The Syren Oyster & Cocktail Bar, a restaurant launching in early 2022 in Old Naples, christened its namesake yacht this week on Naples Bay.
Sarah McKenna, captain of The Syren, conducted a traditional maritime christening Wednesday afternoon on the dock of the Naples Boat Club, where the 44-foot Regal FXO yacht is moored in a slip in front of the restaurant at 909 10th St. S. As is traditional to bring good luck and safe travel to a new ship, McKenna broke a bottle of champagne against the hull of the vessel’s bow.
Although The Syren waterfront restaurant will not open until February, The Syren yacht is targeted to launch its all-inclusive, luxury cruises next week in front of the future restaurant for guests to enjoy high-end dining, cruising and cocktails, said co-owner Peter Tierney. “I think we have 11 charters already booked,” Tierney said.
Day and evening cruises can be privately chartered for up to six guests. The flat fee includes chef-prepared, customizable heavy hors d’oeurves and a full bar with craft cocktails, beer and wine. “It’s all inclusive. It’s all included for three-hour cruises,” Tierney said.
Day cruises are $2,200 for a three-hour minimum. An option for additional hours are $700 each. Sunset cocktail cruises for 2.5 hours are $2,500, according to syrenoysterbar.com.
A native Neapolitan, Capt. McKenna grew up spending weekends and holidays on her family’s fishing boat between Florida, the Bahamas and Costa Rica. She spent most of her life on the water, including several years in Hawaii on dive boats, sailboats, fishing boats, whale-watching boats and even a glass-bottom submarine before relocating to the mountains of North Carolina, where her love of adventure led her to guide hiking, zip-lining and whitewater rafting trips. Eventually, McKenna returned to her hometown and began working with the Bellasera Resort and its hospitality venues, The Claw Bar and The London Club.
“When the Syren yacht was purchased last spring, Sarah was the natural choice to be its captain,” Tierney said. “Sarah holds a USCG Master 25-ton captain’s license and we are thrilled to have her at the helm of The Syren.”
The Syren yacht provides a unique amenity and intimate dining voyages to complement the Bellasera Resort in Naples and The Syren seafood restaurant, which the owners of the local resort are opening in the former space of Wharf Tavern Restaurant & Lobster House on 10th Street South.
The Syren is expected to offer a fresh waterfront dining experience with a bit of coastal adventure. Expect a global menu of far-reaching ocean exploration that even shows affection for less-appreciated seasonal finfish such as sheepshead and tripletail.
The Wharf Tavern permanently closed in April after its 10th season on Naples Bay. After operating the local restaurant since December 2010, the Henry Diodati family sold the commercial condominium to Tierney and Dr. Edward “Bud” Negley, who also own the Bellasera and The Claw Bar in Naples. Turtle Bay Holdings Co LLC bought Wharf Tavern’s unit 206 at Naples Boat Club for $1.95 million, Collier County property records show. The longtime restaurant was gutted to make way for The Syren, which will serve cuisine focusing on seasonal regional and international seafood.
Experiencing issues obtaining necessary items such as windows and kitchen equipment, Tierney has delayed the restaurant’s opening until mid- to late February.
“We just want to get it done and do it right,” he said. “At this point, we’ll open when we open. There’s really nothing we can do.”
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