Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub

Idyllic. Sumptuous. Charming.

Treasure the intimacy; savor the charm. Enjoy a one-of-a-kind menu, and delight in our locally-sourced, southern-inspired seafood, only at mar vista. Each dish is crafted with excellence and heart by our culinary team. As you sit outside under the century-old buttonwood trees, you can toast to the end of another beautiful day on Longboat Key and dine on a fantastic authentic Florida menu.

Beginning around 1912, Longboat Key developer Rufus Jordan used a block-making machine to build many early homes on the island’s north end, using rusticated concrete blocks made locally. Nearly all the original Longbeach historic structures, including what is now Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, were his creations.

When a hurricane hit in 1921, most island dwellings were destroyed—but Mar Vista survived. In 1940, Wayne and Minnie Sipes, relatives of the Jordans, purchased the property and converted the house into five rental apartments. Seven years later, business partners Captain Don Nimmo and Ray Smith acquired it, adding The Pub Cocktail Lounge, a fish camp selling bait, tackle, and beer. The Jordan House likely continued as lodging for visiting fishermen.

In 1950, Charlotte and Edward Sibole bought the property, expanded The Pub, and relocated the bait shop, turning the site into one of Longboat Key’s favorite gathering spots. The apartments remained in use until the 1980s, when Ed Chiles purchased and preserved Mar Vista’s “Old Florida” charm. A 2019 renovation enhanced its atmosphere, and in 2024, Beachside Hospitality Group acquired the property, ensuring its legacy as a beloved bayside landmark.