Easter in Naples
While Coronavirus has everyone guessing when Easter will be celebrated, we are crossing our fingers that normalcy will return soon! BUT regardless of whether we celebrate April 12th or later, here is our annual Easter in Naples post!
What’s new with this year’s Easter in Naples?
This year we wanted our Insider’s Guide to go beyond the typical Easter Brunch and include the details of our favorite churches in case you are looking for a place of worship to celebrate. As details of when Easter will be celebrated become clearer, we will update this post with details on the sermons of each church and the brunch specials of each restaurant!
Where to Worship
Summit Church
If you’re nervous to attend a new church (or just church in general) then Summit Church is a great option! Upon entering, you will be welcomed with handshakes and hugs (Coronavirus pending, of course!), offered coffee, introduced to others, and ushered in to find a seat. They do a great job of taking the awkwardness out of a new situation so you won’t be left wandering looking for a seat, the restroom, etc. We have personally attended services at both the Gateway Campus and the Naples Campus and loved our experiences at each one!
Summit Church has three different campuses and hosts multiple services so there is bound to be an option that fits your Easter plans! All services begin with a time of worship which is led by a full band so don’t be surprised when the lights dim and the drums and guitars start!
Attire: Though many like to dress up for Easter, jeans are perfectly acceptable at all locations! In fact, jeans are more commonly worn (even by the pastors) during typical services!
University Campus
Address: 19601 Ben Hill Griffin Pkwy Fort Myers, FL 33913
Service Times: Saturdays at 6 PM, Sundays at 9 AM and 11 AM
Naples Campus
Address: 15220 Tamiami Trail North Naples, FL 34110
Services Times: Sundays at 9 AM and 11 AM
Gateway Campus
Address: 12941 Express Court Fort Myers, FL 33913
Services Times: Sundays at 9 AM and 11 AM
Covenant Church
If you are accustomed to a more traditional service, Covenant Church is a great option. This church is a rather large church though they excel at welcoming everyone and ensuring no one gets “lost in the shuffle”. You will find people of all ages there and an extensive children’s ministry for those attending with family. While not clear whether this will take place on Easter, both services are typically followed by a time of coffee and fellowship which is a great place to meet people, ask questions, etc.
Attire: Because it is more of a traditional church, you will find both men and women a bit dressier. However, if you are most comfortable in jeans, you will not be made to feel awkward or uncomfortable!
Address: 6926 Trail Blvd Naples, FL 34108
Services Times: 9 AM and 11 AM
First Baptist
What we love about First Baptist is that they offer a service for everyone whether you are accustomed to a band-led or a choir and orchestra led time of worship. This church is more traditional and quite large though they have a great team of staff and volunteers to ensure everyone is welcomed, has a seat, knows where the restroom is, etc.
Attire: First Baptist is traditional so we would recommend a nice dress or pantsuit for women and dress pants and a dress shirt for men. Jackets and ties are optional.
Address: 3000 Orange Blossom Dr. Naples, FL 34109
Service Times: Saturday at 6 PM (Band-Led Service); Sundays at 9:30 AM (Choir & Orchestra) and 11 AM (Band-Led Service)
*Where to Brunch
A Grazing Plate
If you’re opting for Easter at home, we cannot recommend A Grazing Plate more! Charcuterie is an essential component of brunch and A Grazing Plate will create the most beautiful spread of varieties of charcuterie meats and fine cheeses, artisan breads and crackers, fresh seasonal produce, a few dips and spreads, nuts, olives and more! You have the option of picking up a ready to go box, provide them with a board, or have them create an entire table spread! A charcuterie spread paired with a mimosa bar will make this Easter brunch hard to beat!
For more information or to place an order, visit their website!
Claw Bar
A bit off the beaten path, this hidden gem is located within the Bellasera Hotel and is our go-to recommendation for those wanting a fresh seafood brunch! We recommend the Seafood Tower and Southern Collection as starters to share amongst the table followed by the Blackened Shrimp & Grits, the Lobster Hash, or the Brunch Burger! Oh, and of course the Claw Bar Bloody Mary!
For reservations, visit their website or call (239) 231-3912.
The Bevy
We typically come here for happy hour once or twice a week and for brunch whenever we have guests in town (which is quite regularly when you live in paradise)! The Bevy offers bottomless mimosas with a variety of juice options (OJ, mango, pear, etc.) and their brunch menu is full of classic options with a twist. We recommend the Avocado Toast with the side lobster salad, the Southerner Style Eggs Benedict, or the Crispy Pork Belly & Egg Sandwich! Oh, and if you’re not feeling mimosas, the El Diablo Bloody Mary is a must!
For reservations, visit their website or call (239) 228-4220.
The French
A brunch classic in Naples, this spot is a favorite for it how it transports you directly across the world to the rustic countryside. Whether your dining indoors or on their sidewalk patio, your experience will be memorable with careful attention to detail in the decor and ambiance and the creative execution of the food and drink. For brunch, we recommend the French Toast, the Scrambled Farm Egg Croissant, or the Croque Madame!
For reservations, visit their website or call (239) 315-4019.
Jane’s Cafe on 3rd
The more casual option, this famous cafe should be on everyone’s dining list whether for brunch or lunch. The expansive menu is filled with your typical breakfast dishes but all ingredients are fresh and to date, we’ve never chosen a dish we didn’t love! We also love the coziness of the outdoor patio where you can soak up some sunshine as you sip a mimosa with fresh-squeezed OJ!
While they do not accept reservations, you can view the menu on their website and call (239) 261-2253 to check on wait times.
Sails Restaurant
The more upscale of our recommendations, Sails is worth a visit for their exotic seafood flown in daily from around the world and the fact that tables are only seated once to allow diners to enjoy their experience without feeling the need to rush. The Seafood Towers are at the top of our recommendation list followed by the Crab Benedict, the Wagyu & Eggs, or the Crab Lasagna.
For reservations, visit their website or call (239) 360-2000.
*Brunch hours and further details will be updated as made available.
While we are in the midst of uncertain times, we hope that this post gets you excited for when the quarantine has been lifted! Naples is strong and the community is one of the best so we know we will all get through this!
Cheers!
Matt & Megan