Hurricane Ian and its horrific storm surge severely damaged the entire island of Sanibel, and the restaurants were no exception. The great news is that many are working hard to rebuild and come back better than ever!

One by one, the restaurants are reopening.  Some, of course, will take longer than others. Currently,  the ones that have reopened are only open to Sanibel residents and recovery workers (you need a hurricane pass to cross the causeway until Jan. 2, 2023, when the Sanibel causeway will be open to the public), but I'm looking forward to the day when we all can dine at our favorite island places once again!

Sanibel & Captiva Restaurants that have Reopened Since Hurricane Ian

1. Traders Restaurant

I was so excited when I heard that Trader's had reopened! The staff is so friendly, and the lobster ravioli is to die for!

1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL
(239) 472-7242

www.traderssanibel.com

2. Jerry's Deli, Café, and Coquina Coffee

The Deli, Café, and Coquina Coffee at Jerry's Supermarket are open  from 7am - 2pm daily.  Check out How is Jerry’s Foods Grocery Store after Hurricane Ian? to read more about Jerry's recovery.

1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL

(239) 472-9300

https://www.jerrysofsanibel.com

3. Cielo

Cielo is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm serving a limited menu.

1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL

(239) 472-5555

 Update: As of February 15, 2024, Gramma Dot's is now open!
Gramma Dot’s has been running for over three decades and is now open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

634 North Yachtsmen Drive, Sanibel, FL

https://www.sanibelmarina.com

5. Captiva Island Pizza

Captiva Island Pizza is open 11:00 -3:00 Monday - Thursday and 11:00 - 8:00 Friday and Saturday.

11513 Andy Rosse Ln, Captiva, FL
(239) 395-0823

http://www.captivaislandpizza.com

6. The Sanibel Grill

The Sanibel Grill is now open Thursday - Sunday, noon to 6pm!

Stay updated by following their Facebook page HERE.

703 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel, FL
(239) 472-4453
feedback1@prawnbroker.com
thesanibelgrill.com

7. Sanibel Deli

The Sanibel Deli is now open!

You can follow their updates on their Facebook page HERE.

2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel, FL

(239) 472-2555

sanibeldeli.com

8. Old Captiva House at Tween Waters

The Old Captiva House restaurant is now open!
15951 Captiva Dr, Captiva, FL 33924
https://www.oldcaptivahouse.com

9. Island Pizza Sanibel

Island Pizza, a fun family pizza place on Sanibel, has a target reopening date of Jan. 1, 2023.

But they’ve fired up the smoker and have been offering BBQ since December 16! 

You can stay updated on their progress on their Facebook page HERE.

1619 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957

+1 239-472-1581

islandpizzasanibel@yahoo.com

islandpizzasanibel.com

10. The Shack of Sanibel

Sanibel's Fresh Frozen Custard Shack -- serving fresh frozen custard dessert treats, is now open!

You can stay updated about The Shack of Sanibel on their Facebook page HERE.

1219 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957

http://www.sanibelshack.com/

+1 239-312-8626

sanibelcustardshack@gmail.com

11. Mud Bugs Cajun Kitchen

Mud Bugs Cajun Kitchen is open!

Initial hours are 11 am to 7 pm. Live music daily starting at 3pm.

Happiest of Happy Hour specials including a “special hurricane”!

1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL
(239) 472-2221
mudbugssanibel@gmail.com
https://www.mudbugssanibel.com

12. Blue Giraffe Sanibel

The Blue Giraffe now has a food trailer open at:
 Periwinkle Place Shops
2075 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL

No reopening date for their restaurant yet, but the Blue Giraffe on Sanibel has been working hard to be able to welcome guests once again!

You can stay updated on their progress on their Facebook page HERE.

2075 Periwinkle Way #14, Sanibel, FL

+1 239-472-2525

contact@bluegirafferestaurant.com

BlueGiraffeRestaurant.com

13. Huxter's Food Truck

1203 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL

14. Cantina Captiva Food Truck

14970 Captiva Drive
Captiva, FL 33924

15. Tutti Pazzi Sanibel

Tutti Pazzi opened on January 15!
11 AM - 7:30 PM Wednesday through Monday

1200 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL
 (239) 966-7654
info@tuttipazzisanibel.com
tuttipazzisanibel.com
Facebook page updates HERE. 

16. The Mucky Duck Captiva

As of January 25, 2023, the Mucky Duck is Open!

11546 Andy Rosse Ln

Captiva, FL

(239) 472-3434

17. Great White Grill

As of January 25, 2023, The Great White Grill is open!

