Guidebook for Sarasota & Surrounding Area
Food Scene
The BEST restaurant in Sarasota. Intimately in an old home that has been transformed into candle lit dining. Excellent wines. Indoor/outdoor seating. Must make reservation in advance and MUST try the mushroom bisque
80 locals recommend
Indigenous Restaurant
239 S Links AveThe BEST restaurant in Sarasota. Intimately in an old home that has been transformed into candle lit dining. Excellent wines. Indoor/outdoor seating. Must make reservation in advance and MUST try the mushroom bisque
Always busy with central square bar and lots of local and farm to table foods. Great drinks and walkable to live Music
80 locals recommend
Boca Sarasota
19 S Lemon AveAlways busy with central square bar and lots of local and farm to table foods. Great drinks and walkable to live Music
Great happy hour for food and drinks. Indoor/outdoor seating. Dress up or down and great music
49 locals recommend
Veronicas Fish and Oyster bar
1830 S Osprey AveGreat happy hour for food and drinks. Indoor/outdoor seating. Dress up or down and great music
Pacific Rim
1859 Hillview StVery busy on weekends. Great sushi. Indoor/outdoor seating
Food is okay - but they have many locations around Sarasota and they are always packed with fans for a good time watching sports. Southside Village has the closest location
36 locals recommend
Gecko’s Grill & Pub
1900 Hillview StFood is okay - but they have many locations around Sarasota and they are always packed with fans for a good time watching sports. Southside Village has the closest location
Best coffee in Sarasota - they always have at least three types of beans they regularly change which they import from around the world. They also have a small selection of locally made pastries.
36 locals recommend
Perq Coffee Bar
1821 Hillview StBest coffee in Sarasota - they always have at least three types of beans they regularly change which they import from around the world. They also have a small selection of locally made pastries.
The only place in the area to eat a hot dog. The most beautiful water in the entire area. Bright blue with lots of boats going by - great place to go after Mote Marine Aquarium
80 locals recommend
The Old Salty Dog City island
1601 Ken Thompson PkwyThe only place in the area to eat a hot dog. The most beautiful water in the entire area. Bright blue with lots of boats going by - great place to go after Mote Marine Aquarium
Baker & Wife
2157 Siesta DrGreat food - farm to table feel. Incredible pizza
Our favorite restaurant - live music on the weekends, one of the most popular bars with incredible drinks and indoor/outdoor seating.
37 locals recommend
Jack Dusty
1111 Ritz Carlton DrOur favorite restaurant - live music on the weekends, one of the most popular bars with incredible drinks and indoor/outdoor seating.
A local favorite for a very long time. Indoor/outdoor seating. Get the 1804 salad and some sangria!
118 locals recommend
Columbia Restaurant
411 St Armands CirA local favorite for a very long time. Indoor/outdoor seating. Get the 1804 salad and some sangria!
The Newest and #1 place to watch sports in Sarasota. Tons of tvs, always packed, indoor/outdoor seating and excellent food! I recommend the shrimp tacos or wings!
13 locals recommend
MVP- My Village Pub
5200 Ocean BlvdThe Newest and #1 place to watch sports in Sarasota. Tons of tvs, always packed, indoor/outdoor seating and excellent food! I recommend the shrimp tacos or wings!
Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi
100 Central AveBEST sushi in Sarasota.
Another one of our favorite restaurants. They have locations in Greece, Singapore and St Armands. The food is impeccable and the indoor/outdoor seating is prime. Good people watching, wine and Dolmades!
17 locals recommend
Blu Kouzina
25 N Boulevard of the PresidentsAnother one of our favorite restaurants. They have locations in Greece, Singapore and St Armands. The food is impeccable and the indoor/outdoor seating is prime. Good people watching, wine and Dolmades!
C'est La Vie
1553 Main StBest breakfast, sit outside and enjoy downtown
Best outdoor patio with live bluegrass music and fresh seafood. 2 hour wait? That’s okay, forgo indoor seating ans order from the bar and they will call your name, so you can order the full menu on the patio!
260 locals recommend
Owens Fish Camp
516 Burns CtBest outdoor patio with live bluegrass music and fresh seafood. 2 hour wait? That’s okay, forgo indoor seating ans order from the bar and they will call your name, so you can order the full menu on the patio!
Drinks & Nightlife
This tiki bar is in Bayfront Island Park - there is always live music, a playground and with water feature nearby and bar food. Bring the entire family and the pup. Walk to the tip of the peninsula to see the best sunsets
171 locals recommend
Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront DrThis tiki bar is in Bayfront Island Park - there is always live music, a playground and with water feature nearby and bar food. Bring the entire family and the pup. Walk to the tip of the peninsula to see the best sunsets
Just renovated! Great food and outdoor seating with lovely bougainvilleas in the heart of downtown Sarasota. This is the late night place to listen to music and get some dancing in downtown
68 locals recommend
Clasico Cafe Bar
1341 Main StJust renovated! Great food and outdoor seating with lovely bougainvilleas in the heart of downtown Sarasota. This is the late night place to listen to music and get some dancing in downtown
One of the two roof top bars downtown. The place to be right now. Have a DJ late night
32 locals recommend
Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection
1255 N Palm AveOne of the two roof top bars downtown. The place to be right now. Have a DJ late night
One of two rooftop bars downtown. Take the elevator all the way to the top. Excellent sunsets.
