Sometimes cooking isn't an option ... whether it be because of the rising cost of foods, burning the turkey, the neighbors dogs eating your turkey, or you just don't feel like it!
Here are some local places that will be open for the holidays, so you and your family can plan to enjoy a meal there! Be sure to call to verify/make reservations as needed.
Some of the listings below have free meal distribution options for those in need - get there early as most last only until supplies are gone.
Also, if you haven't tried it yet, Ibotta has an annual "free" Thanksgiving dinner offer, via cash back. You add the items to your free Ibotta account (here's a referral code), shop for those same items, then upload the receipt to your Ibotta app to receive your cash back for those Thanksgiving meal items!
Let us know if we're missing any in the Fort Myers - Fort Myers Beach area; we'll keep this updated as we go!
Christmas Dinner & Free Meals
- Christmas Eve - December 24
- Ariani Ristorante Italiano, 1529 SE 15th Terrace, Cape Coral
- Artisan Eatery, 8951 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers
- The Boathouse Tiki Bar and Grill, 17101 SR 31, Fort Myers
- Bahama Breeze, 14701 S Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers
- BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, 9960 University Plaza Dr, Fort Myers
- Blanc, 13451 McGregor Blvd #10, Fort Myers
- Bruno's of Brooklyn, 2112 2nd St, Fort Myers
- Burntwood Tavern - Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S Cleveland Ave #241, Fort Myers
- Casa D' Italia, 11861 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers
- Chips Sports Pup, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Coconut Telegraph Coffee Shop 6 at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- Connors Steak & Seafood, 10076 Gulf Center Dr, Fort Myers
- Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant, 13671 Olympic Ct, Fort Myers
- Courtside Steakhouse - Sanibel Harbour Marriott, 17260 Harbour Pointe Dr, Fort Myers
- Dave and Busters, 13499 S Cleveland Ave Ste 400, Fort Myers
- Dean Street, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Ella Mae's, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Ember, 7091 College Parkway, Suite 9, Fort Myers
- Fresh Catch Bisto, 4761 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach
- Front Porch Social, 4721 Vincennes Blvd, Cape Coral
- Il Pomodoro Restaurant, 9681 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers
- JWB Grill at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- Lah De Dah Beach Bar & Grill at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- License to Chill Bar & Grill at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- Luminary Hotel and Co, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro, 5961 Silver King Blvd, Cape Coral
- Mastello, 7890 Summerlin Lakes Dr # 101, Fort Myers
- Mel's Diner, 4820 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers
- Melting Pot, 13251 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
- Nice Guys Pizza, 1404 Cape Coral Parkway E, Cape Coral
- Nick & Stella’s Family Sports Pub, 15271 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
- Oxbow Bar and Grill, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Point 57, 3522 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral
- Sage on 47th, 1015 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral
- Silver King Ocean Brasserie, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Snug Harbor, 645 Old San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers
- Stones Throw, 1339 Cape Coral Parkway E, Cape Coral
- Terra Nostra Ristorante, 15880 San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers
- Two Meatballs in the Kitchen, 8880 Salrose Lane, Fort Myers
- Christmas Day - December 25
- Ariani Ristorante Italiano, 1529 SE 15th Terrace, Cape Coral
- The Boathouse Tiki Bar and Grill, 17101 SR 31, Fort Myers
- Coconut Telegraph Coffee Shop 6 at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- Courtside Steakhouse - Sanibel Harbour Marriott, 17260 Harbour Pointe Dr, Fort Myers
- Dean Street, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Ella Mae's, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Ember, 7091 College Parkway, Suite 9, Fort Myers
- JWB Grill at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- Lah De Dah Beach Bar & Grill at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- License to Chill Bar & Grill at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach
- Luminary Hotel and Co, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro, 5961 Silver King Blvd, Cape Coral
- Nick & Stella’s Family Sports Pub, 15271 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
- Oxbow Bar and Grill, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Point 57, 3522 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral
- Silver King Ocean Brasserie, 2200 Edwards Dr, Fort Myers
- Sunflower Café, 11410 Summerlin Square Drive, Fort Myers Beach
- Other Stores and Restaurants Open on Christmas *Call ahead to confirm your location's hours*