You can stay updated on their Facebook page HERE.

2440 Palm Ridge Rd, Sanibel, FL
(239) 472-0212

https://greatwhitegrill.com

18. Sweet Melissa's

Sweet Melissa's has a Pop-up every Thursday and Friday at Island Pizza!

1619 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL

19. Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille

Although the Captiva Doc Fords location will not be reopening, as of February 17, the Sanibel Doc Fords location is open!

To learn more about Doc Ford's hurricane damage and to stay updated on their recovery, check out their website page HERE.

2500 Island Inn Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957

(239) 472-8311

20. The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market

Timbers Restaurant is now open 5-8:30pm daily!

The Fish Market at the Timbers is open 1-7pm daily and 2 pm on Sundays.

703 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel, FL
(239) 472-3128
timberssanibelgrill@gmail.com
timbersofsanibel.com

21. Rosalita's Cantina Sanibel

New Sanibel Tex-Mex location! Rosalita’s offers a full menu of both food and drinks. Try their signature table-side guacamole made right in front of you with  nachos piled high. They have a full array of classic Mexican dishes, more modern specialties and specialty margaritas. 

975 Rabbit Rd, Sanibel, FL
+1 239-955-7673
Rosalitassanibel@gmail.com
rosalitascantina.com

751 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957

http://bleurendezvous.com/

+1 239-565-1608

23. The Shipyard at 'Tween Waters Captiva

The Shipyard is a brand new Gulf-view restaurant next to The Old Captiva House at 'Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa.  Its grand opening was on May 15, 2023. Be sure to check it out while visiting Captiva!

BREAKFAST 7.30 AM – 11 AM | LUNCH 11.30 AM – 2 PM | LITE BITES 2 PM – 5 PM | DINNER 5 PM – 10 PM

15951 Captiva Drive
Captiva, Florida 33924

239.472.5161
https://shipyardcaptiva.com

24. RC Otter's Captiva

As of June 17, 2023, RC Otter's on Captiva is open!

Live music daily with indoor and outdoor dining available.

11506 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, FL
https://rcotterscaptiva.com/

25. The Crow's Nest Steakhouse

The Crow’s Nest Chophouse and whiskey bar had its grand opening on July 6, 2023.

It is in a stunning new location on top of the new Shipyard Restaurant at 'Tween Waters, for an unrivaled vantage point for watching the legendary sunsets over the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

15951 Captiva Drive
Captiva, Florida 33924

239.472.5161
https://shipyardcaptiva.com

26. The Green Flash Restaurant Captiva

UDPATE: As of  September 22, 2023, The Green Flash Restaurant on Captiva is open!

15183 Captiva Dr, Captiva, FL
+1 239-472-3337
greenflashcaptiva@gmail.com

greenflashcaptiva.com

27. The Sanibel Cafe

UPDATE: As of February 9, 2024, The Sanibel Cafe is open 7 days a week!

Serving breakfast and lunch all day, every day, from 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM. 

2007 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL
(239) 966-4017
thesanibelcafesanibelcafe.com

28. Pinocchio's Original Italian Ice Cream

UPDATE: As of February 13, 2024, Pinocchio's Original Italian Ice Cream is open!

2075 Periwinkle Way #33
Periwinkle Place Shops
Sanibel, FL

(239) 472-6566
www.pinocchiosicecream.com

29. Lazy Flamingo Food Trailer

UDPATE: As of February 20, 2024, the Sanibel location of Lazy Flamingo has a food trailer open.

You can enjoy their famous grouper sandwich and other delightful menu items in their outdoor area with picnic tables with umbrellas. 

30. Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant

UPDATE: As of April 2, 2024, Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant is OPEN!

From the Wickies' website:
"On this small island of Sanibel, two devastating events happened within two months of each other. A fire completely destroyed The Island Cow Restaurant in August of 2022 and Hurricane Ian wiped out The Mad Hatter Restaurant at the end of September.  These two tragic events left two friends wondering what their next moves will be while they wait to rebuild their iconic restaurants. Being idle isn't really their strong suit. That's when... Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant came to fruition!"

362 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL
(239) 472-0011
info@wickieslighthouserestaurant.com
wickieslighthouserestaurant.com

One way you can support the restaurants and shops of Sanibel until you can visit again is to shop through their online store! To see all the Sanibel and Captiva businesses that have online shops, check out my article Sanibel Island Online Shopping Directory (after Hurricane Ian)

This is an on-going article that I hope to keep updated. If you hear of a Sanibel restaurant that has reopened or has set a date to reopen, please let me know in the comments below!  Thank you! 💜

So many of us are heartbroken not only for the beautiful Sanibel and Captiva Islands that were devastated by Hurricane Ian, but the island shops and businesses that were affected as well. It will be many months or years for many of these shops to be able to reopen their brick-and-mortar shop to tourists.

