Mat-la-shay. A fun word to say and an even more fun place to visit. Growing up with yearly trips to Florida, I’ve only ever experienced that condo life on the beach. I would spend my days lackadaisically soaking up the sun and ending the day with a sunset. On my recent visit to the Gulf coast I got to experience a seriously funky and colorful old-style Florida fishing village called Matlacha.
Visitor’s Guide to Matlacha, Florida
The southwest side of Florida has always been my favorite and finding funky Matlacha only enhanced that! On a little snippet of land between Cape Coral and Pine Island is a home to generations of fishermen.
Although just a stones-throw away from nearby Sanibel and Captiva Island, you won’t find a sandy beach stretching for miles down the coastline here. What you will find are seafood shacks lining the estuaries. You’ll see an entire village that expresses itself through its work. Locals spiced up the town by taking a paint brush to every piece of bland canvas they could find, even on the base of palm trees!
After some major changes in the early ’90s to the fishing laws, the community of Matlacha was threatened. Rather than living off of their commercialized-catches as they always had, they had to find another way to earn money. The only other option was to completely invigorate the town with art and creativity.
Matlacha’s funky “Old Florida” fishing village is home to tons of seafood restaurants. The many brightly colored art galleries, boutiques, traditional Floridian cottages and optimal fishing excursions make it a stand out in Florida.
Seafood Sensations
As a fishing village, it’s no secret that Matlacha is home to some of the freshest catches of the days. Most restaurants even rotate their menus out daily depending upon what their fishermen have recently caught.
The Blue Dog Grill was my favorite stop. I cooled off with a fresh salad and a cold Michelob Ultra next to the channel.
As with every other good eatery you’ll find in Matlacha, the Blue Dog Grill brings sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients directly to your table. Even the fishermen providing the food for the Blue Dog can be seen enjoying dinner in the restaurant.
The white boots, or “Pine Island Reeboks” that the mascot Blue Dog wears is a nod to the fishing history of the islands here. Those boots were worn by commercial fisherman along the gulf and have kept the traditions of their fathers alive for many generations.
Other noteworthy restaurants to try in Matlacha featuring local catches are the Olde Fish House, the Island Seafood Market and the Island Pho & Grill,
Art Galleries in Matlacha
It’s no surprise that the gulf’s most colorful village is home to a number of art galleries. The first on the list to visit is the Wild Child Art Gallery. This fun spot features a vibrant welcoming door and stone walkways.
Other places to stop in and relish over a variety of diverse collections are the Matlacha Menagerie and Island Visions.
No doubt about it, the best stop you’ll make for a gallery is at Leoma Lovegrove’s Gallery & Garden.
Leoma Lovegrove is a world-renowned impressionist-expressionist painter hailing from Matlacha. The original gallery is a can’t miss while visiting Matlacha. After strolling through the neon-painted exhibition, head to the garden, the area that really makes Lovegrove stand out.
Blasts of color fill your vision as a musically-energized vibe roll through the air. With a picture-perfect location on the channel, the gardens even boast an art studio holding weekly classes for guests.
The quirky decor consisting of old wine bottles and colorful fishing boats-turned birds cages dominate the gardens. That bird cage indeeds houses a beautiful blue Macaw too! With massive murals exuding love and peace, the landscape makes a statement.
The stand-out decoration is the colorful mini-Airstream. It featured a splatter of Woodstock-vibed paintings, perfectly parked between the lush palm trees.
Boutique Shopping
Nestled between those restaurants and galleries are small and unique boutiques. You can find just about anything here, like Native American-inspired souvenirs, polka-dotted bikinis, CBD oil and fishing gear.
The funky buildings with colorful murals continue on. Quirky decor out front summon guests to come and check out what each place has.
Catch of the Day Fishing Excursions
Hailing as a fishing village, the estauries and channels running through Matlacha are perfect places to catch fish. The Matlacha Pass Bridge is a popular spot to spend the day snagging food from the sea.
Hit up one of the fishing charter companies to go deeper into the gulf. Some good options are Davey Dee’s Charters, Angling Adventures or Matlacha Fishing Charters.
Staying in Matlacha
Wanting to spend more than a day in Matlacha? There are a wide variety of places available to stay. The colorful tiny homes are a place I’d love to stay, along with the Matlacha Cove Inn or the Bridgewater Inn. The Angler’s Inn and Porpoise Point are also popular options for accommodations in Matlacha.
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Matlacha is so darn cute! I love how they spiced up the look of the place with all the color. Would love to stop by here for some seafood 🙂
I didn’t get to try and seafood here but Matlacha and Pine Island are awesome places for local seafood! Hope you have so much fun in Florida!