6 great sports bars to watch football in Naples, Cape Coral, Marco, Fort Myers Beach

Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News
Updated ·4 min read

If you can't make it to a game, the next best thing is watching it surrounded by other football fans, on numerous TVs while enjoying great food and drinks.

Sports bars offer an escape of sorts, an oasis from the real world especially over the next five months or so as football is just starting up with college games in full swing and the NFL season kicking off Sept. 7 when the Detroit Lions play at the Kansas City Chiefs at night. The rest of the NFL games are this weekend.

What defines a great sports bar? Multiple TVs is a great start so you watch any game from wherever you're sitting.

And secondly and perhaps more importantly, the food should taste great with more than just chips and pretzels. Sports bars score bonus points if they display memorabilia like photos, pennants and jerseys. Beers on tap, especially microbrewery options? Even better.

There are about 19,000 sports bars in the U.S. And sportsbars.com has ranked its top 100 in the country, and this one for Standings on East Seventh Street in New York City sums up a great sports bar.

"With jerseys, sports headlines, and pennants hanging on the walls and from the ceilings, you’ll be transported into a world of sports when you walk into Standings," the website said.

Here's some sports bars to check out in Southwest Florida.

Marco Island Brewery

The grouper tacos from the Marco Island Brewery, Marco Island.
The grouper tacos from the Marco Island Brewery, Marco Island.

If you're a Marco Islander or visiting for the day, head to Marco Island Brewery for a great vibe while watching your football game on one of 40 flat-screen TVs and enjoying a great meal and drinks. The bar offers more than 50 beers on tap including the brewery's own house brews like The Rock IPA, Acapulco Gold, Dirty Sanchez Pale, Panama Red Ale and Busty Blond Wheat. Starters vary from Firecracker Shrimp to Jersey Fries, sandwiches such as mahi-mahi or grouper, baskets (including shrimp, scallop, etc.), burgers, ahi tuna tacos, pasta, ribeye and more.

 1089 N. Collier Blvd., in Marco Town Center; marcoislandbrewery.com and 239-970-0461

Parrot Key Caribbean Grill ― Fort Myers Beach

The new bar at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill on Fort Myers Beach is a cool spot to have a tropical cocktail.
The new bar at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill on Fort Myers Beach is a cool spot to have a tropical cocktail.

With a waterfront view and tropical vibe, there's better ways to spend an afternoon or night watching football. And calling itself "Lambeau South," Parrot Key Caribbean Grill is also caters to fans of the Green Bay Packers. "Catch all the games on our huge TV's. Enjoy a special tailgate menu featuring all your Wisconsin favorites like Johnsonville Brats and fried cheese curds," the bar says on its website. The menu includes much more than that and even a Sunday brunch from 9 a.m.-noon that features Crab Cake Egg Benedict, The Big Breakfast Burrito, bottomless mimosas and more. There's also just about anything else you can think of, like seafood sandwiches and dishes, burgers, salads and more. And don't forget the cool cocktail creations.

2500 Main St. S., Fort Myers Beach; 239-463-3257 or myparrotkey.com

Boston Beer Garden ― North Naples

Boston Beer Garden in Naples.
Boston Beer Garden in Naples.

Boston Beer Garden since 2007 has served up good food and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. This Beantown hot spot offers more than 50 HD flat screens including a couple 135-inch big screens. Food options include prime rib sliders, New England clam chowdah, salads, burgers, sandwiches and entrees like chicken piccata, half-roasted chicken and gravy, fish tacos and barbecue steak tips.

2396 Immokalee Road; bostonbeergardennaples.com or 239-596-2337

Duffy's Sports Grill ― Estero, Cape Coral, Fort Myers

Duffy's Sports Grill reopened in Estero April 19, 2021 after closing for more than a year due to the pandemic. The regional chain used the time to complete renovations.
Duffy's Sports Grill reopened in Estero April 19, 2021 after closing for more than a year due to the pandemic. The regional chain used the time to complete renovations.

Duffy's Sports Grill is perfect for the serious football fan, with 80 TVs and sports memorabilia everywhere you look. The menu offers a little bit of everything, like firecracker shrimp, Angus Beef classic cheeseburger sliders, barbecue baby back ribs, triple decker turkey club, island fish tacos and desserts like crunchy fried cheesecake.

21253 Stoneybrook Golf Blvd., Estero; 13721 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers; and 627 Cape Coral Parkway W., Cape Coral; duffysmvp.com 

Best bets: Top 5 things to do this weekend in Naples, Bonita Springs

Foxboro Sports Tavern ― East Naples

This Boston-themed bar makes any New Englanders feel welcome. Foxboro Sports Tavern opened 20 years ago and is like a mini Boston sports museum with pictures, jerseys and pennants of sports legends, from Ted Williams to Tom Brady. Choose from 17 starters, along with wings, burgers, salads, soups, sandwiches and other offerings.

4420 Thomasson Drive, Naples; 239-530-2337; foxborotavern.com

Overtime Pizzeria & Sports Pub ― Cape Coral

Overtime Pizzeria & Sports Pub in Cape Coral remains popular with football fans. Overtime opened at its current location in 2015 and, since then, has attracted fans with food and drink specials and TV screens throughout. Food options abound, with a variety of food to choose from such as honey sriracha spare ribs, wings, bourbon shrimp and more.

1708 Cape Coral Parkway W.; 239-541-3367; overtimecapecoral.com

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter and on Twitter @NDN_dosborn.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Best sports bars to watch football in Naples, Fort Myers Beach, Marco