Buddha Bar & Grill

OK so the Hubs and I live in Miami and on occasion we visit my parents who reside in Cape Coral. We are in our 30’s and enjoy outings and new places. We have been looking for things to do in FT Myers at night encountering some disappointment especially with FT Myers Beach which is a ghost town by 11pm. This last time we visited we pulled out our Unilocal and came across this place. I am a huge Rock fan! We drive to see FORT ROCK !!! So we figured we should see what this place was about.
After reading the reviews we were a bit skeptical. Some guy wrote something to the means of loosing sight on one eye due to a fight others talk about groping, lack of security ect. So who wouldn’t be a little freaked out going in there? But Whatever we went for it.
The place:
OK soooo we get there I am already freaked out because the place looks like a dark, building from the 70’s. The first person we see is a guy in his 40’s and a lady about the same leaving by 11. After debating whether to go inside or run… we decided to just do it! As we walked inside The Security Guard was right at the door. It was a bit smoky in there but hey… it’s a Bar… They have 2 bars which was pretty cool. We sat in the big one by the Live Band. The Band was pretty good. They played some Cover Alternative songs I really liked. The bartenders were really nice and attentive. Being from Miami the drink pricing was great :) We had a 2 crown n coke and a Stella for 18 bucks. We actually enjoyed it pretty much and stayed till 1:45ish. Unbelievably even the restrooms were pretty tidy. Pretty ok place would probably visit again in the future.

If only they didn’t allow smoking inside this place. And actually cleaned it up. We literally avoid it as much as possible. And it’s super dirty inside too. It’s like a highway motel from a raunchy movie with sticky floors and air that is suffocating enough to kill the roaches.

in one word.
smoke.
second word
dark,.
badly overpoured drinks.
music? depends on whatever the artist feels and when they might get to it
food?
nah
not even a good dive bar… looks dirty and feels sticky.

Always a good time at Buddhas! I love it when Soapy Tuna plays, they always play kick ass music and get the crowd going. The only thing I DONT like about Buddhas is how smokey it is, but it’s a bar so I guess I can’t complain too much. But seriously, you will have to take a shower and wash your clothes the minute you get home because you will smell like an ashtray. Overall though: Love it here!

BEWARE!!! The security here is non-​existent my buddy was attacked here by an over drunk over served patron. A smashed highball glass to the forehead took his sight in one eye. No door man no bouncers in sight just one skinny bar tender an one old lady. BEWARE!!!

Do not be put off by all the folk in cowboy hats. Although clearly the minority at this place, I did not have a bad time. My major complaint was the bar service. I must have sat at the bar for 25 minutes before I was even asked if I wanted a drink. Several groups of folk who arrived after me, were being served before I did. On Sunday there is a live band that plays cover songs all night. I didn’t think they were particularly bad but the one thing i did like is that the young guy singing had a YMCMB jersey on, which I found odd for Ft. Myers (maybe me just being a bit closed minded). I liked the idea of the bar. Apparently it used to be an old sushi restaurant that was converted. It is easily located by the GIANT golden Buddha statue sitting outside.

Ah, the Buddha. A place that brings me back to days of high school speculation surrounding what was in that massive statue’s belly. Money, the Fountain of Youth, drugs, Jimmy Hoffa, omitted footage from the Zapruder film, KFC’s eleven herbs and spices, every classroom hamster that passed away in Lee County elementary schools, Crystal Pepsi, he who put the bomp in the bomp-​bomp-​bomp?
Never knew and never will — it’s a protected landmark, which is why, so the story goes, the Happy Buddha Chinese Restaurant forcibly became the Buddha Bar & Grille after purchase almost a decade ago.
It’s a fun bar and I kill a few double-​talls every venture home to see the folks. Things that relegate the Fort Myers icon to A-​OKville:
— It’s abysmally smokey. I realize it’s still allowed when liquor constitutes most of a biz’s revenue, but that knowledge doesn’t refresh up the only pair of jeans I packed! GENIUS THOUGHT: travel Febreze vending machine at the door. Cut me a check, Mother of Invention.
— The live music, while appreciated and oft head-​bobbed to, nullifies conversation. Completely. On the bright side, I can fingerspell «Y-​u-​e-​n-​g-​l-​i-​n-​g» in two seconds flat. On the dark side, all bartenders know what I’m asking for.
— Finally, the barstaff, even when rolling three deep, need a ‘nother round flag down more than they don’t. In a rectangular bar with no island, this is unheard of.
Love the darts, heavy pours and groupies that Drunk Mom Dance front and center stage. All night. Every night.

casual hang out
live music
last I knew they served pizza. Great drunk snack.