Guidebook for Sarasota
Food Scene
Great food and drinks, outdoor dining as well. A must while you are here!
260 locals recommend
Owens Fish Camp
516 Burns CtGreat food and drinks, outdoor dining as well. A must while you are here!
Indoor/outdoor dining, live music, right on the water so keep your eyes open for dolphins! Very casual attmosphere
171 locals recommend
Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront DrIndoor/outdoor dining, live music, right on the water so keep your eyes open for dolphins! Very casual attmosphere
Mar Vista is on the water dining on Longboat Key. Excellent food and great atmosphere.
88 locals recommend
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant
760 Broadway StMar Vista is on the water dining on Longboat Key. Excellent food and great atmosphere.
Columbia Restaurant is located on Saint Armands Circle. Food is excellet (their 1905 salad is a favorite) ! Dine and then enjoy the shops around the circle.
118 locals recommend
Columbia Restaurant
411 St Armands CirColumbia Restaurant is located on Saint Armands Circle. Food is excellet (their 1905 salad is a favorite) ! Dine and then enjoy the shops around the circle.
Excellent food and outside dining. I haven't had anything that I haven't like, but a few of my favorites, Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Calamari, and Shrimp Rangoons.
72 locals recommend
Mattison's City Grille Downtown Sarasota
1 N Lemon AveExcellent food and outside dining. I haven't had anything that I haven't like, but a few of my favorites, Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Calamari, and Shrimp Rangoons.
Perfect for breakfast (or lunch) outside on the patio. A .5 mile walk (less than 10mins).
21 locals recommend
Fresh Start Cafe
630 S Orange AvePerfect for breakfast (or lunch) outside on the patio. A .5 mile walk (less than 10mins).
Always lively farm to table hotspot in downtown Sarasota. Make a reservation for dinner or just come to have a drink at the bar.
80 locals recommend
Boca Sarasota
19 S Lemon AveAlways lively farm to table hotspot in downtown Sarasota. Make a reservation for dinner or just come to have a drink at the bar.
Mediterraneo
1970 Main StGreat Italian food in a lively spot is only 0.5 miles away!
Ophelia's on the Bay
9105 Midnight Pass RdEnjoy excellent food while looking out over the water.
Sightseeing
See our beautiful city from the LeBarge. The LeBarge fills up early so I would suggest making reservations. Drinks and snacks are served.
37 locals recommend
LeBarge Tropical Cruises
2 Marina PlazaSee our beautiful city from the LeBarge. The LeBarge fills up early so I would suggest making reservations. Drinks and snacks are served.
Ringling Museum is beautiful from the museum itself to the gorgeous grounds.
305 locals recommend
Ringling Museum station
Ringling Museum is beautiful from the museum itself to the gorgeous grounds.
Parks & Nature
Great place to hike, ride bikes, walk across the canopy bridge, see alligators galore! They have a nice snack shop and gift shop on site, and air boat tours...
382 locals recommend
Myakka River State Park
13208 State Rd 72Great place to hike, ride bikes, walk across the canopy bridge, see alligators galore! They have a nice snack shop and gift shop on site, and air boat tours...
It's a beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy the plants. 0.7 miles away.
433 locals recommend
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
1534 Mound StIt's a beautiful place to take a walk and enjoy the plants. 0.7 miles away.
29 acre Payne Park is just across S Washington , 0.5 miles away. It has the best playground (if you're travelling with little ones), a paved walking trail, tennis courts and a delicious cafe (Cafe in the Park). On Friday nights Cafe in the Park hosts live music.!
37 locals recommend
Payne Park
2010 Adams Ln29 acre Payne Park is just across S Washington , 0.5 miles away. It has the best playground (if you're travelling with little ones), a paved walking trail, tennis courts and a delicious cafe (Cafe in the Park). On Friday nights Cafe in the Park hosts live music.!
Consistently rated among the top beaches in the world, this is a must see. In the busy season go early to avoid circling for parking.
798 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
Consistently rated among the top beaches in the world, this is a must see. In the busy season go early to avoid circling for parking.
