Although Southwest Florida is famed for its picturesque sunsets, the local fun doesn’t at all stop when the sun goes down. With a nightlife packed with offerings for any taste, the Gulfshore guarantees you’ll be far from bored over the course of your visit.
Head to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW in Fort Myers or Artis—Naples to watch critically acclaimed musical acts, plays and more. Grab seats for a production put on by Classic Chamber Concerts in Naples, which brings world-class musicians to the region throughout the season. Didn’t have a chance to get tickets for a show? Don’t sweat it—dinner is often accompanied by a show here along the Gulfshore. Pop into many a restaurant, like Matanzas Inn & Restaurant on Fort Myers Beach or Monkey Bar Steak & Seafood in Cape Coral, where live music is always on the menu.
Bonita Springs
Performing Arts
CENTERS FOR THE ARTS BONITA SPRINGS, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, (239) 495-8989. Hosts a variety of series and special programming at its Center for Performing Arts, including music, theater, film and comedy performances. artcenterbonita.org
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EVENT CENTER, 11515 SE Bonita Beach Road, (239) 245-9910. The world-class facility features a 650-seat theater and kitchen. Provides performances by local, national and international artists, educational programs and community events. swfleventcenter.com
Live Music/Dancing
SNEAKY PETE’S, 3465 Bonita Beach Road, (239) 498-8887. Live entertainment seven nights a week, including karaoke on Mondays. sneakypetesbonita.com
THE STAGE, 9144 Bonita Beach Road, (239) 405-8566. Dining and dancing. Open Thursday through Saturday. thestagebonita.com
Cape Coral
Performing Arts
CULTURAL PARK THEATRE COMPANY, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., (239) 772-5862. Live performances, adult and children’s educational programs. culturalparktheater.com
Live Music/Dancing
FATHOMS RESTAURANT & BAR, at Cape Harbour, 5785 Cape Harbour Drive, Suite 106, (239) 542-0123. Waterfront cabana bar with live music Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. fathomsrestaurant.com
MONKEY BAR STEAK & SEAFOOD, 1428 Lafayette St., (239) 549-8800. Live entertainment seven nights a week.
Fort Myers
Performing Arts
ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (239) 939-2787. Facilitates and nurtures the creation and education of arts and culture, and promotes area artists and organizations. Live performances, monthly art exhibits, festivals and other events. artinlee.org
barbara b. mann performing arts hall at fsw, 13350 Edison Parkway, (239) 481-4849. Presents a variety of touring productions, including Broadway shows, musicals, plays, dance and ballet programs, and concerts. Also presents offerings at the nearby Suncoast Credit Union Arena at FSW. bbmannpah.com
BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE, 1380 Colonial Blvd., (239) 278-4422. Features buffet dining and Broadway’s best musicals in a 450-seat dinner theatre. Includes Off Broadway Palm Theatre, a 100-seat black-box theater. broadwaypalm.com
FGCU THEATRELAB, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., (239) 590-7268. Florida Gulf Coast University’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts stages productions in this black-box theater. theatrelab.fgcu.edu
FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE, 2267 Bay St., (239) 332-4488. Professional regional theater company that produces Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning comedies, dramas and musicals. Named “one of America’s top repertory companies” by The Wall Street Journal. floridarep.org
GULF COAST SYMPHONY, (239) 277-1700. Community orchestra that performs a variety of classical and pop performances at local venues. gulfcoastsymphony.org
THE LABORATORY THEATER OF FLORIDA, 1634 Woodford Ave., Kiwanis Hall, (239) 218-0481. Presents edgy, semiprofessional performances and educational opportunities. laboratorytheaterflorida.com
SEMINOLE GULF RAILWAY, 2805 Colonial Blvd., (239) 275-8487. A theatrical troupe presents a murder mystery aboard a moving train; guests help solve the crime while enjoying five courses. Reservations required. semgulf.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY, 8290 College Parkway, Suite 103, (239) 418-1500. Presents classical and pops concerts November through April. swflso.org
THEATRE CONSPIRACY, 10091 McGregor Blvd., (239) 936-3239. Performs works including world premieres and Southwest Florida premieres. theatreconspiracy.org
Live Music/Dancing
BUDDHA ROCK CLUB, 12701 McGregor Blvd., (239) 482-8565. Live entertainment Friday through Sunday starting at 10 p.m. Ages 21 and older. buddharockclub.com
CITY TAVERN, 2206 Bay St., (239) 226-1133. Live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. mycitytavern.com
THE INDIGO ROOM, 2219 Main St., (239) 332-0014. Open-mic nights and dancing.
