Old Englewood. Its hard to find, so put it in your GPS which willget you close. Us locals like it that way, but we like it just as much when visitors search the back roads near Snooks and find it!
30 locals recommend
Snook's Bayside Restaurant and Tiki Bar
779 W Wentworth StA cool, casual hangout with excellent bar food. Its right on the bay in Old Englewood. Its hard to find, so put it in your GPS which willget you close. Us locals like it that way, but we like it just as much when visitors search the back roads near Snooks and find it!
This is a super unique restaurant / bar with indoor and outdoor seating. It sits on a large plot of land connected to a Harley Davidson dealership. The restaurant reflects that vibe with classic cars and motorcycles outside and a bandshell where there is live music. The food is excellent and eclectic with unique items on the menu.
28 locals recommend
The Twisted Fork
2208 El Jobean RoadThis is a super unique restaurant / bar with indoor and outdoor seating. It sits on a large plot of land connected to a Harley Davidson dealership. The restaurant reflects that vibe with classic cars and motorcycles outside and a bandshell where there is live music. The food is excellent and eclectic with unique items on the menu.
This is a seafood store that is best known for its fresh Maine Lobsters which are excellent. I've also purchased other seafood here and its always fresh.
11 locals recommend
Twin Lobsters
2700 Placida RdThis is a seafood store that is best known for its fresh Maine Lobsters which are excellent. I've also purchased other seafood here and its always fresh.
Live music
Live music every night. A most excellent outdoor bar and restaurant. Fire pits outside when its a bit chilly. Chilly in southwest Florida? Well, enough for a sweatshirt perhaps!
159 locals recommend
SandBar Tiki & Grille
1975 Beach RdLive music every night. A most excellent outdoor bar and restaurant. Fire pits outside when its a bit chilly. Chilly in southwest Florida? Well, enough for a sweatshirt perhaps!
Awesome, Awesome place. The owner is super nice. The back courtyard is where the action happens. Live music every night. The scenery out back is spectacular with a small decorative pond in the middle of the courtyard with beautiful trees and foliage. Tons of dancing here.
39 locals recommend
Englewoods On Dearborn Restaurant
362 W Dearborn St.Awesome, Awesome place. The owner is super nice. The back courtyard is where the action happens. Live music every night. The scenery out back is spectacular with a small decorative pond in the middle of the courtyard with beautiful trees and foliage. Tons of dancing here.
Exercise
A 25-meter large pool. Clean and beautiful. You won't believe how nice this place is. And I am NOT kidding. $3 entrance fee. Oh and did I mention, they play the best music - and they take requests!
25 locals recommend
Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park
6791 San Casa DrA 25-meter large pool. Clean and beautiful. You won't believe how nice this place is. And I am NOT kidding. $3 entrance fee. Oh and did I mention, they play the best music - and they take requests!
City/town information
Venice is just 20 minutes north by car. The downtown is bigger than Englewood, but not too big - very quaint with lots to do, shopping and great restaurants.
90 locals recommend
Venice
Venice is just 20 minutes north by car. The downtown is bigger than Englewood, but not too big - very quaint with lots to do, shopping and great restaurants.
Neighborhoods
Surrounding areas to visit.
This is quaint Old Englewood. There are several restaurants, two coffee shops, and shopping. West Dearborn dead ends into Lemon Bay. Just beautiful.
19 locals recommend
West Dearborn Street
West Dearborn StreetThis is quaint Old Englewood. There are several restaurants, two coffee shops, and shopping. West Dearborn dead ends into Lemon Bay. Just beautiful.
Sightseeing
A beautiful nature preserve on the bay with a boardwalk that runs along the water and several hiking trails. I take my dogshere and they love it. we have seen dolphins jumping in the bay, not 20 yards from us. One day we were walking on a path, and a Gopher Tortoise was walking toward us. I held my dogs on a short leash and the Tortoise just walkedon by. Ihave great photos and videos of this is you wanna have a look just ask me. We also have seen many types if birds, lizards, frogs and beautiful trees and plants.
37 locals recommend
Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center
570 Bay Park BlvdA beautiful nature preserve on the bay with a boardwalk that runs along the water and several hiking trails. I take my dogshere and they love it. we have seen dolphins jumping in the bay, not 20 yards from us. One day we were walking on a path, and a Gopher Tortoise was walking toward us. I held my dogs on a short leash and the Tortoise just walkedon by. Ihave great photos and videos of this is you wanna have a look just ask me. We also have seen many types if birds, lizards, frogs and beautiful trees and plants.
Beautiful Beach. To get here you take the northern bridge from the mainland of Northern Englewood over the bay and to Manasota Key to the beach. The road to take you there is called Manasota Beach Road (it heads due west over the bay from the mainland). There are showers here at the public beach.
64 locals recommend
Manasota Beach
Beautiful Beach. To get here you take the northern bridge from the mainland of Northern Englewood over the bay and to Manasota Key to the beach. The road to take you there is called Manasota Beach Road (it heads due west over the bay from the mainland). There are showers here at the public beach.
To get to this beautiful beach at the middle to southern end of Manasota Key, you take the Southern Bridge over the bay to Manasota Key. That's called Beach Road.
239 locals recommend
Englewood Beach
Beach RoadTo get to this beautiful beach at the middle to southern end of Manasota Key, you take the Southern Bridge over the bay to Manasota Key. That's called Beach Road.