Dining
The best restaurants in Sarasota
Downtown dining rooms, bayfront tables and the classics of St. Armands Circle, Lido and Longboat Key, plus two Siesta Key dinners worth the drive. For mornings, see our breakfast and brunch guide.
Downtown Sarasota and the bayfront
The mainland is where Sarasota’s most ambitious kitchens cluster: along Main Street and Palm Avenue, on the bayfront at The Quay, in the Rosemary District and south along Osprey Avenue to Southside Village.
1212 East Ave S
Michael’s On East
Sarasota’s classic special-occasion dining room since 1987, known for polished service, a deep wine list and a lounge with live music.
501 Quay Commons, The Quay
Ocean Prime
Prime steaks and seafood with a polished supper-club feel at The Quay, the new bayfront district near the Van Wezel. An easy choice before a show.
2157 Siesta Dr
Baker & Wife
Chef Isaac Correa’s intimate neighborhood bistro, with a seasonal, chef-driven menu and a thoughtful wine list. Dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
611 Central Ave, Rosemary District
Arts & Central
Creative American bistro cooking plated like artwork, with a lively bar and an artful room in the Rosemary District.
1830 S Osprey Ave, Southside Village
Veronica Fish & Oyster
A modern oyster bar with a nod to the classic supper clubs: a raw bar, crudo and fresh Gulf fish in a stylish Southside Village room.
1345 Main St
Selva Grill
Peruvian-inspired cooking with a long list of ceviches and a lively bar. A downtown favorite for a celebratory dinner.
1289 N Palm Ave
Kojo
Modern Japanese and pan-Asian small plates, sushi and a strong cocktail program in a sleek Palm Avenue room.
2 Marina Plaza
Marina Jack
The bayfront landmark: book an upstairs table at sunset for wide views across the marina and Sarasota Bay.
516 Burns Ct
Owen’s Fish Camp
Southern-style seafood in a converted 1920s house in Burns Court, with a backyard bar under a banyan tree. Expect a wait; it’s worth it.
St. Armands Circle and Lido Key
The palm-lined Circle sits between downtown and Lido Beach, so dinner here pairs naturally with a beach afternoon.
411 St. Armands Circle
Columbia Restaurant
The Sarasota outpost of Florida’s oldest restaurant family has served Spanish-Cuban classics on the Circle since 1959. Order the 1905 Salad.
431 St. Armands Circle
Café on St. Armands
The Circle’s classic corner, in the former home of Café L’Europe, reimagined as an all-day gathering place from morning coffee to late-night cocktails.
St. Armands Circle
Blu Kouzina
Bright, modern Greek cooking, from whole grilled fish to mezze, just off the Circle on Boulevard of the Presidents.
St. Armands Circle
Shore
Coastal American cooking with a rooftop bar overlooking the Circle. A relaxed choice after a day on Lido Beach.
Longboat Key
Longboat dining is quiet, residential and quietly excellent, with long-running restaurants that locals have booked for decades.
5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr
Euphemia Haye
A Longboat institution known for its peppered duck and an upstairs dessert and piano lounge, the Haye Loft.
525 St. Judes Dr
Harry’s Continental Kitchens
A restaurant, bar and corner deli in one, loved for its Continental menu, courtyard seating and easy charm.
760 Broadway St
Mar Vista Dockside
Old Florida charm on the north end of the key: local seafood at tables under the trees, right at the water’s edge on Sarasota Bay. Arrive for sunset.
Siesta Key fine dining
Two Siesta Key tables stand apart from the village’s beach-bar scene.
9105 Midnight Pass Rd
Ophelia’s on the Bay
Waterfront fine dining on Little Sarasota Bay near Turtle Beach, with an inventive seasonal menu. Reserve a deck table for sunset.
149 Avenida Messina
Summer House Steak & Seafood
A modern steak and seafood house in Siesta Key Village, with a striking glass-walled dining room surrounded by tropical gardens.
Planning your reservations
Do I need reservations in Sarasota?
For dinner from January through April, yes. Season brings the area’s busiest weeks, and popular rooms book days ahead. Weeknights in summer and fall are far easier.
Where should I eat for a special occasion?
Michael’s On East downtown and Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key are long-standing choices. For a waterfront setting, Ophelia’s on the Bay on Siesta Key is hard to beat at sunset.
Where can I dine near Lido Beach?
St. Armands Circle is a few minutes from Lido Beach and has the densest cluster of restaurants on the keys, from Columbia to Café L’Europe.
Are these restaurants open year-round?
Most are, though some shorten hours in late summer. Always check the restaurant’s own site before you go.