Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Sarasota

"Also known as SKOB by its regulars, the restaurant/bar retains a comfortable family-friendly atmosphere. This lively dining spot offers you and your family the option of listening to live music as you relax and dine during the afternoon. The kid’s menu has a coloring section and maze to keep them occupied and offers discounted prices for children 12 and younger for items like Mac & Cheese, Fish Tacos, Kid’s Burger & Fries, Grilled Cheese, and other small portion favorites."

"Siesta Key Oyster Bar – or S.K.O.B., as locals affectionately call it – gets its name from the oysters, among other seafood, it serves. But it’s also one of Siesta Village’s busiest watering holes, decorated with dollar bills from past customers, and regularly features live music. S.K.O.B. offers open-air deck seating, as well as patio seating overlooking Ocean Boulevard."

"SKOB, as the locals call it, is the definition of Siesta Key. The beach atmosphere, great happy hour and live music are the main draws, but they do offer plenty of healthy food items mixed in with their. Menu Highlights Include: Oysters, Peel and Eat Shrimp, The Big Boil (classic crawfish boil), Seatfood Paella, Shrimp and Scallops, Crab Stuffed Lobster"

"For more exotic fare, head to Main Street for Selva Grill for Latin fusion dishes with a focus on Peruvian and Asian-influences. The menu is rich with fresh and colorful ceviches, salsas, seafood, and meat dishes, accented with exotic herbs and vegetables. The Selva Lounge offers custom cocktails, a late-night menu, and on weekend nights, a DJ."

"One of the best places to get Peruvian food in the area is the chic Selva Grill. Not only do they make authentic dishes like Ceviche and Arroz Con Pato, but there is also a selection of fusion dishes to order. For those wanting a distinctive dinner with food you can’t get anywhere else, I encourage you to visit Selva Grill!"

"A trip to Sarasota cannot be complete without understanding its rich heritage. The art and cultural activities in Sarasota will give you an insight into the city's history, traditions, and artwork. While visiting the cultural attractions in Sarasota would prove to be informative, attending its artsy events will leave you entertained."

"Dinner at Indigenous is more fun than formal, thanks to the setting: a vintage Florida cottage with a relaxed front porch and side patio. Sit there on a starry night, and you’ll share both belly laughs and intimate whispers."

"One of the best places for breakfast in Siesta Key (and lunch) is Sun Garden Cafe. The food is super fresh and locally sourced, with a huge menu of all day breakfast options as well as lunch. (We recommend the eggs benedict, avocado toast and any pancakes or French toast! This family friendly restaurant in Siesta Key also has ample seating with a great, shaded outdoor dining area."

"Siesta Key’s best breakfast and lunch restaurant serves local produce and fish caught “in our waters.” Bonus – they have a great outdoor patio so you won’t miss any time in the sun. Menu highlights include: Beach Smoothie, Andy’s Way Omelet, The Sol Starter  and if you’re in the mood for something a little less healthy, you can’t go wrong with the sweet potato pancakes."

"Location: 210 Avenida Madera, Siesta Key, FL 34242Hours: 7:30AM to 2:30PM. The Sun Garden Café is the quintessential beach family diner. The small restaurant is calm and casual, opting for a sunny aesthetic welcoming to families."

"Bonjour French Cafe is another great Sarasota breakfast restaurant located in Siesta Key. This French-inspired restaurant is known for its sweet and savory crepes, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. (They even offer buckwheat crepes if you’re feeling extra healthy that day!) There’s also a great kids menu that offers both lunch and breakfast options."

"offers sandwiches, crepes and other French fare in a quaint cafe. Inside, the place is lined with French memorabilia, and offers patrons a selection of croissant, a variety of crepes, omelettes, quiches, fruits, panini and sandwiches on baguettes. Try the crepe gourmande, which is a spongy crepe filled with strawberries, bananas, and chocolate."

