We came from France to get married near Sanibel and spent two nights at the Tarpon lodge. It was simply magical. People were lovely and the cottage we lived in was gorgeous. We are looking forward to come back one day.
There you are coming in by boat and all of a sudden there’s a peaceful, quietness that you notice as the sound of fish jumping and birds wishing through the air become the main attraction. You start walking from the dock through a beautiful walk way towards the main entrance of the lodge and feel welcomed as you are greeted at the door by a friendly voice that says “welcome to our home”. It becomes your home as the place is so warm feeling and the magnificent aroma of gourmet food cooking is present everywhere. You are building an appetite for the great food served in the 5 start restaurant that is right there down stars from your upstairs room. The rooms are clean,comfortable and quiet. You feel right at home your entire stay. When you wake up in the morning there is a continental breakfast and the coffee is brewing at 6:30 am and smells so good. You walk down toward the dock and see the great view of Pine Island Sound and watch the birds waiting to catch the jumping fish that perform like acrobats every minute or two. You must be in the fishing capitol of the world as you are in Pineland/Bokeelia Florida. You are amazed at the entire area filled with many other islands like Cabbage Key,Captiva and others, all not too far away from Fort Myers airport, maybe an hour. Cleanliness is next to Godliness here at the Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant. Pass the word but also keep in mind that it’s the “best kept secret” and you’ll want to keep it that way. The place has been here since 1926. Enjoy!
Can’t say enough nice things about this “best kept secret” island gem. The entire staff was amazing and so friendly in helping us plan and execute our girls paddle board weekend. We all truly enjoyed the weekend and didn’t want to leave. The rooms are very accommodating, Old Florida-style, and the beds are some of the most comfortable I have ever slept in. This trip we stayed in the Island House (Rm. 1 is the bomb with two balconies) but the rooms in the main inn have wood floors and are darling. Whether you are with a group or looking for a truly intimate couple getaway, this is the place. We saw manatees off the dock, and on previous trips dolphin playing. The food in the restaurant is truly delicious whether it’s lunch or dinner. Try the crab cake sliders, bronzed shrimp avocado wraps, scallops, grouper or yellowtail specials. Yum! This is the ultimate getaway retreat and they make you feel like special family.
We were there for a wedding and enjoyed ourselves immensely. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. The rooms were very clean and comfortable. Unbelievably my husband and I commented on how comfortable the bed was. We had lunch and the food and service were exceptional. And the wedding venue, dinner and reception were exceptional as well. The lodge really went above and beyond to make every guest feel welcome.
We stayed in the Boat House for a Tarpon fishing adventure. The beds were comfortable and the house was very clean. Everything was perfect. The lodge staff was helpful in recommending our guide Erik Flett, Native Attitude fishing. The trip could not have been better.
We cannot stop talking about the wonderful experience we had while staying at the Tarpon Lodge for 5 nights. We stayed in a water view room on the second floor of the main lodge building. The room was clean, tastefully decorated and had a sliding glass door that led to a small balcony overlooking the grounds and the water. It was convenient to have a mini fridge in the room. A bonus of staying in the main lodge building is the free wifi. We appreciate the historic nature and charm of the lodge, which was one of our considerations in choosing to book our stay here. We ate one lunch and three dinners at the lodge and enjoyed the atmosphere of both the screened porch and the bar room. The food is outstanding and menu selections are varied for diverse tastes. We ate at a couple of other establishments on Pine Island and Matlacha and nothing compared to our meals at the Tarpon Lodge. Sunsets at the lodge are glorious – be sure not to miss! The staff at the Tarpon Lodge are extremely accommodating and friendly…..special thanks to Shohreh, Mike, Jennifer and other staff members for making our stay truly memorable…..we will return to the Tarpon Lodge when we travel to Southwest Florida again. We feel like we have found a relaxing little corner of paradise there.
At first I thought it might be a bit stuffy. I could not have been more wrong. The entire staff was delightful. The food was fantastic. We spent 3 nights in the Boat House, which was so clean and perfectly decorated. It was so peaceful and relaxing, with magnificent sunsets from our porch. We are big fans of eating at the bar, and although it is small, they made room for us every evening. Shohreh is a gem; lovely, knowledgeable and very accommodating. A shout out to Mike, as well. Don’t miss a trip to Cabbage Key!
Our stay at Tarpon Lodge in the boat house was a wonderful relaxing couple of days traveling in Florida. The restaurant is outstanding with delicious choices on the menu to delight any palate. In the past, we also have stayed in a lovely room at the lodge. The sunsets are spectacular! Do not miss them! The image is cemented in my memory. Take your camera to capture it for a frame. An Indian historic site is within walking distance. Chartered fishing trips can be arranged. Enjoy!
My wife and I spent last week on vacation at Tarpon Lodge. We stayed at the “Cottage” . The cottage was so cozy, clean and comfortable, it exceeded our expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were met by a very friendly and courteous staff, offering us tips on everything from fishing to local must see sites. The restaurant was unbelievable, incredible menu, with service that matched. The views and sunsets were spectacular. We rented a boat and used it every day to visit places like Captiva, Cabbage Key, Sanibel and Boca Grande. The fishing was great, and the dolphins with their antics even better. We will return to this lovely lodge to vacation again. Highly endorse Tarpon Lodge and their Facilty. Also very romantic. Thank you all for the great time we had. Pat B.
My husband and I were at the Tarpon Lodge this past weekend for our friends’ wedding. Everything was spectacular. It is a smaller lodge and quite isolated and private. I believe there are only 27 rooms. It was a really neat experience to have the entire lodge to ourselves basically since every room was occupied by guests of the wedding. The lodge is adorable from the moment we walked in and the staff was extremely friendly and eager to show us around. Our room was in the Island House. We were in Room 4, which is a waterfront room. The room was clean and beautifully decorated. The views were spectacular. The food at the wedding was delicious, especially the mahi. It was so yummy. The maid of honor had the Sanibel Room and this is the room the bride took her “getting ready pics” in. The room was beautiful and had the best view of the rooms we went in. If we have the opportunity to make it back to the Tarpon Lodge one day, we would request the Sanibel Room. We had a wonderful time at Tarpon Lodge and were sad to leave.
Our staff is standing by to help you book your stay and answer any questions you may have about your relaxing Old Florida getaway. (239) 283-3999or
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