Naples Fl, Inn on Fifth?
 

Hi,

My husband and I are attending a wedding in May at the Inn on Fifth, haven't yet decided if we are going to stay there or elsewhere. Prefer an upscale place with good service and quiet, clean rooms. Have looked at Tripadvisor reports on the Inn on Fifth... which are mixed at best.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I guess we'll want to be within walking distance of the Inn on Fifth if possible since the reception is going to be held there. Any snuggled little B+Bs suggestions would also be appreciated.

Also... have heard that seafood is not a Naples

darnit.. posted too quickly

Also... have heard that seafood is not a Naples strength... Please prove that reputation wrong by suggesting a good restaurant that will serve fresh fish (meaning caught-that-morning fresh). Willing to drive a bit for this (say 30 mins tops) Price range anywhere - but prefer fish shack to experimental gourmet!

I think for what you describe, the Inn on Fifth. I haven't looked at TripAdvisor, but the worst feature of the Inn on Fifth is the old pool across the street. I'd never stay there if lounging by a pool is a priority. It is a very nice and seemingly well kept "business" type boutique hotel.

About 4 blocks up Fifth Avenue towards the beach is the Escalante which is a totally redone little condominium garden sort of complex. It is more "quirky and romantic" than the Inn on Fifth and gets good reviews if you go for one of the larger rooms or suites.

There is a converted older motel turned B&B called The Lemon Tree Inn, about 4 blocks the other way. Our theatre group has put up some people there, and frankly it's a little too "cutesy" for my taste.

There is also the upscale Trianon, another business hotel, but frankly it is very much like the Inn on Fifth, so I'd stick with the convenience of where the wedding is -- which is also perfectly located right by the plaza on Fifth.

There's also the very new BellaSera which is a sort of apartment hotel, which is across 41, but still walking distance. I know little about it, but there were a couple posts here from people who stayed there just after it opened in the past year -- all very favorable.

However, when all is said and done, I'd still stay at the Inn on Fifth.

Kelly's Fish House has been here forever and recently was re-reviewed by our local paper to pretty much raves. It is just what you suggest -- more a shack than experimental gourmet. It is on the water right across from Tin City -- across the bridge. To be honest I haven't been there in about 15 years.

Also near there is Catch22, a newer place with good fresh caught (ask what's freshest) fish. It's in the Bayfront Complex.

On the other hand, May is a long way off. Restaurants come and go at the rate of about 1 a week in this town, so who knows what we'll have by May!

You got me curious about Trip Advisor so I just checked out those reviews of the Inn on Fifth. As usual there are two sides to every story, and here are just a couple of my comments at random:
One person mentioned that rooms and colors are a little dark for the beach. Huh? This is essentially a business hotel, not a beachfront place. They should see the colors and the "heaviness" at the Ritz!
Someone thought it strange there was no housekeeping service at 10 or 11 at night in September. This doesn't surprise me at all as it is a small hotel and that is the rock bottom of season. I wouldn't have complained that a "civilian" had to bring me extra linens! This isn't a 500 room Marriott!
Someone mentioned they never saw a valet parker. That's weird. I walk by there every day, often several times as I spend half my waking hours right next door at the Sugden Theatre. I've never known there not to be a valet parker on duty -- although since it's small, there's usually only one.
I thought they served breakfast there. If not, what are those people eating inside MaCabe's pub and outside on the little terrace by the plaza every morning? I assumed it was breakfast.

The comments about it needing "updating" I'm not sure of. One person did say threadbare which seems odd for a hotel that's what, 4 or 5 years old, (and I suppose that is possible) but I kind of got the idea the person thought it was just more traditional (which it is) than modern. Well?

Another good comment was someone who mentioned maybe next time they'd stay at one of the Ritz's instead. Duh! Was that meant to be a comparison of the two hotels?

Of course my favorite comment was from the Brits who didn't like the Irish music in the Irish pub!

