Best of Sarasota
Sightseeing
The place that helped put Sarasota on the map. The Ringling Museum and Ca d'Zan are just about a 2min drive or 15-20min walk up the road.
This museum showcases the art collection John and Mable Ringling acquired during their lifetimes, incl. many paintings and sculptures by Old World Masters.
Check out the website for special events and occasional eveing music or morning yoga in the gardens.
The museum is free to visit on Mondays.
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John and Mable Ringling Museum
5401 Bay Shore RdThe place that helped put Sarasota on the map. The Ringling Museum and Ca d'Zan are just about a 2min drive or 15-20min walk up the road.
This museum showcases the art collection John and Mable Ringling acquired during their lifetimes, incl. many paintings and sculptures by Old World Masters.
Check out the website for special events and occasional eveing music or morning yoga in the gardens.
The museum is free to visit on Mondays.
Join for outdoor yoga (Classic Eastern) in the park at 4:30PM Monday, 5:30PM Wednesday, and 10AM on Saturday. Classes are approximately 90mins. Bring your own water and mat (or just use a beach towel). Cost is based on the number of attendees, but usually around $10/pp.
Also beautiful for sunset every night!
Swingset and playground as well which is nice for families traveling with kids.
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Sapphire Shores Park
5015 Sun CirJoin for outdoor yoga (Classic Eastern) in the park at 4:30PM Monday, 5:30PM Wednesday, and 10AM on Saturday. Classes are approximately 90mins. Bring your own water and mat (or just use a beach towel). Cost is based on the number of attendees, but usually around $10/pp.
Also beautiful for sunset every night!
Swingset and playground as well which is nice for families traveling with kids.
World class beach. Ample street parking (free), or snag a spot in the dedicated lot for around $2/hr.
Located just a 5min walk away from St. Armand's Circle which has great options for dining and boutique shopping.
We love picking up pizza from Rico's at St. Armand's and then picnicking on the beach. Alcohol is permitted so long as there's no glass.
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Spiaggia di Lido Key
400 Benjamin Franklin DrWorld class beach. Ample street parking (free), or snag a spot in the dedicated lot for around $2/hr.
Located just a 5min walk away from St. Armand's Circle which has great options for dining and boutique shopping.
We love picking up pizza from Rico's at St. Armand's and then picnicking on the beach. Alcohol is permitted so long as there's no glass.
Part of the broader Ringling Museum campus. Offers an incredible glimpse of the opulence of the Roaring 20s.
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Ca d'Zan
5401 Bay Shore RdPart of the broader Ringling Museum campus. Offers an incredible glimpse of the opulence of the Roaring 20s.
Great place to take kids. Lots of exotic and tropical animals including flamingos you can hand feed and alligators. Check the website for various show times where you can see special exhibits such as a daily jungle bird show.
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Giardini della Giungla di Sarasota
3701 Bay Shore RdGreat place to take kids. Lots of exotic and tropical animals including flamingos you can hand feed and alligators. Check the website for various show times where you can see special exhibits such as a daily jungle bird show.
World class botanical gardens. Also check out the website for special events. There's often yoga classes offered in the garden and evening music events.
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Giardini Botanici di Marie Selby
1534 Mound StWorld class botanical gardens. Also check out the website for special events. There's often yoga classes offered in the garden and evening music events.
Nice park set up alongside Sarasota Bay. On weekends there's often live music and donation-based yoga classes.
The Bay Sarasota
655 N Tamiami TrailNice park set up alongside Sarasota Bay. On weekends there's often live music and donation-based yoga classes.
Museum focused on contemporary and modern art which is part of the broader Ringling College of Design. Also has a great cafe and giftshop.
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Sarasota Art Museum
1001 S Tamiami TrailMuseum focused on contemporary and modern art which is part of the broader Ringling College of Design. Also has a great cafe and giftshop.
Unique experience located within Myakka State Park. Climb a staircase up to the tree canopy and then walk along a suspended walkway. Great for wildlife spotting and a glimpse of wild Florida. The park is located about 45mins drive from our home.
