I'd heard about Stan's Idle Hour for several years so I was excited to finally check it out while visiting the area recently. It's a mostly outdoor beach bar, with live music, drinks, food, and their famous "Sunday Funday." Nate and I were there on a weekday afternoon, so the vibe was more chill than I assume it gets on Sundays. We found a picnic table with an umbrella and a server came over right away. It was "idle hour" (happy hour), so we got some discounted drinks and a snack, some peel and eat shrimp. I wanted a pina colada, and it came with a rum floater. The pina colada itself didn't seem like it was very strong, but it had good flavor and wasn't overly sweet. I also got a margarita from the happy hour menu, which was pretty strong and sweet. The shrimp were served cold with cocktail sauce. They were cooked nicely and not rubbery, but didn't have a ton of flavor. I'd definitely order other food from the menu, but we were heading to dinner soon after so I didn't want to fill up. The live music that was happening while we were there was pretty silly and kind of raunchy, but entertaining. I'm glad we got to experience this popular spot at an off-peak time. read more

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A party atmosphere for sure here as I went to Stan's 8 Sundays in a row to wind down this most recent season as this is the most happening place in the area! The highlight for me was seeing Pickleball Michelle for 3 of these 8 Sundays! Lots of familiars from around town you will see and in general the people were very cordial and receptive towards me! They like to play an elongated rendition and version of the Star Spangle Banner as id like to remind everyone it is your right to sit, stand, or even skip it while it is being played! I welcome and enjoy the political messaging. I didnt eat any of the food but it looked good to me! Gotta hand it to the staff servicing in conditions such as extreme heat, rainy weather, busy crowds, and slow ones, they definitely will deserve their much-needed break! You can see why the band Rock Republic is popular with their lead singer and i also liked the lady vocalist in the other band. the day is coming when this hut of a restaurant comes down and possibly while when im underneath sitting in a go to spot of mine on a bench next to a fan. They provide a complimentary shuttle to the other two establishments nearby which is a nice gesture! Thanks for entertaining and having us! :) read more

Stan's Idle Hour - Marie, Pickleball Michelle , Christopher, and Lisa! :) - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

Decided to take a drive to Goodland on Sunday. Apparently everyone had the same idea. It was a beautiful day to be outside enjoying the sunshine. Parking was nearly impossible and we had to pay $10. We arrived too late in the day to have any chance of getting any sort of seating in a shady spot so we walked up to the bar and ordered one beer and listened to the incredible band for a lbit before we headed out. This is a huge place that gets extremely packed. Everyone is very friendly and here to have a good time. We will be back, but I want to arrive early enough to get a spot in the shade and be able to enjoy the music. read more

Stan's Idle Hour - Stans - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

- Stan's is a SWFL fun factory - - Sunday Funday never disappoints - - Best live music in the area - - Staff works hard and hustles - - Great Ole Florida Fun - - Highly recommend - read more

On Sunday, this place is a must visit when in Marco Island. So much fun. Great people watching, good food and live music. Very patriotic and Florida! read more

Just an all around great time. Good food Good music Excellent pina coladas Everyone having outdoor fun.

This is a great time. If you want to have a fun afternoon of music, drinks and partying, Stan's is where it's at. Drinks are cold, food is great and everyone just has a fun time. Check it out. You won't be disappointed. read more

A cute rustic venue offering water views outdoor seating, pub fair and drinks and live music. They even have their own store where they sell t-shirts hats etc. An Alabamian by way of Miami, Florida named Stan Gober took a chance and purchased an unknown motel, called the Idle Hour Motel in 1969. Subsequently in April 1970, he bought the corresponding coffee shop/restaurant. These properties were located in a sleepy fishing village called Goodland, Florida, discovered by Stan while fishing its backwaters in the 60's. Stan and his wife, Faye Campbell Gober and their three sons packed up their Miami home and rented a unit at the Idle Hour Motel (since been razed due to Hurricane Wilma) and began working on their investment. Faye and Stan loved music, especially crooners Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Perry Como. Stan began to write his own music, and in the hopes of drumming up more business in the 1980's, he bought an outdoor grandstand from a local Goodlander and hauled it over to the restaurant. He envisioned an outdoor place where people could dance and gather. Stan was a master entertainer, singing and telling jokes, drawing crowds in the hundreds and eventually in the thousands. Going to Stan's became a Sunday tradition for many Southwest Floridians. And Stan was a family man, a charitable, compassionate soul with a true love for his country. Lucky for us, his place of business thrives fifty years later. read more

