Guidebook for Sarasota
Drinks & Nightlife
It is a cool modern take on the traditional beer garden. Tuesday nights the pizza food truck is amazing!
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Mandeville Beer Garden
428 N Lemon AveIt is a cool modern take on the traditional beer garden. Tuesday nights the pizza food truck is amazing!
It is a classic sports bar with lots of TVs and its own bowling lane. Family friendly, too.
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Evie's Tavern & Grill
1560 Main StreetIt is a classic sports bar with lots of TVs and its own bowling lane. Family friendly, too.
This is a unique space for Sarasota with a dark and moody feel, attentive cocktail service, and lots of quiet seating areas. The adjoining restaurant is amazing, too.
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State Street Eating House + Cocktails
1533 State StThis is a unique space for Sarasota with a dark and moody feel, attentive cocktail service, and lots of quiet seating areas. The adjoining restaurant is amazing, too.
O'Leary's is a must-visit Sarasota bayfront spot. The tiki bar often features live music, but the bayfront views are the real draw. There is a decent bar food menu, too. It is one of those touristy spots that is also a mainstay for locals.
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Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront DrO'Leary's is a must-visit Sarasota bayfront spot. The tiki bar often features live music, but the bayfront views are the real draw. There is a decent bar food menu, too. It is one of those touristy spots that is also a mainstay for locals.
The new Westin hotel boasts Sarasota's rooftop bar with the best views. You can do a high class bar hop to the restaurant downstairs and on to Jack Dusty at the Ritz Carlton. Avoid weekend evenings if you don't want to wait in line for the elevator, as there is an occupancy limit. We most enjoy Sunday afternoons there.
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The Westin Sarasota
100 Marina View DrThe new Westin hotel boasts Sarasota's rooftop bar with the best views. You can do a high class bar hop to the restaurant downstairs and on to Jack Dusty at the Ritz Carlton. Avoid weekend evenings if you don't want to wait in line for the elevator, as there is an occupancy limit. We most enjoy Sunday afternoons there.
The Reserve is a pair of historic houses converted to a coffee shop, wine bar, and restaurant. They have a great brunch, prosecco on tap, and just a lovely atmosphere.
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The Reserve Retreat
1322 N Tamiami TrailThe Reserve is a pair of historic houses converted to a coffee shop, wine bar, and restaurant. They have a great brunch, prosecco on tap, and just a lovely atmosphere.
This is just a fun spot for tacos and cocktails. The taco menu is anything but traditional, with options like Korean pork, fried chicken, and falafel. I like the atmosphere with different settings throughout - bar, tables, sofas, outdoor seating. Also check out 99 Bottles, the wine bar next door.
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Circo
1435 2nd StThis is just a fun spot for tacos and cocktails. The taco menu is anything but traditional, with options like Korean pork, fried chicken, and falafel. I like the atmosphere with different settings throughout - bar, tables, sofas, outdoor seating. Also check out 99 Bottles, the wine bar next door.
Parks & Nature
Large urban park with tennis courts and pavilion is just a half a block from home.
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Gillespie Park
Large urban park with tennis courts and pavilion is just a half a block from home.
This is Sarasota's premier beach, known for its pristine white sand and tremendous amenities. Arrive early for parking.
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Spiaggia di Siesta
This is Sarasota's premier beach, known for its pristine white sand and tremendous amenities. Arrive early for parking.
Lido Beach is closer than Siesta. It lacks the amenities of Siesta Beach, but also the crowds. Head north on the beach for more seclusion, well north for the unofficial gay beach area.
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Spiaggia di Lido Key
400 Benjamin Franklin DrLido Beach is closer than Siesta. It lacks the amenities of Siesta Beach, but also the crowds. Head north on the beach for more seclusion, well north for the unofficial gay beach area.
Food Scene
For breakfast, lunch or dinner, Lolita Tartine is a quiet and modern French patisserie with friendly service and a refreshing dining room.
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Lolita Tartine
1419 5th StFor breakfast, lunch or dinner, Lolita Tartine is a quiet and modern French patisserie with friendly service and a refreshing dining room.
Brilliant veggie friendly dining in a well designed space. The chef/owner is our neighbor and super creative.
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Lila
1576 Main StBrilliant veggie friendly dining in a well designed space. The chef/owner is our neighbor and super creative.
It is a quick local lunch spot for brilliant sandwiches and salads. It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but convenient and fresh.
Maximillian's Cafe
1695 10th StIt is a quick local lunch spot for brilliant sandwiches and salads. It is a bit of a hole in the wall, but convenient and fresh.
This is our weekly sushi destination. The owners are so accommodating.
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Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi
100 Central AveThis is our weekly sushi destination. The owners are so accommodating.
In my humble opinion, this is Sarasota's best restaurant.
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Indigenous Restaurant
239 S Links AveIn my humble opinion, this is Sarasota's best restaurant.
This breakfast and lunch spot is an old train station transformed, good for indoor and outdoor dining. The cobb salad is my favorite.
