Things to Do in Sarasota

Here is our guide to best things to do in Sarasota. From iconic places to shopping malls and nature.

What's even better? This list will keep track of what you've already done for future reference. Can you check them all off the list?
 

Siesta Beach: This is one of the most popular beaches in Sarasota County, known for its white sand made of quartz crystals. It has been rated as one of the best beaches in the world by various publications and websites. It offers facilities such as lifeguards, restrooms, showers, picnic areas, playgrounds, and volleyball courts.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: This is a marine research and education center that focuses on the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems. It has more than 100 species of marine animals on display, including sharks, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, and seahorses. It also offers interactive exhibits, touch pools, and boat tours.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: This is a 15-acre botanical garden that specializes in tropical plants, especially epiphytes such as orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. It also features a butterfly garden, a koi pond, a children’s rainforest garden, and a conservatory.

Sarasota Jungle Gardens: This is a 10-acre zoological garden that showcases native and exotic animals, such as flamingos, parrots, alligators, monkeys, and snakes. It also offers animal shows, feeding opportunities, and a petting zoo.

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature: This is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It exhibits fossils, artifacts, shells, minerals, and wildlife from around the world. It also has a planetarium and an aquarium.

Ca’ d’Zan: This is the former winter home of the American circus owner John Ringling and his wife Mable. It is a Venetian Gothic mansion that overlooks Sarasota Bay. It is part of the Ringling estate, which also includes a museum of art, a circus museum, and a theater.

Lido Key Beach: This is another beautiful beach in Sarasota County, located on a barrier island near St. Armands Circle. It has soft sand, clear water, and stunning views of the sunset. It also has amenities such as lifeguards, restrooms, showers, concessions, and parking.

St. Armands Circle: This is a shopping and dining district located on an island between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It has more than 130 boutiques, galleries, restaurants, cafes, and bars. It also hosts events such as art festivals, car shows, and concerts.

The Mall at University Town Center: This is a modern and upscale mall that features more than 150 stores, including Macy’s, Dillard’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple, Tesla, and Lululemon. It also has a variety of dining options, such as The Cheesecake Factory, Seasons 52, Brio Tuscan Grille, and Kona Grill.

Westfield Mall, Sarasota: This is a family-friendly mall that offers a mix of national and local retailers, such as JCPenney, Costco, Old Navy, Bath & Body Works, and Books-A-Million. It also has a food court, a movie theater, and a children’s play area.

Westfield Siesta Key: This is a smaller and quieter mall that caters to a more upscale clientele. It has a selection of specialty stores, such as Chico’s, White House Black Market, Talbots, and Banana Republic. It also has a few restaurants, such as Bravo Cucina Italiana, Connors Steak & Seafood, and CineBistro.

Shore St. Armands: This is a modern and upscale restaurant that serves American cuisine with a coastal twist. It has a rooftop terrace with a stunning view of the bay.

Cafe Baci: This is a cozy and elegant restaurant that offers authentic Italian dishes, such as pasta, pizza, seafood, and veal. It has a wine cellar with over 450 selections.

Mozaic Restaurant: This is a chic and intimate restaurant that specializes in Mediterranean fusion cuisine, such as lamb, duck, scallops, and couscous. It has a courtyard patio with a fountain and live music.

Social Eatery & Bar: This is a trendy and casual restaurant that serves global comfort food, such as burgers, tacos, salads, and pizzas. It has a garden lounge with fire pits and games.

Rodizio Grill-Sarasota: This is a festive and lively restaurant that offers Brazilian steakhouse dining, where servers bring skewers of grilled meats to your table. It also has a salad bar with over 30 items.

Treviso: This is a sophisticated and refined restaurant that is located inside the Ringling Museum of Art. It serves contemporary Italian cuisine, such as risotto, gnocchi, salmon, and chicken.

Darwin’s on 4th: This is a creative and eclectic restaurant that features Peruvian fusion cuisine, such as ceviche, empanadas, lomo saltado, and quinoa. It also has a craft beer brewery on site.

Pascone’s Ristorante: This is a family-owned and operated restaurant that offers classic Italian dishes, such as lasagna, ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and tiramisu. It has a warm and welcoming atmosphere with friendly service.

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Sarasota: This is a stylish and modern restaurant that pairs its own wines with American fare, such as flatbreads, sandwiches, steaks, and seafood. It also has a tasting room and a retail shop.

Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota: This is a historic and iconic restaurant that dates back to 1905. It serves traditional Spanish and Cuban cuisine, such as paella, ropa vieja, croquetas, and flan. It also has flamenco shows and live music.

Indigenous Restaurant: This is a seasonal American restaurant that supports local farmers and sustainably sourced seafood. It has a cozy and elegant atmosphere in a remodeled old Florida cracker cottage. The chef, Steve Phelps, is a James Beard Best Chef South Semi Finalist and a Seafood Watch Task Force Chef. Some of the dishes include parmesan and pear beignets, arctic char, pork belly, and lobster bisque.

