Waterfront views & community brews: Bayshore Bodega eatery and cafe debuts in Naples

Bayshore Bodega launched in early September in Naples and is already cementing itself as a community hotspot. It's been open for a month and the eatery already has regulars. But with so many coffee shops to choose from, what makes this place so special?

Think of it as a mix between a Spanish cafe, a traditional coffee shop, and a local vendor market. The vision for Bayshore Bodega is centered around building community, not just grab-and-go caffeine.

You can feel the difference between Bayshore Bodega and a chain coffee shop as soon as you walk through the door. There's no awkward coldness when you enter. The staff is warm and welcoming, matching the colorful decor throughout.

Inside Bayshore Bodega you'll find a couch and a few tables to socialize at, but the outside space is what especially stood out to me.

The new eatery is the only waterfront cafe in Naples, if you can believe that. The patio is surrounded by The Gardenia House's beautiful murals, which you can enjoy at several tables by the water.

When vision, flavor, and soul combine

The core team behind Bayshore Bodega consists of Realtor and businesswoman Diane Sullivan, chef John Colón and PR pioneer Lisandra Duarte. The trio brings the vision, flavor and soul to the new bodega.

"We have the same agenda and the same passion," Sullivan said.

Colón drew inspiration from traditional New York City Spanish neighborhoods when working on the Bayshore Bodega concept.

Typically, bodegas are small local convenience stores that sell snacks, necessities, and prepared foods like sandwiches.

"I wanted to take that bodega element and elevate it to a more hip, chic, natural, and organic level," Colón said.

You'll find shelves of products from local vendors like body care products, jams, and gifts, plus some of the same products Colón uses in the kitchen to prepare his dishes like tinned fish and specialty Spanish sea salt.

Bayshore Bodega is the most bougie bodega you'll step into, but without any pretentiousness. Making sure the eatery is welcoming is a huge priority for Sullivan and Colón ― and it shows. Every single person who walks through the door is greeted with a smile and a conversation starter.

Combining authentic Spanish cuisine and a traditional coffee shop

Colón is no stranger to the Southwest Florida food world. He's the chef and owner of El Basque in Bonita Springs and Islas Modern Caribe in North Naples. But Sullivan wanted to challenge Colón to create an eatery that paired with a coffee shop.

"I want to elevate morning food," Colón said. So that's exactly what he did.

Colón's menu is written on a blackboard because it's always changing. The plan is to utilize seasonal ingredients to offer new dishes throughout the year.

Sullivan's favorite dish right now is simple, but delicious: pan con tomate. It's fresh pureed tomatoes, olive oil, and sea salt on a slice of baguette bread. It's light, clean, and tasty.

"Naples has great seafood and great Italian food, but there's no Spanish," Colón said. "They're coming, but we want to be the forefront of that."

Other menu highlights are the gazpacho (cold tomato soup), microgreen Caesar salad, the Cubano sandwich, and Tortilla Espanola, which is a Spanish omelette.

As for coffee, Bayshore Bodega wanted only the best. After a long screening and interview process, Sullivan partnered with St. Petersburg-based Savage Coffees to offer a product that's all the rave right now: Geisha coffee.

'We want this to be a second home'

Bayshore Bodega isn't just for food: it's for community.

"We want to know our customers," Sullivan said. "We want this to be a second home."

That's what the Bayshore District is all about. "The center of my thought process is neighborhood and community," Sullivan said.

Bayshore Bodega will be the home of several community events like coffee raves, live music and more. Pencil these events into your calendar so you don't forget:

• Bogie at the Bodega: Saturday Sessions: Every Saturday beginning Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• Glow coffee rave: Oct. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Halloween coffee rave: Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Tapas & Wine experience: Coming in November

• Bayshore District tree lighting: Dec. 4 at 6 p.m.

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"We see Bayshore Bodega as more than a café — it is quickly becoming a cultural anchor for the District, uniting food, music, wellness, and community in one destination," Duarte said.

Bayshore Bodega: Need to know

• ADDRESS: 3248 Bayshore Drive, Naples

• PHONE: (239) 788-4870

• HOURS: Every day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• WEBSITE:www.bayshorebodega.com

• INSTAGRAM:@BayshoreBodega

*This article was first published in the Naples Daily News by Kendall Little