Nightlife

For entertainment ideas, check the Naples Daily News (www.naplesnews.com), especially the "Neapolitan" section in Friday's edition.

The Performing Arts

Known locally as "The Phil," the impressive Philharmonic Center for the Arts, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., at West Boulevard (tel. 800/597-1900 or 239/597-1900; www.thephil.org), is the home of the Naples Philharmonic, but its year-round schedule is also filled with cultural events, concerts by celebrated artists and internationally known orchestras, and Broadway plays and shows aimed at families. Call or check the website for the seasonal calendar.

A fine local theater group, the Naples Players, holds its winter-season performances in the new Sugden Community Theatre, 701 5th Ave. S. (tel. 239/263-7990). Tickets can be hard to get, so call well in advance.

The Club & Bar Scene

Remember: Naples is not South Beach, nor does it pretend to be. It does, however, realize that some people like to party well past early-bird hours, and, as a result, there are a few good spots here to get your groove on.

The restaurants and bistros along 5th Avenue South are popular watering holes, especially for young professional singles who make the area a meat market on Friday nights. Zoë's, 720 5th Ave. S. (tel. 239/261-1221), turns into a high-energy nightclub Friday and Saturday from 10:30pm to 2am. Nearby, McCabe's Irish Pub, 699 5th Ave. S. (tel. 239/403-7170), features traditional Irish music nightly. For a lot of camp with your cabaret, the Ridgway Bar and Grill, 3rd Street South and 13th Avenue (tel. 239/262-5500), is a hot spot, thanks to pianist Jim Badger, whose bawdy shows bring in crowds of all ages (not recommended for those under 18).

In the 3rd Street South shopping area, Old Naples Pub, 255 13th Ave. S. (tel. 239/649-8200), has live music nightly during winter, Wednesday through Saturday nights during off season.

The touristy Old Marine Marketplace at Tin City, which comprises the restored waterfront warehouses on 5th Avenue South on the west side of the Gordon River, comes alive in winter, when visitors flock to its shops and the Riverwalk Fish & Ale House (tel. 239/262-2734), which has live entertainment during the high season.

The beachside chickee-hut bar at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (tel. 239/261-2222) is always popular, has live entertainment many nights, and is the place to go on Sunday afternoon and early evening. So is the beachside bar at the Vanderbilt Inn Naples (tel. 239/597-3151).

An Open-Air Bar -- Since the Naples Beach Hotel predates the city's strict historic-district zoning laws, it also has Olde Naples's only restaurants and bar directly on the beach. Of these, the Sunset Beach Bar is one of the region's most famous beachside open-air bars; it's always crammed as the sun sets over the Gulf, with nightly live bands and a very popular Sunday evening pool party.