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Stans is iconic, in its own special way. It's not about upscale, it's about experience and uniqueness and history and they have their own following. Don't go if you want to be catered to a special way, this is aLL about the basics, good food, Live music, dancing, and having some drinks and having a good time. If you're up tight, don't go. But if you want to be around down to earth people having a good time, this is your place. And it's on the water. I would normally give it a five star for being who they are and sticking true to that, but today I give them only a four as we would've spent twice as much money had we had some more attention. Not that I want attention but I'm just saying. read more

wish I was a guy that could pee in the brush (because they do) -- the girl's bathroom situation is deplorable. our entire table of 11 women quit drinking! The lines are 10-15 people deep and take forever. You may as well get back in line after you finish! At least they had port-a-potties last year in season. read more

The day we arrived, we made a beeline to this place, and it was packed to the invisible rafters! The grouper fish tacos are da bomb. Great food. Great drinks. Great atmosphere. Everyone having a blast. We came here late September last yr and we just missed this place by a week or two and had to settle for crabby lady and that place sucked. read more

Stan's Idle Hour - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

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I rarely write reviews but this time, after what happened to me at the Idle Hour on Saturday January 24th, I have to. I arrived at the bar around 10:00 pm and asked a female bartender for a cocktail. I was surrounding by other customers who saw what happened next. She brought me the drink and coldly said $10. I looked in my purse and said "oh, I only have $7 cash". The bartender gave me a look of disgust and immediately threw away my drink in the sink. She didn't even give me that chance to pay with my debit card. She then proceeded to walk across the bar without looking back at me. I could tell that the other customers were embarrassed for me as I got up and left in tears. I have never been so humiliated in my life. I am telling everyone I know about the way this bartender treats the customers. I am still upset about the way she treated me. She shouldn't be a bartender. She is bad news for a restaurant that I used to love. read more

First time here and I hope to return to try the wings. We started off with the hot peel and eat shrimp which were kind of hard to peel. But had great flavor! I had the lobster n'ber which was amazing and my boyfriend Ahmad the grouper sandwich which he loved. And get the homemade chips! Sat at the bar...loved the atmosphere. Be careful on the bar chairs they are a little rickety ... they can use an upgrade. Great and attentive friendly service! read more

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Stan's is famous for a few things, but Sunday Funday is really their main claim to fame. And it could be fun...though it was not as "wild" as I expected from all these legendary stories being told around the island. There's good live music, decent service (it's fully chaotic, so I will give props to the servers here...keeping track of everyone as they move between the picnic tables, dance floor, restrooms and bars is probably very challenging), and food that is basically what you'd get at a local street fair or BBQ (i.e. burgers and fried food served with french fries on disposable plates with disposable silverware). The idea of "Sunday Funday" sounds so nice...just a lazy day with cold drinks and friends, right? But during season, because this is such a popular spot, the reality is that this experience is not at all relaxing. First, the parking situation in Goodland for Sunday Funday is outrageous. I mean, it's so bad. There are not enough parking spots for all the people who show up...the cars are illegally parked everywhere, up and down the main road almost to the bridge. It's insane. Second, you have to arrive for Sunday Funday before the restaurant even opens at 11am in order to claim one of the picnic tables. That's bonkers. And people will send a designated table holder early to stake out a table that seats 8 people even while the rest of their party is an hour or so away to arrive closer to 1pm when the live music actually starts. Shade is at an absolute premium so if you don't get one of those picnic tables, you're going to be HOT, HOT, HOT in the sun for the whole afternoon. Third, the dance floor is too small...please expand it. Overall, fighting through crowds to have a sliver of space on the dance floor and waiting in bathroom lines 10 people deep is not my idea of a Sunday Funday. I'd probably give Stan's another shot, but just not in season. read more

I stumbled upon this place in the middle of nowhere and discovered a new city lol. I stopped because of the huge crowd outside and the lively music. I was intrigued. There were barely any places to park but I managed. It was like a party was going on. The place looked fun It seems that every Sunday. Three local restaurants get together and have live music and entertainment and Stans is one of them "Sunday Sunday" All three restaurants are within walking distance from each other and they also have shuttles available. the atmosphere is fun here. Everyone having a great time. The band was phenomenal. The crowd was dancing and so was I and having a good time. This was my favorite restaurant. If crowds are not for you. I suggest visiting another day of the week. The inside is pretty big. Someone said it had 5 bars. It has a stage and a big outdoor sitting area. This restaurant is right next to the water and so you get a beautiful view of the water and boats. I did not try the food only the drinks and they tasted good. Beer seems popular here. The staff was great and people-friendly. I loved this place. I can't wait to be back. read more

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What a shit show...but in the best possible way! All I can say is that the beer is cold and the food is fresh. From the jalapeño poppers, to the conch fritters, to the blackened grouper, to the fried oyster basket...you really can't go wrong with any of these dishes. I will say, you must embrace the controlled chaos. It is very crowded, very loud, and very well managed. Lastly...it's not a complete experience unless you visit the gift shop and give them all your money! We will definitely be back! read more

