There’s no signage from the street advertising this hole-in-the-wall speakeasy-style bar tucked into a square in downtown Fort Myers. Vintage Prohibition photos decorate the interiors, and classic cocktails—many with a focus on whiskey—echo the era. Yet just because drinks harken tradition doesn’t mean The 86 Room can’t shake things up. When making a Sazerac, bartenders send the absinthe-washed glass up in flames, adding a caramelized flavor that elevates the New Orleans cocktail.

The rooftop bar at Fort Myers’ Luminary Hotel & Co. delivers a visual feast overlooking the revitalized downtown River District and the Caloosahatchee River. Views aside, Beacon Social is serious about its drinks, embracing on-trend ingredients like violet-hued butterfly pea flowers or housemade honey-Sriracha syrup. When the wait is long—which often happens—score some lively people-watching downstairs in the lobby bar.

Crazy Dingo manages to stand out among the flood of local brews. It operates out of a couple shipping containers with an open-air tasting room on a 5-acre, family-owned Southern Fresh Farms in Fort Myers. Beer drinkers score something rare in the region here: the chance to drink a farm-to-pint beer on the land where many of the ingredients grow. Honoring the bounty, the ever-changing beer list often includes fruit-forward beers, like a guava-vanilla tart ale or mango-hibiscus IPA.

Small plates and a robust slate of community events (food trucks, cornhole tournaments and trivia nights) add to the neighborhood feel of this downtown Cape Coral brewery. Owner and brewer Roger Phelps strives to produce out-of-the-ordinary, experimental beers like the Mexican chocolate-inspired Oaxacan, an imperial stout aged on chiles, cinnamon sticks and cacao nibs. Pair it with the popular, crispy-edge carnitas tacos.

Lee County’s first craft brewery has grown to be the area’s largest. It’s also one of Fort Myers’ party places: The inside-outside venue hosts events, from popular burger nights to grand parties, that draw thousands of beer nerds. The High Five IPA is the local industry standard for the style, but those who prefer their brews less hopped can choose from the two dozen other beers on tap, plus cans of the brewery’s award-winning hard seltzer.

Tiki devotees from all over Florida make pilgrimages to this Cape Coral spot. Launched in 2020 as a pop-up, the now-permanent tiki bar transforms house-blended rums, fresh juices and syrups into potent libations served in a tropical plant-filled oasis. Owner Jeremy Vincent named his bar after a favorite rum-and-Campari cocktail, which pairs well with Jungle Bird’s small plates, like house-ground sliders with pickled pineapple and candied jalapeño.

Overtime Pizzeria and Sports Pub in Cape Coral recently transformed its upstairs space into a swanky, 18-and-older lounge with dim lighting, plush seating and live music most nights. The Loft is known for its signature cocktails, like the cranberry Moscow mule, and flavored martinis (grapefruit-basil, lavender or coconut-caramel, anyone?). You can also order from the small but well-rounded menu, which includes a handful of pizzas.

For breezy afternoons and spectacular sunsets, Nauti Mermaid’s hexagonal bar and patio at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village delivers. While the surrounding view is tranquil with placid water framed in lush mangroves, the resort bustles with the sights and sounds of folks relaxing, socializing and sipping a dragon berry mojito or Wicked Wipeout cocktail, made with locally distilled Wicked Dolphin rum.

With a faithful following established by its founder (the late, beloved chef Shannon Yates), this Cape Coral complex rolls three nightlife experiences into one tight space. Besides the main, offbeat restaurant, there’s the outdoor Beastie Bar and Back Porch, and a full-on Irish pub, The Hop. The food is fabulous, and craft cocktails follow suit with made-to-order sangria and the drinks like the East Parkway, a gin-cucumber concoction freshened with mint.

The original gritty, pinball-wizard vibe got so much love, Nice Guys had to move to a bigger spot up the street in downtown Cape Coral. The gathering spot still has the crazy murals and cult-like following for its hip scene, live music and unconventional, whimsically named pies (Street Corn Named Desire, Truffle Shuffle). The bar program—including low- and no-ABV options—is equally creative with craft cocktails, like the Mental Health Day, a barrel-aged gin libation, and up to 150 beers.