"Had a super yummy croissant with Brie, walnuts, and spinach. The next day had a delicious Eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce..."

"I didn’t expect to come to Sarasota and find a famous Amish restaurant, but here it is. Yoder’s Restaurant is a fantastic dining spot for the best comfort food and an enormous variety of cream pies. You can dine in, out, or order from the curbside window."

"Downtown Bradenton’s Bad Ass Cafe serves up delicious food and to-die-for drinks with a healthy side of attitude. This casual restaurant and bar is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m."

"I can't belive I've never been to Tom's Bad Ass Bar & Grill. It's right off Main St. in Bradenton across from my favorite restaurant. We walked in and we…”more"

"Conveniently located less than two miles from downtown Sarasota, Arlington Park was selected as one of the South Florida locations on the..."

"CREATE MEMORIES THAT LAST LONGER THAN NINE INNINGS. When you host your special event at Ed Smith Stadium, you'll enjoy All-Star amenities..."

"Located on either side of the Intracoastal Waterway, the Venetian Waterway Park was developed by Venice Area Beautification Inc or VABI. Highly popular with locals, this attraction near Venice beach connects the heart of Venice to the park belonging to Caspersen beach and offers hiking and bicycle trails, picnic, and restroom facilities. This trail also connects to the Legacy Trail, which will take you into Sarasota."

"The Venetian Waterway Park is a fantastic place to explore the city’s beautiful canals and waterways. The park follows the waterways – in particular, the major Intracoastal Waterway, which separates the coast from the mainland. There are several miles of walking paths leading from downtown Venice, following a gentle route along the water that eventually leads all the way to Caspersen Beach to the south of the city."

"Walkers, joggers, bicyclists, nature lovers, and rollerbladers can enjoy the Venetian Waterway Trail running either side of the Intracoastal channel, and the Legacy Trail a paved recreational trail. See boats, birds, and even dolphins as you enjoy exercising in the fresh air."

"Explore Clearwater's surroundings by going to Ellenton Premium Outlets (in Ellenton), St. Petersburg (Craftsman House Gallery, The Dali Museum, & more) and Treasure Island Beach (in Treasure Island). Plan for a day of cool, family-friendly fun on the 23rd (Sat) at Legoland Florida Resort. Spend the 22nd (Fri) on the water with a fishing tour. There's lots more to do: stroll through Clearwater Beach, browse the different shops at Treasure Trove Mini Mall & Consignments, view the masterpieces at Stirlng Art Studios and Gallery, and explore the world behind art at The Ringling."

"A staple in Bradenton for over 20 years, SweetBerries Frozen Custard & Eatery is the go-to place for a delicious frozen treat you won’t soon forget. Their custard is fresh-made at least two times a day. Using their secret recipe (which includes a bit of egg yolk) and a slow-churn method they create a dense, thick frozen dessert with a premium ice cream taste and far less fat."

"Culver’s® is a family-favorite restaurant known for cooked-to-order ButterBurgers, handcrafted Fresh Frozen Custard and Wisconsin Cheese Curds. Welcome to delicious®."

"Was looking forward to eating with my family before my flight home. So we stopped here because they offer gluten free options. Everyone got to eat but me..."

"Family-owned and operated since 2009, Holy Cow Ice Cream & Other Cool Stuffoffers 36 different flavors of homemade ice cream crafted from the finest possible ingredients. They also have sugar-free, dairy-free, and frozen yogurt options. The selection changes daily but often includes interesting flavors like rum raisin, Snickers, crazy cake, coffee, pistachio, mocha almond fudge, and cappuccino Kahlua."

"The Holy Cow Ice Cream Shop is located in Holmes Beach and offers several distinct and extraordinary ice cream flavors to test out. This ice cream shop is known for its large portions and amazing flavors and textures. You can choose up to 3 flavors or more even with the smallest serving of ice cream, and there are sugar-free as well as low-fat ice cream options."