Guidebook for Sarasota
Food Scene
Delicious burgers/fries/shakes made from locally sourced ingredients. YUM!
8 locals recommend
Smacks Burgers & Shakes
2407 Bee Ridge RdDelicious burgers/fries/shakes made from locally sourced ingredients. YUM!
Solorzano Bros. - Webber St.
3604 Webber StOur favorite pizza in Sarasota.
Probably our favorite restaurant in Sarasota. It's definitely a "must try" if you're looking for delicious Chinese food!
31 locals recommend
Yummy House China Bistro Sarasota
1737 S Tamiami TrailProbably our favorite restaurant in Sarasota. It's definitely a "must try" if you're looking for delicious Chinese food!
Awesome, authentic, Mexican food! The staff is really friendly and the food is tasty! We love the tacos, chicken tortilla soup and horchata!
Mariscos Azteca Mexican Seafood Restaurant
1100 N Tuttle AveAwesome, authentic, Mexican food! The staff is really friendly and the food is tasty! We love the tacos, chicken tortilla soup and horchata!
A very casual place to eat on the water. We love it for the views and delicious cheeseburgers!
33 locals recommend
New Pass Grill & Bait Shop
1505 Ken Thompson PkwyA very casual place to eat on the water. We love it for the views and delicious cheeseburgers!
A trendy spot on St. Armand's Circle for cocktails, brunch or dinner. We enjoy the fried chicken, truffle fries and mussels.
82 locals recommend
Shore St. Armands
465 John Ringling BlvdA trendy spot on St. Armand's Circle for cocktails, brunch or dinner. We enjoy the fried chicken, truffle fries and mussels.
Sun Garden Cafe
210 Avenida MaderaA delicious spot for breakfast!
Don't miss this spot if you're on Siesta Key. They have amazing mini donuts!
13 locals recommend
Meaney's Mini Donuts & Coffee House
205 Canal RdDon't miss this spot if you're on Siesta Key. They have amazing mini donuts!
Our absolute favorite place to go for smoothies and/or frozen yogurt. This is a locally owned shop, where they serve locally made frozen yogurt. Take our advice and check it out!
SunniBunni Frozen Yogurt & Smoothies
1916 Bay RdOur absolute favorite place to go for smoothies and/or frozen yogurt. This is a locally owned shop, where they serve locally made frozen yogurt. Take our advice and check it out!
Our favorite Thai restaurant in Sarasota. The owner is so friendly, and the food is yummy!
Tropical Thai Restaurant
1535 Main StOur favorite Thai restaurant in Sarasota. The owner is so friendly, and the food is yummy!
Pho 99
5191 Clark RdOur favorite pho in Sarasota!
A great "hole in the wall" place for seafood. Outdoor seating only on the Bay. Get there early or before the dinner rush, because it gets very crowded!
102 locals recommend
Star Fish Company
12306 46th Ave WA great "hole in the wall" place for seafood. Outdoor seating only on the Bay. Get there early or before the dinner rush, because it gets very crowded!
Parks & Nature
Very nice park with a walking trail, fitness stations along the trail and different age-appropriate playgrounds.
10 locals recommend
Urfer Family Park
4012 Honore AveVery nice park with a walking trail, fitness stations along the trail and different age-appropriate playgrounds.
An awesome wooded preserve. Great place to take a walk. They have trails and a small fishing dock.
20 locals recommend
Red Bug Slough Preserve
5200 S Beneva RdAn awesome wooded preserve. Great place to take a walk. They have trails and a small fishing dock.
World famous, picturesque beach with white sand and beautiful water.
798 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
World famous, picturesque beach with white sand and beautiful water.
We love going to Bayfront Park for the beautiful views of Sarasota Bay. Great place to people watch. Grab a drink at O'Leary's and catch the sunset!
103 locals recommend
Bayfront Park
5 Bayfront DrWe love going to Bayfront Park for the beautiful views of Sarasota Bay. Great place to people watch. Grab a drink at O'Leary's and catch the sunset!
A small but beautiful park on the south end of Longboat Key. This is a great spot for beautiful views of New Pass.
Overlook Park
201 FL-789A small but beautiful park on the south end of Longboat Key. This is a great spot for beautiful views of New Pass.
We love this park because you have access to walk around the southern tip of Lido Key. You'll find views of the Pass, Gulf and Siesta Key. You might even see some dolphins!
29 locals recommend
South Lido Park
2201 Benjamin Franklin DrWe love this park because you have access to walk around the southern tip of Lido Key. You'll find views of the Pass, Gulf and Siesta Key. You might even see some dolphins!
An awesome state park! They have hiking trails, a very nice tree canopy walkway, river boat tours, and alligators!
382 locals recommend
Myakka River State Park
13208 State Rd 72An awesome state park! They have hiking trails, a very nice tree canopy walkway, river boat tours, and alligators!
