Our Sarasota Guidebook
Sightseeing
Great place for strolling. Plenty of restaurants and quaint shops.
358 locals recommend
St Armands Circle Shops
300 St Armands CirGreat place for strolling. Plenty of restaurants and quaint shops.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
1534 Mound StBeautiful gardens on the bay!
Gorgeous building. Located right on the bay with spectacular art on display!
540 locals recommend
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore RdGorgeous building. Located right on the bay with spectacular art on display!
Confirm the seasonally open dates. Whimsical art, tropical garden and a fun place to visit!
41 locals recommend
Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy Closed from May 25, 2019 to Novermber 29,2019
2121 N Tamiami TrailConfirm the seasonally open dates. Whimsical art, tropical garden and a fun place to visit!
Mainstreet is charming with galleries, shops, outdoor cafes, bars, and restaurants. A must see!
106 locals recommend
Downtown
Mainstreet is charming with galleries, shops, outdoor cafes, bars, and restaurants. A must see!
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson PkwyNice waterfront educational aquarium
The Village is a must see days or evenings. Restaurants, bars with live music, beach shops and a great stroll. Parking is not easy to find though. Tickets are given frequently so make sure you park in a designated area.
91 locals recommend
Siesta Key Village
County Road 789 AlternateThe Village is a must see days or evenings. Restaurants, bars with live music, beach shops and a great stroll. Parking is not easy to find though. Tickets are given frequently so make sure you park in a designated area.
Not only a great area to visit, but grab some fresh made deli foods or sandwiches at Mortons' to take with you for a beach lunch. Don't forget to check out their bakery and wine shop while inside.
63 locals recommend
Morton's Gourmet Market
1924 S Osprey AveNot only a great area to visit, but grab some fresh made deli foods or sandwiches at Mortons' to take with you for a beach lunch. Don't forget to check out their bakery and wine shop while inside.
Myakka River State Park
13208 State Rd 72Lovely park to hike and to see alligators in the wild
Ringling Park
A nice area to walk
Siesta Key Paddleboards
8969 Blind Pass RdFun day time dolphin and sunset tiki bar cruises with live music. Reservations recommended.
37 locals recommend
LeBarge Tropical Cruises
2 Marina PlazaFun day time dolphin and sunset tiki bar cruises with live music. Reservations recommended.
Historic Spanish Point
401 N Tamiami TrailNice area to walk. Craft and food market on Wednsdays
Sarasota Farmers Market
North Lemon AvenueSaturday's downtown. Must do!
Pre-sundown drum festival. Bring drinks, beach chairs and coolers!
62 locals recommend
Siesta Key Drum Circle
948 Beach RdPre-sundown drum festival. Bring drinks, beach chairs and coolers!
Waterfront Views
Great outdoor bay-side eating. Live music and dinners at night. Nice to stroll the marina anytime!
257 locals recommend
marina jacks
2 Marina PlazaGreat outdoor bay-side eating. Live music and dinners at night. Nice to stroll the marina anytime!
Sit with your toes in the sand. Views of the bay and downtown. Tropical drinks, food and live music. Stroll the marina while you're there.
171 locals recommend
Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront DrSit with your toes in the sand. Views of the bay and downtown. Tropical drinks, food and live music. Stroll the marina while you're there.
On Anna Maria Island, this is one of our favorites to eat out with toes in the sand. Spectacular beach and views. 45 minute drive over the Ringling bridge.
168 locals recommend
The Sandbar Restaurant
100 Spring AveOn Anna Maria Island, this is one of our favorites to eat out with toes in the sand. Spectacular beach and views. 45 minute drive over the Ringling bridge.
On the pricier side but fabulous food and salad bar. Outdoor seating too.
28 locals recommend
Chart House
201 Gulf of Mexico DrOn the pricier side but fabulous food and salad bar. Outdoor seating too.
Evies @ Spanish Point
135 Bayview DrWaterfront dinning on the bay
Ophelia's on the Bay
9105 Midnight Pass RdBay front dining
Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar
5353 S Tamiami TrailCasual outdoor dining on the Phillippi Creek River
Food and Drinks
Casual waterfront restaurant on the Phillippe Creek. One of favorites for oysters!
57 locals recommend
Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar
5353 S Tamiami TrailCasual waterfront restaurant on the Phillippe Creek. One of favorites for oysters!
Tiki restaurant ight down the road from us, Walt's is a Tiki restaurant on the main trail. Odd location, but you don't think about it once you sit down. Live music and great seafood!