Rhodes Fish House in Bonita sounds like something you might be looking for. It is in no means fancy. It is very casual. Everything seems simply and traditionally prepared. They have a large fresh fish market store attached to the restaurant. They are also known for their Key Lime Pie.

I also like the Watermark Grill on 41. It is inexpensive and they serve fresh fish. The atmosphere a bit more classy - but not overly pretentious by any means. However, it does not have that "fresh-off-the-boat" feel that Rhodes does.

You can find fresh fish almost anywhere you dine in Naples. Whoever told you that, "seafood is not a Naples strength" must have had their head in teh sand. Seriously - Naples is LOADED with MANY excellent restaurants.

Geez, I just came back from the Sudgen, and looking out the lobby window a light bulb came on over my head. Right in the Inn on Fifth is now Truluck's, which this summer replaced the former steakhouse in that spot. This is a chain of four restaurants in Texas, but their fish comes from their own fisheries in near by Isle of Capri -- and yes very fresh. So it was only fitting that they actually open a restaurant here, near the source of their fish supply! I haven't been yet, but have heard mostly raves except that it is a little pricey.

And Paul, don't be too hard on fishingirl about that lack of fish restaurant statement. It is often repeated here and even comes from my mouth as well. Sure there are a lot of restuarants and many have good fish, but lots of people come expecting to find really good waterfront places that feature just plain fish -- and those are surprisingly lacking. That's why so many people flock to that horrid Joe's Crab Shack -- which looks like the type place people want -- but they end up finding it makes Red Lobster look five star!

I've also heard good things about Rhode's. And many locals rave about Capt. Nemo's on the trail in mid Naples, which is associated with Swan Seafood, the main supplier of fish for local restaurants.

I stayed at Inn on Fifth and can vouch for what Patrick has said. It's a small hotel well located in downtown Naples. While it's been a few years since I was there, the place felt brand new then. The pool is small and sits in the parking lot so not very resort feeling. Unless things have changed recently, there are no hotels that are both on the beach and in the downtown area.

If you're looking for a different location than the wedding, I'd choose the Escalante in a suite.

fishingirl, if you want fresh fish, read the local paper to see what kind of fish is running that time of year.

What they are catching is what you should order.

It always surprises me when people complain to my husband about a particular fish not being caught that day. If it isn't indiginous to the area, it is more than a day old.

I think one of the funniest questions I've ever heard was someone asking him if the crab legs were local. We're in SC.

Thanks for the advice... hubby and I are not resort people, so at this point will likely stick with the Inn on Fifth so we don't have to worry about finding our way back after the wedding. Its only two nights after all.

Patrick, please tell me you are joking about a Joe's Crab Shack in Naples! My father in law LOVES that place (we're in Maryland, the man thinks all crabs are the same) and now I am scared that they'll all want us to go out to dinner together there (his son, my brother in law - is the one getting married) Ugh, the horror.


Paul - thanks for the suggestion of Rhodes Fish House, it sounds like a dream to me! I'll also keep the Watermark Grill in mind if the family tries to pull us toward's Joe's Crab Shack.

GoTravel - great point about checking the local paper to see what's running. Funny, I think of this when I want to go fishing, but not when I am eating. Thanks!

I'll pray for you that you don't get suckered into Joe's.

I'm not sure if they report a lot about what's running except for the snook -- but sadly they aren't allowed to sell that! You'll need to catch and cook your own there -- but that's the best "eatin" you can do.

I can back up Patrick's recommendation of Kelly's Fish House. We pretty much eat there at least once each summer and on our last trip in June, everything was as good as ever. The place seems to never change and the dining room looks like it's caught in a time warp from the 60's, with knotty pine paneling and "sandbox" tables filled with shells. It's not fancy by any means, but for fried seafood, it's our favorite in Naples.

Patrick, it is usually located somewhere in the sports section.

If there is any kind of commercial or recreational fishing for hire out of Naples, they should have a chart.