Saltleaf Folio 2026

ACQUA BISTECCA IS NOW OPEN FOR WATERFRONT DINING

Introducing Saltleaf on Estero Bay. Five hundred awe-inspiring acres, situated on the pristine shores of Florida’s first aquatic preserve. You could say this coastal village is one part relaxed, one part refined. Where we’ve followed nature’s lead in everything, from the views at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay to Saltleaf Golf Preserve to the new Saltleaf Marina.

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SALTLEAF

SALTLEAF IS THE KIND OF PLACE MADE TO LET THE SPIRIT MOVE YOU.

(SOMETIMES EVEN OUT OF YOUR FLIP-FLOPS.)

WELCOME TO

And so it begins. Here at Saltleaf on Estero Bay, we’ve kicked off an exciting season of new. Get ready for oysters on the waterfront at Acqua Bistecca, a Michael Mina restaurant, now open and dishing up the best of land, sea and sunsets. And for an early spring move-in day at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay. (Don’t worry, you’re not too late. The second tower is still available.) Think of this season as the grand opening of a whole new way to live in Southwest Florida. After move-in, Saltleaf’s first residents will enjoy right-inthe-neighborhood access to Saltleaf Golf Preserve. And boating and paddleboarding at Saltleaf Marina. It’s opening this spring too, along with the lagoon and pools. (Yes, we’ve been busy.)

We’ve also been busy putting together this issue of Shore Stories to give you a taste of Saltleaf’s vibrant, diverse lifestyle. Let this be your insider’s guide to everything from outdoor fun to must-visit restaurants to our residences’ host of top-flight amenities. A location like ours is hard to put into words … magical places often are … but we hope this issue captures a bit of the daily joys now coming to life in our special corner of paradise.

Enjoy.

A DAY

See your neighbor. Ask about their vacation. Massage appointment (made by the concierge). Or maybe a tee time (also made by the concierge).

Pick up the perfectly packed picnic basket … the kids love to see what surprises are included. (Once again, the concierge delivers.)

Board the fishing charter, to the spot where Captain Taylor says the bites come easy. The fish keep him true to his word.

Spot a bald eagle on the way home. The sight never gets old.

Back home. Someone has brought your packages in for you. And chilled your favorite bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.

LIFE IN THE

Back to the marina. Dinner at the waterfront restaurant? Or have them deliver to your residence? The latter. After a sunset cocktail.

Time to dream up what tomorrow will bring. Sleep tight.

NOW TAKING FLIGHT

Spring 2026 is the season to watch as Saltleaf’s first residents move into The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay. After years of meticulous planning and construction, this beautiful new way to live is coming to fruition. Not only is the first tower opening, but the lagoon and pools are too. (Who’s up for mojitos on a private pavilion?) Then there’s the Oasis clubhouse with a spa, fitness center and Wine and Whiskey Lounge, as well as Saltleaf Marina opening too. Whew.

No worries if you haven’t secured your residence yet. The second tower is already underway and opening in 2027. That said, the North Tower is selling as fast as the South Tower did, so you’ll want to schedule a visit to the Sales Gallery soon. Happily, model residences are open for touring, so you can experience for yourself the Estero Bay views and high caliber design, materials and craftsmanship poured into every residence. Six floorplans range from two to four bedrooms, and approximately 2,000 to over 3,800 square feet.

Here’s what else is already underway: friendships. Our first residents got to know their neighbors long before move-in at curated boat outings and dinners, including a private pre-opening event with Chef Michael Mina at Acqua Bistecca. The camaraderie will only deepen as residents share a friendly, club-like lifestyle. Faces will grow familiar over breakfast at the Sports & News Café. On boating excursions and dolphin cruises. At the yoga studio and dog park. And just like at your favorite club, impeccable hospitality from the concierge team will make sure you have the freedom to enjoy everything and everyone that comes your way.

HEAR from our HOMEOWNERS

“We’re looking forward to traveling on a whim. The chores that a single-family home requires when you leave will essentially disappear.”

“Who wouldn't love waking up to this beautiful view, strolling downstairs for a cup of coffee and then jumping on the shuttle boat for a cruise through the bay?”

“It’s more than just a condo it’s like a resort. Even when we’re not there, our kids can come down and use everything and still feel like they’re at a resort.”

BIRDIES. EAGLES.

If you’re of the mindset that life is better on the links, you’ll find that Saltleaf Golf Preserve is one of those courses that makes every round remarkable, whether you’re a duffer, scratch golfer or somewhere in between. London Bay has invested $30 million in the new, public 18-hole course, short course and clubhouse, bringing next-level facilities to our region.