Owen’s Fish Camp: This is a southern fish camp restaurant that offers fresh seafood, freshly caught fish and oysters. It has a casual and rustic vibe with a banyan tree out front and a tire swing out back. The restaurant is owned by the Caragiulo brothers, who also own other popular restaurants in Sarasota. Some of the dishes include fried oysters, shrimp and crab, ribs cooked in root beer, and chicken and dumplings.

La Mucca Ballerina: This is an authentic Italian restaurant that specializes in Apulia food. It is owned and operated by the Zappaterreno family, who have another restaurant in Rome, Italy. The chef, Mario Zappaterreno, makes fresh homemade pasta, mozzarella, bread, and desserts. The restaurant has a charming and welcoming environment with a touch of Italian farmhouse style. Some of the dishes include eggplant rollatini, meat lasagna, cacio e pepe, and caprese salad.

Michael’s On East: This is a fine dining restaurant that offers contemporary American cuisine and world-class wines. It has an exceptional 1940s supper club atmosphere with a piano bar lounge and an atrium for outdoor dining. The restaurant has been inducted into Nation’s Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame and has received 32 consecutive AAA Four-Diamond Awards. Some of the dishes include steak tartare, duck breast, filet mignon en croute, and roasted lobster.

Antoine’s Restaurant: This is a French-Belgian restaurant that offers artisanal cuisine with elaborate seafood specials. It has a cozy and sophisticated environment with friendly service. The chef and owner, Angela Zappaterreno, is the wife of Mario Zappaterreno from La Mucca Ballerina. She makes fresh semolina-based pasta, bread, and desserts. The restaurant is known for its PEI mussels prepared 10 different ways and served with the best fries in Sarasota. Some of the dishes include escargot, asparagus soup, scallop dish, and profiterole.

Siegfried’s Restaurant and German Biergarten: This is an authentic German restaurant that offers traditional cuisine with a modern twist. It has a lively and fun atmosphere with a beergarden and live music. The owners, René and Kim Klopfer, are from Germany and have over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. They make fresh bread, sausages, schnitzels, and desserts. The restaurant is famous for its all-you-can-eat mussel mania on Wednesdays. Some of the dishes include sauerbraten, spätzle, bratwurst, and apple strudel.

Vino Vino Restaurant: This is an Italian restaurant that offers Puglia food with a special focus on homemade pasta and fresh seafood. It has a simple and elegant atmosphere with a wine bar. The owners are Ciro D’Urso and Rocco D’Urso, who are brothers from Italy. They make fresh bread, pasta, sauces, and desserts. The restaurant has a variety of wines from different regions of Italy. Some of the dishes include eggplant rollatini, calamari in tomato broth, gnocchi al ragu, and molten chocolate lava cake.

Meliora: This is a new American restaurant that offers creative cuisine with seasonal ingredients. It has a sleek and stylish atmosphere with a minimalist design. The owners are Ryan Adams and Jennifer Adams, who are from Washington D.C. They have over 15 years of experience in the culinary industry. They make fresh pasta, breads, pastries, and ice creams. The restaurant has a curated wine list from different countries. Some of the dishes include roasted beet salad, mushroom risotto, lamb chops with mint pesto, and lemon tart.

The Ringling: This is a state art museum of Florida, founded by John Ringling in 1927. It displays his personal collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, as well as contemporary works by local and international artists. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures, and performances.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: This is a 15-acre botanical garden that specializes in tropical plants, especially epiphytes such as orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. It also features a butterfly garden, a koi pond, a children’s rainforest garden, and a conservatory.

Sarasota Opera House: This is a historic theater that was built in 1926 as a movie palace. It was renovated in 2008 to restore its original features and acoustics. It is the home of the Sarasota Opera Association, which produces four operas every season. It also hosts other musical and theatrical events.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall: This is a modern and colorful venue that offers a variety of shows, such as Broadway musicals, concerts, comedies, and dance performances. It also has educational programs for children and adults. It is located on the Sarasota Bayfront with a stunning view of the water.

The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature: This is the largest natural and cultural history museum on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It exhibits fossils, artifacts, shells, minerals, and wildlife from around the world. It also has a planetarium and an aquarium.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens: This is a 15-acre botanical garden that specializes in tropical plants, especially epiphytes such as orchids, bromeliads, and ferns.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium: This is a marine research and education center that has more than 100 species of marine animals on display, including sharks, manatees, sea turtles, seahorses, rays, skates, octopus, sea jellies, river otters, and more.

Myakka River State Park: This is one of the oldest and largest state parks in Florida, covering 37,000 acres of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. It offers opportunities for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and more.

Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary: This is a non-profit sanctuary that provides a permanent home for exotic and endangered animals, such as lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, birds, and more. It also offers animal shows, feeding opportunities, and a petting zoo.

Legacy Trail: This is a 12-mile paved trail that follows the former railroad corridor from Sarasota to Venice. It passes through natural areas, parks, neighborhoods, and historical sites. It is popular for walking, jogging, biking, rollerblading, and more.