THE RANCH CONCERT HALL & SALOON, 2158 Colonial Blvd., (239) 985-9839. Nightclub and concert venue featuring country music’s largest performers. theranchfortmyers.com
Comedy
LAUGH-IN COMEDY CAFE, 8595 College Parkway, Suite 300, (239) 479-5233. Features national touring comedians. Open to ages 21 and up. laughincomedycafe.com
Fort Myers Beach
Live Music/Dancing
THE COTTAGE BEACH BAR & GULFSHORE GRILL, 1250 Estero Blvd., (239) 765-5440. Live music Monday through Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. for the over-21 crowd. gulfshoregrill.com
DOC FORD’S FORT MYERS BEACH RUM BAR & GRILLE, 708 Fisherman’s Wharf, (239) 765-9660. Live bands every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. docfordsfortmyersbeach.com
SMOKIN’ OYSTER BREWERY, 340 Old San Carlos Blvd., (239) 463-3474. Live music from 6-10 p.m. on the outside deck. smokinoyster.com
VALERIE’S LOUNGE & LIQUORS, 17264 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 466-7788. Live entertainment from local and touring bands.
Marco Island
Performing Arts
THE MARCO PLAYERS, 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Suite 432 (239) 642-7270. Provides theatrical productions that benefit the community. themarcoplayers.com
Live Music/Dancing
SNOOK INN, 1215 Bald Eagle Drive, (239) 394-3313. Casual entertainment or live music daily. Check website for schedule. snookinn.com
STAN’S IDLE HOUR, 221 Goodland Drive, Goodland, (239) 394-3041. stansidlehour.net
Naples
Performing Arts
*ARTIS—NAPLES, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., (239) 597-1900. Home to the Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum. Hosts more than 300 events per year, including concerts, performances, exhibitions and educational events. artisnaples.org
CLASSIC CHAMBER CONCERTS, (239) 434-8505. Provides world-class musicians and concerts at the Sugden Community Theatre. classicchamberconcerts.org
GULFSHORE OPERA, 3281 Golden Gate Blvd. W., (239) 529-3925. Serving Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties, presents opera theater and classical vocal music. gulfshoreopera.org
GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE, 755 Eighth Ave. S., (866) 811-4111, (239) 261-7529. Offers educational opportunities and high-quality theater, from classics to contemporary works. gulfshoreplayhouse.org
THE NAPLES PLAYERS, 701 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 263-7990, (239) 434-7340. Creates and performs high-quality, affordable amateur theater. naplesplayers.org
OPERA NAPLES, 2408 Linwood Ave., (239) 963-9050. Stages operas with professional artists and supports opera education for local artists. operanaples.org
THEATREZONE, 13275 Livingston Road, (888) 966-3352. Professional equity theater company presenting musicals and world premieres. theatrezone-florida.com
Live Music/Dancing
BITES in the Lobby Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, (239) 598-6644. Live music 7-10 p.m. nightly, 6 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. ritzcarlton.com/resortsofnaples
BLUE MARTINI, 9114 Strada Place, (239) 591-2583. Live music, drink specials, dancing, outdoor patio bar, stage room and VIP area. bluemartinilounge.com
CAMPIELLO RISTORANTE & BAR, 1177 Third St. S., (239) 435-1166. Live jazz music throughout the week. campiello.damico.com
NOODLES ITALIAN CAFE & SUSHI BAR, 1585 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 5, (239) 592-0050. Latin night on Fridays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., live entertainment on Thursdays and Saturdays. noodlescafe.com
RUSTY’S RAW BAR & GRILL, 2700 Immoklee Road, Suite 13, (239) 263-9464. Provides live entertainment. rustysraw.com
SOUTH STREET, 1410 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 4, (239) 435-9333. Live music throughout the week. Karaoke on Tuesdays, reggae on Sundays and open mic on Thursdays. southstreet-naples.com
SUNSET BEACH BAR & GRILL at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 261-2222. Solo guitarist Wednesday through Saturday. naplesbeachhotel.com
YABBA ISLAND GRILL, 711 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 262-5787. Dancing Fridays and Saturdays from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. yabbaislandgrill.com
Comedy
OFF THE HOOK COMEDY CLUB, 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 1100, (239) 389-6901. Presents comedy shows by local and national acts with dining available from an in-house restaurant, Row by Capt. Brien & Crew. offthehookcomedy.com
Sanibel Island
Performing Arts
BIG ARTS CENTER, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, (239) 395-0900. Schein Performance Hall, 409-seat concert hall, galleries, sculpture garden, classes, workshops, concerts, speakers and more. bigarts.org
BIG ARTS HERB STRAUSS THEATER, 2200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, (239) 472-6862. The 164-seat theater presents shows ranging from comedy and vaudeville to musicals and drama. bigarts.org
Live Music/Dancing
THE JAC BAR, The Jacaranda, 1223 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, (239) 472-1771. Live entertainment nightly. jacarandaonsanibel.com
KEYLIME BISTRO, 11509 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, (239) 395-4000. Live entertainment seven days and nights a week. keylimebistrocaptiva.com
RC OTTER’S ISLAND EATS, 11506 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, (239) 395-1142. Live entertainment daily.
