Mainstay North Captiva
Address: 4401 Point House Trail, North Captiva, FL 33924
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Phone: (239) 472-1204
On a whim, we found ourselves cruising along the Intracoastal Waterway on a rented pontoon. Before we took off, the marina crew recommended lunch at Mainstay, North Captiva.
We’re glad they did. We’d never heard of the place before but soon discovered it was everything we’d hoped for in a kicked-back island lunch.
Mainstay serves up fresh food, including the catch of the day. Guests can feast on great food in a relaxed atmosphere that makes Captiva Island seem fast-paced by comparison. The pace is as laid back as it gets (except for the service which was fantastic), as it should be on a tropical island!
Barnacles Bar, Restaurant, General Store and Ice Cream
When you step off the dock and onto North Captiva, you’re flanked by lush greenery. Mainstay’s bright teal exterior greets you from just beyond the trees. Tables under tiki huts offer refuge from the warm Florida sun.
Formerly known as Barnacles Bar, the restaurant pays homage to its predecessor by keeping the bar’s name intact. The watering hole is a popular gathering spot on North Captiva Island.
You’ll also find a general store and an ice cream parlor on Mainstay’s upper level.
Mainstay’s Menu
Mainstay’s menu has lots of fresh seafood options, plus sandwiches and appetizers. There’s also a kids menu for anyone with younger mates.
We highly recommend the grouper, which you can get several different ways. Our group devoured grouper tacos smothered in fresh vegetables and chipotle aioli, and two grouper sandwiches; one plain, one blackened.
The hot dogs, topped with spicy slaw, were a surprise hit.
The restaurant has a full bar, including several signature drinks, including the Captiva Breeze (Mainstay’s rum punch) and the Mainstay Mark (A Bloody Mary with a shrimp, bacon scallop and conch fritter garnish, sprinkled with crab meat!). Our crew had no problem washing down lunch with the Mainstay Mai Tai’s.
Boat Access
North Captiva Island is only accessible by boat (or small plane). To access Mainstay from the Intracoastal Waterway, look for mile marker 48 and follow the markers around the fish house and into Safety Harbor, home of Mainstay. Once in Safety Harbor, Mainstay’s docks are due west.
Mainstay has a dock attendant to help tie your boat and safely offload your passengers. They’ll also help you on your way out, but fair warning: you won’t want to leave! The only thing keeping us from staying all afternoon was returning the boat in time.
