Best Public FacilityCOMMERCIAL
Builder/Remodeler
Over $5,000,000
Set on the edge of Estero Bay, Florida’s first aquatic preserve, Saltleaf Marina and Acqua Bistecca together form a waterfront destination that restores historic public access to one of Southwest Florida’s most protected shorelines.
The facility serves boating enthusiasts, waterfront diners, and luxury coastal residents seeking an active, authentically Floridian lifestyle. The goal was a genuine public gathering place open to the wider community, one that celebrates the bay rather than competing with it. The 72 boat slips and the restaurant’s early-2026 public opening both deliver on that promise.
Building within a protected aquatic preserve demanded extraordinary environmental sensitivity. Construction preserved the surrounding mangrove fringe and wildlife habitat while restoring navigable access, turning a significant ecological constraint into the project’s defining character.
Acqua Bistecca presents a low, horizontal pavilion in pale limestone with tall vertical window bays, deep shading overhangs, and rooftop mechanical screening discreetly concealed behind louvered panels. A herringbone paver motor court centered around a magnificent sea grape tree and a grand stair arrival sequence create an elegant yet welcoming first impression. At the marina, a crisp white ship store enlivened by a sculptural blue wave mural anchors the working waterfront.
Engineered to endure a working coastal environment without sacrificing refinement, the buildings are supported by augercast piles that resist the scouring action of wind-driven waves. First-floor flood panels and raised electrical systems protect against storm surge, while marine-grade floating and fixed docks, individual boat lifts, and impact glass railings complete a waterfront built for resilience.
A manicured lawn peninsula and new royal palms softens the basin, framed by preserved mangroves on both banks. Circulation separates public marina traffic from the restaurant arrival, flowing naturally between water, dock, dining, and gathering spaces.
Unique & outstanding features:
• Restored historic access to Florida’s first aquatic preserve
• Dining concept by award-winning Chef Michael Mina (The MINA Group)
• Wood-fired steaks, Gulf-fresh seafood, raw bar with oysters and seasonal stone crab
• 72-slip marina with ship store and direct connections to the Gulf
• Indoor-outdoor dining for 184, including a private chef’s room