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Myakka Canopy Walkway and Observation Tower
Unique experience located within Myakka State Park. Climb a staircase up to the tree canopy and then walk along a suspended walkway. Great for wildlife spotting and a glimpse of wild Florida. The park is located about 45mins drive from our home.
World class aquarium where visitors can see a wide range of local aquatic life as well as a tank featuring sharks and stingrays. A separate annex houses manatees.
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Laboratorio Marino Mote
1600 Ken Thompson PkwyWorld class aquarium where visitors can see a wide range of local aquatic life as well as a tank featuring sharks and stingrays. A separate annex houses manatees.
Food scene
Delicious coffee and the best croissants (particularly the pain au chocolate) in Sarasota.
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Buddy Brew Coffee - Sarasota
1289 N Palm AveDelicious coffee and the best croissants (particularly the pain au chocolate) in Sarasota.
Fun outdoor beer garden with 30+ beers on tap incl. several from local breweries. Good food as well and daily happy hour starting around 4PM. Usually there's trivia on Tues evening.
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Mandeville Beer Garden
428 N Lemon AveFun outdoor beer garden with 30+ beers on tap incl. several from local breweries. Good food as well and daily happy hour starting around 4PM. Usually there's trivia on Tues evening.
Come for daily happy hour! Live music daily and 1/2 price oysters (and they're good!). Lots of other seafood options as well if oysters aren't your thing :)
Call ahead to get added to the wait list for a table as this place is often packed.
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Siesta Key Oyster Bar
5238 Ocean BlvdCome for daily happy hour! Live music daily and 1/2 price oysters (and they're good!). Lots of other seafood options as well if oysters aren't your thing :)
Call ahead to get added to the wait list for a table as this place is often packed.
ofKors Bakery
1359 Main StDelicious European bakery. Sweet treats!
Classy restaurant located within the Ritz Carlton. Enjoy a nice lunch or dinner overlooking the Bay!
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Jack Dusty
1111 Ritz Carlton DrClassy restaurant located within the Ritz Carlton. Enjoy a nice lunch or dinner overlooking the Bay!
Great place for lunch on St. Armand's circle. The best Cuban sandwiches around, and the 1905 salad is also a classic. Great pitchers of sangria as well.
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Columbia Restaurant
411 St Armands CirGreat place for lunch on St. Armand's circle. The best Cuban sandwiches around, and the 1905 salad is also a classic. Great pitchers of sangria as well.
Old school drive in diner that harkens back to the 1950s or 60s. Great place for families looking for a casual lunch of burgers and fries sitting with outdoor seating.
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Hob Nob Drive In Restaurant
1701 N Washington BlvdOld school drive in diner that harkens back to the 1950s or 60s. Great place for families looking for a casual lunch of burgers and fries sitting with outdoor seating.
Delicious coffee shop located on Main St in the heart of downtown.
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Breaking Wave Coffee
1310 Main StDelicious coffee shop located on Main St in the heart of downtown.
Trendy restaurant located downtown that has excellent Greek and Mediterranean food and cocktails. 1/2 price wine bottles on Monday.
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1592 | Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails
1592 Main StreetTrendy restaurant located downtown that has excellent Greek and Mediterranean food and cocktails. 1/2 price wine bottles on Monday.
Pho Cali
1578 Main StAuthentic Vietnamese food. Very fresh and great for lunch.
Trendy French bistro style restaurant built into a former auto garage and located on the north end of Longboat Key. Also a close walk to a great public beach.
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Whitney's
6990 Gulf of Mexico DrTrendy French bistro style restaurant built into a former auto garage and located on the north end of Longboat Key. Also a close walk to a great public beach.
Great coffee in the heart of downtowm! They also set up a mobile coffee cart each Saturday at the Farmers Market.
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O & A Coffee and Supply
1316 Main StreetGreat coffee in the heart of downtowm! They also set up a mobile coffee cart each Saturday at the Farmers Market.