72 locals recommend
The Westin Sarasota
100 Marina View DrOne of two rooftop bars downtown. Take the elevator all the way to the top. Excellent sunsets.
Sightseeing
A bayfront botanical gardens you can walk to and then head downtown for dinner or over to Bayfront Park for sunset. They usually have an orchid section that is incredible. Around holidays they also do some incredible lights.
433 locals recommend
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
1534 Mound StA bayfront botanical gardens you can walk to and then head downtown for dinner or over to Bayfront Park for sunset. They usually have an orchid section that is incredible. Around holidays they also do some incredible lights.
Unconditional Surrender - Sarasota, FL
Must see this incredible statue
Ringling Museum station
Walk/run/ride your bike over this iconic bridge and take a look at the skyline from the top as you watch boats pass under. You can also see the tiny sailboats from Sarasota Sailing School twist and turn
28 locals recommend
Ringling Bridge Causeway Park
John Ringling CausewayWalk/run/ride your bike over this iconic bridge and take a look at the skyline from the top as you watch boats pass under. You can also see the tiny sailboats from Sarasota Sailing School twist and turn
Parks & Nature
Park here and enjoy this dog friendly beach and park. Follow the sidewalk under the Ringling Bridge and enjoy watching the boats pass by and enjoy a large wide open space to throw frisbee etc. This is also a good place to rent paddle boards or walk/run/bike the Ringling Bridge
14 locals recommend
Bird Key Park
761 FL-789Park here and enjoy this dog friendly beach and park. Follow the sidewalk under the Ringling Bridge and enjoy watching the boats pass by and enjoy a large wide open space to throw frisbee etc. This is also a good place to rent paddle boards or walk/run/bike the Ringling Bridge
Be prepared for a long walk to the beach from parking. This beach is always in the top beaches of the US for its baby powder fine white sand. Great for skim boarding.
798 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
Be prepared for a long walk to the beach from parking. This beach is always in the top beaches of the US for its baby powder fine white sand. Great for skim boarding.
This is a secret little local beach. Not much parking if you don't ride bikes over
6 locals recommend
Shell Beach
This is a secret little local beach. Not much parking if you don't ride bikes over
Best place to view sunset. Lots of benches and a great place to walk/run or ride bicycles. There is a playground and splashpad for kids. It is dog friendly. O'leary's tiki bar is there for drinks.
103 locals recommend
Bayfront Park
5 Bayfront DrBest place to view sunset. Lots of benches and a great place to walk/run or ride bicycles. There is a playground and splashpad for kids. It is dog friendly. O'leary's tiki bar is there for drinks.
Great place to take the dog. They also have basketball, tennis and a pool here to use for a few dollars.
24 locals recommend
Arlington Park
Great place to take the dog. They also have basketball, tennis and a pool here to use for a few dollars.
Brohard Paw Park
1850 Harbor Dr SBest place - and one of few - to take your dog to the beach
Rent kayaks here and get a little shade from the mangrove tunnels you paddle through. Very cool experience
29 locals recommend
South Lido Park
2201 Benjamin Franklin DrRent kayaks here and get a little shade from the mangrove tunnels you paddle through. Very cool experience
Drive or bike down Casey Key - filled with incredible multi-million dollar homes - to Nokomis Public Beach and the jettis. Gorgeous views and eat/grab drinks at the Casey Key Fish House
37 locals recommend
Nokomis Public Beach
115 S Casey Key RdDrive or bike down Casey Key - filled with incredible multi-million dollar homes - to Nokomis Public Beach and the jettis. Gorgeous views and eat/grab drinks at the Casey Key Fish House
The best place to grab a drink. They just added another Palapa (tiki hut) Get Ritz Carlton drinks on the beach without having to be a member! Sarasota required the Ritz Carlton to keep the long time tiki hut open to the public when they purchased the land. It is a local favorite. You can also order food here - quality beachfront experience. There are a few picnic tables, but bring your own beach gear just in case they are full!
The Ritz-Carlton Tiki Bar (Lido Beach)
1111 Benjamin Franklin DrThe best place to grab a drink. They just added another Palapa (tiki hut) Get Ritz Carlton drinks on the beach without having to be a member! Sarasota required the Ritz Carlton to keep the long time tiki hut open to the public when they purchased the land. It is a local favorite. You can also order food here - quality beachfront experience. There are a few picnic tables, but bring your own beach gear just in case they are full!
Arts & Culture
Ca d'Zan
5401 Bay Shore RdExcellent renaissance style theater. Always sold out - reserve in advance - theater, ballet and more
62 locals recommend
Asolo Repertory hosts the Mertz Theatre
5555 N Tamiami TrailExcellent renaissance style theater. Always sold out - reserve in advance - theater, ballet and more
Excellent theater with great restaurants nearby. Reserve in advance, always sold out
74 locals recommend
Florida Studio Theatre
1241 N Palm AveExcellent theater with great restaurants nearby. Reserve in advance, always sold out
Urbanite Theatre
1487 2nd StEntertainment & Activities
Great place to see, touch and feel exhibits about our ocean
532 locals recommend
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson PkwyGreat place to see, touch and feel exhibits about our ocean
Come watch an Oriole's Spring Training Game. People travel from all over to do so and it is a fun and inexpensive way to catch a game on a sunny day!
54 locals recommend
Ed Smith Stadium
2700 12th StCome watch an Oriole's Spring Training Game. People travel from all over to do so and it is a fun and inexpensive way to catch a game on a sunny day!
Shopping
Outdoor shopping with everything from home decor to bikinis and flip flops
358 locals recommend
St Armands Circle Shops
300 St Armands CirOutdoor shopping with everything from home decor to bikinis and flip flops