The 18-hole championship course, called The Preserve, was designed by World Golf Hall of Famer and four-time major champion Raymond Floyd. But the 7,075-yard, par 72 course (with a 126 slope rating) isn’t what makes it stand out as one of the most unique golf destinations in the country. No, that distinction has everything to do with the fact that the whole course has been designed to harmonize

with the natural landscape. Here, formal bunkers have given way to tall grasses and naturally exposed, sandy terrain. And you’re taken on a journey through a diverse ecosystem of native plants and wildlife as you navigate each hole. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sharing the green with an osprey, woodpecker or occasional deer.

And while it’s been described as “resort golf” (as in less fuss, more fun), there’s the ability for championship-level play as well. Just ask Mark Lye, former pro golfer on the PGA and Champions tour, who, along with his wife, will become residents of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay and frequent visitors of Saltleaf Golf Preserve. “They did a great job of working with the environment to create the course, rather than going against it to create artificial challenges,” Lye told us.

“And there are a number of tees to match your style of play. If you’re a novice you can play way up. If you’re a champion, you can play way back.” We’ll let you guess where Lye is teeing off from.

And if all that sounds like perfection, but you don’t have the time for a round of 18, The Leaf, a nine-hole, 1,010-yard course can be played in just 60–90 minutes. The Leaf is equal parts fun and challenging for all ages and abilities. It’s a great way to spend time with the family, work on your game, or get in a little cardio as you walk the course (no carts allowed on this one).

But no matter how many holes you play, make sure to end your day at the Saltleaf Bar & Grill in the clubhouse, where you can enjoy refreshing handcrafted cocktails. Cool off with the bay breeze. Listen to live music. See why people rave about the food. And, of course, relive your best shots.

CAN’T WAIT TO PLAY?

Schedule a tee time at SaltleafGolf.com

Saltleaf Bar & Grill at Saltleaf Golf Preserve

Come celebrate (or commiserate) after your game. Open to the public daily from 11am–6pm.

WALK on the WILD SIDE

Look around, golfers. Saltleaf’s private, 144acre nature preserve surrounds the 18-hole course. Rising gently from wetlands to a relic sand dune, the preserve is a biodiversity of everything from swamp oak to saw palmetto and herons to bald eagles. It’s a side of Florida most don’t get to experience. And the preservation of this land is vital to sustaining a healthy tortoise population and more. Eventually, multiple trails will create an hour-long walk through the preserve. Stay tuned for educational programming and activities too.

WHE RETH E CO AST MEETS THE FLAME

Here it comes, your favorite new place. That is, if you’re partial to amazing, chef-driven restaurants with gorgeous waterfront views. Now open to the public, Acqua Bistecca, conceived by The MINA Group in partnership with London Bay, has brought Italian-inspired, wood-fired steaks, seafood and more to the edge of Saltleaf Marina. And happily, to The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay, just next door.

Foodies will know the name. Chef Michael Mina founded a collection of 30+ chef-driven restaurants such as PABU, Sorelle, Mina’s Fish House, the Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina and Bourbon Steak. He has earned multiple James Beard awards, a Michelin Star and Bon Appetit’s Chef of the Year.

So what’s on tap for Saltleaf epicures? The bounty of the Gulf and the warmth of the grill … lavished with Italian soul. Handcrafted pastas, seasonal vegetables and vibrant antipasti remarkable for their quality ingredients, bold simplicity and soulful execution. (Hungry yet?) Also on the menu: Estero Bay sunsets, of course, even more beautiful with oysters and a negroni mignonette at the raw bar. Or perhaps a delicately charred steak brushed with red Lambrusco butter. (See sample menu on the right.)

Designed by the acclaimed interior design firm Meyer Davis Studio, the restaurant is a study in coastal elegance warm, welcoming and effortlessly stylish. It’s meant to be that go-to place where family and friends love to gather around the table. And linger over an extra glass of wine. Chef Mina describes Acqua Bistecca as a “place that feels part of the community fabric, where people can go numerous times a week and for all different occasions.”

More than a meal, Acqua Bistecca is a celebration of the timeless union between fire and water, thoughtfully composed for today’s discerning guest.

MENU

Here’s a tasty appetizer of the wide-ranging, multicourse menu selections coming to Acqua Bistecca.

