For a decade, the shorthand for a walkable evening in Old Naples was Fifth Avenue South. That shorthand needs updating. The summer of 2026 has moved the most interesting new addresses one block east, into the Third Street South district and the quiet lanes that feed it. If you already own here, the practical consequence is a shorter walk to more of what's new.
The Anchor: A Hotel Ten Years In The Making Opens On Broad Avenue
The single biggest change on the ground is the Olde Naples Hotel at 200 Broad Ave. between Third Street South and Gordon Drive. The first building and Annie's Bistro opened May 15 with 50 rooms, with the full 109 rooms rolling out this summer. The grand opening ribbon-cutting was held Thursday, June 11, 2026, with Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann joining Mrs. Anne Camalier to cut the ribbon.
"Old Naples has always had a strong sense of place, and we wanted this hotel to carry that forward in a way that feels natural today," said general manager Laura Radler.
The design choices are worth knowing because they set the tone for the block. Architectural elements reference Old Florida craftsmanship, including grand columns, transom windows, Dade County Pine and Pecky Cypress details, and a mirrored ceiling dome in the lobby. Ground-floor retail space of about 3,755 square feet lines Third Street South, meaning the storefront lineup on that stretch is about to change again once tenants move in. The rooftop pool is already open to hotel guests, the courtyard is coming soon, and the spa opens later this summer.
Annie's Is Trying To Be Three Restaurants At Once
Annie's Bistro, Bar & Bakery seats 222 and has been busy since opening for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. The format is the interesting part. Mornings begin with espresso and house-made pastries, transitioning into a refined, approachable American menu by evening. The room itself features murals, a piano, and a gilded ceiling, painted by local artist Janine Wesselmann.
For residents, the practical read is that Old Naples now has a walk-in bakery-and-coffee option one block from the Gulf that stays open into a dinner service. That was a gap on the map three months ago.
What Else Just Opened Within Walking Distance
Rather than list these as parallel bullet points, look at them as a corridor. Everything below is within a fifteen-minute stroll of the pier.
| New arrival | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Olde Naples Hotel & Annie's Bistro | 200 Broad Ave S | Boutique hotel, bistro, bar, bakery |
| Tiny Kitchen Empanadas | 524 Park St, near Fifth Avenue South | Argentinian street food from a 680-square-foot space |
| All Too Well Gourmet Sandwiches | Fifth Avenue South | Sandwich counter |
| Barrio Taqueria | Fifth Avenue South | Tacos |
| Marina St. Barth | Third Street South, sibling to shops in Palm Beach and the Hamptons | Resort-wear boutique |
Tiny Kitchen deserves a second look. Owner Alejandro Veiga is opening the restaurant with his wife, Samantha Skarl, and his mother, Chef Marta Veiga. A family-run 680-square-foot empanada counter on Park Street is the kind of tenant Fifth Avenue used to have before rents climbed. That it landed here rather than in the Design District is a small tell about where the district still has room for owner-operators.
The Off-Season Discount, Read As A Local
Every summer produces a wave of prix-fixe menus. The useful question is not whether they exist, but which ones give you a table you would not otherwise get.
- Campiello, 1177 Third Street South, runs a bar special of pinot noir plus pizza for $30 daily 3–6 p.m., and a two-course Early Dining Menu for $42 from 5–6 p.m.
- D'Amico's The Continental, 1205 Third Street South, offers a three-course steak-and-lobster early dinner for $55 from 5–6 p.m. and a Champagne and Caviar menu for $60 on Fridays
- Barbatella, 1290 Third Street South, has a $16.95 lunch at the bar and a $29 three-course from 4–6 p.m.
- Chops City Grill, 837 Fifth Avenue South, is offering Sunday–Thursday two-course dinners for $49 with 30% off bottles
- Ocean Prime, 699 Fifth Avenue South, has a three-course Early Dining Menu for $68 daily before 5:30 p.m.
- Ottimo on Fifth, 409 Fifth Avenue South, runs a $39 three-course early dinner from 3–6 p.m. with 50% off house wine bottles
- Del Mar, 494 Fifth Avenue South, gives a complimentary starter and dessert with an entree 4–5:30 p.m., and 50% off Veuve Clicquot on weekend mornings
- Alberto's on Fifth, 868 Fifth Avenue South, is running a $44 two-course dinner with a glass of house wine, twice a day
If you have been meaning to try Ridgway Bar & Grill, Third Street South's summer economics are the moment. Foot traffic drops from peak season and walk-in availability opens up at restaurants that require weeks of advance booking in January.
Two Additions To Watch On The Fall Calendar
Neither is in Old Naples proper, but both will reshape what your Saturday dinner map looks like by December.
Buck & Rider is targeting a late-2026 opening at Waterside Shops, with an open kitchen, expansive raw bar, and indoor-outdoor seating; CEO Adam Strecker described Naples as a natural first choice for the brand's first expansion outside Arizona. On the same site, RH Restaurant is planned for the fine-dining slot inside Restoration Hardware's new glass-atrium gallery on the former Nordstrom footprint at Waterside.
Also on the horizon in the downtown food scene, per Gulfshore Life: chef Vincenzo Betulia recently debuted a steakhouse on Fifth Avenue South with a Wagyu program and wine list, and the Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, has opened reservations for its flagship restaurant helmed by two-time James Beard Award winner Gavin Kaysen.
The Weekly Rhythm, If You Are Actually Here
For residents planning a summer week rather than a season, the recurring calendar is more useful than any single event.
- Thursday evenings. Evening on Fifth returns weekly, with live musical performances up and down the sidewalks of 5th Avenue South, plus dining and shopping. The series runs Thursdays through September 10, 2026.
- Saturday mornings. The Third Street South Farmers Market runs behind Tommy Bahama from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Saturday morning throughout the year, moving in summer to the Neopolitan parking lot.
- First Saturday of many months. Live acts anchor Third Street South at 7 p.m. See the City of Naples parks calendar for the current lineup, including the June 27 ZZ Top and Stevie Ray tribute night.
Why This Matters For Homeowners Here
A hotel opening is not, on its own, a real estate story. What makes this one notable is the shape of the change it brings. The redevelopment sits on the former site of The Plaza on Third Street, a shopping center that bordered Third Street South, Broad Avenue, and Gordon Drive a couple of blocks from the Gulf. That corner sat quiet for more than a decade. It is now a two-acre gathering place with retail, a courtyard, and a restaurant open before 8 a.m.
For someone who bought here for the walkability, the practical map has expanded. The lively evening blocks used to end at Fifth Avenue South. They now stretch south to Broad Avenue and east through the Third Street courtyards. A morning coffee routine that used to require driving to Mercato has an option two minutes from most Old Naples front doors.
That is a small structural shift, but it is the kind that shows up later in resale conversations. Buyers touring in season notice which streets feel alive on a Tuesday night in July.
Let's Connect
If you own in Old Naples and are curious what the Broad Avenue redevelopment and the Third Street corridor are doing to values on your block, or if you are considering a purchase in the district and want a read on which streets benefit most from the changes above, Nick Solimene is happy to talk through the specifics without a pitch. Let's connect.