This is a nice park that is walking distance for our Airbnb. There is a playground area and benches.
22 locals recommend
Laurel Park
1725 Laurel StThis is a nice park that is walking distance for our Airbnb. There is a playground area and benches.
Lido Beach is walking distance from St. Armands Circle. There is also a park located at the north end with grills, a nice playground, and shade trees.
442 locals recommend
Lido Key Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin DrLido Beach is walking distance from St. Armands Circle. There is also a park located at the north end with grills, a nice playground, and shade trees.
Shopping
This is our newest mall, located off University and I75. For those who love to shop, be sure to check it out.
326 locals recommend
The Mall at University Town Center
140 University Town Center DrThis is our newest mall, located off University and I75. For those who love to shop, be sure to check it out.
St. Armands Circle is know for their many unique shops, find a place to park and walk the circle. Many places to dine and have a drink as well.
358 locals recommend
St Armands Circle Shops
300 St Armands CirSt. Armands Circle is know for their many unique shops, find a place to park and walk the circle. Many places to dine and have a drink as well.
Getting Around
E-bikes and scooters are available through the VEO app.
SCAT has buses that run through out the day. Also try UBER, UBER will get your there a little quicker than public transportation.
29 locals recommend
SCAT Transfer Station
150 N Lemon AveSCAT has buses that run through out the day. Also try UBER, UBER will get your there a little quicker than public transportation.
Entertainment & Activities
We love this place especially on a hot day. Take a break from the heat and watch a movie. The chairs recline, food and drinks are served right before the movie starts. Plan on getting there 30-60 minutes prior to the start of the movie.
94 locals recommend
CinéBistro
3501 S Tamiami TrailWe love this place especially on a hot day. Take a break from the heat and watch a movie. The chairs recline, food and drinks are served right before the movie starts. Plan on getting there 30-60 minutes prior to the start of the movie.
Busch Gardens is only about an hour away. They have rides for kids and adults. Lots of walking and they have several water rides so wear comfortable shoes and clothes that will dry fast.
2168 locals recommend
Busch Gardens
10165 McKinley DrBusch Gardens is only about an hour away. They have rides for kids and adults. Lots of walking and they have several water rides so wear comfortable shoes and clothes that will dry fast.
Mote Marine is an indoor/outdoor lab to see many of our local sea life. Its very educational and a great place to go stroll through. Family type atmosphere, great place to take kids.
532 locals recommend
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson PkwyMote Marine is an indoor/outdoor lab to see many of our local sea life. Its very educational and a great place to go stroll through. Family type atmosphere, great place to take kids.
Take a short drive south to Venice and check out the new Atlanta Braves Stadium. The Tomahawk Tikki Bar is open from 11:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m. daily with live music on the weekends. Check out the schedule for movies and other events at the stadium.
29 locals recommend
CoolToday Park
18800 W Villages PkwyTake a short drive south to Venice and check out the new Atlanta Braves Stadium. The Tomahawk Tikki Bar is open from 11:00 a.m. -9:00 p.m. daily with live music on the weekends. Check out the schedule for movies and other events at the stadium.
Drinks & Nightlife
A little out of the way, friendly brewing company with live music, beer and wine. Enjoy indoors or out on the picnic tables. Food can be ordered in, but they do not have their own kitchen. It's pet and kid friendly.
30 locals recommend
Big Top Brewing Company
975 Cattlemen RdA little out of the way, friendly brewing company with live music, beer and wine. Enjoy indoors or out on the picnic tables. Food can be ordered in, but they do not have their own kitchen. It's pet and kid friendly.
This two-story cocktail lounge is the oldest brick building on Main Street and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Definitely worth stopping in for a drink.
96 locals recommend
The Gator Club
1490 Main StThis two-story cocktail lounge is the oldest brick building on Main Street and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Definitely worth stopping in for a drink.
Food is good and the selection of beers is fabulous. Later at night the patio is a fun place for outdoor games .
28 locals recommend
Mandeville Beer Garden
428 N Lemon AveFood is good and the selection of beers is fabulous. Later at night the patio is a fun place for outdoor games .