ARANCINI

saffron risotto, smoked mozzarella Sicilian agrodolce

spicy sausage ragu, swiss chard roasted pepper marinara

LINE CAUGHT

SWORDFISH ‘PICATTA' pan seared, brown butter capers, sea beans

IT’S A flavorful LIFE

Living at Saltleaf, you’ll never want for a great meal. Besides close access to Acqua Bistecca, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay offer private, resident-only venues for food and drink.

Sunset Lounge & Pool Bar: Light bites and cocktails, indoors and out

Sports & News Café: A sunny owners lounge with complimentary breakfast

Private dining room: Happy birthdays, holidays and family gatherings

Exhibition kitchen: Perfect for cooking classes and private functions

HELLO, SALTLEAF MARINA

Estero Bay holds millennia of history. For 5,000 years, Florida’s first aquatic preserve has been home to mangrove forests and thriving oyster beds. It provides a refuge to wildlife, from gopher tortoises to bald eagles. Offers visitors the opportunity to meander through mudflats and seagrass beds or spot dolphins and manatees. And now, thanks to our new marina, Saltleafians can more fully explore Estero Bay, and access the Gulf, Sanibel, Captiva and other beautiful destinations.

Saltleaf Marina offers everything residents need for aquatic adventure, with 72 boat slips, rentable boats, kayaks and paddleboards, and handy provisions at the ship store. Club membership includes social events, guided cruises and fishing excursions, educational events and more. Each residence comes with a membership to the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, devoted to research, restoration and education efforts in protecting Southwest Florida’s delicate ecosystem.

Q&A

TAYLOR MASIERO

Director of Marina Operations

OPENING MARCH 2026

Shore Stories had the opportunity to talk with Taylor Masiero, Director of Saltleaf Marina, about his vision for the marina, and life on the bay.

Shore Stories: Tell us a little bit about what you have planned for Saltleaf Marina.

Taylor: My vision is to build a lifestyle from a watersports perspective. Kayaking and paddleboard rentals, that sort of thing. For the folks at Saltleaf, we’ll grow a private network of high-end charters that will take them fishing and bring them to the beach or Sanibel and Captiva for shelling. We'll also serve drinks on a 50-passenger tour boat, the Saltleaf Solstice.

SS: What do you think is so special about Estero Bay, and having the marina operate on its waters?

Taylor: The bay is protected from the elements for the most part, all the way to Fort Myers Beach. You definitely have the feeling of being on a preserve. It’s less congested and commercialized, with smaller boats, which feels more calm and relaxing.

You can go out and experience the water without having to go on the Gulf, and get to places you can only reach by boat. It’s also easy to get to Marco Island, Sanibel, Cabbage Key, Gasparilla and Naples Bay all in a day, thanks to the intracoastal waterway.

Passengers on the Saltleaf Solstice can enjoy bar service as they go dolphin sighting, beach combing…and new-friend making.

SS: Besides boating, what are some other ways people can enjoy the preserve?

Taylor: Where the marina sits is by some of the most beautiful parts of the preserve. There’s a non-motorized ‘water trail’ loop for kayaks and paddleboards, and quiet spots to do some fishing. And the grass flats by the bay are a good spot to look for manatees and dolphins.

SS: What’s your personal favorite thing about Estero Bay?

Taylor: It’s quiet and calm. I love getting in the boat and finding a private island or place for lunch. To go off the grid and discover a quaint, out-of-the-way place in just 30 minutes.

SS: How would you describe the perfect day on the bay?

Taylor: Getting the family and friends on the water and finding a quiet beach for the first half of the day. The second half, we’re finding another beach for kayaking and paddleboarding. The sun sets on the water, and in that last 30 minutes of dusk, usually no one is out, and you have the bay to yourself. Then back to the marina and dinner at Acqua Bistecca, our waterfront restaurant.

BONITA SPRINGS

BEYOND BAY THE

Southwest Florida and beautiful beaches are a given. (A location on the Gulf will do that for you.) But there are some hidden (and not-sohidden) gems in our little city that are worth exploring. We did our best to narrow down the list.

THE IMPERIAL RIVER

Running right through Downtown Bonita Springs, this 9.3 mile river has a boat ramp for boaters and kayakers to launch their watercraft and a fishing pier for anglers to drop a line into the briny waters. Feeling ambitious? Paddle all the way to Estero Bay (or the Gulf, if you’re so inclined). And while you’re out on the water, keep an eye out for manatees the mangroves are a favorite hangout.

DOWNTOWN BONITA SPRINGS

Less big city. More local cafés and colorful murals that create a charming, old-Florida feel. Come meander awhile and enjoy this laid-back scene. While you’re here, pick up a coffee, ice cream cone, fresh produce even fishing tackle for excursions on the nearby Imperial River.