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Station 400
400 N Lemon AveThis breakfast and lunch spot is an old train station transformed, good for indoor and outdoor dining. The cobb salad is my favorite.
Old house turned into a breakfast restaurant, good for lunch too, and a short walk from home.
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Breakfast House
1817 Fruitville RdOld house turned into a breakfast restaurant, good for lunch too, and a short walk from home.
One of Florida's biggest farmers markets runs every Saturday AM. The best produce is the organic stand on State Street. Great prepared foods, plants, coffee, and even live music populate the market. Dimmit opens its doors to its exotic array of cars on State Street, too, so you can pick up a new Bentley to go with that organic kale.
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Mercato degli agricoltori di Sarasota
North Lemon AvenueOne of Florida's biggest farmers markets runs every Saturday AM. The best produce is the organic stand on State Street. Great prepared foods, plants, coffee, and even live music populate the market. Dimmit opens its doors to its exotic array of cars on State Street, too, so you can pick up a new Bentley to go with that organic kale.
Bricks started as a vendor in Sarasota's Farmers Market and now occupies a cool modern industrial space on State Street, parallel to Main Street downtown. It is a fast casual setup with long shared tables and a view into the adjacent exotic cars showroom. The service is great and the bar offers craft cocktails, lending a higher end feel to a family friendly and affordable restaurant.
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Brick's Smoked Meats
1528 State StBricks started as a vendor in Sarasota's Farmers Market and now occupies a cool modern industrial space on State Street, parallel to Main Street downtown. It is a fast casual setup with long shared tables and a view into the adjacent exotic cars showroom. The service is great and the bar offers craft cocktails, lending a higher end feel to a family friendly and affordable restaurant.
The cheese is simply amazing, whether wrapped to go or on a grilled cheese sandwich enjoyed inside.
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Artisan Cheese Company
550 Central AveThe cheese is simply amazing, whether wrapped to go or on a grilled cheese sandwich enjoyed inside.
St Armand's Circle boasts a lot of great restaurants (and some tourist traps). Blu Kouzinsa stands out as a traditional Greek seafood restaurant, with the waiters bringing out trays of the fresh catch so you can pick your fish. It is expensive, but a worthwhile experience. Eat outside to take in the pedestrian traffic around the circle.
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Blu Kouzina
25 N Boulevard of the PresidentsSt Armand's Circle boasts a lot of great restaurants (and some tourist traps). Blu Kouzinsa stands out as a traditional Greek seafood restaurant, with the waiters bringing out trays of the fresh catch so you can pick your fish. It is expensive, but a worthwhile experience. Eat outside to take in the pedestrian traffic around the circle.
Italian Tradition (IT) is a high end Italian restaurant that is not heavy on pasta and sauce like most American Italian spots. The owners are quite welcoming and the setting is romantic, inside or out in the courtyard. Plus it is just two blocks from home. Reservations recommended.
Italian Tradition Restaurant & Martini Bar
481 N Orange AveItalian Tradition (IT) is a high end Italian restaurant that is not heavy on pasta and sauce like most American Italian spots. The owners are quite welcoming and the setting is romantic, inside or out in the courtyard. Plus it is just two blocks from home. Reservations recommended.
New Mexican restaurant on Main Street with interesting tacos and a great bar.
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El Melvin Cocina Mexicana
1355 Main StNew Mexican restaurant on Main Street with interesting tacos and a great bar.
Sightseeing
If you're a runner, this should be your first destination. It is a bit steep but the views back at the city are worth it.
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John Ringling Causeway
John Ringling CausewayIf you're a runner, this should be your first destination. It is a bit steep but the views back at the city are worth it.
Beautiful site with a broad take on Sarasota history and bay views.
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Historic Spanish Point
401 N Tamiami TrailBeautiful site with a broad take on Sarasota history and bay views.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
1451 1st StPublix Super Market at Broadway Promenade
1044 N Tamiami TrailIf it is pouring rain go to this Publix. It has a garage under the store.
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Publix Super Market at Bay Street
2031 Bay StIf it is pouring rain go to this Publix. It has a garage under the store.
Shopping
Canned Ham Vintage
2081 12th StreetFunky vintage clothing, jewelry, etc.
Palm Avenue has an eclectic mix of art galleries, rug shops, and women's clothing options with a few standout restaurants along the way.
South Palm Avenue
South Palm AvenuePalm Avenue has an eclectic mix of art galleries, rug shops, and women's clothing options with a few standout restaurants along the way.
Entertainment & Activities
Sarasota has a typical cineplex on Main Street, but Burns Court focuses on independent films and is a membership supported non-profit. It is the epicenter of the Sarasota Film Festival and the Fabulous Independent Film Festival.
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Burns Court Cinemas
506 Burns CtSarasota has a typical cineplex on Main Street, but Burns Court focuses on independent films and is a membership supported non-profit. It is the epicenter of the Sarasota Film Festival and the Fabulous Independent Film Festival.