Cape Coral is a city built on water. With more than 400 miles of canals, life here seems to flow just as casually as the tides. During my recent visit, I found myself drawn to the nearby marina to experience Gulf life, and eventually, I ended up at High Tide Social House—a waterfront restaurant where dining is inseparable from the view.
To me, nothing is better than an al fresco dining experience in Florida; isn’t that half the reason we live here anyway? High Tide has not only an umbrella-covered patio overlooking the water, but a wrap-around porch with covered dining tables. There isn’t a bad seat in the house.
The first thing I noticed was that every table seemed designed to maximize the experience around you. There wasn’t a bad seat in the house. It didn’t matter if I was tucked against the window or sitting closer to the bar; glimmers of water surrounded me, the quiet hum of boats pulling in, and the soft sway of palms in the breeze. It was the kind of setting that made me feel like I was on vacation, not a care in the world.
I began the evening with the hummus appetizer, something light to ease into the meal. The presentation was straightforward, but the flavor had surprising depth—silky texture with just enough lemon and garlic to make it stand out. It came with warm pita bread and various vegetables for dipping, the kind that disappears quickly because conversation and snacking go hand in hand when the setting feels this relaxed.
Wanting to stay with familiar comforts, I ordered the margherita pizza next. Simple, yes, but there’s beauty in simplicity when it’s done right. The crust had that perfect char from a hot oven, crisp at the edges but soft at the center. The tomato base was bright and slightly sweet, while the mozzarella melted into delicate pools, each bite rounded out by the peppery freshness of basil. With chunks of blistered tomatoes topping it, every bite felt like an adventure.
To pair with it, I chose a chilled glass of Cava from Spain. A glass of sparkling wine always feels celebratory, and in this case, it was just as much about the mood as the pairing. Light and refreshing, each sip cut neatly through the richness of the pizza, offering a crisp contrast to the warmth of the meal. Between bites and bubbles, I found myself glancing often at the water, the light shifting as day slid into evening.
One of the most talked-about features at The Tides these days is the addition of THC-infused cocktails. They’re a new twist in a space that otherwise leans classic, and while I wasn’t quite ready to sample one, it was interesting to watch them being ordered around the room. Each delivery seemed to spark a conversation—a blend of curiosity, novelty, and maybe a little daring. Even as an observer, I could feel how these drinks added to the restaurant’s evolving identity.
As the sky turned dusky pink and the water shimmered under the last of the sun, I realized the food was only part of the draw. Dining here was as much about place as it was about flavor. It was Friday night, and a band started setting up to woo the crowd even more. Between the gentle breeze from the water, the swaying of the palms, and the chilled cava, I quickly realized this is a place I want to come back to every time I’m in Cape Coral…