Sugarshack Downtown

If it’s Friday, there’s music. Or if it’s Saturday through Thursday, for that matter. This gem of a live music and dining venue promises a rollicking good time seven days a week. Repurposed from a historic 1941 building, Sugarshack is a pure celebration of community. Grab a fresh-made grinder. And maybe a cucumber chill from one of the two bars a little inspiration to dance under the stars with your fellow Bonitans.

Arts Bonita

Love the arts? So does Arts Bonita, a non-profit devoted to enriching the community with its visual arts and performing arts centers. Take your pick from a year-round calendar of live comedy, music, theater and lectures. Explore their sculpture gardens. Or try your hand at painting, pottery and sculpture at fully equipped art studios.

Promenade Shops

This open-air shopping center is more than just stores. It’s a place to stroll through the lush landscaping, over the bridges and along a snaking river. Of course, if you are looking to treat yourself to a little something, the high-end boutiques, gourmet market and restaurants provide plenty of opportunities to do just that. (Make sure to come to the Farmers Market October through July for everything from homemade lobster bisque and mini donuts to artisanal cheeses and handmade goods.)

Coconut Point

This mall has it all the name-brand stores you know and love, along with conveniences like salons for both hair and nails, massage, even jewelry repair … wrapped around lakes with a boardwalk. There’s definitely enough here for a full day of browsing and buying, with plenty of restaurants for refueling when you’ve shopped up an appetite.

Rooftop at Riverside

A Bonita Springs hot spot on Old 41, this is where everyone can choose their own gourmet adventure, thanks to an ever-fresh variety of Southwest Florida’s finest food trucks. Pair something you love with a specialty cocktail waiting for you at the bar.

Chartreuse Craft Cocktail Lounge

Chartreuse is Bonita Springs’ first (and only) craft cocktail bar and dessert lounge. And oh, what cocktails they are all seasonally inspired and handcrafted, with some including up to eight (yes, eight) ingredients. Come for the drinks, stay for the swanky, 1930s Old-Florida vibe.

Canary Club

Half the fun is watching the chefs work their Mediterranean and Middle Eastern magic in the open-air kitchen. But the other half is, of course, digging into their inventive creations, such as wood-roasted cauliflower drizzled with green harissa and goat cheese crema. Or handstretched sourdough pizza as you’ve never imagined, featuring lamb sausage, feta and tahini dill ranch. Not only delicious, but seasonal and locally sourced.

Barefoot Beach Preserve

Take the boardwalk from the parking lot over the dunes to this special white sand beach, covering more than 340 acres of unspoiled coastline. Rent a cabana for some shade, and keep an eye out for playful dolphins. From May through October, Barefoot Beach is a nesting site for sea turtles a sight that is rivaled only by the magnificent sunsets.

Lovers Key State Park

The land where this beloved state park resides was donated to the people of Florida so that all residents could enjoy its beaches and mangroves. And the ways you can enjoy them are numerous take a kayak out on the water. Soak in the sun from the sugar-sand shore. Keep an eye out for dolphins or manatees. Or rent a bike and hop on the five miles of multiuse trails. (In other words, get the day pass. You’ll use every minute of it.)

SALTLEAF.COM

THE TEAM BEHIND SALTLEAF

Developed by London Bay Development Group, Saltleaf benefits not only from 35+ years in luxury building, but from the expertise of London Bay’s carefully chosen partners. The bold architecture of Arquitectonica, seen in Saltleaf Marina and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay. The interior design magic of Meyer Davis, featured in the residences, waterfront restaurant and more. EDSA’s award-winning landscape architecture. And the strategic expertise of Raymond Floyd, designer of The Preserve, the 18-hole course at Saltleaf Golf Preserve.

COME VISIT

The beauty of our Sales Gallery is that it feels like a home. Filled with all the things you need to visualize your day-to-day life here, including a full-sized model kitchen, wet bar and master bath. This immersive setting also features a 3D scale model of the property and a virtual reality exploration of amenities. Two model residences will open in early 2026, with in-person tours available to serious inquiries. The Sales Gallery welcomes all daily.

RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES, ESTERO BAY SALES GALLERY

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay are located in Saltleaf’s Marina Village, and priced from the $3 millions. But they’re just the first opportunity to live in the community. (In other words, we have big plans for this place.) TheResidencesEsteroBay.com 239.747.0936

Come see us today, and secure your favorite residence and sunset views.

Open daily from 10am–6pm