Local chain restaurant that's popular for breakfast and lunch.
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First Watch
1395 Main StLocal chain restaurant that's popular for breakfast and lunch.
Excellent menu featuring a mix of local seafood as well as delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes. Upscale but still reasonably priced.
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Indigenous Restaurant
239 S Links AveExcellent menu featuring a mix of local seafood as well as delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes. Upscale but still reasonably priced.
Our favorite local seafood place located in Burns Court in Downtown Sarasota. Fun and casual atmosphere that's "an ode to old Florida living." And the food is great! The Banyan tree located out front was a gift from Thomas Edison.
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Owens Fish Camp
516 Burns CtOur favorite local seafood place located in Burns Court in Downtown Sarasota. Fun and casual atmosphere that's "an ode to old Florida living." And the food is great! The Banyan tree located out front was a gift from Thomas Edison.
This place is one of our faves! At the entrance to Bayfront Park which has a beautiful ~1mile loop trail that runs along the water and offers great views of the Bay and Downtown Sarasota.
O'Leary's is a fun/casual Tiki Bar with live music every day. Our drink of choice is a Dark'n'Stormy with Meyer's Rum and then grab one of the picnic tables on the sand. Best in the evenings for sunset.
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Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront DrThis place is one of our faves! At the entrance to Bayfront Park which has a beautiful ~1mile loop trail that runs along the water and offers great views of the Bay and Downtown Sarasota.
O'Leary's is a fun/casual Tiki Bar with live music every day. Our drink of choice is a Dark'n'Stormy with Meyer's Rum and then grab one of the picnic tables on the sand. Best in the evenings for sunset.
One of our favorite restaurants in Sarasota. Exceptional German food (think schnitzel, bratwurst, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, etc...and of course a great beer selection). There's also a great biergarten outside that's perfect for families
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Siegfried's Restaurant and German Biergarten
1869 Fruitville RdOne of our favorite restaurants in Sarasota. Exceptional German food (think schnitzel, bratwurst, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, etc...and of course a great beer selection). There's also a great biergarten outside that's perfect for families
Shopping
The Exchange
539 S Orange AveGreat thrifting!
High end designer consignment. Must visit for fashionable finds for the ladies.
Designing Women Boutique
1226 N Tamiami TrailHigh end designer consignment. Must visit for fashionable finds for the ladies.
Weekly Farmers Market that happens downtown every Saturday from 7AM-1PM. Very popular for locals and tourists alike.
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Mercato degli agricoltori di Sarasota
North Lemon AvenueWeekly Farmers Market that happens downtown every Saturday from 7AM-1PM. Very popular for locals and tourists alike.
Premium outlet mall located about 30mins drive away.
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Ellenton Premium Outlets
5461 Factory Shops BlvdPremium outlet mall located about 30mins drive away.
Fun historic beach town with lots of restaurants and funky (and kitschy) boutiques. Good to tie in with a visit to Siesta Key Beach. Located about 25mins (depending on traffic) from our home.
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Siesta Key Village
County Road 789 AlternateFun historic beach town with lots of restaurants and funky (and kitschy) boutiques. Good to tie in with a visit to Siesta Key Beach. Located about 25mins (depending on traffic) from our home.
Plethora of good dining and shopping options. A few of our favorites include the Columbia (get the Cuban Sandwich, 1905 Salad, and pitcher of Sangria), Rico's (grab a pizza to go and picnic at nearby Lido Beach), go a bit more upscale with dinner/drinks at Tommy Bahama, or let loose at Daiquiri Deck.
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St Armands Circle Shops
300 St Armands CirPlethora of good dining and shopping options. A few of our favorites include the Columbia (get the Cuban Sandwich, 1905 Salad, and pitcher of Sangria), Rico's (grab a pizza to go and picnic at nearby Lido Beach), go a bit more upscale with dinner/drinks at Tommy Bahama, or let loose at Daiquiri Deck.