This remote island get-away is a place where friendly hospitality meets Old Florida charm.
End of the Line
Featured photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
December 2023
By Polly Dean
Though Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant is on a secluded island in southwest Florida’s Pine Island Sound, it is easily accessible and well worth the effort. It is a special place with a colorful history that has attracted visitors from all walks of life, from near and far. Guests may just stop in for a meal and short break while fishing nearby or you may choose to stay a bit at one of their comfortable accommodations for a quiet and relaxing stay.
Accommodations include the six charming and newly remodeled rooms of the historic Cabbage Key Inn or a selection of cottages that range from the four-bedroom/three-bathroom Harborview Cottage that will comfortably accommodate eight guests to the one-bedroom Dollhouse that accommodates two guests. The popular Dollhouse was originally constructed in the 1930s as a playhouse for the Rinehart children.
The Rinehart family was one of several owners of the island during its history. Their era spanned the years of 1936 to 1944. Today the resort is owned by the Wells family, beginning with Robert Wells and his wife Phyllis who purchased it in 1976. It remains in the family today.
Perhaps the island’s open-air restaurant is most known by visitors to Cabbage Key. Many people stop in just to have lunch or dinner in the iconic dining room, where the walls are covered with signed dollar bills. It is known by many as “the bar with all the money on the walls.” In fact, if you ask your server for a black marker and tape, you can add your dollar to the collection.
The main dining room is nestled among Cuban laurel trees draped in Spanish moss. The front room is the old porch with a view of the marina and sound. Antique fishing gear, classic Cabbage Key photos and replicas of tarpon, snook and other game fish add to the décor. Fireplaces, original hardwood floors and Cypress walls also add to the cozy ambiance.
Appetizers and entrees include shrimp, Stone crab claws when in season, fresh catch of the day, ribeye steak, homemade soups, salads and burgers, along with Cabbage Key Style chicken and the nightly Chef’s Special. Lunches and drinks to-go are available for boaters and guests. The restaurant serves three meals a day and is open year-round.
Cabbage Key has staff for planning your special event, whether a group lunch or dinner, a wedding, live music or a party.
Our group made our shuttle to Cabbage Key a fun experience, complete with floating tiki bar, by using Nautical Tiki Cruises.
Cabbage Key’s website touts the island as a great place to relax, whether it’s with a book by the water, with an easel and paint or to explore the island’s nature trail. Guests may also choose to fish off the dock. Whatever your occasion, plan a visit to Cabbage Key. Check out the Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant website for a complete list of shuttle options from various locations around Pine Island Sound.