- *Most* 7-Eleven's
- Applebee's
- Boston Market
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- Chili's
- Circle K
- Cracker Barrel
- *Most* CVS
- Denny's
- Domino's Pizza *some*
- Dunkin'
- Golden Corral
- IHOP
- Macaroni Grill
- McDonald's
- Metro Diner
- Olive Garden
- Outback Steakhouse
- Panda Express
- Perkins
- Sonic
- Speedway
- Starbucks
- Waffle House
- *Most* Walgreens
- Wawa
Thanksgiving Dinner & Free Meals
Thanksgiving Meals All Season- Bob Evans Farmhouse Feasts, multiple locations, Southwest Florida
- Mel's Diner, multiple locations, Southwest Florida
November 15- Hope for the Holidays Turkey Distributions, Immokalee Friendship House, 602 W Main St, Immokalee
November 16- Friendsgiving, Lake Kennedy Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd, Cape Coral
- Hope for the Holidays Turkey Distributions, First Baptist Church Naples, 3000 Orange Blossom Dr, Naples
- Mobile Food Pantry, Lehigh Senior High School, 901 Gunnery Rd N, Lehigh Acres
November 17- Hope for the Holidays Turkey Distributions, Alva Grace Church, 14036 Matanzas Dr, Fort Myers
- Hope for the Holidays Turkey Distributions, First Baptist of Labelle, 330 N Main St, LaBelle
- Operation Turkey Giveaway, International Worship Center, 940 Pondella Rd, North Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Bash and Family Fun Day, 3822 Broadway St, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Dinner, Butterfly Release, Sanibel Community Association, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
- Vegan Foodies Friendsgiving Potluck, Gather Beverage Company, 11000 Metro Pkwy, Unit 13, Fort Myers
November 18- Adult Game Night: Friendsgiving, Saint John the Apostle MCC Fort Myers, 3049 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
- Convoy of Hope, City of Palms Park, 2201 Edison Ave, Fort Myers
- Free Turkey Giveaway, The National, 5923 Double Eagle Circle, Ave Maria
- Free Turkey Giveaway, Timber Creek, 11590 Timber Creek Dr, Fort Myers
- Stu's Fall Festival, Stu's Motorcycles, 14607 Ben C Pratt/6 Mile Cypress Pkwy, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Bash and Family Fun Day, 8360 Sierra Meadows Blvd, Naples
- Thanksgiving Celebration, Rise Christian Church, 50 Bell Blvd N, Lehigh Acres
- Thanksgiving Celebration, Brasas Steakhouse, 11681 Collier Blvd, Naples
- Thanksgiving Celebration, Fort Myers Christian Outreach, 3500 Fowler Ave, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Celebration, Cape Christian Church, 2110 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral
- Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway, 5268 Summerlin Commons Way #501, Fort Myers
- Turkey Drive, 3592 Broadway, Fort Myers
November 19- FK Your Diet Thanksgiving Pot Pie, FK Your Diet, Fort Myers and Cape Coral locations
- Friendsgiving Potluck, Gather Beverage Company, 11000 Metro Pkwy #13, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Bash and Family Fun Day, 1502 Lake Trafford Rd, Immokalee
November 20- FK Your Diet Thanksgiving Pot Pie, FK Your Diet, Fort Myers and Cape Coral locations
- Mobile Food Pantry, Mariner's Landing, 2120 Carrell Rd, Fort Myers
- Hope for the Holidays Turkey Distributions, Paradise Coast, 3565 City Gate Blvd S, Naples
November 21- Mobile Food Pantry, Pine Manor Community Center, 5547 Tenth Ave, Fort Myers
November 22- Pre-Thanksgiving, Oasis Restaurant, 2260 Dr Martin Luther King Blvd, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Eve Bash, Fort Myers Brewing Co, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Eve Bash, Millennial Brewing Co, 1811 Royal Palm Ave, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Eve Sober Social, Millennial Brewing, 1811 Royal Palm Ave, Fort Myers
November 23- Bahama Breeze Island-Style Turkey Dinner, Bahama Breeze, 14701 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving at Luminary Hotel and Co, Luminary Hotel, 2200 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving at Point 57, Point 57 Kitchen and Cocktails, 3522 Del Prado Blvd, Cape Coral
- Thanksgiving Community Dinner, Salvation Army Center of Hope Campus, 2400 Edison Ave, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Day Buffet, Sea-Craft Waterfront Tiki, 3440 Marinatown Ln, North Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Feast, Westin Cape Coral Resort, 5941 Silver King Blvd, Cape Coral
- Thanksgiving Feast and GiveAway, Church of Spiritual Light, 1939 Park Meadows Dr. #1, Fort Myers
- Thanksgiving Special Menu, Nick and Stella's Family Sports Pub, 15271-14 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers
- 3rd Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner, SJC Boxing, 4220 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers
November 28- Mobile Food Pantry, Veterans Park, 55 Homestead Rd S, Lehigh Acres
Who else is open ON THANKSGIVING DAY? *check your individual location's hours*ApplebeesBurger KingChipotleCracker BarrelCVSDollar GeneralDominosDunkin DonutsFamily DollarKrispy KremeLittle CaesersMcDonald'sPapa John'sP.F. Chang'sPizza HutPopeyesSonic *some locations closed*StarbucksWalgreensWendy's