We've been wondering how we can support these small family businesses to help them on their road to recovery. So I decided to compile this list of Sanibel Island shops and businesses who have online web sites that are currently open for shopping.

I am also including reputable places that are donating to hurricane relief efforts as well.

This directory is a work-in-progress, as I'll be adding shops as I find them. If you know of a Sanibel or Captiva Island shop that is open online, please let me know! We are stronger together! ❤️‍🩹

#SanibelStrong #CaptivaStrong #SanCapStrong

Artists & Art Galleries 

Tower Gallery Art

Tower Gallery is an artists’ cooperative consisting of 23 artists in two-dimensional and three-dimensional mediums such as oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, ceramic, wood, glass and metal.

751 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel, Florida
(239) 472-4557
https://www.towergallery.net/sho

Sanibel Island Lighthouse 8x10" Art Print Set from Tower Gallery

In response to the heartache of so many people who have seen Sanibel changed because of Hurricane Ian, the Tower Gallery has created a gift set of Sanibel Lighthouse images. Six of the Tower artists have focused on the Sanibel Lighthouse and have created images that honor the history and role of this iconic structure. Each of 6 lighthouse images is printed on 64lb. soft white paper. The 8x10" prints will be packaged as sets, wrapped in special envelopes and bound with raffia with a shell from Sanibel beaches attached.

Rachel Pierce Art

Rachel Pierce, a talented artist who lives on Sanibel Island, lost her home, her gallery and her studio in Hurricane Ian. 

After the hurricane, she created a stunning painting of the beloved Sanibel Lighthouse that withstood the storm.  The mayor of Sanibel purchased the original, but you can get gorgeous prints!

Rachel also has beautiful jewelry created from her lighthouse artwork that you can see in the "Jewelry" section below.

Stay updated on Rachel's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/byrachelpierce

1571 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957

Update since this original listing: Rachel has been continuing to create more "After Ian Inspired Art". To see them all, click HERE.

Books

Juno the Seashell Children's Book Series

Marianne Pasqual and Maureen Tacito are two Sanibel sisters who are the authors of the adorable Juno’s Island Adventure book from the Juno the Seashell book series.   They are generously donating 100% of the proceeds of their book and sticker sales to FISH of Sanibel-Captiva. 

MacIntosh Books + Paper of Sanibel

Florists

Floral Artistry Studios

Floral Artistry Studios was the only florist shop on Sanibel, with a fully booked wedding season which basically disappeared overnight. Many of the employees' homes were severely damaged as well.  You can read more and stay updated on their website HERE.

They are working on opening a temporary storefront in south Ft. Myers and in their words, "We are happy to report that while you cannot yet visit us, we can visit you!"

They have a great gift selection, floral arrangements and do custom gift baskets, which can include almost anything you can think of as well as anything from their great gift selection. 

They are ready and able to take orders to be delivered to Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples. 

Floral Artistry Studios
2400 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel, FL 3395
https://www.floralartistryofsanibel.com
design@floralartistrystudios.com

(239) 472-3040

Gifts

Bailey's General Store

Shop Products Rescued from Bailey's After Hurricane Ian (more items coming soon!)

"After storm surge and wind damage, the Bailey's General Store you know and love is not the same. We salvaged a few items to share with you while we we rebuild our beloved general store. Your purchase helps us create a more resilient and sustainable future for our business and islands. Bailey's is family owned and operated since 1899, and we look forward to welcoming you to our store in the future." ~ Bailey's

Whims On Periwinkle

Whims storefront is currently closed as we recover from hurricane Ian, but you can shop online here for a limited set of items that were in storage and undamaged during the hurricane.  More items coming soon, so check back often as we add more online!
Thank you to all of our loyal friends and customers! We are so grateful for your support.

~ Beth Redpath

Bailey's Shopping Center
2451 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, 33957, US
(239) 322-6101

https://www.whimsonperiwinkle.com/

The Bubble Room Restaurant (Captiva)

The famous Bubble Room Restaurant on Captiva Island has reopened their online shop where you can purchase their iconic Bubble Books, Bubble Lights and Bubble Room Playing Cards!

https://www.bubbleroomrestaurant.com/
15001 Captiva Drive, Captiva FL 33924
1-239-472-5558  

Lighthouse Café of Sanibel

To learn more about the Lighthouse Cafe renovations, check out my post How is the Lighthouse Cafe after Hurricane Ian?