Essentials
Closest to our house. Carries a wide variety of foods.
12 locals recommend
Publix Super Market at Sarasota Village Plaza
3690 Bee Ridge RdClosest to our house. Carries a wide variety of foods.
The only Trader Joe’s in Sarasota. We love the variety of food and snacks (and cheap wine!) there.
110 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
4101 S Tamiami TrailThe only Trader Joe’s in Sarasota. We love the variety of food and snacks (and cheap wine!) there.
Detwiler's Farm Market
6000 Palmer BlvdAmish grocery that carries lots of interesting items.
Walgreens
3601 Bee Ridge RdArts & Culture
A great museum with incredible grounds! They have different museums within the gates, so make sure to allow enough time to check it all out. Yao used to work there, so ask him about it!
540 locals recommend
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore RdA great museum with incredible grounds! They have different museums within the gates, so make sure to allow enough time to check it all out. Yao used to work there, so ask him about it!
A very enjoyable theater! They have various plays during the year.
19 locals recommend
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe
1012 N Orange AveA very enjoyable theater! They have various plays during the year.
Florida Studio Theatre
1241 N Palm AveWe love the different shows that the Sarasota Orchestra offers!
14 locals recommend
Sarasota Orchestra
709 N Tamiami TrailWe love the different shows that the Sarasota Orchestra offers!
sarasota opera
61 N Pineapple AveThe Urbanite opened last year and features original, contemporary plays throughout the year.
22 locals recommend
Urbanite Theatre
1487 2nd StThe Urbanite opened last year and features original, contemporary plays throughout the year.
Sightseeing
A wonderful botanical garden! You'll find great views of the Bay, interesting plants and a really cool rain forest children's area. They also have an art museum that is housed in a historic mansion.
433 locals recommend
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
1534 Mound StA wonderful botanical garden! You'll find great views of the Bay, interesting plants and a really cool rain forest children's area. They also have an art museum that is housed in a historic mansion.
Historic Spanish Point
401 N Tamiami TrailA museum and park on the Bay.
The island is split into three cities- Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. All of the cities have access to the beach and shopping areas. It's a cute place to walk around.
374 locals recommend
Anna Maria Island Chamber
5313 Gulf DrThe island is split into three cities- Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. All of the cities have access to the beach and shopping areas. It's a cute place to walk around.
Entertainment & Activities
A nice place to catch a movie. We love the leather seats, Korean fried chicken that they serve you at your seat, and the gourmet popcorn they serve on a plate!
94 locals recommend
CinéBistro
3501 S Tamiami TrailA nice place to catch a movie. We love the leather seats, Korean fried chicken that they serve you at your seat, and the gourmet popcorn they serve on a plate!
An aquarium that has otters and rescued wild life.
532 locals recommend
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson PkwyAn aquarium that has otters and rescued wild life.
Burns Court Cinemas
506 Burns CtIndependent movie theater on a quaint street
Drinks & Nightlife
A cute beer garden that serves craft beer and good food. They have indoor and outdoor seating, ping pong and corn hole.
28 locals recommend
Mandeville Beer Garden
428 N Lemon AveA cute beer garden that serves craft beer and good food. They have indoor and outdoor seating, ping pong and corn hole.
A cool local brewery. They also have fun events throughout the month.
24 locals recommend
JDub's Brewing Company
1215 Mango AveA cool local brewery. They also have fun events throughout the month.
A fun hole-in-the-wall bar. They have different events throughout the week that are pretty fun! Note: they only serve beer
6 locals recommend
Growler's Pub
2831 N Tamiami TrailA fun hole-in-the-wall bar. They have different events throughout the week that are pretty fun! Note: they only serve beer
A speakeasy-type lounge. They have a creative drink menu and an intimate vibe. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for a chill atmosphere with good drinks and food!
28 locals recommend
Pangea Alchemy Lab
1564 Main StA speakeasy-type lounge. They have a creative drink menu and an intimate vibe. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the mood for a chill atmosphere with good drinks and food!
A nice bar/restaurant. They have a nice fire pit in the back with couches and a DJ.
27 locals recommend
Social Eatery & Bar
1219 1st StA nice bar/restaurant. They have a nice fire pit in the back with couches and a DJ.
Clasico Cafe Bar
1341 Main StA restaurant/bar that has a live DJ on the weekends.
They have live bands downstairs and DJs upstairs. Note: they allow smoking upstairs.
96 locals recommend
The Gator Club
1490 Main StThey have live bands downstairs and DJs upstairs. Note: they allow smoking upstairs.
A bar that has live music every night. They also have a patio in the back with seating and giant Jenga.
22 locals recommend
The Five O'clock Club
1930 Hillview StA bar that has live music every night. They also have a patio in the back with seating and giant Jenga.