Where should I eat on Captiva Island? It’s a question we hear a lot. Our answer is: a lot of places. It just depends on what you’re hungry for. If you want to take a bite out of Captiva Island history, the Old Captiva House restaurant is your place.
Open for breakfast and dinner daily, the Old Captiva House is a favorite of frequent visitors to the island.
History of the Old Captiva House
Nestled on the grounds of the Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa, the restaurant is known for its classic “Old Florida” style. It is one of the earliest operating resorts on the island, after all. The Old Captiva House itself was the site of the first schoolhouse for the Captiva Island’s settlers.
The decor reflects the history of the resort, with a modern charm. The front has a warm, welcoming glow. Inside, the entryway features a gallery wall of political cartoons from J.N. “Ding” Darling. Read more about Darling in our Captiva Island history post.
The crisp white interior, with subtle beach tones and nods to the resort’s history, affirms you’re eating somewhere special. We chose to eat here for our tenth anniversary but you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy a classic meal here.
Dining at Old Captiva House
The menu features a variety of seafood and plenty of meat options (some pastas too). Looking over the menu, we sipped cocktails while taking in the pristine dining room. If you eat before the sun goes down, you might even snag a table with a slight view of the Gulf.
We were pleasantly surprised when our server brought out not only fresh-baked rolls, but a secret spice mix he added to the olive oil. This spiced oil was sweet and savory; truly unlike any flavored oil we’ve ever had before. Honestly, I would come back to the Old Captiva House just for the oil and bread.
Gruyere Chicken Fettuccine
Normally, my husband opts for steak at a fine dining restaurant, but as a huge fan of Gruyere cheese, the Gruyere Chicken Fettuccine caught his eye. The sweet, nutty funkiness has made this one of the most popular variants of Swiss cheese. Torn between steak and pasta, our server highly recommended the pasta.
His recommendation did not disappoint; a bowl full of al dente noodles, chicken, mushrooms and gooey gruyere sauce.This is not a fettuccine alfredo; it’s adult macaroni and cheese on steroids.
With the fettuccine, my husband thoroughly enjoyed the World’s Greatest Mai Tai, Tween Waters take on the classic tiki cocktail.
Seafood Galore
As a seafood fan, the endless options made it extra hard to choose my meal. Again, our server stepped up to the plate and helped me decide what would fill mine.
Turns out the jumbo prawns and I were made for each other. Fresh shrimp, large chunks of lobster and massive asparagus served over a bowl full of risotto; be still my seafood-loving heart! Rich and flavorful, this risotto hit the spot. And that key lime butter sauce? Let’s just say I cleaned my plate!
Can’t Wait To Return
Old Captiva House is open daily for breakfast and dinner. Traveling without our kids for our 10th wedding anniversary, we finally had the chance to try this upscale island restaurant. And we’re glad we did. We both enjoyed our meals and can’t wait to return and try their breakfast menu.
Reminiscing about our decade of marriage, we left the Old Captiva House with full bellies and full hearts. It’s a great place to celebrate a special milestone or simply celebrate being on beautiful Captiva Island.
What: Old Captiva House (website)
Address: Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa, 15951 Captiva Dr., Captiva, FL 33924
Hours: 7:30-11 a.m., 5-9 p.m. daily
