I will be going to Marco Island in April for a girl's weekend....leaving the kids at home with their respective fathers.

We are interested in restaurant reccommendations for both lunch and dinner. We will probably try to do a mixture of low key, casual for lunch and a little more upscale but still fun for dinner (places you wouldn't necessarily take kids to). We also welcome any suggestions for what to do after dinner...Thanks!

We like Snook Inn, for lunch or dinner, moderate but not very fancy so may not suit you girls. Great seafood though.

I was in Marco in February and found a wonderful breakfast place called Breakfast Plus. It is located at 1035 N. Collier, they are open 7 days a week from 7 am - 2 pm. Cash only.
We also enjoyed our dinner at the Old Marco Inn. I like to dine at one nice restaurant while on vacation. The ambiance was wonderful -the food and service was excellent!
Enjoy your stay.
Praiser

Don't expect to find a youngish or trendy crowd at any of the few "upscale" places on Marco. Your best bets for upscale will be at the Hilton or Marriott hotels, and at Merek's in a very old house near the Snook Inn (definitely do that for lunch or casual dinner outside). By all means, one night go up to Naples and eat on Fifth Avenue if you're looking for lively, trendy, and fun.

I agree that you will find trendier places in Naples but there are a couple of nice places in Marco for dinner. I would suggest Verdi's for dinner or the restaurant at the Marco Beach Ocean Resort. Verdi's is reasonable and the Marco Resort is expensive but both are good without the drive to Naples. We also enjoy the Blue Heron on the Isle of Capri (just over the bridge from Marco). We enjoy grouper sandwiches at the Sand Bar for lunch or NY deli style sandwiches from the Fat Pelican. Marco does not have much to do after dinner. We go there to relax. If you want after dinner entertainment you are better off in Naples.

I forgot about the new place that we tried this year. We ate at the Bayview for dinner one evening. They have outdoor seating with a view of a marina. It is a relaxed atmosphere and the food was pretty good. It is in the Esplanade complex. There is another restaurant across the way Vergina but we did not like the menu as much that night. Both are in the same restaurant group with Vergina and Starplace on Fifth Avenue in Naples and reminded more of Naples than anyplace we have been in Marco before.
Enjoy your trip.

The girl's will definetly enjoy some time in Naples. If you don't want to drive out there at night, go for lunch and some shopping. I wouldn't say that the Marriott is a hopping place. I would recommend their casual beachfront bar at sundown.

I forgot, that Fat Pelican on Collier does have some great sandwiches!!!

snook inn for a real marco island experience...

try Backwater Nicks on the Isle of Capri right near Marco. Reasonably priced good food and the most fabulous waterfront view!

We just returned from Marco Island. We stayed at the Marriott. Kurrents's there was good, if nothing else stop in for the Chocolate Souffle dessert. Also, the Marriot has a breakfast buffet for 18.00 that was good, SO MUCH FOOD!! We loved Verdi's, the 2" thick pork chop with apples and cranberries was to die for. Arturo's was a classic Italian restaurant that was very good. Tara's Steakhouse was good, but very pricey. We were impressed with all the choices on this small island.