Stan's Idle Hour - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

A rustic tropical place, right on the water, with excellent food and local color galore! Stan's is the kind of bar/restaurant I wish was near me: the E-Z vibe made me wish I was a regular. The blackened grouper sandwich is sensational. It's cooked just right with a hearty portion. Seasoned waffle fries are a good compliment with it (and your drinks). Live music as well, even in the middle of the day. I'm not sure when I'll be in town again, but when that time comes, Stan's will be first on my list. read more

Stan's Idle Hour - The view from the docks at Stan's - pleasant setting for the dining and drinking experience - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

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Basic food delivered quickly to our picnic table. Fish was fine, but hamburger was garbage. Great strawberry daqueris and friendly service. A bit of local flavor with the off key musicians but a fun experience read more

Solid food! We showed up around noon on a Thursday, and wow, these guys were popping! It's a fairly large outdoor seating area with some tables inside. The service was pretty good but you could tell they are probably understaffed, not necessarily their fault, so no need to judge. Our server was super friendly and they use handheld ordering devices to speed up service. We were 4 adults, 2 kids. Frozen colada/daiquiri style drinks were right on par. I ordered the blackened scallops with black beans, rice, and coleslaw. 2 others had the shrimp tacos (they give you two decent sized ones) with beans/rice/slaw, 1 other had coconut shrimp w/fries, kiddos had a burger (huge, probably their regular menu size) and chicken tenders (decent portion). Both kids meals had waffle fries. All together, the seafood was very fresh and the portion of seafood in each meal was pretty decent. I wondered if I received enough scallops at first but forgot how much basic raw protein can actually fill you up. My only reason for not giving 5 stars is the food could be plated a little better for what it is. The coleslaw is great, rice ok, black beans were basically straight from the can. All showed up in side cups. I get it, increases speed, but decreases ambiance. That, and the place needs an update. Bathrooms were gross; mens room was missing a toilet seat on its single shooter and had a trough for a urinal. Is what it is, look, it's a local dive bar. So, if you can own that you will really like it here. If not, you are going to have to skip it and go somewhere fancier - they have a mullet festival here. Ultimately, if you are in the area, I would definitely recommend them. Also, their happy hour prices look ridiculously good. read more

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When you are in the Sunshine State, restaurant with outdoor seating and live music are not hard to find. We were introduced to one of the popular spot by locals, where they had plenty of food, booze, and music! When we arrived, they had a live band playing some oldies, and patrons were dancing their heats out! Around the stage and the dancing floor, they had more outdoor seating, with a view of water. We got there around 3:30pm, and lucky for us, they have happy hour from 3pm - 6pm. Actually, they call that "Idle Hour" here. After some wait, we got attention of a server, and we ordered Margarita, Popcorn Shrimp, Clam Strips, and Fried Mozzarella. The orders arrived rather quickly, which was great. Margarita was strong and tasty, but not big in size though. All the "snacks" we ordered was nice, but kind of small in portion as well. And since all the dishes we ordered were all fried, they almost tasted the same... They have a souvenir shop on the premises, selling Stan's special gift items, including t-shirts and hats. They had loads of really funny items as well, it is worth checking it out. We certainly had a fun afternoon with nice snacks and drinks. Our server, Brandon was very friendly and helpful, he took a really good care of us. read more

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Great location and ambiance, the food was good, not great. The service was exceptional and if I could go another 1/2 star higher I would. Well definitely go back. read more

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WOW... this place is nuts, get the rum punch you will stumble out. Incredible service and ambiance. read more

Stan's Idle Hour - Kensta - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

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Sunday funday was pretty good. Hot as ballz, shit kickin band went first then a funny acoustic fella who mentioned Erie pa for some reason & im the only one who was all YOOOOOOO!! My aunt was here with my cousin before, it's a biker bar old Florida dive. Giant compound and a good time. Had a Mich ultra that was scorched. I hate that taste but what can be done it happens. I had a hangover already ha, and was getting hot. Cool gift shop buy a funny shirt. The burgers were fired up I should've got one. I'll go back & be ready for the big crowd next time. They handle it pretty well everyone has fun there. Jimmy buffet vibe to it. Kind of. But not really. Hard to describe. Everybody knows it just post ur there & u see. read more

Stan's Idle Hour - buy the funny shirts! - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

Joined some friends for a leisurely Sunday afternoon. Stan's does not disappoint. A must do if you are in the area. Cold drinks and good band. Good time had by all We will be back read more

A fun afternoon - large drinks, ample seating outside under cover, delicious coconut shrimp, and fun/bawdy entertainment. The crowd was geared up for fun - so if you don't care for fun, music or a laidback vibe - don't bother. But we had a terrific afternoon. read more

What a funtastic place to be!! Great atmosphere great staff! Band was awesome! We celebrated my friends birthday and we had a blast! read more

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Great place to hang out! Old school patriots! Beer is easy to get and fairly priced, always frosty cold! Every serve was friendly efficient and quick. read more

