The editors’ guide to Old Naples hidden gems. Secret gardens, transportive alleys and vip experiences prove there’s more than meets the eye on fifth avenue south and third street south. Excerpts from the article highlighting lesser known, locally loved nooks and crannies on Third Street South. For the full story pick up the September 2023 issue of Gulfshore.
” The Naples Pier may have brought the people here in the 1880s, but the inventive locals helped foster our city’s legacy as a resort town, a hub for laid-back luxury and easy days in the sun. And it all started on Third Street South. After World War II, Junkie and Dorette Fleischmann (the same folks behind Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens) bought the Mercantile Building, which now houses Campiello, and turned it into an antique market. They built up more buildings along the avenue, invited friends to set up shop (including Gattle’s in 1962), and entertained famous friends (Gertrude Lawrence, Hedy Lamarr, Lawrence Tibbett), who fell for Naples’ easy charm. Cruising around Old Naples today, opportunities abound for exploration.
We zip down Broad Avenue South to the heart of Old Naples: Third Street South. The shopping and dining district is a treasure trove of antique fountains and storied buildings. Third Street’s Danielle Vigliotti, who’s lived in Naples for more than a decade, says to start with a coffee from Tony’s Off Third, where, if you’re lucky, you can also grab a slice of carrot cake. “It’s a secret family recipe,” Danielle says. ”It’s not always there, so when you see it, it’s special.” She points to Judith’s on Third, interior designer Judith Liegeois’ new concept with an upstairs art gallery hosting a roster of artists-in-residence and works from local talent, including local assemblage artist Ran Adler and architect-turned-painter Richard Diedrich.
A few blocks south, Jane’s Cafe on 3rd is a favorite for its serene koi pond seating, but there’s another plant-filled oasis nearby that I’m dying to try. “I found it!” I say to my husband as we power-walk past the Mythical Horses Fountain to the sign for 33-year-old Old Naples Pub. A hunter-green bulletin board outside Barbatella blends into the surrounding shrubs, and an arrow pointing to a vine-shrouded alley reads, ‘This Way to Old Naples Hidden Treasure.’ I’ve lived here my whole life and have never noticed the sign, let alone the restaurant, before today. On the other side, vines snake up and cover the two-story building. Inside, the restaurant showcases 100 years of Naples’ history with newspapers pinned to the walls and memorabilia embedded within glass tables. A jar of the pub’s signature dill pickle spears sits at every table and bar seat within the cozy, wood-walled dining room.
You shouldn’t leave Naples without booking at least one dinner at Sea Salt. While there, be sure to ask about the off-menu, custom-blended olive oil—OLIOMANIA Biologico—produced from chef Fabrizio Aielli’s farm in his native Venice, Italy, as well as the Venetian glass tumblers they commission from artists in his hometown. Down the street, the Aiellis’ Barbatella presents another treat for art lovers via monthly live shows with Opera Naples.
Across the street, I was surprised to learn that the 1919 Mercantile Building that houses Italian restaurant Campiello, housed Naples’ first store, The Seminole Market. “It was the first building bought by the [Fleischmann’s] when they arrived in Naples,” Danielle adds. Most people don’t know you can book a private table on the floral-adorned balcony for a bird’s-eye view of Third Street. Inside, Campiello’s swanky The Club Room, a relatively new lounge within the restaurant, features live jazz musicians throughout Season. And, the best part is, you don’t need a reservation to pull up a seat at the club’s tucked-away bar.
More Italian imbibing occurs at Patina Collection—yes, we’re talking about the stylish home goods shop Karen Abell fills with chic finds from her summer trips to Tuscany. Starting this past year, on select evenings, Patina’s patio garden transforms for sumptuous Aperitivo Nights with charcuterie boards and Italian cocktails. There are also monthly Rosé Thursdays for up to 40 guests. “From those events, people become friends,” Patina’s retail manager Amy Wilkins says, adding that guests often get a discount during events. For another covert experience, in-the-know oenophiles seek out Joseph Wendt Custom Clothiers for Italian vinos from the wine bar at the back of the stylish menswear atelier. ”
By Janie Bartley
The Editors’ Guide to Old Naples Hidden Gems – Gulfshore Life
Gulfshore Life September 1, 2023