362 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL

(239) 472-0303

lighthousecafe.com

Sand Castle Gifts & Gourmet

Sand Castle Gifts is offering all kinds of beautiful Sanibel gifts, home decor, gourmet food, kitchen items, candles, Christmas ornaments and more! Way to much to list here, so go check them out!

Suncatchers' Dream

630 Tarpon Bay Rd , Sanibel, FL, United States, Florida

(239) 472-7860

suncatchers@earthlink.net

suncatchersdream.com

Ding Darling Shop

Sanibel souvenirs, gifts, books and more!

You can also donate directly to support the Ding Darling Refuge in their hurricane recovery efforts.

AIP (Adventures in Paradise) Outfitters (The Sanibel Store)

The Sanibel Store through AIP Outfitters sells Sanibel souvenirs, clothing and gifts

https://www.thesanibelstore.com

Tahitian Gardens Shopping Center 
 2019 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island, FL 33957

239.472.8236

On Island

From On Island's Facebook page: "I have struggled to find the words to capture the time since Hurricane Ian. The loss, the homesickness, the heartache for how injured our beloved islands are. But also, the strength and support of our community - those who are here and those who live elsewhere. The overwhelming kindness of friends, family and strangers. The drive to rebuild. And then how do you express that on a tee shirt?! It actually became very simple: LOVE. It is the love we all feel for these islands that fuels their recovery and the optimism in our hearts that we will be back. Therefore, the LOVE shirt. This is a longtime favorite tee but has new, deeper meaning now, and it is available on-line at www.onislandshop.com

The shop on Sanibel is closed and empty while the building is being repaired. All the old inventory has been given away, so we will start back slowly with a few on-line sales. I hope you'll be patient with us as we rebuild.

Of course, this is also a chariTEE shirt, so a portion of the proceeds will go to SCCF to help protect the wildlife and replant the lost vegetation."

630 Tarpon Bay Road - Suite 9 Sanibel, FL 33957

239-472-2214

info@onislandsanibel.com

Priscilla's of Sanibel

Follow Priscilla's cute gift shop on Instagram HERE and Facebook HERE!

2340 Periwinkle Way Unit F1, Sanibel, FL
(239) 558-4441
Shop@priscillasofsanibel.com
www.priscillasofsanibel.com

The White Pelican

The White Pelican is the online shop for all things Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts.  As they say on their website, "Our heartfelt thanks go out to each of you who’ve expressed your love, support and fond memories of times enjoyed at ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa, West Wind Island Resort, Beachview Cottages, Castaways Cottages and Sanibel Captiva Island Vacations.

Now, although we can’t welcome you to the beach just yet, we’re bringing our beaches to you! Our White Pelican online shop will soon be an island lover’s delight, stocked full of goodies and gifts and ways you can bring a bit of Sanibel and Captiva to your home."

Jewelry

Congress Jewelers

https://www.facebook.com/CongressJewelers/

(239) 472-1222

The Cedar Chest Fine Jewelry

The Cedar Chest Sanibel has offered stunning fine jewelry inspired by the beauty of our Sanibel Island paradise since 1975. So incredibly beautiful!

You can contact them through their Facebook page HERE or through email at social@cedarchestsanibel.com
https://www.cedarchestsanibel.com

Lily jewelers  

520 Tarpon Bay Rd, Sanibel, FL

(239) 887-0303

dschuyler@lilyjewelers.com

lilyjewelers.com

Rachel Pierce Jewelry

Artist Rachel Pierce, who lives on Sanibel Island, lost her home, her gallery and her studio in Hurricane Ian. 

This beautiful collection of Sanibel lighthouse necklaces and earrings made from her art can be purchased through Rachel's site: www.byrachelpierce.com.

The proceeds from the sale of this jewelry will go towards helping Rachel and her family rebuild.  To see  Rachel's art prints, check out her listing above in the "Art Galleries" section.

Shiny Objects Sanibel

Shiny Objects sells beautiful beach and coastal jewelry.

From their Facebook Page:  

"The Sanibel Island Pendant is back! They are available with a blue back or a white back, and are available on our website. Thank you for your patience!

We are touched and humbled by all who have supported us over the past 2-1/2 weeks. Your messages and calls mean so much to us. We have shared laughter and tears as we exchange memories and receive your words of encouragement. To say we are grateful would be an understatement. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

We are excited to announce that we have a limited number of our Sanibel Island Pendants available. They have been added to our website. "It takes a village" is so true. We are thankful for all who helped us make this happen. And we are thankful for you!

