In a recent stay at our condo, we explored the availability of outdoor seating at Sanibel Island restaurants. Crowds are thinnest early and late. Here are the locations that we found and visited:
Doc Ford’s on Captiva and Sanibel
https://www.docfords.com/captiva-island/
Large outdoor seating area with overhead fans at the Captiva location and wrap around outdoor balcony with fans on Sanibel.
Traders
Porches on each side of entrance. Right side has portable fans
Cip’s
Seating with overhead fans surround the restaurant.
Tipsy Turtle
http://tipsyturtlerestaurant.com/
Amply outdoor seating, but no fans. On warm days you can here the music from within the restaurant.