Wonderful waiter Gage!! Grouper Tacos were huge and yummy!! Slaw is amazing!! We went Saturday night but goes Sundays is the fun day!! I will definitely recommend!! read more

Was looking for a place to go and meet up with friends. Stan's was highly recommended for its Sunday Funday. Following the mantra of, "It's not day drinking, unless you start in the morning.", we grabbed a seat on the patio for lots of laughs, tasty apps and drinks. Our server Ro, was great and tolerated, yet appreciated our shenanigan's and warped sense of humor. Would highly recommend as a local place to hang out. Strategically located in a drinking village with a fishing problem! read more

Stan's is a great place for some fun on a Sunday. A band is playing and people are dancing and drinking. Lots of beer and rum drinks! It is great to watch and interact with others. The staff is overwhelmed so be patient. We had were able to get the soft shelled crabs and some buffalo shrimp that came with some slaw. The crabs were pretty good. The shrimp was pretty much just a hot buffalo sauce, probably should just get it fried. read more

Went with some family for a late lunch. They have happy hour specials from 3-6 to include peel and eat shrimp which were huge and excellent. Half pound for only $7.50. Had live entertainment and the place was really busy for a Thursday afternoon. Looks like they have entertainment almost every day. Main selections were average. I had their "world famous" 1/2 pound angus burger. Suspect it was just a purchased frozen patty but still decent taste. Bun was small and dry. My wife had a salad that looked fresh but definitely heavy on the iceberg. Upping them to 4 stars because of the atmosphere and service. Our wait person Rosendo was excellent. He was very attentive and personable even as it appeared he was going off shift. If you are in the area definitely stop in Appears to be quite a popular local hangout. read more

Stan's was totally amazing. Really great drinks. Really good food. There was an amazing band. We are new fans of Stans. Just a totally great place. read more

The drink specials were great. the view is nice and they had a live band. I visited on a Tuesday. To eat I had a burger but I wouldn't order it again Or recommend it. Overall 5 stars because the staff and vibe were great! I would definitely visit again soon read more

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We stopped at Stan's today for lunch. Great spot for a laid back bite to eat. The gator bites were tender and tasteful. I had the Grilled Mahi Mahi Sandwich and it was excellent!. My brother had the fried Grouper sandwich and said it was ok. He should have ordered it grilled! The frozen drinks were good and service was great. If you are looking for a truly laid back spot with sing along Buffet type of music, then this is the spot! 5 stars for the total experience. It's a great dive/bar restaurant, not a hoity-toity restaurant! read more

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We almost missed this place because the hours are incorrect here on Yelp. We ended up here as a last resort. There was live music and the atmosphere was exactly what we needed on a Saturday night. My husband ordered the soft shell crab sandwich and I ordered peel and eat shrimp and a dozen oysters. Things were fresh and delicious and our server was friendly. The margarita with a shot of Grand Mariner was strong and good. Great place to relax and enjoy the first day of spring. read more

My girlfriends and I had a super fun time at Stan's. We were staying at Marriott and the bartender suggested it for a fun Sunday afternoon. Was about 20 min ride. It's basically a stage and lots of outdoor tables. Don't know what band was playing but they were great and had everyone dancing. Super fun! Service was very friendly and fast. They have a bar menu - food was basic. It closed at 6:30 pm which was a bummer but we enjoyed our short time there. Highly recommend for drinks and entertainment.. read more

Stan's Idle Hour - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

Still a great venue! Sunday Funday a must!! Try the Rum Punch...beware. Great cheeseburgers, people watching, servers are mostly all family and awesome! read more

Deplorable conditions. Smelly, dirty & disgusting. The indoor ladies bathroom has a plastic shower curtain on one toilet and an accordion door from the '70's on the other. How does this place pass health inspectors? Such a sad representation of water front dining on Marco Island. And I'm a city guy. I felt so bad for the server, I gave her a 50% tip. Save your money, time and stomach. Go anywhere BUT here. read more

The freshest seafood, well prepared. A waterside view. Great service. It's a true gem. For full details go to John tanners bbq blog and search Stan's/ read more

Stan's Idle Hour - The bar at Stan's - Seafood Near Me - Goodland, Florida

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Ok you better know what you are getting into!! It is spring break for the 60 year olds and boy is it fun! Sunday Funday is the way to go! It starts early and ends at 630pm. There was a great band who played all the favorites so you could sing a long and watch all the drunk dancers. It is an incredibly relaxed atmosphere, picnic tables, plastic silverware and cups. The drinks are flowing and everything is outdoors. We had the blackened grouper and it was more than we could eat! The servers were amazing and very organized. They were working hard to meet the demands of a VERY LARGE crowd. It is a fun time and you will have such a good time you will buy a T-shirt to remember it forever! read more