In gratitude, Rachel and Marcos"

https://www.shinyobjectssanibel.com

ShinyObjectsSanibel@gmail.com

Sanibel Island Florida  33957

(239) 472-1660

Photography

Angelika Geerlof, Sanibel Moodscapes Photography

Angelika Geerlof is a Sanibel artist & photographer who takes breathtaking photos of the beautiful wildlife on Sanibel. You can order any of her photography on large stretched canvas for stunning wall art for your home. 

You can also purchase her photography on mouse pads, calendars, tote bags, Christmas ornaments and more!

You can stay updated on all of her works on her Sanibel Moodscapes Facebook page HERE or her website HERE.

Edward Saternus Photography

Edward Saternus is well-known for his stunning photography of Sanibel and Captiva. He now has a growing collection of post-Ian photography of the islands as well.

You can purchase his photography as prints/canvas wall art that would make a statement piece for any room, as well as on gift items such as tote bags, cell phone cases, mugs, puzzles and more.

T-Shirts and Apparel

Captiva Cruises 

Coco y Cabana

2340 Periwinkle Way , Sanibel, FL

(239) 312-8467

info@cocoycabana.com

cocoycabana.com

The Green Flash

15183 Captiva Dr, Captiva, FL, United States, Florida

(239) 472-3337

greenflashcaptiva@gmail.com

greenflashcaptiva.com

JRod's

630 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, FL

jrodsonsanibel@gmail.com

shopjrods.com

From the Mad Hatter: "The Mad Hatter Restaurant has been a staple of beautiful Sanibel Island for over five decades. We’ve been with you for anniversaries, wedding proposals, birthdays, and first-dates. Our cozy little beachside restaurant has always felt an immense pride in helping celebrate your moments of joy.

Hurricane Ian swept our restaurant away and with all of the destruction and devastation that Sanibel Island endured, it will take some time to get back on our feet. As we look to open up again - and we will - your purchase will go directly to helping the new Mad Hatter Restaurant get back to serving you and our beloved beach community.

Synergy Sportswear

1981 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957

(603) 352-8681

http://synergysportswear.com

The Sanibel Café

(239) 472-5323

sanibelcafe@yahoo.com

thesanibelcafe - Instagram

http://www.sanibelcafe.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SanibelCafe

Shalimar Cottages & Motel

From Shalimar: "In the wake of Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022, Shalimar Cottages & Motel was one of the few properties on Sanibel Island to not only be damaged but wholly washed away. As wind and water turned every building at Shalimar into rubble, it also swept under the small paradise thousands of visitors enjoy every year. It is impossible to articulate how stunned and devastated we are by this sudden disaster. However, Sanibel is our home, and we have stood here since 1959. Countless memories have been shared here, relationships made, and friendships nourished. We want to remain the place where this happens. WE WILL REBUILD. 

We plan to re-create the old Florida-style cottages you know and love (just stronger and better!). These types of structures make Sanibel the charming, peaceful paradise that we hope it will remain. We are heartened by the strength and resoluteness of the rest of our community to revive and maintain the island's traditional identity. 

We are a small, family-owned business. It will be a tremendous endeavor for us to recreate our home. The proceeds from your purchases will be used for everything ranging from engineering & architectural services, construction, interior design, landscaping & pool, hotel & office supplies, and much more. We know it will be an adventure and take some time, but we can't wait to welcome our guests back. Please help us remain #shalimarstrong and #sanibelstrong. 

Thank you to all our Shalimar friends & neighbors,
Owners Nancy, Chet, Sean, & Manager Romas"

Support Sanibel Hurricane Relief Efforts

Here are places where  you can  support hurricane relief efforts in SW Florida through your t-shirt or gift purchase:

Sanibel Beautiful Strong Loved T-Shirt

Sanibel Strong Store Gifts

Sanibel Strong is a Florida non-profit public charity. 100% of net proceeds help Sanibel Island residents, businesses, and wildlife recover from Hurricane Ian. 

Sanibel Strong T-shirts, hats, and tumblers

Are you a business on Sanibel or Captiva offering online shopping? 

Just let us know HERE so we can add you to this directory! (Or if you know of a business offering online shopping, please let us know as well!)

We would also love to stay updated on your recovery/reopening progress so that we can keep Sanibel lovers in the know. We are all looking forward to the day when we can visit you in person again! ♥️

Stay Updated!

Follow me on Facebook HERE to stay updated on all things Sanibel and SW Florida!

Please Share!

Please help us spread the word about these Sanibel shops by telling your friends and sharing on your social media. Thank you! 💜