The title rhymes if you pronounce Mat-La-Shay properly
One of Matlacha’s quirky art galleries.
We visited Matlacha to celebrate my husband’s birthday. Neither of us had been to Matlacha before, and we went looking for a place where we could relax … but also find a bit of adventure.
It’s a quick trip from Bonita but it’s a world apart. The first thing you notice about Matlacha is color — everything is painted brightly in tropical colors. The second thing you notice? Its tiny size. Standing in the “downtown” area, you can easily see the bridges connecting Matlacha to the mainland (Cape Coral) and Pine Island.
And although its colorful exterior and size seem unrelated at first, both are deeply intertwined in the story of Matlacha.
The wild child of SWFL
The more I learn about Florida’s past, the more it sounds like the Wild West. And Matlacha certainly has a colorful past to match its present.
Matlacha is a man-made island. But it wasn’t “made” to be an island — initially, it was part of a 1926 bridge project connecting Cape Coral to Pine Island. Shells and sand were dredged to support the structure, and this dredged material created new land along the causeway.
Eventually, settlers — who saw this as “free” land with a lot of good fishing — built shacks and the first informal Matlacha community was born.
The village thrived on fishing until 1995 when Florida passed a gill net ban. Because these nets were what made large-scale mullet fishing viable, the ban destroyed the local economy.
Following the ban, despondent (and furious) local fisherman shot holes in their now useless commercial fishing boats and set them ablaze, creating a public funeral pyre that reports say could be seen from Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach.
The locals, left with no jobs or income, were forced to reinvent themselves. And thus, the Matlacha we see today was born.
The community transformed former fishing shacks into brightly painted art galleries. The vibe of the island changed to a more “tropical island” atmosphere. (I heard it referred to as “Key West North” multiple times.) Tourists began coming to visit the quirky art galleries … and of course, to fish.
Art galleries line Matlacha’s main street.
Water is still the heart of Matlacha. But the island hasn’t always had an easy relationship with Mother Nature. In 2022, Matlacha was one of the many communities in SWFL devastated by Hurricane Ian. Today, the community is still recovering. Some of the art galleries and restaurants have reopened, some buildings were demolished, while others remain standing but are uninhabitable. However, don’t let residual storm damage dissuade you from visiting — there is still plenty to see and do in Matlacha.
This past March, Matlacha celebrated 100 years. A lot has changed since the causeway was first built in 1926, but the community’s resilient spirit has remained intact. And it’s clear that one thing Matlacha has never been is boring.
Do Matlacha: Where to stay, eat and explore
Matlacha does not require an elaborate itinerary — nor should you create one. Plan to browse the art galleries, get on the water, have something to eat … and set your watch (and expectations) to island time.
Stay: Matlacha Tiny Villas
We stayed here, in the “Iguana” tiny villa. Pictured left is the double kayak we used to explore the waterways.
Although it's an easy day trip, we stayed overnight to get the full Matlacha experience. Accommodation is limited — it’s a tiny island after all — so it wasn’t too challenging to decide where to stay. Especially after I came across Matlacha Tiny Villas.
We’ve never stayed in a “tiny home” and I’ve always been intrigued by how the homes are laid out, and how the owners maximize decor and comfort in such a small space. And aside from satisfying my tiny home curiosity, Matlacha Tiny Villas was an easy choice for numerous reasons.
The villas are comfortable and provided everything we needed for our short stay.
The hosts provided coffee from Matagalpa, Nicaragua … another place I’ve visited, but more than a decade ago. There was a fridge for us to store our snacks (we brought croissants, chips, chicken salad and a small apple pie), and a microwave.
Pictured here is my husband, sitting on the dock and enjoying his birthday trip to Matlacha.
It’s located right on the canal with plenty of outdoor seating areas for guests to use. We enjoyed a glass of wine by the water at sunset, while a guest from another villa fished from the dock. There are free kayaks for guests, which we took advantage of twice: Once for a lazy late afternoon paddle to look at the homes, then again for a sunrise paddle along the mangroves. From our kayak that morning, we saw a mom and baby dolphin feeding, abundant bird life and loads of leaping mullet.
A tiki boat cruise also departs from the dock at the accommodation. It was not running on the day we stayed, so we’ll just have to return to Matlacha for a sunset cruise.
And finally, the location. Matlacha is so tiny, you just want to park and walk. Matlacha Tiny Villas location is ideal for that, just a few steps away from the art galleries and restaurants.
Eat: Yucatan or Blue Dog Bar & Grill
We had lunch at Yucatan and dinner at Blue Dog, although you could easily switch it around. Both are waterfront and good choices, albeit slightly different vibes.
Pictured here: My lunch of blackened Mahi tacos and fries at Yucatan.
Yucatan feels more tropical and touristy. It has abundant seating inside and along the water, and a huge bar (with some swing seating). This restaurant made me feel like “I’m on vacation!” in the most Florida way possible. The menu is seafood-focused but has something for everyone.
Blue Dog Bar & Grill feels more local, although it’s frequented by tourists as well. We ended up having a late dinner there after kayaking and enjoying drinks on our dock. Since it was late, we sat inside, so I cannot vouch for the outdoor experience. But what I can attest to is their excellent service and tasty food. My husband’s grouper bites were fresh and delicious. When my crab cakes arrived more room temperature than hot, they remade the entire dinner (even though I didn’t ask for that, or expect it).
We planned to visit The Perfect Cup for breakfast before leaving. But thanks to the coffee provided by our hosts, and leftovers from our abundant snack catalog, we ended up breakfasting in our tiny villa before making the loooong drive back to Bonita (it took us 45 minutes and was super easy).
Do: Browse the galleries and get on the water
If the accommodation and restaurants weren’t already making me feel like I was officially on vacay, the art galleries and water activities sent me over the edge.
My husband and I decided to conduct an art gallery scavenger hunt to find the “perfect” gift for each other. The only rule was that the gift should cost less than $25. (We broke that rule. There were too many “perfect” gifts.)
We had a blast visiting each gallery. We spoke with the people and artists working there. We shared stories and laughs. We, ourselves, giggled over some of the ridiculous and quirky finds. The treasures we found there have a story that makes us smile, and are now proudly displayed in our home.
Aside from visiting the art galleries, another Matlacha must-do is getting on the water. We kayaked, although boating is another solid option.
Seeing the island from the water gives you a whole different perspective.
We saw the damage and the recovery from Hurricane Ian as we paddled along the canals: homes being lifted, homes abandoned, homes filled with people who were clearly having a great time.
We felt the charm that draws visitors as well as scars from a hurricane that changed the community. Most of all, what we experienced was the “real Florida” — continued change and resilience, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
We will be back, Matlacha. And I hope, my dear readers, that you’ll consider a visit, have an adventure and support the community, too.
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Note: All features are my opinion and are not paid editorial unless specified. Photos are mine and poorly taken.
