Guidebook for Sarasota & Surrounding Area

James
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 paikallista suosittelee
Indigenous Restaurant
239 S Links Ave
80 paikallista suosittelee
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
Always busy with central square bar and lots of local and farm to table foods. Great drinks and walkable to live Music
80 paikallista suosittelee
Boca Sarasota
19 S Lemon Ave
80 paikallista suosittelee
Always 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 paikallista suosittelee
Veronicas Fish and Oyster bar
1830 S Osprey Ave
49 paikallista suosittelee
Great happy hour for food and drinks. Indoor/outdoor seating. Dress up or down and great music
Very busy on weekends. Great sushi. Indoor/outdoor seating
45 paikallista suosittelee
Pacific Rim
1859 Hillview St
45 paikallista suosittelee
Very 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 paikallista suosittelee
Gecko’s Grill & Pub
1900 Hillview St
36 paikallista suosittelee
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
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 paikallista suosittelee
Perq Coffee Bar
1821 Hillview St
36 paikallista suosittelee
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.
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 paikallista suosittelee
The Old Salty Dog City island
1601 Ken Thompson Pkwy
80 paikallista suosittelee
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
Great food - farm to table feel. Incredible pizza
37 paikallista suosittelee
Baker & Wife
2157 Siesta Dr
37 paikallista suosittelee
Great 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 paikallista suosittelee
Jack Dusty
1111 Ritz Carlton Dr
37 paikallista suosittelee
Our 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 paikallista suosittelee
Columbia Restaurant
411 St Armands Cir
118 paikallista suosittelee
A 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 paikallista suosittelee
MVP- My Village Pub
5200 Ocean Blvd
13 paikallista suosittelee
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!
BEST sushi in Sarasota.
21 paikallista suosittelee
Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi
100 Central Ave
21 paikallista suosittelee
BEST 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 paikallista suosittelee
Blu Kouzina
25 N Boulevard of the Presidents
17 paikallista suosittelee
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!
Best breakfast, sit outside and enjoy downtown
47 paikallista suosittelee
C'est La Vie
1553 Main St
47 paikallista suosittelee
Best 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 paikallista suosittelee
Owens Fish Camp
516 Burns Ct
260 paikallista suosittelee
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!

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 paikallista suosittelee
Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront Dr
171 paikallista suosittelee
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
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 paikallista suosittelee
Clasico Cafe Bar
1341 Main St
68 paikallista suosittelee
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
One of the two roof top bars downtown. The place to be right now. Have a DJ late night
32 paikallista suosittelee
Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection
1255 N Palm Ave
32 paikallista suosittelee
One 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 paikallista suosittelee
The Westin Sarasota
100 Marina View Dr
72 paikallista suosittelee
One 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 paikallista suosittelee
Marie Selbyn kasvitieteelliset puutarhat
1534 Mound St
433 paikallista suosittelee
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.
Must see this incredible statue
43 paikallista suosittelee
Unconditional Surrender - Sarasota, FL
43 paikallista suosittelee
Must see this incredible statue
305 paikallista suosittelee
Ringling Museum station
305 paikallista suosittelee
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 paikallista suosittelee
Ringling Bridge Causeway Park
John Ringling Causeway
28 paikallista suosittelee
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

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 paikallista suosittelee
Bird Key -puisto
761 FL-789
14 paikallista suosittelee
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
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 paikallista suosittelee
Siesta Beach
798 paikallista suosittelee
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 paikallista suosittelee
Shell Beach
6 paikallista suosittelee
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 paikallista suosittelee
Bayfront Park
5 Bayfront Dr
103 paikallista suosittelee
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.
Great place to take the dog. They also have basketball, tennis and a pool here to use for a few dollars.
24 paikallista suosittelee
Arlington Park
24 paikallista suosittelee
Great place to take the dog. They also have basketball, tennis and a pool here to use for a few dollars.
Best place - and one of few - to take your dog to the beach
43 paikallista suosittelee
Brohard Paw Park
1850 Harbor Dr S
43 paikallista suosittelee
Best 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 paikallista suosittelee
South Lido Park
2201 Benjamin Franklin Dr
29 paikallista suosittelee
Rent 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 paikallista suosittelee
Nokomis Public Beach
115 S Casey Key Rd
37 paikallista suosittelee
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
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 Dr
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!

Arts & Culture

87 paikallista suosittelee
Ca d'Zan
5401 Bay Shore Rd
87 paikallista suosittelee
Excellent renaissance style theater. Always sold out - reserve in advance - theater, ballet and more
62 paikallista suosittelee
Asolo Repertory hosts the Mertz Theatre
5555 N Tamiami Trail
62 paikallista suosittelee
Excellent 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 paikallista suosittelee
Florida Studio Theatre
1241 N Palm Ave
74 paikallista suosittelee
Excellent theater with great restaurants nearby. Reserve in advance, always sold out
22 paikallista suosittelee
Urbanite Theatre
1487 2nd St
22 paikallista suosittelee

Entertainment & Activities

Great place to see, touch and feel exhibits about our ocean
532 paikallista suosittelee
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy
532 paikallista suosittelee
Great 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 paikallista suosittelee
Ed Smith Stadium
2700 12th St
54 paikallista suosittelee
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!

Shopping

Outdoor shopping with everything from home decor to bikinis and flip flops
358 paikallista suosittelee
St Armands Circle Shops
300 St Armands Cir
358 paikallista suosittelee
Outdoor shopping with everything from home decor to bikinis and flip flops