Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant – Dining Near the Sanibel Causeway

Located just before the Sanibel Causeway beside Port Sanibel Marina, Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant offers one of the most scenic dockside dining experiences in the Fort Myers area. Overlooking the entrance to Connie Mack Island and providing direct boating access to Gulf waters, the restaurant blends relaxed coastal dining with panoramic waterfront views and daily live entertainment. Long known as a favorite stop for both locals and boaters traveling between Fort Myers and the islands, Lighthouse delivers a classic Southwest Florida experience where sunsets, yachts, and waterfront breezes become part of every meal.

Waterfront Dining with Island Views

The setting is the restaurant’s defining feature. Guests can dine indoors or along a large covered outdoor porch stretching roughly 160 feet along the water, designed specifically to capture sunset views and marina activity. From nearly every table, diners watch boats pass through the channel while wildlife and coastal scenery create a peaceful backdrop. The atmosphere balances casual comfort with an upscale coastal feel, making it equally suited for relaxed lunches or celebratory dinners.

Coastal Cuisine and Live Entertainment

Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant offers both fine and casual dining options supported by a full liquor bar and extensive menu featuring fresh seafood, steaks, and American coastal favorites. Popular offerings include fresh fish dishes, lobster bisque, shellfish specialties, and classic surf-and-turf selections alongside lighter lunch options. Live music takes place daily, featuring performers from Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, and Bonita Springs, helping create a lively yet comfortable waterfront atmosphere throughout the afternoon and evening.

A True Dock-and-Dine Destination

Positioned directly next to Port Sanibel Marina, Lighthouse is easily accessible by boat, reinforcing Southwest Florida’s dock-and-dine lifestyle. Boaters traveling between the Caloosahatchee River, San Carlos Bay, and Gulf of Mexico frequently stop here, making the restaurant a natural gathering place for the regional boating community. Watching yachts and fishing boats arrive throughout the day adds to the authentic waterfront experience that defines the location.

The Real Estate Connection: Gateway to Island Living

Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant sits in a unique geographic position — serving as a gateway between mainland Fort Myers and the Sanibel-Captiva island lifestyle. Nearby real estate options include waterfront condominiums, Gulf-access homes, marina communities, and neighborhoods offering quick access to both boating and beaches. Many buyers exploring Sanibel or Fort Myers Beach first encounter the area through waterfront dining stops like Lighthouse, where the lifestyle becomes immediately tangible: sunset dinners, boating convenience, and everyday connection to the water.

A Classic Southwest Florida Gathering Place

With its combination of marina views, live music, and relaxed elegance, Lighthouse has maintained its reputation as a destination for celebrations, weddings, and social gatherings as well as everyday dining. The restaurant’s longevity reflects the enduring appeal of waterfront living in Southwest Florida — scenic, social, and centered around the water.

Planning Your Visit

Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant
14301 Port Comfort Road
Fort Myers, Florida 33908
Phone: (239) 489-0770
Waterfront indoor and outdoor dining
Happy Hour typically 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Live music afternoons and evenings
Open daily beginning at 11:00 AM

Tip: Arrive just before sunset for views across the channel toward the Sanibel Causeway — one of the most photographed waterfront scenes in the area.

Why It Matters to Buyers

Today’s coastal buyers are increasingly searching for locations where lifestyle experiences exist just outside their door. Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant showcases what living near the Sanibel gateway feels like — boating access, sunset dining, live music, and a seamless connection between mainland convenience and island living. For many visitors, a meal here becomes the moment the Fort Myers–Sanibel corridor shifts from a travel route into a place they begin imagining as home.