When it comes to hidden gems, Cabbage Key is tough to beat.
Not only is this charming paradise getaway nearly five miles west of Pineland in Pine Island Sound, but it’s also home to the world-famous Dollar Bill Bar, restaurant and inn.
Old Florida at its finest, Cabbage Key has racked up numerous honors over the years, including a recent nod by the USA TODAY Network Florida Dining & Entertainment team as one of the best in state.
The newest accolade comes from TripAdvisor, which placed it at No. 5 on its Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Hidden Gems list.
Fewer than 1 percent of its 8 million listings earn the honor.
“Our family and team work hard to preserve the island’s authentic, off-the-beaten-path charm,” said Rob Wells, whose family has owned the island for nearly 50 years. “Being named one of TripAdvisor’s top Hidden Gems is a nod to our staff and guests’ appreciation of our little island.”
Cabbage Key welcomes boaters and guests seven days a week, 365 days a year.
According to TripAdvisor, the award “celebrates the highest level of excellence in travel. It’s awarded to those who receive a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community over a 12-month period.”
Per TripAdvisor, “Cabbage Key’s laid-back vibe, open-air seating, and waterfront views set the scene for a fun meal. You’ll find fresh local seafood, big salads, and their popular cheeseburger on the menu. Try a drink at the bar while live music plays. The staff keep things friendly and welcoming, making it easy to relax and stick around for a while.”
And we couldn’t agree more.
Where history abounds
Lunch is served on the front porch at Cabbage Key.
We also love, love, love the history of the island that runs from early occupants of the Calusa Indians and Cuban fishing companies and their ranchos to the Wells family beginning in 1976. In between were the Rinehart (1935-44), Stults (1944-69) and Turner-Beck (1969-76) eras, each one playing its part in shaping the island.
What you see on Cabbage Key today started in 1937.
“The original Rinehart home is the inn and restaurant,” Wells, whose family also owns the Tarpon Lodge in Bokeelia, told us in an earlier interview. “It’s held up remarkably well as it sits on top of a Calusa Indian mound and is protected by Cayo Costa, a state park and barrier island to the west between Cabbage Key and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Rinehart Cottage on Cabbage Key was once the caretaker’s residence.
“Those six rooms in the inn really have that feeling like you’re standing in a house built in the ’30s. The term is overused but people come here to get off the grid. There are no phones, we added TVs but there’s no cable, just a few stations. We have the simple things you need — air conditioning, food, beverages.”
And oh, that food & beverage
While seafood-heavy appetizers and salads, grilled handhelds and more seafood dishes (plus a memorably fabulous frozen Key lime pie) dominate the lunch menu, the cheeseburger is what steals the spotlight.
Cabbage Key’s famous cheeseburger is a best-seller.
About 600 of the char-grilled, 100-percent fresh Angus wonders are sold each day during season. And they’re rumored to be the inspiration of Jimmy Buffett’s song “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
Wells said Buffett’s sister lived on Boca Grande and he would “come in on a seaplane” to visit.
Staff from Cabbage Key attended one of his concerts at the Lee County Civic Center and when Buffett saw them in the crowd, “he recognized them, pointed and immediately started playing ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise.’”
Cabbage Key’s beloved homemade Key lime pie is served frozen.
“That’s how the legend grew,” Wells said. “If we’re just a small part of a bigger story, it’s a fun story to be part of. It’s nice to acknowledge he spent time here, and if we’re one of the places that inspired him, we’re honored.”
Thousands of dollar bills fill the restaurant and bar
Just as famous (if not more so) is the Dollar Bill Bar.
Once the library in the Rinehart home, it is filled — floors to ceiling — with customer-signed bills taped here, there and everywhere.
The walls and ceiling in Cabbage Key’s restaurant are blanketed in thousands of dollar bills.
“There’s $65,000 to $70,000 on the wall at any given time,” Wells said. “Customers come back and see if they can find their dollar.”
All of this adds up to a hidden gem well worthy of being in the top 5 of the country.
With its rooftop bar, live music and locally sourced farm-to-table menu, 1Kitchen in Nashville grabbed TripAdvisors’ top spot.
It was followed by Urban Prime in Viera (Brevard County), Pancetta Kitchen & Wine Bar in Teaneck, New Jersey, and The Copper Door in Hayesville, North Carolina.
Rob Wells and his family have owned Cabbage Key since 1976.
The complete list can be found at tripadvisor.com.
Cabbage Key, accessible only by boat, is located at Channel Marker 60 in Pine Island Sound, 4.5 miles west of Pineland.
“For more than 80 years, Cabbage Key has welcomed locals and travelers seeking a taste of old Florida,” Wells said. “We’ve always said Cabbage Key is a place you have to find on purpose — and that’s part of what makes it so special.”
Go to cabbagekey.com for more.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cabbage Key named one of TripAdvisor’s top 5 hidden gems in country