150 locals recommend
Walt's Fish Market Restaurant
4144 S Tamiami TrailTiki restaurant ight down the road from us, Walt's is a Tiki restaurant on the main trail. Odd location, but you don't think about it once you sit down. Live music and great seafood!
ABC Fine Wine & Spirits
2720 Bee Ridge RdGreat lunch spot downtown. Live music at night for dinner or drinks. Look for the Tiki torches outside and you'll know you're there!
72 locals recommend
Mattison's City Grille Downtown Sarasota
1 N Lemon AveGreat lunch spot downtown. Live music at night for dinner or drinks. Look for the Tiki torches outside and you'll know you're there!
Toasted Mango Cafe
430 N Tamiami TrailGreat breakfast and lunch restaurant. Parking is limited.
Outdoor seating for breakfast or lunch. Soak up our downtown atmosphere with a European vibe.
20 locals recommend
Cafe L'Europe
431 St Armands CirOutdoor seating for breakfast or lunch. Soak up our downtown atmosphere with a European vibe.
One of many restaurants downtown. Across the street is a favorite evening hangout.
48 locals recommend
Cafe Epicure
1298 N Palm AveOne of many restaurants downtown. Across the street is a favorite evening hangout.
Bonefish Grill
8101 Cooper Creek BlvdLocal chain restaurant with great food.
The Mall at University Town Center
140 University Town Center DrLarge mall with some great restaurants
Charming breakfast and lunch restaurant with indoor & outdoor eating of 4th street.
54 locals recommend
Station 400
400 N Lemon AveCharming breakfast and lunch restaurant with indoor & outdoor eating of 4th street.
One of our favs for atmosphere and great Italian food. On the pricier side but worth it!
CasAntica Ristorante
1213 N Palm AveOne of our favs for atmosphere and great Italian food. On the pricier side but worth it!
Gecko’s Grill & Pub
1900 Hillview StLocal chain restaurant. Outdoor seating on a trendy street.
Pacific Rim
1859 Hillview StGreat sushi restaurant
The Original Egg
4031 Clark RdGreat breakfast please on Clark Road
Beaches
North, south or central Lido Beaches are the locals fav. Keep this to yourself!
442 locals recommend
Lido Key Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin DrNorth, south or central Lido Beaches are the locals fav. Keep this to yourself!
Rated #1 Beach in America numerous times. If you don't mind crowds, this is a beautiful beach that should be visited at least once, or daily if you are young!
798 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
Rated #1 Beach in America numerous times. If you don't mind crowds, this is a beautiful beach that should be visited at least once, or daily if you are young!
For a more remote beach with beautiful driftwood on the waters edge, this is a local favorite. Hand a right from the parking lots beach entrance and keep walking. You'll go through a mangrove path to get there. It's a bit of a hike but we'll worth it.
32 locals recommend
Beer Can Island
North Shore RoadFor a more remote beach with beautiful driftwood on the waters edge, this is a local favorite. Hand a right from the parking lots beach entrance and keep walking. You'll go through a mangrove path to get there. It's a bit of a hike but we'll worth it.
Turtle Beach
Not as white sand, but quieter than most.
Laundromat
Bahia Vista Laundromat
2037 Bahia Vista StNightlife
The Gator Club
1490 Main StYounger scene with live music
Tiki Bar restaurant on the east side of Sarasota. Live bands at night. BBQ style menu
18 locals recommend
Stottlemyer's Smokehouse
19 E RdTiki Bar restaurant on the east side of Sarasota. Live bands at night. BBQ style menu
Mattison's City Grille Downtown Sarasota
1 N Lemon AveLive music and dancing for older crowd
marina jacks
2 Marina PlazaLive music and dancing. Mostly older crowd.
Smokin' Joes
1448 Main StYoung crowd
The Blue Rooster
1525 4th StGreat bands and good bar food
Gilligan's Island Bar & Grill
5253 Ocean BlvdLively beach dance bar for the young crowd
SuperMarkets
Not much to say about Trader Joe's other than if you don't know it, do go!
Fresh food market and great selection of wines.
Literally down the street from us!
110 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
4101 S Tamiami TrailNot much to say about Trader Joe's other than if you don't know it, do go!
Fresh food market and great selection of wines.
Literally down the street from us!
Right down the road from us. Large supermarket and alcohol shop attached.
30 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Shops at Siesta Row
3825 S Osprey AveRight down the road from us. Large supermarket and alcohol shop attached.
Natural food market downtown. Parking garage is across the road.
140 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1451 1st StNatural food market downtown. Parking garage is across the road.
Walmart Neighborhood Market
3560 Bee Ridge RdSupermarket
Detwiler’S Farm Market
2881 Clark RdThe best fresh, healthy foods!